Chapter 9: The Night the King Was Murdered
Victoria's car disappeared beyond the palace gates.
Adrian reached the courtyard just as the security doors slammed shut.
"Stop that vehicle!""
Two guards rushed toward the outer entrance.
But the security system had already been disabled.
The prince turned to Thomas.
"Can you identify the driver?""
Thomas looked at the security monitor.
"Palace security staff. His name is Daniel Foster.""
"Find him.""
Adrian turned toward the queen.
"Mother, stay here.""
Eleanor stood beside the sofa.
"I won't hide while another woman destroys this family.""
"You're not hiding. You're recovering.""
"Adrian, your father died because I kept quiet. I'm not making that mistake again.""
Elia approached her.
"Then let me come with you.""
The queen looked at her.
"You have already suffered enough.""
"So has everyone else.""
For several seconds, Eleanor studied the young woman.
Then she nodded.
"Very well.""
They found the first clue in Victoria's private guest suite.
A suitcase stood open beside the bed.
Several expensive gowns had been removed. Jewelry boxes were empty. A royal document lay torn near the fireplace.
Thomas picked up the paper.
"She was looking for something.""
Adrian examined the torn edges.
"What's missing?""
Mr. Whitmore entered carrying the remaining pieces of the document.
"The original record of the royal children's births.""
Adrian fitted the pieces together.
Three names appeared.
Serena Brooks.
Nathaniel Edward.
Elia Brooks.
Beside each name was a small royal seal.
At the bottom, a handwritten note read:
*THE THREE CHILDREN OF EVELYN BROOKS SHALL REMAIN UNDER THE KING'S PROTECTION.*
Elia stared.
"Why would Victoria steal this?""
Whitmore answered.
"Because it proves all three children were acknowledged by the king.""
Serena entered quietly.
She was no longer wearing her emerald gown. Her hair was loose, and her makeup had been wiped away.
"Because she wants to destroy the document before the council sees it.""
Adrian turned.
"Why would Victoria care so much?""
Serena looked at the paper.
"Because Margaret promised her something.""
"What?""
"Your throne.""
Adrian stared.
"Victoria wanted to marry me.""
"Not because she loved you. Margaret promised that if Victoria married you, she would become queen. And if the royal children were declared illegitimate or disqualified, Victoria's family would control the council.""
Elia looked at Serena.
"You knew about the plan?""
Serena nodded.
"I knew Margaret wanted Victoria to marry Adrian. I thought it was a political arrangement.""
"Then why didn't you tell anyone?""
Serena lowered her eyes.
"Because I wanted to remain important.""
Her voice cracked.
"I knew she was cruel to you. I knew she humiliated servants. I knew she was hiding things about my mother. But I didn't care.""
Elia said nothing.
Serena continued.
"I thought being close to the throne would make me powerful. I thought I was finally somebody.""
Adrian looked at her.
"And now?""
Serena wiped her face.
"Now I know I spent twenty-two years trying to earn the love of a woman who deliberately stole me from my mother.""
Queen Eleanor approached.
"Serena, you are not responsible for what Margaret did.""
Serena looked at her.
"But I was responsible for what I did to Elia.""
She turned toward her sister.
"I'm sorry.""
Elia looked at her for a long moment.
Then she nodded.
"Don't ask me to forgive you tonight.""
Serena swallowed.
"I won't.""
"Just help us find Victoria.""
Serena nodded.
"I know where she'll go.""
The old east chapel stood behind the northern gardens.
It had been abandoned after the king's death.
The stained-glass windows were cracked, and weeds had grown between the stone steps. A narrow passage beneath the altar connected it to the palace's private carriage entrance.
Serena led them there.
"Margaret brought me here when I was a child," she explained.
"She said the chapel contained the names of every royal child who had ever been born.""
Thomas inspected the doorway.
"Any guards?""
"Two, usually.""
Adrian drew his sword.
"Not tonight.""
