Noel's POV.
“Father, I do not exactly know what it is you want me to do for them, I don’t think they need me”. I said.“That is not relevant Noel, what matters here is that they require someone they can trust. A reliable person they can count on”. He countered.I was still confused as to why my father would think of sending me to help them. I don’t think there will be something that will be too difficult for the three brothers to handle.“The brothers seem to be having a hard time solving a mystery.” He added.“Even Ajax?” I asked almost immediately.Ajax was always good at solving mysteries, and I was baffled at the thought that he couldn’t solve whatever it was that was going on in the palace.“Ajax left the palace months ago.” He informed me.“Why would Ajax leave the palace? He was the last person I would expect to do something like that.” I said as I struggled to contain my laughter. I returned to beingAjax's POV.I was finally ready to go back home, quite literally and figuratively. I stood up and dusted the debris of sand and stones that got stuck on my body when I had collapsed earlier. Connor followed suit, and we shook hands.I invited him to come over to my place the night before the Supermoon.“You'll never be alone again, Connor”. I assured.He told me he was going to meet with us, he just had to go back home and take care of things first. With that being said, we went our separate ways, each with his own level of satisfaction achieved.On my back to my apartment, I realized I had not spoken with Stacy for a long time. And I knew this was my opportunity to do so. So I made my way to her place. I was just turning the corner when I saw her. “Hello, Beautiful!” I teased. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Ajax”. She joked.I just burst into laughter immediately and stretched out my hand to give her a handshake, rig
Alaric's POV.Aiden coming into my room just to ask for my opinion on him being the king was the funniest thing I have heard in a long while. So much so that I chuckled out loud, before assuring him that I had no intention of being the king. It had never bothered me, in fact, I couldn't care less about who becomes the king. I just want the kingdom to have someone capable, and that responsibility falls on Aiden and Ajax.But nothing could have prepared me for the next question he asked me. It took all my might and rational thinking for me not to show my displeasure.He was intent on making Zelda his queen, and he asked me if I would be okay with it. I knew this was something I would rather not talk about, a reality that I knew I would have to face sooner rather than later, but I was not ready for the uncertainties.I tried to use Ajax as an excuse, and he seemed to catch on. “I won't want to push this conversation any further, b
Chapter 127Alaric's POV.“My help?” Noel questioned.“That is quite unusual for you, though. Even by your standards.” She added.I sighed and started to feel like I really shouldn't have come to her for help, knowing this was precisely the way she would react.“Never mind then, I will take care of things myself.” I declared, settling all further inquiries.“Stop being silly and tell me what it is you want” She demanded, slowly tugging on my arm as she spoke.I tried to talk her out of it, but she would rather not budge, she was determined to make me tell her why I wanted her help after initially making me regret it.“I will never understand this woman.” I declared under my breath.“Fine!” I screamed, as loud as my whisper could be.“Stop acting like a child and let me speak.” I pleaded.“Don't tell me you are here to tell me that you have fallen in love with me” She teased.“Oh for goodness’s sake". I exclaimed.I turned around to leave because I could hardly contain my growing disap
Chapter 125Ajax’s POV There was silence in the room as everyone seemed to be contemplating what their decision would be. “I will go with you” Connor declared, breaking the silence. “I have no family here, and I won’t miss out on the opportunity to experience living in a palace.” He casually explained. Although I had given them the option of coming along with me, I didn’t expect any of them to make that decision. “We will go with you too.” Jonathan also declared as he looked at both Erwin and Mikail for approval, and they nodded in agreement. “Are you sure? There is a high chance of me not coming back to this town.” I tried to explain to them. “This isn’t my town, so I have no problem leaving here.” Connor quickly replied. “Because we were born here doesn’t mean we have to leave the rest of our lives here,” Erwin added. “Well, if you all insist,” I said as I raised my hands in the air.
