Chapter 6: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
For several seconds, Sophie couldn't speak.
She stared at the photograph.
Her mother stood beside Adrian beneath a tree covered in white blossoms. Her head rested against his shoulder, and one of his hands held hers.
They looked happy.
Not like two people mourning a lost life.
Like a family that had somehow managed to survive.
"Where was this taken?"" Sophie whispered.
Sebastian slipped his hands into his coat pockets.
"At the northern estate. A place your mother believed was beyond the reach of the royal court.""
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"Perhaps she wanted to protect you.""
Sophie shook her head.
"Stop saying that. Everyone keeps claiming they protected me. Everyone keeps lying.""
Sebastian's expression softened.
It was the kind of false kindness Sophie had seen from wealthy guests when they wanted to make a servant feel small.
"Your mother was very good at lying, Princess.""
Thomas struggled against the guards.
"Don't listen to him!""
One of the guards struck Thomas across the face.
He fell against the stone wall.
"Stop!"" Sophie screamed.
Sebastian sighed.
"Your former bodyguard has always been dramatic.""
Elizabeth stepped forward.
"Release him. Now.""
Sebastian glanced at her.
"I would advise you to remember where you stand, Your Majesty.""
"I am the queen.""
"Not for much longer.""
The words hung in the chamber.
Sophie looked at the queen.
Elizabeth's face was pale, but her eyes remained fixed on Sebastian.
"What have you done?"" she asked.
"Nothing that wasn't necessary.""
Sebastian removed a folded document from his coat.
"By order of King William, Her Majesty Elizabeth is to be confined to her private chambers pending an investigation into her involvement in the unlawful succession conspiracy.""
Elizabeth stared at the paper.
"William signed this?""
"Personally.""
"And the princess?""
Sebastian looked at Sophie.
"She will be escorted to the northern tower until the council decides what to do with her.""
Sophie tightened her grip on the documents.
"You're not taking me anywhere.""
Sebastian smiled.
"I was hoping you would say that.""
He gestured toward the guards.
They advanced.
Thomas suddenly drove his shoulder into the nearest soldier.
The man's weapon clattered across the floor.
Thomas grabbed it and struck another guard with the hilt.
"Run!"" he shouted.
Elizabeth seized Sophie's arm.
They rushed toward the staircase.
A guard lunged for Sophie.
She ducked, but his fingers caught the fabric of her uniform.
The cloth tore.
Elizabeth turned and struck him with the dagger's handle.
The man stumbled backward.
Thomas blocked the doorway.
"Go! I'll hold them!""
"Thomas!"" Sophie cried.
"Your mother trusted me once. Let me finish what I started!""
Elizabeth dragged Sophie up the staircase.
Behind them, steel clashed against stone.
A shout echoed through the vault.
Then the iron door slammed.
They emerged into the chapel.
Elizabeth locked the secret entrance and leaned against the statue, breathing heavily.
Sophie was shaking.
"He's going to kill Thomas.""
"Thomas has survived worse.""
"How can you say that?""
The queen looked at her.
"Because he survived the night your mother disappeared.""
Sophie wiped her eyes.
"Tell me about my father.""
Elizabeth hesitated.
Then she took the photograph from Sophie's hand.
"Adrian was not born into the royal family. He was the son of a military commander who served your grandfather.""
"Then how did he marry my mother?""
"Because Eleanor didn't care about titles. She cared about people. Adrian was honest, brave, and stubborn enough to argue with her when nobody else dared.""
Elizabeth smiled sadly.
"They met during a winter celebration. Your mother was hiding in the gardens because she didn't want to dance with the ambassadors. Adrian was standing beneath a frozen fountain, trying to repair a broken lantern.""
Sophie listened.
"She fell in love with him?""
"Within a month.""
"Did the king approve?""
Elizabeth laughed softly.
"Our father threatened to send Adrian to the border. Eleanor threatened to run away with him.""
For a moment, the queen looked almost happy.
Then her smile disappeared.
"After their marriage, Adrian discovered that someone was using the royal treasury to finance a secret group called the Order of the First Crown.""
"The symbol on my pendant.""
Elizabeth nodded.
"The order believed that the monarchy should never be ruled by the person chosen by the Bloodstone. They wanted to control the succession themselves.""
"Who led them?""
Elizabeth looked toward the chapel windows.
"Your grandfather's closest adviser.""
"Sebastian Harrington?""
"No. Sebastian was his commander. The real leader was someone much closer to the throne.""
Sophie waited.
Elizabeth took a breath.
