Page 26 of Royal Lies

Better to focus on getting back the Winter Court than trying to conquer a dream that can only ever be that, adream.

One thing was clear aside from getting back the throne. I mean just look at what had happened to the Griffin, or well Summer Court. I can not allow Everetta to remember Flynn. I just can't, or else the past will repeat itself. For now, I shall focus on overthrowing my father, then I'll dissuade my brother from hisunhealthylittle binge. Nothing I haven't done before and with mycontrolover Everetta, I wouldn't have to worry about her.

Honestly, I am quite proud of my fath- I mean the king. After all, he had managed to maintain his authority unlike the other courts, which seemed to have been conquered by someone else. Still, although I do intend to change some things in the future I don't need to change everything.

As I did in my past life, I lived in poverty at first, but I will thrive in the future. Burying myself in the finest silks with no one to challenge me, and those who do will see the bones of their corpse in the afterlife. That's my future, my past, and allmine. Not to mention my lovelywife. I do wonder if she had managed to conquer her realm in this life. Hopefully, she has a change of heart and decides to claim her rightful throne instead of tossing it to her brother. Honestly, she was always too kind for her own good.

I gave a side glance to Everetta and the witch making sure that they would allow me to handle this matter.I am the leader here. Everetta just shrugged as the witch rolled her eyes. As infuriating as the witch may be, at least she knows her place.

I smiled my best smile, my head still lowered, afterall so goes the courtship of this kingdom, no one must rise without a command from the king. Not even a gulp of breath shall be taken without the king's permission. So goes the saying at least.

"-the mighty hero of the Four lands, of all of the Fae Realm. I beg of you to allow me to relay this message." I continued lowering my head further to acknowledge the superiority the king had over me for I was but a mere peasant, fornow at least.

I could sense the suspicious nonchalant expression on the king's face without needing to look up. His slightly scrunched brows would be just small enough that no one who wasn't close to the king would notice.

Perhaps the Summer Queen had passed the news to her sometimes lover, the Winter King, that one of her prisoners had broken free. If so, why? Unless the Summer Queen knew how powerful said prisoner was.

I had heard the rumors of their relationship in the small run-down towns Everetta and I would stop by every so often along our journey. The gossip of how the Winter King was able to maintain his rule through his “favors”with the Summer Queen. Bah! How preposterous as if my fa- I mean the king, would ever need to do that. No, she must be just a simple side piece to him. Yes, that must be it. The only reason she sits on the throne now must have been thanks to my father, the king. Yes, those scrawny villagers just had it backward. Probably too starved to think properly.

I heard they even had a kid together in this life, or perhaps two, could they be my half-sibling or siblings in this life? Not quite sure if that's just rumors or the truth. My father wasalways having romantic affairs, hence, me. Though, it was to be expected of someone with power, not that I would ever do such scandalous actions. It is far beneath my status, or soon-to-be status as king. I will not defile myself with the clawing hands of women who only idolize the title I am given. Yes, I much appreciate the thought but, the words of venomous vipers will always be venomous and vile. Take thewitchthat kneels behind me for example. Once I get what I came for I'll use her to help make sure the past remains just that in the past. After all, by sacrificing an oracle one can change the outcome of the future. Not much is known about it, for if it was the witch would have been hunted far more than she currently is.

The king cleared his throat and from the corner of my gaze, I could see the flick of his hands as they flipped it back and forth in the air motioning for me to continue.

"I am a messenger of the nation of Dracool. I and my fellow compatriots have received orders directly from Dracool itself. As you can see we are from separate kingdoms of the Fae Realm. The King of Dracool has made us his ambassadors in hopes of convincing you to join his war, for the war will not only destroy his nation but our Fae Realm as well. He believes-" The king raised a hand cutting me off. For a moment I dared to raise my eyes, just to see a glimpse of the man whom I call my father, his features were all the same. Pale white hair covers the masks of his face, the stubble of a man with all the ferocity of a wolf, as he should, the whitening pale blue hair and eyes like the Northern Lands, covered in snow and just as chilly. His build was that of a coal miner, the bulging muscles and hammers for fists. His eyes are as piercing as the finest swords. His legs are like the trunks of trees. How pitiful it was for him to use muscle and height as a necessary tool to instill fear. I used to admire his physique, even crave it. I was a “wimpy-looking pretty boy” as he used to call me, too small to lift a sword. I showed him, and thoughhis physic may help, I don't need it to win, a little girl taught me that. I smiled remembering her bright blond curls as she swung her sword, smiling brightly as she told me to be brave, to never give up, and to use my magic for once. She showed me how maintaining a slender build didn't mean I was weak. On the contrary, I could use it to make my enemies underestimate me so that I could kill them in the end. That's how I ended my father.