Zelda's POV.“Ajax is returning?” I asked myself underneath my breath.At first, I could not decide what to do with the information I had just heard.On one part, I was elated and ecstatic that I was finally going to see Ajax after a long time, and on the other hand, I was skeptical about his return, mainly because he was coming back at a time when I was unsure about countless things.“Oh my God!” I screamed in my head, the reality of things finally settling in.Everyone, except Aiden, seemed happy that Ajax was returning, but at least Aiden was clear about his feelings. I was indifferent.I became so lost in touch with reality that it took Aiden tapping on my shoulder and asking me if I was feeling right for me to return to my normal state of mind.We all went back to our rooms and I tried to rest, but I could not get the thought of Ajax and what transpired between us in the past out of my head. His last words
Ajax’s POV After hearing all that has happened from Alaric, it dawned on me that I have been unintentionally selfish. While I have been away dwelling on my emotions, my brothers have been busy fighting a battle against an enemy that is almost impossible to beat. I woke up the next day feeling a bit guilty about the whole situation, but I was also glad that I decided to come back at this crucial time. I looked out of my window and I saw Noel looking around the palace. I wonder what she was searching for that early in the morning. “Care to join me?” She whispered although I could hear her clearly. I reluctantly walked in her direction. “Did you lose something?” I inquired upon getting to her. “I’m just doing my duty.” She replied as she kept looking around. “What duty?” I asked her confused. “I intend to keep an eye on almost everything that goes around in the palace. I have this feeli
Zelda's POV.I must have been walking for hours before realizing I had strayed a bit far from the palace. But currently, I have no desire to return to that place, it was a bit too suffocating and toxic for my liking. The fact that I feel like I am basically being used by the brothers is enough to make me feel the way I do currently. And then there is the gnawing feeling and glaring difference in us all. “I do not think they rate me, the lot of them,” I said to myself, kicking up the dust on the ground as I walked slowly around the woods.“If they did, at least they would involve me in their plans and I wouldn't feel so left out all the time,” I said aloud, almost looking like an insane person.The emotions that were in me for so long had the majority of it released earlier with Simone. “Poor woman, she will probably be very much confused by my actions”. I thought to myself, sighing aloud.For some reason, I wanted to
Alaric's POV.Ajax spent a bit of time in my room catching up, and that made me happy. At least it stopped me from thinking about what had happened with Zelda the previous day. But his and Aiden's confidence and impending clash over Zelda worried me. It made me realize that I was only being strong-headed.“That won't work anymore”. I said to myself, realizing the reality of things.And when he left my room later, I became really somber. I was not in a good mood, not after what Zelda said to me, and for some reason, I wanted to punch something. I realized in no time that I was mostly angry with myself. “I finally drove her to the wall.” I kept thinking in my head as I furiously punched my pillow.I quickly opened the bottle of wine I had kept in my drawer and poured myself a large glass, and then another, and before I knew it the bottle was empty. Sitting on my armchair, I wish I could get wasted. Anything to forget the sce
Zelda’s POV Noel exited the room and I looked at Alaric, who was now looking me straight in the eye.“I will be in my room,” I said and slowly walked away, but he was following me and just when I held the door knob to enter my room, he held me back. “You just publicly chose me in front of everyone, you don’t think I’m just going to let you go into your room, right?” He asked as I turned around to look at him. Before I could say anything else, he pushed me inside the room and pushed me to the bed. He suddenly looked like a beast ready to devour me whole, and that excites me. He pulled down his trousers and I looked in between his legs with my eyes open, but I instantly pulled myself together. “You want me now after how badly you have treated me?” I said while sitting up, as I tried hard to stop myself from jumping on him that instant.“You don’t want me?” He asked seductively, and I smiled mischievously.I gestured for him to join me in bed, and he looked at me for a while before
Noel’s POV I opened my eyes and everything that had happened felt like a dream except for the pain that I felt as I watched my father lifeless on the floor. I took a deep breath and stood up to start the day, my dad had always said that dying at his age was no big deal, and I knew it was time I took his words seriously.But now I have no real family and I felt more lost than ever, I decided to go meet the people close enough to be called family. I met a guard on my way, and he handed me a letter that was meant for the princes. “There is a letter for you three,” I informed them as I sat beside Zelda. I handed it over to Alaric and he opened it. “What does it say?” I asked him, but he didn’t say a word and just handed the letter back to me. I cleared my throat after reading it. “Well, it seems like the king left his son one last gift.” I declared. “What do you mean?” Ajax asked. “A solution to the bizarre situation of sharing a mate. Turns out it was quite an easy one.” I expl
Alaric's POV.My body and head were definitely not ready for what has just been happening since. “How in the world is Zelda and missing? Noel too?” I thought to myself, completely dejected.Ajax suddenly sighed loudly and that caught my attention.“What is it?” I asked, red-eyed at this moment.“I know who took Zelda and Noel.” Ajax suddenly declared.With my head on my hands, and me being in deep thought, I had not been a part of the conversation that was going on.“Not when I finally told her my feelings. Not now.” I kept thinking.I felt it was my fault in a way, but I couldn't decipher how.I suddenly stood up from my seat and darted towards Ajax, ripping the letter away from his hand and reading its content. Apparently, our mother had known that the king was going to die, and she had a list of suspects mentioned in her letter. There were two critical pieces of information in her letter.