"Your grandfather.""
Sophie stared.
"Why would the king want to destroy his own daughter's succession?""
"Because he believed a woman should never rule Eldoria.""
"But he allowed my mother to grow up as a princess.""
"Until the Bloodstone chose her. Then he realized that the old laws were stronger than his authority.""
Elizabeth looked at the pendant.
"He wanted to destroy the crystal, but Adrian discovered that the Bloodstone could not be destroyed by ordinary means. Only the royal bloodline could silence it permanently.""
Sophie remembered the emerald explosion.
"Then why did it awaken for me?""
Elizabeth looked at her.
"Because you are the daughter of the woman it chose.""
Sophie lowered her eyes.
"And my father?""
"Adrian discovered a way to expose the order. He gathered evidence and planned to reveal it to the kingdom.""
"What happened?""
Elizabeth's voice grew quieter.
"He disappeared.""
"Sebastian said he died three years after I was born.""
"That is the official story.""
"What do you believe?""
The queen looked directly at Sophie.
"I believe your father was alive when your mother left the palace. And I believe someone has been keeping him hidden ever since.""
They returned to the royal wing through a servants' staircase.
The palace was strangely quiet.
Too quiet.
When they reached the queen's private rooms, the two guards outside immediately raised their weapons.
"Your Majesty, you cannot enter.""
Elizabeth stopped.
"Move.""
"We have orders.""
"From whom?""
The guard hesitated.
"His Majesty the King.""
Elizabeth stepped closer.
"Then tell your king that his wife is standing outside her own bedroom.""
The guard lowered his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty.""
Sophie looked beyond him.
The queen's doors were open.
Her jewelry boxes had been emptied.
The portraits had been removed from the walls.
Someone had searched the room.
Elizabeth entered slowly.
A broken wooden box lay beside the fireplace.
She knelt and picked up a torn piece of paper.
It was part of the letter Eleanor had left behind.
Sophie crouched beside her.
"What are you looking for?""
"The second half.""
"What second half?""
Elizabeth looked at her.
"Your mother sent me two letters. One contained her warning. The other contained the name of the person who helped her escape.""
Sophie felt her stomach tighten.
"Where is it?""
Elizabeth examined the empty box.
"Someone has taken it.""
A knock sounded.
Both women turned.
Princess Charlotte entered, looking pale and frightened.
"Mother, thank goodness.""
Elizabeth stood.
"Charlotte, what happened?""
"The king has summoned an emergency council meeting.""
"Why?""
Charlotte glanced at Sophie.
"Because Alexander has made an announcement.""
Sophie frowned.
"What announcement?""
Charlotte swallowed.
"He claims that the Bloodstone's awakening was an act of treason. He says you used forbidden magic to damage the royal crystal.""
Sophie stared.
"That's ridiculous.""
"I know. But that's not the worst part.""
Elizabeth stepped forward.
"What else?""
Charlotte looked toward the hallway.
"Alexander has declared that, as the crown prince, he will assume temporary control of the royal guard.""
"William approved this?""
"Yes.""
Elizabeth's expression hardened.
"Then your brother has finally shown his true intentions.""
Charlotte nodded.
"He also wants Sophie arrested before the next sunrise.""
Sophie felt her legs weaken.
"Why?""
Charlotte took her hand.
"Because he believes that if the council recognizes you as the rightful heir, he will lose everything.""
A sudden bell rang through the palace.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
The sound came from the throne chamber.
The emergency summons.
Charlotte hurried to the window.
"Oh, no.""
"What is it?"" Sophie asked.
Charlotte pointed toward the courtyard.
Royal soldiers were assembling beneath the palace walls.
At their head stood Prince Alexander.
He was wearing full military uniform.
But it was the person standing beside him who made Elizabeth gasp.
King William.
The king was holding a royal decree.
And beside him stood a young woman in a white gown.
Her dark hair was pinned beneath a silver tiara.
Sophie stared.
The woman wore the same emerald pendant.
The same crescent-and-crown symbol.
Elizabeth whispered, "That's impossible.""
Charlotte looked from the stranger to Sophie.
"Who is she?""
The palace herald's voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Presenting Princess Eleanor Valmont, the rightful daughter of the late Princess Eleanor!""
Sophie went cold.
The stranger lifted her face toward the palace windows.
And smiled directly at her.
Elizabeth gripped Sophie's arm.
"That girl," she whispered, "is wearing your mother's face.""
May you like
Then the stranger raised her hand.
On her finger was Adrian Valmont's gold wedding ring.
