"I’m so glad you saved Mother, my son. I knew it. You couldn’t be so heartless, watch suffer like this." The Empress held Crown Prince Maximus tightly, her voice thick with relief.
"I know you couldn’t commit such a heinous act," Maximus replied. "Even if you dislike the Princess, you wouldn’t stoop to such depths."
"Indeed, I didn’t," the Empress insisted. "This woman tries to pin such vile accusations on , but I would never. I barely knew the previous Empress. I was brought here after the Emperor conquered my land, a possession for this empire."
"Mother, I will investigate this thoroughly. You needn’t fret," Maximus assured her as the maid guided the Empress back to her chamber. Turning, he found Tribal Princess Sylvia standing there, arms crossed, watching him intently.
"What is it, Princess? Why are you here?" Maximus inquired.
"I think the question belongs to , Your Highness. Why are you here? Have you forgotten your earlier pronouncents?" Sylvia challenged.
"What? What are you trying to say?" Maximus frowned, confused.
"Oh! You truly don’t rember? Allow to refresh your mory," Sylvia scoffed. "You declared you wouldn’t beco like your father, that you would stand for truth. Is this your version of upholding that promise? Is this who you truly are?"
"Are you implying I’d let my mother be falsely accused?" Maximus bristled.
"Falsely accused? Don’t play coy, Your Highness. You’ve been aware of your mother’s deeds for long. This isn’t news to you, but you feign surprise as if you expected none of this. You’re trying to shield a criminal!" Sylvia spat.
"My mother is no criminal!" Maximus roared, his eyes glowing red.
"Ha! It seems evident your mother orchestrated this farce, bringing forward a false claimant to slander the previous Empress. Is that the act of a civilized person?" Sylvia mocked.
"Don’t listen to her!" the Supre God’s voice, slithering, word its way into Maximus’ ear. "You did well. Defend your mother, no matter the cost."
"Neither did my mother do such a thing! The truth isn’t out yet, cease your unfounded accusations!" Maximus bellowed, his eyes blazing with fury.
"We shall see how long you resist your true nature, how long you can hold back from becoming your father’s son," Sylvia said, turning to leave. Maximus remained frozen, the weight of her words and his own internal conflict suffocating him.
Suddenly, Princess Vixara appeared beside him. "Your Highness, your actions today were far from admirable," she said, her voice tinged with disappointnt.
"I didn’t expect you to side with lies, to ignore the truth so blatantly," Vixara added, her gaze piercing.
"And how can I trust that anything you say isn’t a lie?" Prince Maximus countered, his voice defensive.
"From the mont I arrived until now, you always assured I was part of the royal family. You regret not being able to prevent what happened to , saying I shouldn’t feel excluded because I’m your equal. But now, I feel nothing but distance, because you’ve changed." Vixara’s voice trembled with hurt.
"You’ve taken back your words, which should make feel safe. You called your sister, but now, when I speak my truth about hating the Emperor and Empress for their cruelty to Mother, you shift your stance. You think I’m an outsider, all those promises re formalities. Once your mother’s involved, everything changes. That’s what I’m trying to tell you, Your Highness."
Prince Maximus sighed, his anger giving way to concern. "If you faced such danger, you should have co here imdiately. The jury could have decided what was best."
Vixara scoffed. "So the Empress could have finished off when I was barely grown?"
"Princess!" Hir voice rose in anger.
"Don’t call that if you don’t believe I’m the Princess. This false enthusiasm only makes feel like I’m beneath your feet."
Turning, she strode towards her chamber, her fury simring. As she walked, she encountered Duchess Bernice.
"Duchess, when did you arrive?" Vixara asked, her voice still raw with emotion.
"I’ve been here for a while, waiting for you," the Duchess replied calmly.
Vixara raised an eyebrow. "Waiting for ? What can I help you with?"
The Duchess smiled enigmatically. "I’m not here to ask for your help, Princess. I’m here to offer mine."
Vixara’s eyes widened. "Help ? But how?"
"Don’t you want the Emperor and Empress punished for their cris?" the Duchess asked softly.
