Chapter 41: "Reason for Treason"
Some hours passed, and there was still no news about Clan Leader Owen. The King ordered him and his family to be captured with charges of treason, and that included Princess Rija, who is Prince Kaio's wife.
Without General Lum who's in charge of the mercenaries, it was King Maro who led them towards Prince Kaio's palace.
Before they arrived at the prince's palace, General Lum and his mercenaries had already departed somewhere far to lessen the probability of getting caught, and it was only Ely who was left in the room where she was locked in.
Prince Seiro also hid in that same room.
"Behave, Ely," he said in a cold tone, "If he sees us, there will be bloodshed, and we do not want it to happen today."
"Why must you all fight like this? Why don't you just work together as brothers-"
He sat on the chair nearest the window, "You were not the one who was pushed in that cliff, so you wouldn't understand."
Ely stood in front of him, staring at him as she thought of how pitiful he was. If she could decide on where he'd live, she would rather take him to her world and ask him to live there peacefully, rather than letting him stay in his complicated world and fight his twin for a throne. Adam's kind smile flashed in her memory. Even though she had rejected Prince Seiro, she still wished for him to smile once again.
She stood beside the window and she peeked. Ely widened her eyes when she saw the King walk there slowly, while turning his head towards the beautiful sea.
King Maro walked on the shore as he felt nostalgic with the memory he had there with Ely.
"I'm sorry, Maro… I can't be your Queen…" her voice lingered in his head.
What if the letter was true? What if she really got back with Adam, her dead husband? Would she change her mind and leave him?
He shook his head, thinking that it would be impossible for him to rise up from the dead.
A mercenary ran towards the King, saying that they had taken Princess Rija and Clan Leader Owen into the carriage.
"Good. Let's go back," King Maro told him, and he followed him behind, intentionally slowing down his pace to catch a glimpse of the sea once more.
"He's leaving…" Ely said as tears fell onto her cheeks. "I really miss him. A lot."
Prince Seiro took a handkerchief in his pocket and gave it to her. "Here. Stop crying…"
She took it and smiled at him, "Thank you. I know you're a kind person," she wiped the tears on her face, "I know that deep inside of you, you want you and your brothers to get along. Am I right?"
"Don't speak as if you know me. Why do you always speak what's on your mind? It will get you into trouble."
"As long as I say what's truly in my heart, I will not regret anything."
---
An hour and a half passed, and King Maro's group had safely arrived back at his palace. He directly went to his throne and ordered Clan Leader Owen and Princess Rija to kneel in front of him to be questioned. Around them were the Ministers and the other Clan Leaders.
"Tell me. Where did you get the news about the wedding being moved to Leoniva City?" the King asked, narrowing his eyes on Pho Clan's leader.
At first, Clan Leader Owen wanted to make up an excuse and blame it on someone else, but he knew that the King would just investigate the matter further, which may lead to him questioning General Lum, and he didn't want his betrayal to be exposed before the royal wedding. So he fearlessly looked straight into the King's gray eyes and said with conviction, "I… I made it up!"
"Father!" Princess Rija was shocked to hear it. She didn't expect him to admit it that easily, and it wasn't part of their plan.
King Maro stood up from his throne, walked towards him, and everyone gasped when he unsheathed his sword. He pointed it at the side of his neck.
"Your Highness! My father is innocent… He-"
The King suddenly pointed his sword right in front of Princess Rija's mouth. "I do not care if you're a Prince's wife. One more word and I'll cut off your tongue."
Princess Rija trembled, terrified of him. She quietly covered her own mouth and wept.
King Maro returned the blade of the sword to point at the Clan Leader's neck. "Now… Tell me everything. Why did you do it?"
"You do not deserve to be the King. You were never thoughtful, never kind, and you never appreciated and acknowledged our efforts for the nation!"
He raised his brow, "You said I never appreciated and acknowledged your efforts? Then why the hell did I allow your daughter to be the Prince's wife, even though everyone else opposed it?! You should be grateful!"
"Why should I be grateful? You are a traitor yourself, aren't you? You tried to kill the true king of this nation by pushing him off the cliff-"
And without batting an eye, King Maro swung his sword on Clan Leader Owen's left arm and cut it off.
Blood splattered, and he screamed in pain, while his daughter fell unconscious with the sudden sight of his father's arm falling off.
"Let the physician tend to him, then lock him in the prison dungeon."
As the Clan Leader was being taken out of the throne room by the mercenaries, he yelled, "Everyone in this room, look how ruthless our King is! Don't serve such a monster! And you, Maro of the Leon Clan… YOUR REIGN WILL SOON BE OVER!!!" and the door was shut.
The Ministers and the Clan Leaders in the room were all terrified of betraying the King. They knew that the rumors about him being ruthless were true, and no one dared oppose him. They thought that the Pho Clan was too full of themselves just because Rija married Prince Kaio. And now, they realized that the King could punish anyone regardless of status and clan they belonged to.
"Who's next?" King Maro said as he stared at the clan leader's blood on the marbled floor.
"We shall serve you with all our life, Your Highness! Long live the King!" one of the Ministers suddenly said in a loud voice, and then he knelt on the floor.
And the others knelt as well, shouting, "Long live the King!"
King Maro threw his sword to the ground, and with heavy steps, he started to walk towards the exit. He knew within himself that he couldn't be happy at all living long as the King, if his beloved Ely wouldn't be by his side.
...
The night before the royal wedding came, and without any news of Ely, the King couldn't eat and sleep well. He spent most of his time in her bedroom, as if waiting patiently for her return.
And on that same night, General Lum returned in his armored horse. He immediately went to the King.
"I apologize for coming a bit late, Your Highness," General Lum uttered as he bowed down to him, "I received information that the news about the change in the venue of your wedding was fake."
King Maro, wearing his purple silk night robe, sat on the cushioned chair. He asked in a serious tone, "Where's Ely?"
"Her carriage and the other mercenaries will be coming back soon, and I think they will arrive just in time for the wedding. I only came in advance to deliver the message."
The King felt his heart jump for joy. He was relieved that despite what had happened those past few days, their wedding could still push through.
After General Lum left, he returned to bed. He dreamed of his wedding with his beloved Ely, and he slept with a smile on his face.
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