Of course, that fanciful memory of my first encounter with her turned to ash as I remembered what happened only seconds after she uttered those words. She'd transported us into a hellish dimension filled with six-headed monsters I have never before seen in the realm so fearsome I- let's not finish that sentence. Either way, as much as I did not likeplayingwith her, I was too scared to refuse. If I ever did I was sure she might have transported us into that lords awful realm again. Keep your enemies close and your tyrants closer, as they say. I gave a side glance to Everetta, her bright blond hair, and goddess-like features a contrast to the wicked core that lay inside. We were seven, seven,only sevensun cycles, and yet- I still remember those days, the horrors, the monsters, the blood and bones, the fucking dirt, oh how torturous it was for me. The constant sleepless night on the muddy hard stone floors of caves.

"I don't care. Dracool disassociated from our realm a long time ago, and I would never work for such a man, not after what he had done. Guards, arrest them!" The king proclaimed to my horror and shock.Fuck! I thought he would buy the excuse. Then again perhaps suddenly showing up with only guards to vouch for us was pretty stupid of me. But I had been relying on the badges on our clothing to prove our statements.

I was hoping to follow plan A but if plan B must come forth then so be it. I opened my mouth to do so but someone beat me to it. "Wait!" A voice shouted just as I was about to pull thedagger out of the sleeve of my cloak. The thumping footsteps stormed towards us.

"These are my guests!" A boy with white-no blue hair panted as he made his way into the throne room. His eyes were a calm sky blue as he gazed at me-no wrong again, at Everetta. What in the world? It couldn't be. I narrowed my gaze on the boy, something about him seemed familiar.

The noble at the summer market? No, something else, I can't quite pinpoint it but something is very familiar but not quite right. Is he the Summer Queen's ambassador? No, his hair is much too white, for a summer fae, they are often golden and yellow, orange, or brown. He was part of winter. Yes, that is more likely where he inherited those features, the whitish aqua hair and sapphire blue eyes were traits of a Winter Court fae. But his seems to hold too much warmth for a Winter Fae, who are known for their brutal strength and steely expressions. They were the ones to invent arena matches after all. The most brutal of all sentences. Where a prisoner is forever sentenced to fight until their death. In other words, they will fight until their opponent either kills them or they kill their opponent. They will continue to fight round after round, day after day until they lay with a sword in their guts or their heart ripped out. The king states it was an opportunity for redemption, where those who voluntarily participate in these arenas can gain wealth and fame, but in reality, it was just another way to say public execution.

I've seen countless prisoners, regular peasants, and even foreigners try and fight for their so-called freedom or fame. What a fraud it was. It was nothing more than service for the king's entertainment. Personally, I would remove the to-the-death part for all except the prisoners. After all, the battles were only for laughs and giggles. It would also be more revolutionary and beneficial if we did remove that part for the civilians at the very least. Then I could maybe stomach the needless bloodshedfor money and fame. For, these warriors did play a major role in defending our great walls and protecting our citizens. Many peasants have proven themselves to be great knights in those tournaments and there were fewer crimes in the Winter Court than in any other court despite our brutish nature.

Still, they shouldn't even be thinking of such idiotic methods to earn food. They shouldn’t need to battle mindlessly for their next meal or yearn for even a grain of rice. They shouldn’t have to beg their king for food or a clean drink of water. As for the prisoners, well, they got what they asked for. If they could serve some entertainment for their crime, so be it.

That bartendress had told me as much. How some peasants from the outskirts of the Winter Court were moving to the capital to earn a living for their families when they shouldn't need to do so.

I moved to block the boy's view of Everetta. Watching as the witch glanced over at the boy. A glint of familiarity stuck her gaze as the witch's eyes glinted with relief. Had they met before? Where? When? What did they say? How did they meet? Why?

Their relation, whatever it was, I will uncover it.

Clinking the gears in my mind I tried to fit the puzzle pieces together. In the past, the snake didn't converse with anyone but-

I frowned trying to recall the name, with, with-

With my brother? I realized. Looking up I tried to recall the familiar features but found that although they were there, something still felt off, perhaps not all my memories came back to me. No, that wasn't quite right. For some reason, my memories of this boy seem foggy as if it was masked in a bog-like substance. Perhaps it was because, with a new life, he might have also changed.

"I see you made it here well,” The boy smiled softly at the snake, and I would have hated him if he hadn't given the same courtesy to me after.

The boy practically lit up blushing a tad bit while turning to Everetta before looking back at me and clearing his voice, as if he'd come to some realization. I narrowed my gaze at him blocking Everetta from his view with my slightly taller body. Not sharing the same hesitation as me, Everetta was all too quick to pop her little head out behind me. I glared back at her as she shrugged, cocking a brow back at me. I threw out an arm trying to block her again. Though she didn't seem all that interested in the boy, I should still remain vigilant. Who knows, maybe he really is the reincarnation of my little brother.

It's almost like I disliked the man but can't come to hate him, the issue is I've never hated my younger brother before. To be honest, I've only ever found his admiration and borderline, no correct that, major borderline obsession with Everetta annoying, and bothersome. But I never loathed it.

Odd.

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