Vixara’s jaw clenched. "Of course I do!"
"Then you have several avenues open to you," the Duchess continued. "Rember the attack you suffered when you first appeared in court, claiming your birthright? The perpetrator still walks free. Later, soone poisoned your bath, causing further harm. If you truly seek justice, find those responsible. Their testimony before the jury could expose the truth."
Vixara’s mind raced. "But how do I find them?"
"That, Princess, is for you to decide. You are not just a lady-in-waiting, but the rightful heir to the throne. You wield considerable power. Use it wisely, and justice will be served." With those words, the Duchess vanished as silently as she had appeared.
Vixara stood alone, the weight of the Duchess’s words settling upon her. Though the motive for her help remained unclear, the path forward was illuminated. No longer a helpless victim, she was the Princess, empowered to claim her rightful place and ensure the truth be known.
Princess Vixara strode into her chamber, a faint luminescence clinging to her as fire danced at her fingertips without scorching her skin. "Hiding serves ill," she growled, her voice laced with frustration. "The Emperor’s end is near, but the Empress... she needs a different approach."
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, extinguishing the flas and burying the magic within. A mory flickered, her nanny’s voice echoing in the silence: "This magic, inherited from your mother, must remain hidden. Use it when the ti is right, but always keep yourself veiled."
"The magic stays hidden," Vixara muttered, "but I didn’t intend to antagonize the Duchess. Revenge is my goal, yes, but when I realized she harbored similar feelings towards the Emperor, I stepped back. I only ant to watch her back, but she sees as a threat."
A knock startled her. "Princess, may I enter?" Duke Alexavier’s voice called from beyond the door.
"Co in, Duke," Vixara replied, her voice regaining its composure.
The Duke entered, offering a reassuring smile. "Do not feel defeated, Princess. Your people stand with you. The Empress’s cris will be exposed, one way or another."
Vixara shook her head. "That’s not my concern. My worries lie elsewhere. Defeat is not an option. I will be the one to bring this royal family down, no matter the cost. The throne, you see, is the root of all evil. Without it, there would be no conflict."
Duke Alexavier furrowed his brow. "What do you an, the throne is responsible for everything?"
Vixara sighed. "I cannot reveal that, Duke. It would seem madness to your ears. But soon, everything will be laid bare, as clear as water, and the truth will be known to all."
Frustration flickered in the Duke’s eyes. "I have no clue what you’re trying to say."
"It’s alright if you don’t understand. But there is sothing I need you to do."
"Anything for you, Princess."
"Duke, do not hinder the Duchess’s actions. You are becoming an obstacle, unknowingly caging her with your presence. Let her have so freedom. Your bond, however well-intentioned, is holding her back."
"But I’m simply trying to maintain our relationship," the Duke protested.
"This is not the ti for such things, Duke. The stakes are high, and everyone plays their own ga. I have my path, she has hers, as do you and the Crown Prince. Understand, I don’t wish to harm your relationship. But trust , this is crucial."
The Duke hesitated, the weight of Vixara’s words pressing down on him. "Though I don’t grasp the aning behind your words, Princess, I will heed them." He bowed and left, leaving Vixara alone with her secrets and a resolute gaze fixed on the horizon.
Princess Vixara traced a swirling sigil on the cold stone floor, its edges glowing with an erald luminescence. As she chanted in a language older than ti, the air shimred and a tiny winged figure materialized, its wings shimring like stained glass. It bowed low, its voice a tinkling lody. "At your service, Mistress. Command what you will."
"I need your keen senses, little one," Vixara said, her voice resolute. "Follow the whispers of hidden elents, those tethered to the Empress. Seek out others who share these whispers, for they hold the key to her secrets."
The fairy’s eyes, like polished gemstones, flickered with understanding. "The elents of fire, stone, and shadow, woven into the fabric of her being. I shall heed your call, Mistress. Soon, the truth shall dance in the moonlight." With a final shimr, the fairy vanished, leaving Vixara alone with the echo of her words and the thrumming of anticipation in her veins.
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