Page 51 of Royal Lies

Perhaps preventing their meeting would quell their feelings as well, but Everetta was becoming more unstable. Without Flynn by her side, I feared she might become unhinged. He was her mate, as much as I disliked it. I had heard that prolonged periods without one's mate could lead to mental degradation. Look at Everetta's biological father from her past life, a complete nutcase without his mate. He even went as far as to abandon his daughter. I can't let that happen to Everetta. I will not allow her to jump back into that rabbit hole.

I need to find Flynn, the real one because there's no way my brother got reincarnated as some wimpy individual that lacked the spine to be a Wolf. Then I'll just- I'll figure something out. Convince the real Flynn that the best course of action is for him to help me break their bond. Perhaps that would help stabilize her. Yes, he must see that I only want the best for her. He will agree... hopefully... without poisoning me.

I could remember that time when we were young, he wasn't all too fond of me back then. Every day I was racked with shivers despite my aversion to the cold because of my half-Winter Wolf blood. My other half, my Summer Lion blood, helps me tolerate the heat. So logically it was only because I had a fever, but it made no sense why I was sick every day with little to no hope of getting better. It was only when Everetta had slept over that one time after we finally came back from that dastardly place. She had taken a sip ofmytea, and if it hadn't been for what she had discovered while takingmytea I would have been ever so displeased with her.Also who drinks another person's tea?If she wanted to drink some tea she had herowncup. I don't understand why shehadto drinkmytea. Poisoned or not it wasmytea! I just don’t understand who drinks another fae’s tea?

As it was, she had discovered that the smell reminded her of snake venom, a poison that in small doses can cause one to fall terribly ill. Later that day I discovered that the servant who brought memytea was stopped every night by my five sun cycle younger brother to my ten sun cycle of age. It turns outhehad been poisoning me ever since my father had taken me in. Luckily I soon developed an immunity to the venom, but the poisoning from other substances didn't stop. Not until I had so-called gained the favor of my little brother. I had approached him to stop but he never truly admitted to poisoning me or offered to stop. That was until I had saved Snow from a vicious little werehound on a hunting excursion.

Snow interrupted my thoughts, catching me off guard, "Shewillbreak, one of these days. It won't be pretty—chaos, wrath, pain, broken bonds, and lost trust... So tell me,dearbrother, just when did you get your memories back?"

The slightest stiffening of my shoulders betrayed my emotions as I stared back at her wide-eyed. How did she know I had my memories back? She must be bluffing; there's no way she could know, right? I cleared my throat, narrowing my eyes on her, "And what would you do? Tell her?"

I was doing nothing but putting on airs hoping against hope that she wouldn't see through my fib. For Everetta's safety and peace of mind, it wasn't the right time to reveal I had my memories back. In fact, I wasn't planning on telling her at all. After thinking about it I believe it's best if we avoid that subject altogether. I mean it wasn't as if I was withholdingallher memories. Besides, what I was doing was best for all of fae kind. Not only would it protect her from the past, but it might alsoimprove her feelings for her biological parents. I was doing the best possible thing for her.

This is all for her!

Calm yourself, Eli. Deep breath in and deep breath out. I plastered a smile back on my face.

With a soft baring of teeth that belied the venom in her words, she remarked, "No, what you decide and how you act withherhasnothingto do with me. Isimplyasked foryoursake, dear brother." Her words stood in stark contrast to her true feelings. Was she attempting to blackmail me? I wasn't naïve; there had to be an alternative motive behind her words because she abhorred me. Her fondness was reserved solely for Flynn, the only brother she ever cherished. However,thisFlynn wasnotour Flynn, not the one we knew. Yes, I'm sure of it.

If I do say so myself, I was never fooled. I sensed it from the moment I laid eyes on him. If Everetta were to discover the truth in her current state it would be akin to inviting chaos into our kingdom. She would undoubtedly embark on a rampage in search of therealFlynn, wherever he might be now. She wouldn't be as calm and collected as I am. Like howIplan to subtly find him. If he wasn't here and she regained her memories, the potential for a disaster was inevitable. So I have no choice but to find him. First I'll need to test out this little prince's skills in swordsmanship. Just some extra evidence to back up my claims that heisnot Flynn.

Sensing my apprehensions because to hell would I just believe that lie or not. Snow sighed. "Idon'tlike her, but it's too obvious that her mateismy brother. And she will be my future sister-in-law, so that means I can't hate her. So, don't take any actions that wouldtroubleour brother when he returns or else that pretty throne of yours would be muchharderto obtain, understand?" She sneered, her elegant face wrinkling slightly, the only stain on her perfect skin. Was she issuing a threat? Iscowled, but deep down, I knew she was family, and her words were not meant to be taken entirely at face value.

