"I've never seen you lose a fight so badly," Zedekiel said, eyes sweeping over his brother's injuries. "Who was your opponent?"Prince Ludiciel wanted to speak but then gazed at Prince Ron, wondering why he was there. His eyes fell on their joined hands and he lifted a brow in question.Prince Ron blushed slightly. He wanted to pull his hand away but Zedekiel held it tight. He then held up their hands and planted a kiss on the back of Prince Ron's hand, right in front of Ludiciel and the Royal Physician.The Royal Physician quickly bowed deeply. "Congratulations, Your Majesty, Your Highness." He had heard rumours about them from several Officials but he didn't believe them. Now, the truth was right in front of him. Ha! How jealous those Officials would be when he tells them he witnessed the King kiss the human Prince's hand!"Thank you," Zedekiel answered.Prince Ron went crimson. He didn't think his beloved would start telling people so soon. He began to internally panic. What if his
"I know. I never doubted you." Prince Ron hurriedly said.His beloved had always been true to his words. He trusted him with his life. What frightened him the most was the fact that he knew in his heart that his beloved would not lie. If they said Rose was involved with The Shadows, then she had to be but he was still having a difficult time believing it. He could not guess what her motive was. What was her mission? Why The Shadows? Did their father know about it? Was it all their plan?"Good." Zedekiel smiled. "I know it's not easy. If you had told me Ludiciel did something like this, I would have a hard time believing it too so I understand what you're going through right now. All I want is for you to listen and observe. Right now, we can't ascertain anything either. We can only gather evidence.""But what if we get evidence against her? What are you going to do then?""It depends on the kind of evidence," Zedekiel responded. "Why don't we take things one at a time? We shall cross t
"Are you completely sure, Ron?" Prince Ludiciel asked.Prince Ron hesitated to answer. He wanted to say something but stopped. He was getting frustrated just thinking about it. "Well, I am certain that my father knows nothing of them so Rose can't have access to the vault through him. The only way would be if she was working directly for-"He paused, letting out a raggedy breath."The Shadows" Prince Ludiciel completed.Prince Ron had paused, reluctant to complete the sentence for it would make him feel like he was accepting Rose's involvement and it didn't make him feel any better when Prince Ludiciel completed it."Which she is." Zedekiel asserted. "After Griffith's death, we secretly commenced an investigation and we found out that the person who served Griffith his last meal was your sister's maid. Now, why will her maid serve our prisoner food? She isn't supposed to be anywhere near the dungeons let alone enter."Prince Ron went silent. It didn't make any sense. He knew his siste
Warmth enveloped Prince Ron's entire body and a smile finally appeared on his face. "Thank you, but I am not really upset about her wanting the throne. I do not care to be King. To be honest, my sister would make a better ruler for she is more responsible and competent than I am. I am lazy and I know little about ruling a Kingdom. If I could give her the throne, I would. It's just that women cannot rule Ashenmore. It has been like that since the Kingdom originated. What bothers me is that she's willing to work with The Shadows, commit murder and spy on your kind for it. She'll have to use force to take the throne and that means war. She will wage war on her own people.""Ursuping a throne can never be a peaceful matter, Prince Ron" Prince Ludiciel spoke. "She knows and she has prepared for it. She believes that as the first child, she is entitled to it so she will try to get it at all costs. Hence, The Shadows.""But the Shadows are not enough," Zedekiel said. "They cannot conquer the
"No!" Zedekiel said sharply. "I will not let you endanger yourself." He stood up and kicked the chair he was sitting on angrily. What a ridiculous plan. He would never accept it."But it's the only way." Prince Ron insisted. He reached out and held his beloved's sleeve, staring up at him pleadingly. "You have to let me do this."Zedekiel shook his head, not agreeing at all. "No. No way. After what happened earlier today, you expect me to put you in harm's way? That's impossible. No.""Your plan is amazing Prince Ron, but you do not have to put your life at risk." Prince Ludiciel said. "I'm with my brother on this. We can do what needs to be done."Prince Ron was getting frustrated. It was his own plan but they weren't going to let him participate? No way!"But I can do it" He insisted, stomping his foot. "I can take care of myself. You have to let me go.""I said no!" Zedekiel snapped. He snatched his hand from Prince Ron's hold and took some steps back. "No means no, Prince Ron. I ha
This created a tingly sensation in Prince Ludiciel’s chest. The pain from the wound seemed to slowly fade away as he realised how lovely Prince Ron was. He knew the human Prince was good looking but he had never appreciated his beauty like this before.Prince Ron on the other hand was following the path of the cut which led down to Prince Ludiciel's midriff, oblivious to Prince Ludiciel’s gaze. It was then that Prince Ron noticed Prince Ludiciel’s good physique. "Oh my God, how am I just seeing this now?" He asked, pleasantly surprised. "You have a fine body. Oh wow, so many abs."Zedekiel growled. His patience could only go so far. With a wave of his hand, the ointment flew from Prince Ron's hand and splashed all over Prince Ludiciel’s face and chest. He then huffed and stormed out of the room.Prince Ludiciel sighed and shook his head. "Why did you have to do that? You've gone and made him mad now.""Who cares?" Prince Ron huffed. He took out a handkerchief and started wiping the oi
