Page 47 of The Princess In A 'Prince' Disguise

His strength, power, and ferocity were legendary.

It was unfathomable that the beast she had met was none other than the grand king himself.Who had lived for five thousand years. It was beyond surreal.

Aekeira had countless questions.

But the most pressing one…the one that consumed her thoughts, was why a male of such caliber—a beast like that—would take an interest in her twenty-one-year-old sister.

Why Emeriel?

Chapter fifteen

GRAND LORD ZAIPER OF THE NORTHERN WINGS

"Where is he?" Lord Vladya asked, quickening his pace as he descended the stairs.

"He is at the sixth square, Your Highness," replied Yaz, his head soldier, keeping stride. "The people have gathered there. It is quite a crowd."

Lord Vladya clenched his teeth, striding forward with purpose. Servants and maids scrambled out of his way as soon as they saw him.

Turning a corner, his sharp eyes caught sight of Lord Ottai approaching from the opposite direction with his own group of soldiers. The grim expression on Ottai’s face mirrored Vladya’s.

Zaiper has gathered the people at the square," Ottai announced as they drew closer, his tone edged with frustration. "He is informing them about the beast's escape last night."

"So I have heard," Vladya stated, his voice clipped. "This must be stopped."

"What is wrong with Zaiper? This is a matter for the court, not the public.” Ottai’s brow furrowed. “Why would he do such a thing?"

"It is clear he is trying to gain more support."

The two walked together toward the square. Lord Vladya shook his head. "Lately, he has grown desperate for the throne."

When they reached the sixth square, a large crowd had already formed. Their heightened senses allowed them to hear Zaiper's voice as they approached.

"We cannot keep living in fear. The beast will continue to break free, and more innocent people will be harmed," Zaiper’s voice boomed, holding the crowd’s attention. "We all loved the grand king. For thousands of years, he was our greatest ruler—the finest the Urekai have ever had."

"Yes! Long live the grand king!" someone in the crowd shouted.

A chorus of voices echoed, "Long live the grand king!" three times

Zaiper’s jaw tensed, his eyes darkening with anger, but he masked it well, flashing his practiced smile.

"Indeed," he said smoothly. "We all cared for our grand king, without question. That is why this tragedy is so painful. None of us would wish the fate of going feral on anyone, even our enemies. The grand king's mind has been lost for five centuries, replaced by the instincts of a predator. One of the strongest."

"And the rest of us rulers work tirelessly to protect you from the beast. But we cannot always succeed, for the beast is stronger than most of our defenses," Zaiper continued, his voice carrying through the square. "As you all know, lives are lost every time the beast escapes. Can we allow this to go on?"

The crowd murmured softly, their fear clear but their affection for the grand king even clearer.

For centuries, the people loved and revered their grand king, who ruled with kindness and brought peace to their lands. The same Urekai who despised and hunted all ferals preferred their grand king remain alive despite his feral state rather than be completely killed.

And for centuries, they stood united in this belief.

But one day, they would have to face the truth.

The truth that their grand king was gone—and the beast that remained had to be destroyed. Zaiper wanted that day to come sooner.

"We cannot force the people into such decisions, Grand Lord Zaiper," Lord Ottai interjected, drawing all eyes as he stepped onto the podium. "The people have the right to decide for themselves how they wish to handle the beast. The fact that it was once their grand king cannot be ignored."

Many nodded in agreement, murmurs rippling through the crowd.

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