C10 The Witness

The silence dragged on, thick enough to choke.

"You saw who did it? Tell us," the advisor pressed.

He swallowed hard. "I was on watch. Someone walked up to the King. They were talking. They sounded angry, maybe. I glanced away — just a second. Then I heard something hit the ground."

"The King's goblet," Adrian said.

Now the man was trembling. "When I looked back, I saw—"

He stopped short.

The queen edged closer; she could barely keep her voice steady. "What did you see?"

"I saw him," he stammered. "He held the knife. I thought he was threatening the King. I almost shouted — then he stabbed His Majesty. When everyone rushed over, he acted like nothing happened."

Adrian strode forward, tension running through him. "Who? Say it."

The man's face went stiff with terror. "If I speak, I'll die."

"We'll protect you," Queen Elizabeth promised. "Name him."

He looked like he might be sick. "I'm ashamed to say."

"Please," Athalia whispered.

His eyes swept the room — the king, the queen, Adrian, Athalia — finally, he stopped on Fredric. His hand came up, shaking.

Silence swallowed the chamber.

"It was," he whispered, "Prince Fredric."

The word barely hung in the air before an arrow shot through the window and punched through his throat.

He dropped, blood blooming fast across the stone.

Queen Elizabeth screamed. She collapsed. Athalia stumbled, her face twisted in shock — and for just an instant, another emotion flickered underneath.

Adrian's heart hammered. Arianna's hands shook. The whole hall seemed frozen under glass.

Fredric? None of it fit.

Fredric hadn't moved. All the blood had drained from his face. He looked cornered, stunned — like he didn't even understand what just happened.

"GUARDS!" the Chief Advisor roared. "FIND THE ARCHER!"

The corridor outside was empty already. Whoever fired that arrow was gone. And the only witness who could explain now bled out on the floor.

Was Fredric the killer? Was someone framing him? And if he did stab the King, why claim his father saved him?

Nobody moved. The arrow glistened dark with blood.

Finally, the advisor snapped, "Prince Fredric! Explain yourself!"

Fredric's hands wouldn't stop trembling. His voice caught in his throat.

He had no answer. Just the memory of his father lying still in his arms.

Adrian ripped across the room, shaking with anger. "You said Father saved you! Or did you kill him? Did you kill him, Fredric?"

"I didn't… I— I don't remember!" Fredric's voice broke. "He saved me, that's all I know. But the rest is just… it's all blurry. I can't remember what happened!"

"Control yourself, Prince Adrian," the advisor barked.

Adrian stepped back, jaw clenched.

"Tell me they're lying," the queen cried, pleading with Adrian. "Tell me it's a lie."

Fredric had no words. Adrian just stared at the floor. But fear wasn't the only thing twisting inside him now.

"Fredric, please!" Arianna sobbed. "Remember something, anything."

"It all happened so fast. I can't remember. Father saved me, that's all I know."

The advisor's voice cut through, cold and final. "That's not good enough. Prince Fredric is hereby confined to his chambers, pending investigation for the King's murder."

A sharp gasp rolled through the room.

"Seal the gates. No one leaves until we find the archer."

"Yes, Your Grace!"

Adrian watched, numb, as they escorted his brother away. It all happened so quickly he could barely believe it was real.

My brother. Did he really kill Father? If he did, why?

Out the corner of his eye, Adrian saw Athalia by the window, washed pale in moonlight, her hands barely steady.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

She looked distant, disoriented. "I'm fine."

Behind them, the advisor gave more orders. "Double the watch. No one leaves without my permission — not a soul."

"Yes, Your Grace!"

When the chamber finally cleared out, only Adrian and Athalia were left.

She spoke first, quietly. "Do you think he did it?"

Adrian dragged a hand through his hair. "I don't know what to think."

The corridors outside were eerily silent. Lanterns threw twisting shadows over the walls. Somewhere, armor clinked.

"I can't believe this," Adrian muttered.

"That your brother killed him?" Athalia's voice was flat.

He spun toward her. "What do you mean?"

She was steady. "Fredric claimed someone wanted to kill him and your father saved him. But as soon as someone tried to reveal the truth, he was silenced. That doesn't happen by chance."

"You think Fredric wanted the throne? Why would he—"

"Power changes people," she said. "Even the harmless ones."

Adrian shivered — not just at her words, but at how easily they fell from her lips.

At his door, she surprised him. "Let me stay with you tonight."

"You don't have to."

"I want to. You shouldn't be alone right now."

He hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."

His chambers were small, lit by one barely-burning candle. Adrian collapsed into a chair, every muscle aching with exhaustion.

"What if he dies?" he whispered. "What if I lose my brother, too?"

Athalia knelt in front of him, hand gentle on his arm. "Then you carry on. And you lead."

He shook his head. "That isn't what I want."

She searched his eyes. "It doesn't matter what you want. That's what you were born to do."

"Not like this. I won't wish my father dead."

Her face darkened. "Sometimes blood is the price of power."

Adrian sprang to his feet, anger sharp in his chest. "Stop it."

She stood, too, jaw set. "I'm telling you the truth."

"No — you're twisting everything."

She pressed, "So what is it? Fate? A random attack that takes your father and blames your brother? Open your eyes, Adrian."

He stared through the window, mind spinning. "You talk like you know more than you let on."

Her eyes narrowed. "Careful. What are you trying to say?"

He paused. "That prisoner looked terrified when he saw you."

She froze, just for a second.

"Are you accusing me?" Her words came out ice-cold.

"No. I—" Adrian's voice faltered. "I'm lost. None of it makes sense."

Almost instantly, her gaze softened. "I'd never hurt your family. Please trust me." He met her eyes — and wasn't sure what he saw.

She reached up, smoothed his cheek. "Rest. We'll find the truth tomorrow. I promise."

She kissed his forehead, her eyes flicking toward the window.

Far below, in the shadows, a hooded figure slipped away through the courtyard. For a moment, her mask dropped; the smallest, secret smile curled her lips.

But just as fast, it was gone. She was simply Athalia again.

Her plan had only just begun.