Ajax’s POV I couldn’t believe my eyes, I didn’t understand what was going through my mind as I watched Zelda and Alaric trying to put on their clothes. I exited the room unable to say a word, I had no idea what to do or where to go. I saw Alaric approaching me and a part of me wanted to walk away again, but I remained still. “I’m sorry, Ajax.” He said softly.“For what?” I snapped at him. “For everything.” He whispered. “No, Alaric. You are saying the wrong words. What I want from you is an explanation of what I just witnessed.” I replied angrily as I tried hard to stop myself from punching him.“I love Zelda.” He confessed. I was dumbfounded by his words.“Since when?” I questioned further. “From the very beginning.” He said gently. “You are nothing but a hypocrite.” I scoffed. He looked at me with his eyes full of sadness. “Aiden and I must’ve looked like
Alaric’s POV “Uncle Jamie?” I said to myself. I looked at Aiden and then Ajax, and they had the same horrifying look on their faces. “Uncle Jamie! We weren’t expecting you.” Aiden blurted out. “Well, I heard there was a problem within the council and as the only elder in the royal family I thought it was about time I stepped in.” He calmly explained as he sat on one of the empty chairs.“I’m glad you are here my lord, the young princes seem to be forgetting how things work, I think they require enlightenment.” Lord Thomas informed Uncle Jamie confidently. “None of you can sit on that throne without the approval of the council.” He stated clearly. “Not when their claims sound like an excuse to prevent any of us from being the king,” Aiden said with anger in his voice. “You will have no choice but to listen to them, unless you want to be a king with no subjects.” He threatened. It was cl
Ajax’s POV Coming out of Zelda’s room, I saw Aiden, I instantly concealed my sad expression as I wouldn’t want to give any privilege to tease me. I extended my hand for a handshake and just like I expected, he was taken aback by my gesture. “May the best man win.” I declared and walked away feeling a bit satisfied. The next morning…Jonathan, Connor, and I were already waiting for Zelda at the entrance of the palace. “You said you were going to show us around the town, but you somehow turned into a date with your mate.” Connor sarcastically complained. “Are we supposed to give you two some space when we are out?” Jonathan teased. “You two! Cut it out. She will be here any moment.” I cautioned them. “Was this your plan all along? To use us as an excuse?” Connor accused. I didn’t say anything, but instead, I was just smiling at his silly reaction. “I suddenly don’t fe
SIMONE'S POV.I must have wandered for days, just waiting for the earth to take me and put me out of my misery. I had run away from the only home I had ever known due to the incessant crisis in my community. I had lost my brother and my mother. And I got separated from my father, and now I am all alone.I wandered into this country with no hope and no property to my name. And since I knew no one, it was hard for me to plant my roots.Just as I was about to give up hope, I stumbled to a large gate. It looked like the owner of the building was very influential, and I was determined to plead my case before them.I knocked on the gate and I was immediately accosted by some men who looked like they were guarding the place. I got scared and cowered in fear, but I was determined.“Who are you and what are you doing here?” The plump and most gentle among them asked me.I was too tired and hungry to give him an answer. And so I
Aiden's POV.“Where are we heading to, Noel?” I asked as she kept walking ahead, sounding all giddy.“Don't you trust me, Aiden?” She asked, teasingly.“I do… but,” I said before she cut me short.“Don't be scared. I just want to show you something.” She declared, finally putting my fear to rest.“We are here!.” She exclaimed, shrieking as she spoke.I looked around and sure enough, it was a place in the palace no one had visited in a long time. The Queen's Garden.Being here brought about a flood of emotions and memories of my mother, the late queen. A cold chill of air suddenly ran down my spine as my hair stood on its end.“You can almost feel her presence, can't you?” Noel questioned, shuddering in between her questions.“Why'd you bring me here, Noel?” I inquired, a stern look on my face.Coming here was just too sad for any of us, and so we avoided it like a plague. Though, when
Corey’s POV “Did you get the book?” Lord Jamie asked immediately after I entered the room, I could sense his impatience and without further delay, I handed the book and the journal to him. “And the man?” He inquired as he dropped the book on the table. “You have nothing to worry about, my lord, he has been taken care of,” I assured him. “Good, make sure you deliver his reward to his family. I did make a promise after all.” He said and I nodded. “But make sure you are discreet about it.” He added. He picked the book up and flipped a few pages as he hummed to himself, I watched him carefully, waiting to be enlightened by his next move. He dropped the book and picked up the journal, he opened the journal and stared at the blank space for some seconds. “What do you intend to do with an empty journal?” I asked, unable to contain my curiosity. “I’m going to read it.” He replied with a misch