Chapter 4: The King Who Buried the Truth
"Because I was there the night she disappeared.""
King William's words settled over the room like a death sentence.
Sophie stood motionless, the silver key pressed so tightly into her palm that its sharp edges hurt.
Queen Elizabeth stared at her husband.
"William, what have you done?""
The king removed his ceremonial jacket and placed it over the back of a chair. His movements were calm, almost painfully ordinary.
"Before you accuse me of anything, Elizabeth, perhaps you should hear the entire story.""
Thomas Ashford stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, I have spent twenty-two years waiting for this moment.""
William glanced at him.
"And I have spent twenty-two years allowing you to live.""
Thomas's jaw tightened.
Sophie looked between them.
"Please. Someone tell me what happened to my mother.""
William turned toward her.
"Your mother was a remarkable woman. Intelligent. Determined. Unfortunately, she was also reckless.""
"Don't you dare speak about her that way," Elizabeth snapped.
William ignored her.
"Eleanor believed the throne belonged to her because an ancient stone had illuminated beneath her hand. She wanted to change the laws, dismiss half the council, and remove every noble who opposed her.""
"That isn't true," Thomas said.
William's eyes narrowed.
"You weren't present for every conversation.""
"I was her guard. I was present when she begged you to stop threatening her.""
Sophie felt something cold move through her chest.
"Threatening her?""
The king sighed.
"Your mother believed I intended to harm her. She was mistaken.""
Thomas laughed bitterly.
"Then explain why your men surrounded her chambers.""
"To prevent a political disaster.""
"With swords?""
William's expression hardened.
"Enough.""
He walked toward the fireplace.
"Twenty-two years ago, this kingdom was unstable. Your grandfather had died, the council was divided, and the succession was uncertain. Eleanor's supporters wanted her crowned immediately. Others believed I should take the throne.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"You were not even the rightful heir.""
"I was the only person capable of holding the kingdom together.""
"You stole what belonged to her.""
William turned.
"I saved this kingdom.""
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Sophie finally spoke.
"Where was my mother taken?""
William looked at her for several seconds.
"I don't know.""
Thomas stepped forward.
"You're lying.""
The king struck the table with his palm.
"Watch yourself!""
Thomas didn't move.
"I saw the royal carriage leave the palace that night. I saw your personal guards escort Eleanor through the eastern gate. I followed them as far as the river.""
William's face changed.
"Then you know she escaped.""
Thomas looked down.
"I know the carriage was found empty.""
Elizabeth covered her mouth.
Sophie felt the room spinning.
"Wait. You're saying my mother might not have died?""
Nobody answered.
She stepped toward William.
"Did you order someone to kill her?""
The king's eyes hardened.
"I ordered her to be taken somewhere safe.""
"Where?""
"I was never told.""
"Who told you to do it?""
William looked at Thomas.
The old guard suddenly appeared afraid.
"That," William said, "is the question you should be asking.""
Elizabeth moved between them.
"William, what does that mean?""
The king picked up his signet ring.
"It means your beloved sister had enemies beyond the council. Enemies who wanted the Bloodstone destroyed. I was trying to prevent a civil war.""
Sophie looked at the queen.
"Do you believe him?""
Elizabeth's eyes were wet.
"I don't know anymore.""
That answer hurt more than anything else.
An hour later, William left the study.
He ordered two guards to remain outside and prohibited anyone from leaving the palace without his permission.
Thomas was permitted to stay, but only under supervision.
Sophie stood beside the window, staring at the gardens.
The palace looked beautiful in the moonlight.
It also felt like a prison.
Elizabeth approached quietly.
"Are you angry with me?""
Sophie turned.
"Why would I be angry with you?""
"Because I knew your mother. Because I knew something terrible had happened, and I never found you.""
Sophie looked down.
"She raised me alone. We lived in a small cottage outside a village called Westmere. Sometimes we had no money for food. She worked until her hands bled.""
Elizabeth closed her eyes.
"She was always stubborn.""
Sophie gave a sad smile.
"She used to sing when she was cooking. Even when we had nothing, she would sing.""
The queen sat beside her.
"She used to sing in the palace gardens. Your grandfather hated it because she always sang while he was delivering speeches.""
For the first time, Sophie laughed softly.
Then her expression changed.
"Why didn't she tell me who she was?""
"Because someone was hunting her.""
"Did she know?""
Elizabeth hesitated.
"I believe she did.""
Sophie touched the pendant.
"She made me promise never to remove this.""
"Then keep that promise.""
Elizabeth studied the tiny crescent symbol.
"Your mother once told me that the pendant was more than a family heirloom. She said it was a key to something her father had hidden.""
"The eastern vault?""
"Possibly.""
Thomas, who had been standing near the door, suddenly spoke.
"Your Majesty, we must go there tonight.""
Elizabeth turned.
"That's impossible. The chapel has been sealed since the attack.""
"Exactly. If the king knows what the vault contains, he will destroy it.""
Sophie looked at the silver key.
"Then we shouldn't wait.""
Thomas nodded.
"There's another reason.""
He reached into his coat and removed a folded piece of paper.
It was a page torn from an old royal ledger.
At the bottom was a name.
*Lord Sebastian Harrington.*
Sophie recognized it.
"Isn't that the nobleman who was at the ball?""
"Yes," Thomas replied.
"He was the commander of the palace guard on the night Eleanor disappeared.""
Elizabeth stared at the paper.
"Sebastian Harrington was dismissed years ago.""
Thomas shook his head.
"He was never dismissed. He was promoted.""
"Promoted to what?""
Thomas looked toward the closed door.
"Royal Chancellor.""
Elizabeth went pale.
The chancellor was the second most powerful man in Eldoria.
He controlled the royal treasury, the palace appointments, and the kingdom's intelligence network.
And he had been sitting at the council table when Sophie was declared a possible heir.
Sophie looked at Thomas.
"Does he know who I am?""
"I suspect he knew before the crystal awakened.""
"How?""
Thomas's voice dropped.
"Because he was the one who paid for the men who followed your mother after she escaped.""
A sudden knock interrupted them.
A young maid entered, carrying a folded note.
"Her Majesty, this was delivered by a kitchen servant. He said it was urgent.""
Elizabeth opened it.
Her face drained of color.
Sophie stepped closer.
"What does it say?""
The queen handed her the paper.
There were only nine words.
The eastern vault is already open. Your mother was never alone.
Below the message was a symbol.
A silver crown beneath a crescent moon.
Sophie recognized it from her pendant.
May you like
And Thomas whispered something that made the queen drop the paper.
"That symbol belongs to the Order of the First Crown.""
