Chapter 9: The Father Who Never Stopped Searching
"One more step, and your daughter will watch you die.""
Amelia's voice echoed across the northern estate.
Sophie stood beneath the balcony, unable to look away from the man who had just called her by name.
Her father.
The man she had believed dead since childhood.
The man whose wedding ring she had seen on another woman's finger.
He looked older than the photographs.
His cheeks were hollow, his hair almost completely silver, and his left hand trembled against the guard's shoulder.
But when he looked at Sophie, his expression changed.
For the first time in years, he smiled.
"You're beautiful," he whispered.
Sophie began to cry.
"I thought you were dead.""
Adrian's eyes filled.
"I know.""
"Mother said you died.""
"Your mother wanted you to believe that.""
"Why?""
Adrian looked toward Amelia.
"Because she knew what would happen if anyone discovered you were still alive.""
Sebastian Harrington stepped forward.
"Enough family reunions.""
He gestured toward the guards.
"Bring them inside.""
Thomas raised his weapon.
"Stay where you are!""
Sebastian laughed.
"Thomas. I thought I had already dealt with you.""
"You should have made sure.""
Thomas fired.
The shot struck the stone railing beside Sebastian.
The guards immediately returned fire.
Elizabeth pulled Sophie behind the carriage.
"Get down!""
A bullet shattered the rear window.
Adrian struggled against the men holding him.
"Don't shoot!""
Amelia pressed the pistol harder against his chest.
"Be quiet!""
Sophie looked toward the balcony.
"Let him go! I'll come inside!""
Elizabeth grabbed her arm.
"No!""
"He's my father!""
"And you're exactly what they want.""
Sophie looked at the woman beside her.
"Then what do we do?""
Elizabeth glanced toward the estate's western wall.
"Your mother once told me there was an old servants' entrance beneath the greenhouse.""
Thomas nodded.
"I know it.""
"Then get inside and find Charlotte.""
Thomas looked at Sophie.
"And your father?""
"I'll handle that.""
Thomas hesitated.
Then he nodded and disappeared into the trees.
The northern estate had once been a royal summer residence.
Its grand halls were decorated with hunting paintings, antique furniture, and portraits of generations of nobles.
Now, it belonged to Sebastian Harrington.
The servants had been dismissed.
The windows were covered.
And every door was guarded.
Sophie and Elizabeth entered through the greenhouse passage.
They found themselves in a narrow corridor behind the main staircase.
Voices echoed from the room above.
Sebastian was speaking.
"The girl must be removed before the council meets.""
Amelia replied.
"And Alexander?""
"He will do what he is told.""
"He thinks he's going to be king.""
Sebastian laughed.
"Alexander is useful because he believes that. Once Sophie is dead and the Bloodstone is destroyed, there will be no reason to keep him.""
Sophie felt Elizabeth's hand tighten around hers.
They continued toward the staircase.
Then another voice spoke.
A familiar voice.
"You're making a mistake.""
Alexander.
Sophie stopped.
"Father, listen to me. The crystal has already chosen her.""
Sebastian answered coldly.
"The crystal is an object. It can be broken.""
"What if the kingdom refuses to accept me?""
"Then the kingdom will learn what happens when it refuses.""
Sophie looked at Elizabeth.
The queen nodded.
They moved toward the sound.
Through a narrow gap in the door, Sophie saw Alexander standing beside a fireplace.
His military uniform was stained.
His hands were trembling.
Sebastian sat in a leather chair.
Amelia stood behind him.
"You promised me the throne," Alexander said.
Sebastian lifted a glass.
"And you promised me that you would bring the girl to the palace.""
"I did.""
"And you helped us capture Charlotte.""
Alexander looked away.
"I didn't know you were going to hurt her.""
Sebastian smiled.
"You're learning that power is expensive, my boy.""
Alexander stepped closer.
"Don't call me that.""
Amelia laughed.
"Poor Alexander. Still trying to pretend he's important.""
He turned toward her.
"You used me.""
"Of course I did.""
"Why?""
Amelia's smile vanished.
"Because I was raised by a man who taught me that people like us do not inherit power. We take it.""
She touched her wedding ring.
"Your father was supposed to give me everything. Instead, he spent his life chasing a dead princess.""
Alexander looked confused.
"Adrian isn't your father.""
Amelia turned sharply.
For a moment, her expression revealed something dangerous.
"No," she said.
"He isn't.""
Sophie leaned closer.
Amelia continued.
"My real father was Sebastian Harrington. My mother was a woman named Margaret, a royal servant who died giving birth to me.""
Sebastian looked at her.
"That is enough.""
Amelia ignored him.
"When I was a child, he told me I was going to become queen. He said he would find a way to make the Bloodstone accept me.""
Alexander shook his head.
"But it didn't.""
"No. Because it recognized Sophie.""
She looked toward the door.
"Which is why we're going to make sure she never touches it again.""
Sophie stepped into the room.
"Then you'll have to kill me yourself.""
Every head turned.
Alexander went pale.
Elizabeth entered behind her.
"Sebastian Harrington, you are under arrest.""
Sebastian slowly rose.
"By whose authority?""
"Mine.""
He laughed.
"Your authority ended the moment you entered this estate.""
He snapped his fingers.
Armed guards emerged from the adjoining rooms.
Sophie looked toward Alexander.
"Is this what you wanted?""
He couldn't meet her eyes.
"Stay out of this.""
"Your sister is upstairs. Your mother is being held in the palace. And you're still standing beside the man who plans to kill everyone who stands between him and the throne.""
