Zedekiel stood to the side, amused by the Prince's seriousness. He could say that since the day the Prince stepped into Netheridge, this was the first time he had seen him concentrate on something so well. He had to admit. Even the serious Prince was very attractive. Some minutes later...The King and the guards stared at the Prince's masterpiece with wide eyes.What the hell was this?!!!!!Prince Ron had a smile of satisfaction on his face. He had done good. Well done to himself. He patted himself on the back mentally.The prisoner was shaking and sweating bullets. He had been completely stripped down to his underwear, sitting on the edge of the chair with his limbs spread wide like a starfish, arms and legs secured by chains which were attached to the walls. A pair of large sharp shears were hanging above him by a rope which was held up by a hook in the ceiling then down to Prince Ron's hands.What scared the prisoner the most was that Prince Ron had ordered the guards to pull out
The prisoner was dumbfounded. Wasn't the Prince supposed to be afraid? Elves were dangerous!"Believe me Your Highness!" he pleaded. "They're all Elves! The man beside you is the King of the Elves! They have extraordinary powers and can kill you within seconds! Your Highness release me so that I may protect you!"Prince Ron couldn't help but laugh. Even if Griffith wanted to protect him, it was impossible so long as King Zedekiel had the intention to kill him. He laughed so hard that tears came out of his eyes. "You mean to tell me that my future brother in-law is an Elf King?"At that point, it wasn't even the situation that irked Zedekiel anymore. It were the words 'future brother in-law'. He was suddenly irritated. Why must the human Prince be so specific?Ah what was he thinking about at a time like this?"Your Highness, you must believe me!" Griffith continued. "They exist! They truly exist!"The situation suddenly birthed an idea in Prince Ron's mind. What a great opportunity!"
The room had been cleaned.Broken items had been swept away. The chairs and tables were put in their original position. The torn bedsheets were replaced with new ones and Princess Rose was sitting on the edge of the bed, reading a letter.Her face grew uglier the more she read and that only meant she was angry. The angrier the got, the worse her temper became and the more horrible she would be.The servants noticed this and all went on their knees, staying some feet away from the bed. They also took away any object from her reach. Knowing her personality well, she would throw at them whatever her hands find.This bad behaviour of hers had once led her to fatally injure a servant and what was worse was the fact that she didn't care. She even said that the lives of the servants were not important. They were meant to die for her anyway.Sure the servants would give their lives up for their masters to live but saying it so blatantly made her servants feel worthless. They could lose their
"Cloaked?" The Queen Mother asked, taking a seat at the wooden round table in the middle of an empty small room.Zedekiel nodded as he took a seat across from her. "Always."Prince Ludiciel sighed as he took the last seat. "Mother, I do not know why you even bother asking if this room is cloaked when you know it always is. No one knows about this room except us.""Well, you cannot help but be careful," The Queen Mother said, adjusting her flower crown which the twins had made for her with the help of Prince Ron. It was a mix of red and white roses which matched her crimson-coloured dress. "The walls have ears."Zedekiel cleared his throat and placed a sheet of paper on the table. "This is the list the prisoner gave. Every single Shadow spy and assassin of Ashenmore hiding in this Kingdom is here. What do you suggest we do, Mother?"The Queen Mother was taken aback by the question. "You're asking me?"Stunned, King Zedekiel and Prince Ludiciel shared a confused look."Of course Mother.
"I'm just saying you can start anew, my son," she said. "Do not let these doubts hold you back. You heard what the Mother Tree said. You have to open your heart and trust. I know it in my heart that that human will never betray you or us."Prince Ludiciel nodded. "He was sticking to you like an octopus this evening. Something tells me you do not have to put in too much effort to get the human to fall in love with you. It will happen naturally."Oh if only he knew.Zedekiel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. During the interrogation of the prisoner, he had listened to the Prince's heartbeat as well. He would have detected lies had there been any. It was either that or the human was a very good liar but he didn't want to think that.Doubt.He really had to stop doubting."He said he didn't care if we were Elves," Zedekiel said, opening his violet-coloured eyes.Stunned, The Queen Mother and Prince Ludiciel stared at him, their eyes wide.Zedekiel smiled a little. "I was also shocke
"Why did what happen? Tell me" Prince Kayziel urged. "Is it going to affect my plans?"Prince Ron shook his head. Rather, it was going to affect his own plans. "Do you remember The Shadows, Prince Kayziel?"Hearing those words, the Elf Spirit's expression went sour. "Those evil humans!" he spat."Well, those evil humans are back. The prisoner we interrogated today is one of them."Prince Kayziel gasped. "I thought they didn't exist anymore.""They didn't. Someone brought them back," Prince Ron said. "And that person is from my Kingdom. I don't know who but I feel like my sister knows. She knows all our Kingdom secrets.""Well, what do you expect?" Prince Kayziel asked. "She's a Princess and you're an illegitimate Ashenmore."Prince Ron groaned. He wanted to tell the Elf that he was actually the Crown Prince but that would bring a lot of problems between them so he shoved those thoughts away. "I managed to get the prisoner to talk and the prison guards are compiling a list of all the s
Prince Ron walked out of the bathroom wearing fluffy white night robes. They were light and comfortable. His russet curls were damp, slightly sticking to his forehead and nape. He smelled like roses and the servants wheeling in the trays of food were mesmerised by his dainty appearance."Oh, am I having dinner in here?" he asked, pleasantly surprised. He gazed at the different variety of foods on each tray and his mouth watered. There were different kinds of meat. Grilled, boiled, roasted, and stewed with sides of vegetables and fish. There were also fruits and rice with things that looked like flatbread or they could be pancakes. He wasn't sure but everything looked delicious. There wasn't a kind of food in the world Prince Ron didn't love. Except if it tastes bitter but which food does?"Yes, Your Highness." The head servant, an elderly man answered with a bow. "The Queen Mother said that you have not yet recovered from your injuries and you asserted yourself by helping our King int
Prince Ron turned to find Prince Ludiciel watching them with a smile on his face.The human Prince and his brother looked so adorable. "I was thinking about whether to join you two or not. After all, the food is too much for you two to finish. I may as well eat here." He took a step forward but the immediate chilling glares he received froze him on the spot."Who says it's too much? Go eat with everyone else." Prince Ron said, frowning as he waved him off. "Shoo, Shoo."Zedekiel didn't even need to talk. His warning glare and the barrier stopping Prince Ludiciel from taking any step closer said it all.Prince Ludiciel couldn't help but laugh. Was this the King who kept saying things about the human Prince in the hidden room? The one whose mind was filled with doubts? He had already seen what he wanted to see. If the Prince wasn't romantically interested in Zedekiel then he would shave his entire head. It was only left for Zedekiel to go in for the kill."Alright alright, I'll leave. H
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