He knew that in Netheridge, punishment for insulting a member of the Royal family was 50 lashes with a horse whip and then the person would be paraded around the Kingdom as naked as the day he was born with chains on his neck to serve as a warning to others. The punishment had never been implemented because no one dares to insult any member of the Roual family. Not even the twins.Porsha snorted. "Nothing worse? Okay so you'd like to have your tongue cut out and then be imprisoned for 4 years where you'll be subjected to harsh labour and then, after serving your sentence, when you come out, you'll be stripped of everything you own and sent to a farm in a faraway village to work for eternity. You are not entitled to have your basic human rights. You will be deemed as property of the Royal family. Additionally, if you have any sisters, they will be taken to the Castle to work as low ranked maids for the rest of their lives. If you have any brothers, they would be taken to serve members
Prince Ron sighed for what felt like the hundredth time. He had been waiting for his beloved to come back but he hadn't and they already had dinner. He even went out and searched the throne room, garden, kitchen and even Maelda's place but he was nowhere to be found. Tired, he decided to just go back to their room. No matter what, he knew his beloved would eventually go back to their room. Unless he wanted to sleep elsewhere.He sighed once more and turned around in bed, lying on his stomach. He felt sad. He never knew what he did could have such an effect on the King and their relationship. He was just innocently admiring another person's body. After hearing the thought in his own head, he facepalmed, knowing he had really messed things up. How could he admire someone else when his beloved was right there? Now wonder his beloved was so angry. If it were him, he would have put up a tantrum. And it would be for days. His beloved had every right to be mad. He just hoped his beloved woul
Frustrated, Prince Kayziel grabbed one of them. "You're just a bunch of cowards! The boy is not even a 100 years old! If you do not fight-" he directly slit the throat of the soldier he grabbed. "You die!"Upon witnessing the scene, the soldiers pivoted their attention to Zedekiel, brandishing their swords. Knowing Prince Kayziel's prowess as a fighter far exceeded Zedekiel's, they speculated that confronting the boy might afford them a chance of survival, albeit slim. However, facing Prince Kayziel spelled certain death for all. Besides, Zedekiel was injured and had lost a significant amount of blood. Putting him down should not be difficult. And so, they collectively surged toward him.Young Zedekiel strived. He fought with all his might, killing some soldiers while fatally injuring some. He fought like a mad man, swinging his sword with reckless abandon yet maintaining an unparalleled level of precision at the same time for he drew blood with each swing. The vale was quickly litter
He sighed, placing on a hand on Zedekiel's cheek, stroking the cold skin gently. "You know, I wanted to spare your life but when I saw the way you took hold of everything in the castle, I just couldn’t. You're still so young, yet you were already ruling the Kingdom like a proper King. When your Father died, I thought the entire Kingdom would be in a state of disarray and I would return and take charge like a grand hero but I was surprised to find that everything was under control. Even when I commanded the Officials to do something, they would say that they had to run it through you first so I knew that I had to get rid of you.""If you desired the throne, you could have just said so." Young Zedekiel gritted. "I haven't even been crowned King yet. I could have willingly abdicated in your favour.""Yes, you could have." Prince Kayziel nodded. "But would you have let me marry your Mother?"Young Zedekiel fell silent but the answer was evident in the intense glare that emanated from his
He had tried to go beyond the garden but he found that he couldn't. He was bound to his younger self and could only go where his younger self went or the places he had been to before. Which meant that if Ron didn't go back to the garden, he wouldn't be able to see him again. He just hoped that Ron would not give up on his stupid self and come back or is stupid self would stop being so stupid and go find Ron.Prince Kayziel had gone to his younger self in the middle of the night and convinced him to join them in their journey to Ashenmore so they could start their revenge. At first, Young Zedekiel didn’t want to go for he had already agreed to wait as his mother had instructed but Prince Kayziel managed to convince him by reminding him of the things the humans had done to his father and brother. He then told him that if they waited too long, the humans might fully prepare themselves for what was to come and they would lose the element of surprise.Hearing this, Young Zedekiel put on hi
