"I also have sothing to add, lest everyone be fooled by their two-part act." Prince Alistair stepped out, gesturing at his Daphne.
His face was flushed with fury, though Daphne wasn’t too sure what her brother was angry about exactly. The crowd all turned their attention to the queen of Vramid, entirely forgetting Atticus and Eugene for an instant. Even Atticus had his head turned to the direction Alistair pointed to, ready to pounce over and protect Daphne if there was a need for it.
"It pains to admit it, but I believe my sister is in cahoots with her husband. While King Atticus doesn’t have a stone, she is in full possession of her jewels. It’s not implausible that she shared them with him, allowing him an unfair advantage in this contest."
At Prince Alistair’s words, a flurry of murmurs erupted from the crowd. Everyone pointed and stared, whispering among themselves about the powerful wave of magic that had erupted through the entire maze before they were all gathered in the center of the maze.
It had to be magic. And not only that, the practitioner had to be soone imnsely skilled at performing such feats. There was no one other than King Atticus that could’ve been capable of doing so. While they hated to admit it out loud, only the king of Vramid had such a great command of magic. No one else could compare.
Or at least, it most certainly could not be a useless princess or a lowly guard.
"Should they still be allowed to participate?" Alistair continued, his voice rising in volu in an attempt to garner the support of the crowd. "How would this be fair for the rest of us who hunted these savage beasts through our own abilities without the use of magic?"
A muscle twitched in Prince Nathaniel’s jaw as he registered Prince Alistair’s words.
"You are right, Prince Alistair," Nathaniel said. He cast a disappointed look at Daphne, the look in his eyes resembling a wounded puppy that had just been betrayed by its owner. "It is indeed unfair for the other contestants."
"Prince Nathaniel―" Daphne tried to put a word in but the Raxuvian prince rely turned his gaze away, looking anywhere but at her.
"King Atticus, Queen Daphne, you are hereby disqualified from this contest."
"Fuck the contest," Atticus cursed out. He reached down, grabbing Eugene’s collar right as he spotted the latter trying to scramble away. "I don’t give a rat’s ass about your little dick-asuring contest. This man, on the other hand, tried to kill my wife. Since this happened on your palace grounds, Prince Nathaniel, you better keep to your word and get to the bottom of this. Especially on why a Vramidian criminal is working for you."
With that said, Atticus callously tossed Eugene forward. He didn’t put in as much strength as he did when he had used telekinesis but it was enough for Eugene to tumble and roll a fair distance until he eventually stopped a couple of inches away from Nathaniel’s feet. Dirt and gri coated his uniform, sullying the colors of Raxuvia.
Prince Nathaniel scowled at the sight.
"n, arrest this guard. Rest assured, King Atticus. We’ll question him and get to the bottom of this."
His people moved to secure Eugene, but then found themselves reeling back when a particularly noxious smoke entered their nostrils, causing them to cough and choke. Dark gray smoke covered Eugene’s fallen figure.
From the corner of his eyes, Atticus caught sight of Eugene’s blood-tainted lips curving into a smirk. A curse slipped from Atticus’s lips; that snake was trying to escape!
He reached forward and tried to grab Eugene but all he could get a hold of was a handful of smoke. When the smoke cleared, Eugene Attonson was no longer there.
The crowd imdiately started panicking.
"He’s an assassin!"
"We’re in trouble!"
"We need to get out!"
"So did the assassin use the magic?"
"Quiet, quiet!" Prince Nathaniel called for order, but it was a futile attempt, as everyone started speaking at once, discussing in heated tones.
"Prince Nathaniel, now do you believe ?" Atticus raged, a hand tugging at his own hair. He was so close to catching Eugene Attonson and now that slimy worm had slipped straight out of his hands. "I do not care about this contest. I care that we have an escaped criminal on the loose!"
Prince Nathaniel steeled his eyes. "Raxuvia will stop at nothing to capture him, that I promise you. For now, everyone should leave the maze. It is no longer safe."
"But what about the contest?" King Alistair asked, taking a step forward. He had worked too hard for there to be nothing to show for it. "We still don’t have a winner!"
"The event is now postponed," Prince Nathaniel said, glaring at Prince Alistair. "Or do you think your personal glory trumps everyone’s safety?"
Chastised in public, Prince Alistair could only keep silent.
Thus ended the hunting event. Instead of a prize ceremony that roused spirits and promoted healthy bonding, everyone only felt outraged, cheated, and terrified as they made their way out of the maze.
Princess Cordelia looked particularly disappointed and she avoided Daphne’s eyes, pleading for her to understand.
Daphne’s heart sank. Cordelia must have thought she was a cheater. Even the griffin in Daphne’s arms must’ve sensed her low mood for it snuggled deeper into her embrace in an attempt to comfort her. Next to her, King Calarian rely sighed and squeezed Atticus’s shoulder.
"Don’t worry about Cordelia, she’ll calm down soon. anwhile, the both of you should go and seek dical attention," King Calarian advised. "We’ll need you to tell us everything that happened earlier."
He gave both of them a aningful look. Clearly he noted that sothing suspicious was afoot.
"Thank you," Daphne said gratefully. "And thank you for accompanying earlier and saving . Believe , I would never cheat!"
"And I don’t need to cheat," Atticus added.
Calarian snorted at that self-confidence. "That I’m sure," he said. "I’ll call on you later, King Atticus. We have much to discuss before the council officially begins."
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