The tension in the palace was so thick it was suffocating as soldiers hurried through the halls, each movent charged with urgency.
Valerie had given strict orders to surround the palace and not, under any circumstances, allow the disgraced dark Fae, Aldric, to gain entrance. The palace was in a state of high alert, with soldiers stationed at every possible point of entry.
Valerie had been discussing his ascension with small, trusted mbers of the royal council of the Sumr Court when a ssage arrived from the General that Aldric had escaped.
It turned out that Valerie had ordered the general to keep Aldric preoccupied, to not give him even a mont to breathe, at least until his ascension to the throne was complete.
Unfortunately, Aldric spy—Isaac— who had infiltrated the palace had also managed to escape. So when the general sent word of Aldric’s freedom, Valerie knew It was only a matter of ti before Aldric made his way to the palace.
Aldric was a disgraced Fae now, stripped of the right to claim the throne of Astaria. One would think that this would ease Valerie’s concerns, but he knew he had won through trickery. If that truth were to co out, everything he had gained would slip through his fingers.
They were fully aware that Aldric possessed a dallion that allowed for magical entry, but the palace was spelled against such ans of intrusion. That ant Aldric would have to enter the palace through the conventional entrance.
Valerie had ordered every wall inside and outside the palace to be lined with soldiers, all ready to shoot the mont they saw the dark Fae prince. Aldric would never kill his own people, and if he did, it would an the end of any chance he had at ruling Astaria.
Valerie was currently speaking with the captain of the king’s knights, strategizing ways to further secure the palace, when his assistant entered, interrupting their conversation. This assistant was soone Valerie had hand-picked to help manage royal duties during this crucial ti.
"The ministers are waiting patiently for the eting to start, Your Highness."
Valerie froze, staring at the assistant as if the man had grown an extra head. "What are you talking about?"
"The ministers are here for the eting, Your Highness. I was sent to remind you, as they have been waiting quite patiently," the assistant repeated.
Valerie frowned, his confusion deepening. "I didn’t call for any eting..." He trailed off, his eyes widening as realization struck him like a thunderbolt.
"Shit! It’s Aldric! Aldric is in the palace!" Valerie shouted, his face paling as he turned towards the captain, dread setting in.
The captain’s eyes widened in alarm, understanding the severity of the situation.
Valerie moved with haste, his heart pounding in his chest as he and the captain of the guard hurried towards the royal eting chamber. The captain continuously barked orders, each one calling for more soldiers to follow. The number of soldiers swelled with each corridor they passed, forming a massive army by the ti they reached their destination. Valerie’s breaths were labored, his mind racing as he anticipated the confrontation that awaited. He could already envision the proud look on Aldric’s face.
Bursting through the doors of the eting chamber, Valerie’s eyes went wide with shock. The room was filled to the brim — every minister, council mber, and advisor was present. His gaze swept across the room, landing on the two queens, Victoria and Nirvana, who watched with stern expressions. His brothers, Theo and Andre, stood to one side, their expressions unreadable..
Suddenly, his mother appeared from the side of the room, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Valerie, what is this all about? Did sothing happen?" she asked, her voice edged with concern.
Even his own mother didn’t know. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut.
The blood drained from Valerie’s face as it dawned on him—Aldric had orchestrated this. Aldric wanted to sha him in front of everyone, to expose him. They were all here as witnesses.
He lost control, his face twisting with fury as he grabbed the first person he saw, a council mber standing closest to him. "Where is he?!" Valerie demanded, shaking the Fae roughly. When the council mber stamred, unable to provide an answer, Valerie tossed him aside with disgust.
He lunged for another official, his voice rising in intensity. "Where is he?! Where is Aldric?! Where is he hiding?! Are you hiding him?"
"Your Highness, I don’t understand—" the minister tried to explain, but Valerie pushed him away with such force that he stumbled, landing hard on the floor, his face contorted in pain.
Valerie’s eyes blazed with fury as he turned to the captain of the guard. "Search them all! Check who is helping that damned bastard hide! They could have magical artifacts on their body helping to hide them!" he commanded with authority.
The captain gave the order, and the soldiers moved in. The atmosphere in the eting room turned chaotic as the soldiers began their aggressive search. Ministers, council mbers, and high-ranking Faeries were grabbed and manhandled, their protests falling on deaf ears. The soldiers showed no restraint, roughly pushing the nobles against walls and tables as they searched them for any sign of items helping Aldric hide.
The queens, Victoria and Nirvana, were not spared either. Soldiers approached them, grabbing their arms with no regard for their status.
Queen Nirvana’s eyes blazed with indignation as a soldier shoved her back against her chair, his hands searching her with unyielding force. Queen Victoria winced, her face twisting in pain as another soldier roughly twisted her arm to check for concealed items.
Both of them gritted their teeth, swearing to have vengeance for this very soon. Every single disgrace Valerie had pulled them through, they would give it back tenfold.
At this point, even Queen Maeve had to step forward, her face flushed with fury. "Valerie! What is the aning of this?!" she demanded, her voice trembling with rage. But Valerie ignored her, his eyes darting around the room, searching for any sign of his brother.
Soldiers faced off against the princes Theodore and Andre who tried to fight against them, overwhelming both of them in their numbers till they couldn’t fight back. It was obvious at this point that the captain of the knights had taken Valerie as his new king. A tyrant king at that. Not even Oberon in all his cruelty would treat them like this.
The brutality continued, unchecked. The proud Faeries unused to such maltreatnt were humiliated, their cries echoing off the chamber walls, unanswered.
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