They entered.
Inside, the chapel was dark except for a small candle burning near the altar.
Victoria stood at the front.
She was wearing a black coat over her gold gown.
In her hands was the velvet case.
Beside her stood Lord Malvern.
Adrian raised his sword.
"Victoria!""
She turned.
For a moment, she looked relieved.
"Adrian.""
"Put the case down.""
Victoria shook her head.
"I can't.""
"Put it down.""
Lord Malvern stepped forward.
"Your Highness, you're making a mistake.""
Adrian pointed his sword at him.
"You helped murder my father.""
Malvern smiled faintly.
"Your father made a mistake by trusting the wrong people.""
Elia stepped forward.
"Why did you take my mother?""
Malvern looked at her.
"Your mother was a threat.""
"She was a nurse.""
"She knew too much.""
"About what?""
He looked toward Victoria.
Victoria lowered her eyes.
Malvern answered.
"About the royal bloodline. About the king's children. About the money that disappeared from the royal treasury.""
Queen Eleanor stepped forward.
"You stole from my husband.""
"I redirected funds to secure the monarchy.""
"You poisoned him.""
Malvern smiled.
"Your husband was already destroying his own kingdom.""
Adrian lunged.
Thomas caught his arm.
"Your Highness, wait.""
Malvern reached into his coat and produced a small pistol.
Everyone froze.
"Nobody moves.""
Victoria took a step backward.
"Lord Malvern, you said nobody would get hurt.""
He glanced at her.
"Be quiet.""
Adrian slowly lowered his sword.
"Let the queen go.""
Malvern laughed.
"She's already free. I have no interest in her.""
"Then what do you want?""
"The succession document.""
Serena stepped forward.
"You already have it.""
Malvern looked at her.
"I want the original.""
Serena held up the torn document.
"You mean this?""
Malvern's expression changed.
He raised the pistol.
"Give it to me.""
Serena didn't move.
Adrian looked toward Thomas.
The young guard shifted slightly, positioning himself near the side door.
Elia noticed.
She understood.
They needed to keep Malvern distracted.
"Why did you help Margaret hide us?"" Elia asked.
Malvern looked toward her.
"Because your existence complicated the future.""
"Whose future?""
"The future of the kingdom.""
"Or yours?""
His face hardened.
"You are a child who has been given far too much attention.""
Elia took another step.
"My mother didn't deserve to disappear because of you.""
"Your mother was warned.""
"She was innocent.""
"She knew the king had promised to recognize three illegitimate children. That would have destroyed the council.""
"So you killed my father?""
Malvern raised his chin.
"I arranged the medication. Margaret approved the plan. Victoria delivered the final dose.""
Victoria turned sharply.
"That isn't what you promised!""
Malvern ignored her.
Elia stared at Victoria.
"You poisoned the king?""
Victoria began to cry.
"I didn't know what was in the bottle.""
Queen Eleanor looked at her.
"You brought it to me.""
Victoria nodded.
"Margaret told me it was a calming tonic. She said the king was dying anyway.""
Eleanor's face twisted with grief.
"You watched him die.""
Victoria covered her mouth.
"I was twenty-two. I didn't understand.""
Adrian's voice was cold.
"You're twenty-seven now. You understood enough to steal the records and run.""
Victoria shook her head.
"Adrian, I loved you.""
"No. You loved the crown.""
She looked at him.
Then she slowly placed the velvet case on the altar.
"I can help you.""
Malvern turned.
"Don't.""
Victoria opened the case.
Inside lay a silver bracelet.
Five tiny stars.
The second royal bracelet.
She looked toward Elia.
"Your grandmother told me this would prove you were never meant to inherit.""
Elia frowned.
"Why?""
Victoria opened the bracelet.
A small compartment was concealed inside its clasp.
She removed a tiny folded piece of paper.
"I found this in Margaret's private chambers.""
Adrian approached.
"Give it to me.""
Victoria handed it over.
