Chapter 9: The King Who Was Never Supposed to Rule
The letter trembled in Sophie's hands.
My daughters, if you are reading this, then I have failed to protect you from the man who is supposed to be your grandfather.
Madeleine looked at Elizabeth.
"Your father?""
Elizabeth nodded slowly.
"King Edward.""
Victor frowned.
"But he died before Gabriel became king.""
"He did," Madeleine replied.
"Then how could he have ordered anything?""
Elizabeth took the letter.
"Because King Edward did not die when the palace announced his death.""
Nobody spoke.
Even General Marcus seemed unable to believe what he was hearing.
Elizabeth continued.
"Your grandfather was alive when Gabriel took the throne. He had been secretly imprisoned beneath the palace.""
Madeleine stepped backward.
"Why?""
"Because Gabriel wanted the crown. But according to the old succession laws, he could never inherit it.""
Victor looked at Sophie.
"Then who could?""
Elizabeth pointed toward the silver crown.
"The daughters of the first bloodline.""
Sophie unfolded the letter again.
There was more.
Gabriel was never my legitimate heir. His mother concealed the truth about his birth. When I discovered it, I ordered the succession council to investigate. Before the council could meet, Gabriel imprisoned me and announced my death.
Sophie looked at the king's name.
Gabriel Bellgrave.
A man who had ruled for twenty-three years.
A man who had convinced the kingdom that he was the rightful king.
And a man whose entire claim to the throne might have been a lie.
Madeleine shook her head.
"How could he do that?""
Elizabeth answered quietly.
"Because he had help.""
Her gaze moved toward General Marcus.
The general looked away.
Victor picked up the royal seal from the box.
It bore the symbol of the old king.
"Who helped him?""
Elizabeth pointed to the photograph.
Sophie lifted it.
The picture showed three men standing in the royal garden.
King Edward.
A younger Gabriel.
And a third man wearing the uniform of the royal physician.
Dr. Hart.
Sophie looked toward the physician.
"Why are you in this photograph?""
Dr. Hart removed his glasses.
He looked suddenly exhausted.
"Because I was there the night King Edward disappeared.""
Madeleine approached him.
"Samuel, what did you do?""
He swallowed.
"I signed the medical certificate declaring him dead.""
Victor stared.
"You helped Gabriel steal the throne?""
"I was twenty-six. Gabriel threatened my family.""
Sophie looked at him.
"And you kept lying for twenty-four years?""
Dr. Hart nodded.
"Yes.""
She stepped closer.
"How many people had to suffer because you were afraid?""
He had no answer.
Then a low rumble sounded beneath the chamber.
The stone door opened.
Two armed soldiers entered.
Behind them stood Gabriel.
His face was pale, but his expression was controlled.
"Step away from the crown.""
Nobody moved.
Gabriel looked at Isabella.
"So you finally found your sister.""
Isabella lifted her chin.
"Yes.""
"How touching.""
Sophie held the crown tightly.
"Did you imprison King Edward?""
Gabriel laughed.
"Your grandfather was a weak old man who couldn't govern.""
"Did you steal his throne?""
"I saved the kingdom.""
Madeleine stepped forward.
"By killing your own father?""
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
"I never killed him.""
Elizabeth looked at him.
"Then where is he?""
Gabriel remained silent.
Victor approached his father.
"Tell us.""
The king looked at him.
"Move, Victor.""
"No.""
Gabriel's expression hardened.
"You're making a mistake.""
Victor shook his head.
"I have spent my entire life trying to become the man you wanted me to be. I won't spend another minute doing it.""
Gabriel turned toward the soldiers.
"Take the girls.""
The soldiers raised their weapons.
General Marcus suddenly stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, perhaps we should wait.""
Gabriel turned.
"Excuse me?""
"The crystal has awakened. The succession laws—"
"Do not lecture me about laws!""
Gabriel grabbed Marcus by the collar.
"I made you general. I gave you your position. And you dare question me?""
Marcus looked at Sophie.
Then at the two bracelets.
He slowly lowered his weapon.
"I will not arrest them.""
Gabriel released him.
For several seconds, the king seemed unable to speak.
Then he pulled a small knife from his jacket.
He lunged toward Isabella.
Sophie shouted.
"Isabella!""
Victor intercepted him.
The two men crashed against the stone table.
The knife skidded across the floor.
Gabriel struck Victor in the face.
Victor staggered but caught his father's arm.
"Stop!""
Gabriel punched him again.
"You're nothing without me!""
Victor fell.
Sophie rushed toward him.
Madeleine grabbed the knife.
Elizabeth stood between Gabriel and the girls.
"Enough!""
Gabriel turned toward her.
"You should have stayed dead.""
Elizabeth looked at him without fear.
"I've been dead to this family for twenty-four years. I'm finished being afraid.""
Then the crown began glowing.
The emerald light spread across the chamber.
Every soldier lowered his weapon.
A deep voice seemed to emerge from the stone walls.
Not a human voice.
Something ancient.
Something that had been waiting.
The blood has returned.
Gabriel stumbled backward.
"No.""
The silver crown lifted slightly from Sophie's hands.
The two emerald bracelets glowed together.
Then the chamber walls began opening.
Behind them was a narrow passage.
A passage leading deeper beneath the palace.
Madeleine stared.
"The old king's prison.""
Gabriel's face turned white.
"Nobody goes down there.""
Sophie looked at him.
"Why?""
He stepped backward.
"Because there is nothing to find.""
Isabella looked at the letter.
"That's a lie.""
She pointed to a final paragraph.
If Gabriel has taken the crown, seek the chamber beneath the chapel. The rightful guardian remains alive.
Victor slowly stood.
"Grandfather?""
Elizabeth nodded.