“This should be the last time we meet.” Young Zedekiel said. “Normally I would kill you for being a witch and lying to me but since we have been together, I will spare your life. Never make the mistake of coming before me in the future because I will kill you.”With that, Young Zedekiel turned and continued on his way, leaving Ron kneeling there, completely and utterly heartbroken.**********Zedekiel wanted to stay and see what Ron would do but something told him to follow his younger self and so he did. He followed even as his younger self sprinted away from the garden, his movements a blur of speed, almost as if he were a shadow racing across the earth. The wind whipped around him, tousling his silver hair. His dark robes billowing behind him like the wings of a dark angel.He dashed past the castle, his supernatural speed carrying him effortlessly, propelling him forward with a sense of urgency that mirrored the turmoil within his heart.Finally, he arrived at the labyrinth, a pla
"I'm not deceiving you," he insisted, locking eyes with Zedekiel, “I swear it. My true identity is Raldore Nightshade, a witch—the youngest child of Malik and Yara Nightshade, leaders of the esteemed Nightshade Coven."Young Zedekiel's shock was palpable, his features frozen in disbelief as Ron's words washed over him like a tidal wave. He shook his head, taking a few steps backwards. “No. No you’re lying. You cannot be a witch. You smell different. You smell human.”“That’s because my magic is extremely weak.” Ron explained. “I am the weakest Nightshade to ever exist. Look, this is the only thing that I can do.”He crouched down on the grass, closed his eyes and muttered some words. Slowly a small plant germinated from the ground and gradually grew a single red juicy looking apple on its branch. But Ron already knew that the apples he grew were not tasty at all. He plucked the fruit, stood up and held it out to Zedekiel. “See, I’m a witch.”To say Young Zedekiel was shocked was an un
He ran and hugged Young Zedekiel tight from behind. “I’m sorry okay? Please talk to me. Tell me what I did wrong and I promise never to it again. I love you Zedekiel. I can’t live without you.”“Lies!” Young Zedekiel snarled, yanking Ron’s arms away from his body. He turned around, his eyes blazing with fury. “Lies lies lies! All you humans know are lies, deceit and betrayal. You do not love. You can never love. All of you are too selfish for that!”Ron stared at Zedekiel, unable to understand what he was talking about. “What are you saying?” he asked. “What do you mean?”“You know exactly what I mean.” Young Zedekiel replied. “Stop acting like you’re innocent. You humans are all the same.”“No we’re not.” Ron argued. “I don’t know what you’re talking about but we’re not. I have done none of what you mentioned. I love you wholeheartedly, Zedekiel. I have been waiting here for weeks, at this same spot where we both first met. I have been waiting for you like you asked me to but not onc
“Good. You will rest for two full weeks and heal properly. Only then will I allow you to take my children into war with the humans. I get that you’re all angry. I too am brimming with rage and there’s nothing I wish more than to see those humans dead but we all have to wait. We have to be patient and strike when they least expect it. We have to be at our best so we can avenge the lives they took from us. Understand?”Prince Kayziel nodded instantly.She turned to Young Zedekiel and although he didn’t want to agree, he could not go against her. Especially after his uncle had agreed. “Yes, Mother.”Zedekiel, who was watching, closed his eyes and sighed for he knew what came next and he wished he had listened to his Mother. His stubbornness and impatience had cost them the lives of more Elves and had nearly cost that of his Mother and siblings as well.********After listening to Prince Kayziel's side of the story, Young Zedekiel was walking back to his room when a guard frantically appr
Without hesitation, Alaric closed the distance between them, enfolding Ron in a gentle yet firm embrace. His arms wrapped around his younger brother, offering a comforting anchor amidst the storm of emotions. He pressed Ron close, as if trying to shield him from the pain and disappointment that threatened to overwhelm him.Zedekiel floated into the shadows, his heart hurting as he silently watched Ron cry. He couldn’t believe that in the past, he hurt Ron so much and made him cry. He felt like total jerk. A complete asshole. He was the one who had approached Ron first and declared him his wife but here he was, abandoning the person he claimed to love. This must be why Alaric had been so mad at him back in the coven.The Elf King had no idea that he had seen nothing yet.That night, Alaric succeeded in convincing Ron to go home, rest, and eat some good food then come back the next day and wait again. Zedekiel on the other hand, floated back to the castle. On getting there, he noticed t
“My brother is yours?” Alaric chuckled coldly. “What an introduction.”“Brother, he’s the one we saved some months ago.” Ron informed Alaric.“That drowning smelly Elf?” Alaric asked.Ron nodded. “He’s the one. I’ve told him many times that I cannot return his feelings for me but he just won’t leave me alone. He said he’d rather see me dead than with someone else.”Hearing that, Alaric's anger ignited like a roaring inferno. “You want to see my brother dead? My brother?" Alaric's queried, his voice rumbling like thunder, laced with a dangerous edge that sent chills down the spine of anyone who heard. Even the neighbouring leaves, bushes, flowers, and animals were not spared. They trembled at the sound of his voice and the intensity of his magic.His chest tightened, and muscles tensed as if coiling to strike. The mere thought of someone wishing harm upon his beloved sibling was enough to send his emotions spiraling out of control. He shielded Ron behind him and held out his hand as he