Back at the palace.....
"Why didn’t you call for a healer, brother? Any later and you would have truly died." Theodore questioned Valerie after he was done healing him for hours, seated at the edge of the bed.
Valerie’s eyes t with Andre standing at the corner and he subtly shook his head. Valerie looked away before Theodore caught onto their secret conversation.
He sighed, "Let’s just say this is an attack that I’m not proud of."
Theodore narrowed his eyes at him, he asked suspiciously, "Is this Aldric’s work?"
"No, it’s not him. Trust , Aldric would rather face head-on, he seems sneak attacks too cowardly. Nor would he stab with a knife."
"Then who –"
"Could you let this go?!" He snapped at Theodore who stared at him surprised.
"Please, brother?" He added, feeling guilty for raising his voice on him, " I offended soone and this was the pound of flesh. I risked dying to call you here because I want this kept a secret."
Theodore did not respond to him, staring him deep in the eyes as he searched for the truth.
"Please," Valerie begged him.
"Fine," Theodore gave in to his relief, "However, you owe a favor that I can collect at any ti."
"It’s a deal as long as it doesn’t jeopardize my role as the crown prince."
Theodore smiled cunningly, "Bastard, you don’t trust ."
"I do trust you, brother. However, we are still contenders for the throne and until I’m king, no law prohibits you from challenging my title."
"Fine. Whatever." He waved it off and stood up to his feet, "I’m exhausted after using my healing powers on you, at least, that is one thing I’m useful for." He sighed under his breath, "I best get going. It would seem more suspicious to our mothers if I spend more ti here."
"Good idea. Thank you once more, brother." Valerie appreciated him.
"No, you don’t need to thank . This is not just a trade, but we taking care of each other as a family. Now, you do your best to stay out of trouble. Who knows, I might not be here to save your life the next ti, perhaps that would make things easier than contending against you." Theodore said jokingly, but there was so much aning in his words and it ruined the light atmosphere. An awkward silence ensued.
The spring prince cleared his throat, "I should leave now." Theodore departed as quickly as his legs could take him.
Andre relaxed his posture and so did Valerie, who let out a long breath.
"I love our brother, but he can’t be trusted, especially with Queen Nirvana as his mother. Just one blurt and he might ruin you." Andre ca over and patted him on the shoulder, "You did well."
"Now let’s hope we did not slip up in our cover-up," Valerie said with worry.
"Don’t worry, the witch will not co back. At least for now. I cannot help but feel that she left you off intentionally when she had plenty of opportunities to kill you."
Valerie’s brows drew together thoughtfully, "You think she rely wanted to take information?"
"More like to confirm the facts she had."
Their eyes connected at the sa ti and they both chorused, "Aldric."
"You didn’t kill the witch, Dorcas, at least directly, but Aldric did. Nor could the assassin witch kill you, you’re the crown prince of Astaria, she’d be hunted down and that might halt her plans of exacting revenge on our brother, Aldric. So she injured you enough to teach you a little and take a bit of satisfaction," Andre scratched his brow, "We have a smart witch on the loose. We need to warn Aldric."
"You would do no such thing," Valerie commanded, startling Andre.
"What are you talking about?" He questioned the sumr prince who appeared fidgety and wouldn’t even look him in the eye.
Valerie swallowed, "We will not warn Aldric."
Andre’s deanor changed when he realized what his brother was up to. "No." He shook his head in refusal, dread washing over him.
Valerie pressed, "Don’t pretend you don’t see it but one day we would have to get rid of Aldric," He rephrased his word, "No, I would have to end him. You already know how our relationship is. But then..." He paused in suspense, "If the witch can end him, it would do us good. It would do good. And I wouldn’t have to kill my own brother."
There was a conflicted look in Andre’s eyes knowing Valerie was right and yet, it didn’t sit right with him. He paced the room while running his hand through his hair, frustrated, "This is not right. We have to give Aldric a heads-up. He has the right to know what’s coming his way."
"Andre...." Valerie stood up this ti and approached him, placing both of his hands on his shoulder and facing him, "I know that you are not comfortable with this but think about the good you’d be doing to everybody, if the witch succeeds. Think of Islinda," Valerie intentionally brought her up knowing he’d empathize with her.
"I owe her, brother. Islinda would not be under Aldric’s captivity if our paths hadn’t crossed and she saved my life. The only way that I can pay her back is her freedom. If Aldric dies, she’d be free to leave Astaria. Think of the good you could do to her. "
" That is if she succeeds."Andre reminded him of the possibility the witch might fail," Our brother is not stupid. "
"Exactly, my point. Andre knew what he had coming when he murdered that witch. So why should you feel any guilt when he practically brought this upon himself?"
He squeezed his shoulder, "Just turn the other way, brother. Turn a blind eye to this. I beg you." Valerie implored him.
Andre’s jaw was clenched hard, this went against his principles and was a very difficult decision to make. He was not exactly a righteous Fae but Aldric was still family. However, as Valerie said, he had to think of the greater good.
"Fine. Just this once."
Reviews
All reviews (0)