Chapter 8
Adrian didn't cry in public.
Not immediately.
He stood in the center of the amphitheater while thousands watched.
His father was dead.
His brother had returned.
His mentor had betrayed him.
And suddenly he was king.
People began kneeling.
One row.
Then another.
"Long live King Adrian."
The words rolled through the arena.
He looked horrified.
Not proud.
Not triumphant.
Horrified.
I walked toward him.
Protocol screamed at me to kneel.
I didn't.
His eyes found mine.
"I'm not ready."
Nobody else heard.
I answered quietly.
"No one worth trusting ever thinks they are."
His expression broke for one second.
Then he turned toward the crowd.
"My father is dead."
Silence.
"He deserved truth before death."
Adrian looked toward Harrow.
"So does Valoria."
Harrow stood bound between guards.
Still defiant.
Adrian continued.
"There will be no coronation until every accusation against this council is investigated."
Shock moved through the nobles.
"Those named in the First Crown ledger will surrender authority."
Lord Estevan wasn't there.
He had fled.
Others hadn't.
Several councilors started protesting.
Lucien stepped beside his brother.
The sight silenced most of them.
Adrian finished.
"My first act as king is not to claim power."
He looked at the people.
"It is to return it to law."
For the first time, I saw the king he could become.
Not the cruel prince who laughed at fallen contestants.
Something better.
That night, the palace mourned.
Aldric's body lay in the royal chapel.
Adrian remained beside him long after everyone left.
I found him there near midnight.
He sat on the stone floor.
Crownless.
Jacket open.
Exhausted.
"I told everyone to leave."
"I'm bad at obedience."
"I noticed."
I sat beside him.
For several minutes, we said nothing.
Then he whispered, "I wasted so much time being angry at him."
"Your father?"
"He became distant after Lucien died."
He laughed bitterly.
"After we thought Lucien died."
I listened.
"I thought he blamed me."
"For what?"
"Being alive."
My heart hurt.
Adrian stared at the candles.
"So I became exactly what Harrow wanted."
"What?"
"Hard."
"No."
He looked at me.
"Arrogant."
"Yes."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
A real laugh escaped him.
Then vanished.
"He taught me kindness was weakness."
"Your father?"
"Harrow."
That made sense.
The bored prince.
The cruel dismissals.
The public humiliation.
Not entirely Harrow's fault.
But cultivated.
Adrian looked down.
"I laughed when Eveline fell."
"Yes."
"I mocked you."
"Repeatedly."
"I was awful."
"Do you want comfort or accuracy?"
His mouth twitched.
"Apparently accuracy."
"Then yes."
He nodded.
"I want to change."
"Then change."
"So simple?"
"No."
I looked at King Aldric's coffin.
"But simple things can still be difficult."
He turned toward me.
"Why aren't you afraid of me?"
"I was."
"When?"
"The first day."
"And now?"
"Now I know you walk loudly."
He laughed again.
This time longer.
The investigation began the next morning.
Harrow refused to speak.
The false Lucien did not.
His real name was Elias.
He was the son of an impoverished minor nobleman.
Harrow paid his family for years.
Trained him.
Taught him Lucien's childhood history.
Prepared him as a replacement.
Elias cried through most of his confession.
"I thought I would become king."
Lucien stared at him.
"Did you know I was alive?"
"Not until last month."
"And you continued?"
Elias lowered his head.
"Yes."
Lucien walked away.
I followed.
He stopped in the gardens.
"I should hate him."
"Do you?"
"I don't know."
He looked toward the palace.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to be."
"You're Lucien."
"Prince Lucien?"
"If you want."
He frowned.
"Can I refuse?"
I smiled.
"You're asking the wrong person. I'm trying to avoid becoming queen."
His head snapped toward me.
"What?"
I froze.
I had said too much.
Lucien grinned.
"Oh."
"Don't."
"My brother likes you."
"Your brother insults me."
"He likes you."
"Go away."
He laughed.
Apparently royal brothers shared annoying traits.
The trials were officially suspended.
I was relieved.
Then Adrian summoned me to the council chamber.
"I thought the queen competition was canceled."
"It is."
"Then why am I here?"
He slid a document toward me.
Restoration of House Vale.
All lands.
All titles.
My father's name cleared.
My mother's conviction overturned.
I stared.
"Adrian."
"It's done."
Emotion tightened my throat.
"My father..."
"Will be publicly recognized as murdered while serving the Crown."
I couldn't speak.
Adrian's voice softened.
"You deserved that years ago."
"My mother too."
"Especially her."
I looked at him.
"Thank you."
He nodded.
Then his expression became serious.
"There is a problem."
"Of course."
"Lord Estevan escaped with several soldiers."
"Where?"
"South."
"Toward the border?"
"Yes."
I understood.
"Foreign help."
"Possibly."
He pushed another letter toward me.
Intercepted that morning.
Estevan was gathering forces.
Claiming Adrian was illegitimate because the king died before coronation.
Claiming Lucien was the rightful heir.
Lucien entered behind me.
"I refuse."
Adrian looked at him.
"I know."
"Then problem solved."
"No."
Adrian pointed to the letter.
"Estevan doesn't need your permission to use your name."
Lucien read.
His face darkened.
"He wants civil war."
My mother entered.
She looked more tired than I had ever seen her.
"Not war."
We turned.
"What?" I asked.
Helena placed a map on the table.
"Distraction."
Adrian frowned.
"For what?"
She pointed to the northern royal treasury.
"Harrow's network moved money for years."
"Estevan controlled finance," I said.
"Exactly."
Lucien understood.
"He's going for the treasury."
Adrian stood.
"Then we stop him."
Helena shook her head.
"Too late."
A guard burst into the chamber.
"Your Majesty!"
Adrian turned.
"The northern treasury has fallen."
My stomach dropped.
The guard was breathing hard.
"Lord Estevan took the garrison."
"How many men?"
"Nearly eight hundred."
Silence.
That was an army.
The guard continued.
"And he's sent a declaration throughout the north."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"What declaration?"
The guard looked at Lucien.
"He says Prince Lucien has ordered the arrest of King Adrian."
Lucien whispered, "That's absurd."
May you like
The guard swallowed.
"Thousands believe it."