"King Edward.""
They entered the passage together.
Gabriel attempted to stop them, but Marcus and two guards blocked his way.
"Move!"" the king shouted.
Marcus stood firm.
"Not this time, Your Majesty.""
The passage descended beneath the oldest foundations of Bellgrave Palace.
The walls were lined with iron rings and old chains.
Sophie felt sick.
"How long was he down here?""
Elizabeth answered.
"Twenty-three years.""
Madeleine began crying again.
"Twenty-three years...""
Victor looked at the walls.
"How could nobody know?""
"Because the entrance was hidden behind the royal chapel," Elizabeth said.
"Only the king's personal physician and the head of the royal guard knew.""
They reached a heavy iron door.
There was a small window at eye level.
Sophie approached.
Inside was a narrow room containing a bed, a wooden chair, and a small table.
An elderly man sat beside the window.
His white hair fell over his forehead.
His shoulders were bent.
But his eyes were sharp.
He looked up.
For a moment, he stared at the people outside.
Then his gaze settled on Madeleine.
"Little Madeleine?""
The queen began sobbing.
"Father.""
The old man slowly stood.
"Is it really you?""
Madeleine pressed both hands against the glass.
"Yes, Father.""
King Edward approached the door.
He looked at Elizabeth.
Then at Victor.
Finally, he saw Sophie and Isabella.
His expression changed.
"Two girls.""
He placed a trembling hand against the glass.
"My little princesses.""
Sophie felt tears forming.
"Are you our grandfather?""
Edward nodded.
"Yes, my dear.""
"Did Gabriel put you here?""
The old king's eyes filled.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Edward looked toward the passage.
"Because he wanted the throne.""
Sophie swallowed.
"Is he really the rightful king?""
Edward shook his head.
"No.""
He leaned closer.
"Gabriel is not my son.""
Madeleine gasped.
Elizabeth covered her mouth.
Victor looked as though someone had struck him.
"What?""
Edward closed his eyes.
"Your grandmother had an affair before I married her. Gabriel was born from that affair. I knew the truth, but I kept it hidden to protect the kingdom.""
Madeleine shook her head.
"Then why did you allow him to become king?""
"Because I was dying, and I believed he would protect the monarchy.""
Edward looked at Sophie.
"I was wrong.""
The old king reached into his pocket and produced a small silver key.
It was attached to a chain.
"Take this.""
Sophie reached through the narrow opening.
"What does it open?""
"The royal vault.""
She frowned.
"But we already found the crown.""
Edward shook his head.
"No, child. You found the ceremonial crown.""
He pointed toward the floor.
"The real crown is hidden beneath the chapel. And it carries the original succession seal.""
Victor approached.
"Why does that matter?""
Edward looked at him.
"Because whoever holds the original seal controls the royal oath. Without it, Gabriel cannot legally remain king.""
Sophie took the key.
Then Edward gripped her fingers.
"Listen carefully. The king will try to destroy the seal tonight.""
"Why tonight?""
"Because the council will meet at sunrise. If the seal is presented, the throne will return to the rightful heirs.""
Isabella looked at Sophie.
"Then we have to get there before him.""
Edward nodded.
But before they could leave, he spoke again.
"One more thing.""
Madeleine turned.
"What is it, Father?""
Edward looked toward Elizabeth.
"Adrian was not the girls' only protector.""
Elizabeth frowned.
"What do you mean?""
The old king's voice dropped.
"The man who raised the girls was not their only family. Someone else knew where they were all these years.""
Sophie stared.
"Who?""
Edward looked directly at Eleanor.
The housekeeper had been standing silently at the end of the passage.
Her face had gone completely white.
Edward whispered:
"The woman who helped Gabriel steal the children was also the woman who arranged their escape.""
Sophie turned toward Eleanor.
"What?""
Eleanor's lips trembled.
"Your Majesty, please...""
Edward continued.
"She has been carrying the original succession seal since the night the girls were born.""
Eleanor slowly reached inside her uniform.
She removed a small velvet pouch.
Inside was a golden ring.
The royal seal.
Sophie stared.
"You had it all along?""
Eleanor nodded.
"I was waiting for the right moment.""
Madeleine approached her.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because I was afraid.""
Sophie looked at her.
"Afraid of what?""
Eleanor opened the pouch fully.
A second object lay inside.
A tiny photograph.
It showed two young girls standing beside a woman.
One girl had dark hair.
The other had green eyes.
And behind them stood a man wearing the uniform of the royal guard.
Sophie recognized him.
He was the man who had delivered her to Eleanor as a baby.
The man who had supposedly died in a carriage accident.
Eleanor whispered:
"He is alive.""
Victor looked at the photograph.
"Who?""
Eleanor raised her eyes.
"Your uncle Adrian.""
Madeleine stared.
"But Isabella said he died.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"The man who died was not Adrian.""
Sophie felt her heart pounding.
"Then who was it?""
Eleanor turned the photograph over.
Three words had been written on the back.
The king's brother.
A sudden explosion shook the passage.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
The lights went out.
Someone shouted from the staircase.
Then Gabriel's voice echoed through the darkness.
"Nobody leaves this palace alive!""
The old king grabbed the bars of his cell.
"Go!""
Sophie clutched the royal seal.
Isabella grabbed her hand.
And as the sisters ran toward the chapel, they heard a second voice behind them.
A voice they recognized.
"Girls! Wait!""
They turned.
At the far end of the corridor stood a man in a dark coat.
He was older than the photograph.
His hair was silver.
A scar ran across his forehead.
But his green eyes were unmistakable.
He looked at Sophie.
Then at Isabella.
And whispered:
"My daughters.""
Sophie stopped.
May you like
Adrian Vale was alive.
And he had come back for them.