Besides, I would never do anything to harm mytruelittle brother; her words were more of a reminder than a threat. Nodding slightly, I observed as the princess, my venomous little sister, straightened up, flashing a smile as a servant passed nearby. Pretending like we were just stopping to comment on the weather or something as trivial as that.

We waited until the click of heels faded around the corner before continuing.

"They'retoo untrained," I noted the distinct lack of respect shown by the servants toward the princess. Not even a slight nod of the head?

Typically, a servant would bow or at least nod—a minimal sign of respect. That and they wouldn't be lurking so nearby especially if they knew we were having an 'enjoyable'conversation. Needless to say, whenIwas ruling, servants knew when a 'private' conversation between royal members was near they were to stay at least ten feet away lest they be deemed a spy.

"That servant must have been eavesdropping on our little polite conversation. Andyoushouldn't even be here," I repeated to no avail as my little sister rolled her eyes making one last remark before turning and giving me her back. “Do take my words to heart, dear brother. For you won't like what lies ahead if you insist on carrying out your will."

Scowling, my day ruined, I quickened my pace towards the training grounds. Enough of my little sister and her little hidden meanings. She knows I hate those deceitful words. I never did understand why fae had to play their games. If I had to name one thing I liked about humans it was they got straight to the point. Still, her words had led me back on track, pondering about my younger brother.

Back in the good days, I was dubbed the Warrior of Winter, while my brother earned the title of the Kind Prince of the Wolves, a saint in the eyes of many. I scoffed at the notion; he was no saint. Behind every charitable act, every free meal he distributed, was a subtle dose of poison—an elixir to maintain the people's contentment with the current king, thwarting any notion of a royal coup. He also collaborated with me, manipulating their mindset to garner support for me as their new king, using the same meals. A single word of endorsement from my brother, and the whole court became putty in my hands.

It's common knowledge that a kingdom's strength does not lie solely in the hands of the king but in the hearts of its citizens. The true power emanates from the people a ruler serves. However, I found it truly astounding that a rebellion had already taken root when Everetta and I had arrived. The servants are so fond of their talks even when a nobleman happens to be passing by, like I said the restraint of their leashes has sure been rather lax as of late.

It shocked me that my father and so-called brother had permitted such discord to take hold within their court. I suppose all the more reason for me to believe the brother I had now was not the brother I knew in my past life.

So thenwhothe hell was he?

Flynn never desired the crown either; in fact, he despised it. Unlike me, who sought to rule openly, he preferred being the puppet master orchestrating events from behind the scenes. If the citizens were ever to revolt he'd willingly have his puppet, me, take the sword to gut the bloody bastard instead of dirtying his own hands. I never minded being a mascot per se because, at the end of the day the crown was still mine, I had the last say. Even if my brother tried to convince me to change my mind on certain mattersIstill had the final say, andIwas the one sittingon the throne.Iwas the one who ultimately hadcontrolof the court. It was mine!

Mine!

Calm yourself, Eli, all will be right soon. Very soon, the throne, the riches, the citizens, the power will all bemineonce more. In just a few more days, or months, perhaps I should get to understand my father more, and I will need more time to find my brother, to prevent such tantrums from Everetta again. Maybe she might even grow to forget him in their time apart. I could distract her with other such trinkets like the red powder.

I never comprehended my younger brother's motives, but I do believe his unwavering love for Everetta was a significant factor. Rather eerie, more like an obsession than the love I had formymate. He was willing to relinquish power for her sake—an unthinkable action if you ask me. I'd rather die than lose my power. Hewouldfind Everetta, so then what I needed to do was prevent him from getting to her.

Yet, here this false prince was. He lacks intellectual prowess in court matters. He was far too expressive. I could already tell that he lacked negotiation skills with both the common people and the nobility. Still, he dares cling onto the crown, something my younger brother never wanted, how intriguing. Judging by the countless books stacks in the library whenever I came across him it seemed like he was interested in learning about how to become a proper king. Or so he thinks he will get the crown.

That crown.Will. Be. Mine.

Rolling my eyes, I never once saw my brother read any of those tomes in the past. The lessons he undertook provided him with ample knowledge already. The Flynn I knew used to delegate the most crucial decisions to me or, at the very least, seekmycounsel. Gradually, he was giving up control of the throne, allowing me to steer the kingdom in the shadows when our father was still pushing for him to be the crown prince.To think he gave it all up just to have a“happily ever after”with Everetta. I just can't understand it. Like truly, I can't ever imagine giving up such power, for what? An obsession he has? Then again if he didn't I would have had to perform rather unsavory deeds to get what I want.

Please of course I saw through his plans as if I would let that creeper, even if he was my brother, get the crown. It was just downright unsettling. He would have handed it all to Everetta.

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