Chapter Five: Deceit

~Thorn~

Once we had returned to the palace I called for Colby. I headed to my office to await him. I was doing work when there was a clearing of the throat. I looked up to see Colby waiting for me to meet his face. 

“Your Majesty, I was told you needed my services?” He questioned filled with confusion since I didn’t call for him during late hours very often.

“Yes, I need you to look into something for me. Specifically into Lady Nyx.” When I said her name Colby’s face lit up with even more confusion. 

“Lady Nyx Sparrow, your Majesty?” He questioned again with a bewildered look on his face. 

“Yesm something is off about her behavior. Marquess Sparrow is hiding something. And I want to know what it is and why she’s going along with it.” I answered deep in my thoughts.

“Very well, I will look into the matter as discreetly as possible.” Colby answered before crossing his hand over his chest and bowing. It was a motion of the highest honor. It showed loyalty and trust to the one on the receiving end. I nodded. 

“I’ll leave you to then.” I acknowledged before he turned to leave me to study by myself. I decided to work on some documents that were due tomorrow. I doubted that I would be able to sleep anyway. My mind kept wondering back to the terror on her face. Her beautiful sweet face. What was she so scared of. She’s a noble lady and a high ranking one at that. I fell back in my chair letting out a breath. I felt anger and frustration all at the same time. Running my hand through my hair, I returned to my work. 

~Fallon Von Keem~

I was taking tea in the garden when I receive a letter with no sender. I knitted my brows together since the mysterious letter had no seal. All nobles have their own seals. Meaning this letter was not from a noble. I would usually not open these but my interest was peaked. It read:

Duchess Von Keem, 

It is with deep regret that I must inform you that another noble is stepping in on your betrothed. She’s using her faked weak constitution to woo the crowned prince. I’m sure without me saying names you know who it is I speak of. Last night, I witnessed her forcing her lips on his. She retreated once he rejected her. She might have more tricks up her sleeve to win his heart in the future. Be wary of her faked label and title. 

Signed,

A friend

I gritted my teeth as the image of the whore came to mind. Lady Nyx, you little tramp, how dare you step out of your place. She never even made her debut into society. It is rare that she attends any of the social events. I wonder what the writer of this letter meant by a faked title? Could her father have something to do with this? Him and my father have always been rivals since their youth. Would her father do this to spite my father or did Nyx come up with this on her own? Either way this wouldn't due whatsoever. I thought as I bit my nail. Thinking of how to solve this problem. Daddy will know about this, I thought to myself. I stood up and left the garden to head to his study. 

“Daddy, we have a problem.” I said full of sweetened anger as I burst through the door.

“Fallon, my sweet daughter, can you not see I am busy with affairs in the Dukedom.” He stated looking up with annoyance. His face softened however when his eyes met with mine. They were teary with rage and heartbreak. I knew how to play my father. He hated seeing his precious daughter cry. I threw the letter on his desk. The seal made a pap sound as it hit the wood. My father pulled it toward him before opening it. He spent some time reading it before his face flushed with the same anger I felt. 

“How DARE the Sparrow family disrespect the future Queen of the kingdom. A daughter of the prestigious Von Keem family at that!” He shouted in anger. I let the waterworks fall to help seal the deal. I dramatically sat down with my face in my hands. 

“Daddy, we have to do something, that little wench and her family have overstepped. What if she tricks the prince into falling in love with him to get back at our family for her father?” I sobbed. He sighed and stood walking around his desk to kneel in front of me. 

“I will handle it, Fallon. You need not to worry your pretty little head any longer.” He said in a soft voice. I nodded before bidding my father goodnight. I left his office with a smirk on my lips. She will get what’s coming to her soon enough.