The prince unfolded it.
It was a medical record.
The title read:
*ROYAL MATERNITY WARD — PRIVATE REPORT.*
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he stopped.
"This can't be right.""
Queen Eleanor approached.
"What?""
Adrian looked at her.
"The king had three children with Evelyn. But the record says the queen's stillborn daughter was never buried.""
Eleanor felt her knees weaken.
"Then who was in the coffin?""
Malvern suddenly laughed.
"Now you're finally asking the right question.""
He pointed the pistol toward the queen.
"Your daughter wasn't stillborn.""
Silence.
Elia stared.
"What?""
Malvern continued.
"She was alive. Margaret arranged a switch. The king believed he had lost one child and gained three others through Evelyn.
The queen believed she had lost a daughter. But the truth was much worse.""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Where is my daughter?""
Malvern smiled.
"She was taken out of the palace the same night as the twins.""
Adrian looked at the record.
"Then who did we bury?""
Malvern's answer came slowly.
"Nobody.""
Queen Eleanor began crying.
"You stole my baby?""
"Your daughter was moved to protect the family.""
"Where is she?""
Malvern looked toward the altar.
"She grew up under another name.""
Elia felt the room spinning.
Serena stepped closer.
"Who?""
Malvern looked directly at the queen.
"Ask the woman who raised her.""
Everyone turned toward Ruth Brooks.
She had entered the chapel with two palace officers.
Her face was pale.
Eleanor approached her.
"Ruth?""
Ruth began crying.
"Your Majesty...""
"Where is my daughter?""
Ruth looked toward Elia.
Then toward Serena.
Finally, her eyes settled on Queen Eleanor.
"I was supposed to tell you when the time was right.""
Eleanor grabbed her hands.
"Tell me now.""
Ruth took a trembling breath.
"The little girl who was placed in my care twenty-two years ago...""
She looked at Elia.
"...was not the only child I raised.""
Elia stared at her.
"Mrs. Brooks?""
Ruth nodded through her tears.
"When I took you in, I was also caring for another little girl. She was a newborn. Margaret told me she was the daughter of a palace servant.""
The queen's lips parted.
"What was her name?""
Ruth looked toward Serena.
"Victoria.""
The chapel fell silent.
Victoria staggered backward.
"No.""
Ruth continued.
"She had a small birthmark beneath her left shoulder. I was told never to remove the royal bracelet she wore.""
Victoria's hand went to her collar.
She remembered the tiny mark.
The one she had always believed was a childhood injury.
Eleanor stared at her.
Then she stepped closer.
"Victoria...""
The young noblewoman shook her head.
"No. No, that's impossible.""
Ruth began to cry.
"You are the queen's daughter.""
Victoria dropped the velvet case.
The bracelet struck the stone floor.
Adrian stared at his former fiancée.
Elia looked at the woman who had spent years humiliating her.
And Queen Eleanor slowly reached toward Victoria's face.
"My little girl...""
But Victoria recoiled.
"Don't touch me!""
Eleanor froze.
Victoria looked toward Margaret's empty place beside the altar.
"She told me my mother died.""
Ruth shook her head.
"She lied.""
Victoria's face crumpled.
Then Lord Malvern raised his pistol again.
"Enough family reunions.""
Thomas moved.
A gunshot exploded.
The chapel windows shattered.
Queen Eleanor screamed.
And when the smoke cleared, Elia was lying on the stone floor with blood spreading across her white collar.
Adrian dropped his sword.
"ELIA!""
Thomas rushed toward his sister.
Victoria stood frozen.
Then someone behind the altar began laughing.
It was Margaret.
She emerged from the shadows, holding a second pistol.
"Now," she said softly, "we can finally finish what should have happened twenty-two years ago.""
Adrian looked up.
"Grandmother...""
Margaret aimed directly at him.
May you like
"Your father should have listened to me.""
And behind her, the old chapel doors began closing.