Alexander's face tightened.
"I never wanted anyone to die.""
"Then help us.""
Sebastian drew a pistol.
"Enough.""
He aimed it at Sophie.
But before he could fire, Alexander stepped between them.
The gunshot exploded.
Alexander fell.
"Alexander!"" Amelia screamed.
Sophie rushed forward.
The prince clutched his shoulder, blood spreading across his uniform.
Sebastian stared at him.
"You foolish boy.""
Alexander looked up.
"I may be foolish. But I'm not your servant.""
He grabbed the gun from Sebastian's hand.
The guards hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Elizabeth struck the nearest soldier with a heavy brass candlestick.
Sophie seized the fallen pistol.
Amelia ran toward the rear door.
But before she could escape, Thomas appeared in the doorway with Charlotte.
"Going somewhere?""
Charlotte rushed toward Sophie.
"Sophie!""
The two women embraced.
Thomas pointed his weapon at Sebastian.
"Drop it.""
Sebastian slowly raised his hands.
For one brief moment, it seemed finished.
Then Sebastian began to laugh.
"You really think you've won?""
Elizabeth approached him.
"The evidence will be enough to destroy you.""
Sebastian looked at Sophie.
"Ask your father about the final night.""
Sophie turned.
Adrian was standing near the fireplace, supported by the guards who had released him.
His face had gone white.
"What final night?"" she asked.
Sebastian smiled.
"The night Eleanor died.""
Sophie stared at her father.
Adrian lowered his eyes.
"Sebastian, don't.""
"Tell her.""
"Please.""
Sebastian stepped closer.
"Your mother didn't die because of me, Princess.""
Sophie felt the blood drain from her face.
"What are you saying?""
Adrian looked at her.
His eyes filled with tears.
"I was there when she died.""
Sophie shook her head.
"No.""
"She was trying to get you out of the palace. She had already been wounded.""
"Stop.""
"I couldn't save her.""
"Stop!""
Adrian took a trembling breath.
"She made me promise that you would grow up believing you had a normal life.""
Sophie began to cry.
"Why didn't you come for me?""
"Because Sebastian told me you were dead.""
The room fell silent.
Adrian continued.
"He showed me a photograph of a child's body. He told me it was yours. I spent years believing I had lost both of you.""
Sophie looked toward Sebastian.
The chancellor's smile widened.
"Your father was easy to manipulate.""
Alexander struggled to his feet.
"Enough!""
Sebastian suddenly reached into his coat.
Thomas shouted.
"Gun!""
But Sebastian didn't aim at Sophie.
He aimed at the chandelier above the room.
He fired.
The chain snapped.
The enormous crystal fixture crashed to the floor.
Glass exploded across the room.
In the confusion, Sebastian seized a small leather case from the desk and escaped through a side door.
Amelia followed him.
Thomas started after them.
But Elizabeth stopped him.
"Let them go!""
He turned.
"Your Majesty?""
Elizabeth pointed toward the case.
"That is what he wanted all along.""
Sophie looked at the empty desk.
"What was inside?""
Adrian stepped forward.
"The original royal succession records.""
He looked toward Sophie.
"If Sebastian destroys those, he can rewrite the history of this kingdom.""
An hour later, the estate was under royal guard.
Alexander was receiving medical attention.
Charlotte sat beside him, refusing to leave.
Elizabeth had sent a message to the palace demanding that the council assemble immediately.
Sophie stood with her father in the garden.
For the first time, they were alone.
Adrian looked at her pendant.
"Your mother gave you the fragment.""
Sophie nodded.
"She never told me what it was.""
"She wanted you to have a choice.""
"A choice about what?""
"Whether you wanted the throne.""
Sophie looked toward the dark windows.
"I don't know if I want any of this.""
Adrian smiled sadly.
"Good. That means you're thinking about the kingdom rather than yourself.""
He reached into his coat.
There was a small envelope.
"I have something else.""
Sophie opened it.
Inside was a letter in Eleanor's handwriting.
It was addressed to her.
My dearest Sophie,
If you are reading this, then your father has finally found you. There is something I never told you about the night I died.
The person who wounded me was not Sebastian.
Sophie stopped.
Her fingers began to tremble.
She looked at Adrian.
"Who was it?""
Her father stared at the ground.
Then he whispered the words that shattered everything Sophie thought she knew.
"It was Queen Elizabeth.""
Sophie stepped backward.
"No.""
Adrian's voice broke.
"Your aunt was trying to stop your mother from leaving the palace. She believed Eleanor was carrying evidence that would destroy the monarchy.""
"You're lying.""
"I wish I were.""
He reached for her hand.
"But there is something your mother wrote that matters even more.""
Sophie looked at the letter.
The final paragraph was written in a different ink.
Elizabeth did not know the whole truth.
The person who ordered my death was not the king, the queen, or even Sebastian.
It was the person who would one day inherit the throne.
Sophie slowly raised her eyes.
Alexander.
The prince.
The man who had tried to humiliate her at the ball.
But before she could speak, a palace messenger came running through the garden.
"Your Majesty! Princess Sophie!""
He handed Elizabeth a sealed telegram.
The queen read it.
Her face turned completely white.
"What is it?"" Sophie asked.
Elizabeth looked toward the palace.
"The Bloodstone has been stolen.""
Adrian gripped Sophie's shoulder.
"And the person who took it has just declared themselves the rightful ruler of Eldoria.""
May you like
The messenger swallowed.
"Her name is Amelia Harrington.""
