C9 The Evidence

Adrian's grip slipped—slow, shaky. "You mean—?"

Fredric swallowed hard, his words barely steady. "Father saved me. They wanted me dead, and he stepped in." Tears glimmered in his eyes, but none fell. "By the time I realized what was happening, he was already bleeding in my arms."

The queen's knees buckled; Arianna and Athalia rushed forward, grabbing her before she hit the ground.

Adrian just shook his head, unable to wrap his mind around it. "No—why would anyone want to hurt you? Everyone loves you. Don't they?"

Arianna whispered it right back to him. "Everybody?"

Something in her tone made Adrian freeze, the question hanging in the air. Suddenly he wondered, *Does she think I'm part of this now?*

He barely had a second to process the thought before Athalia stepped in, calm and steady as always.

"Prince Fredric, this isn't the time for suspicion," she said. Her voice was gentle, but firm. "Your father needs your strength. We all do. We have to stick together." She didn't raise her voice, but everybody was listening.

Fredric hesitated. Arianna put a hand on his arm, her voice soft. "She's right. You need to focus on Father now."

Adrian let out a shaky breath—relief slipping past, but drowned out just as quickly by cold dread. Everything shifted in that moment. There was no way any of them understood just how much.

The night stretched on. Guards marched through the palace in groups, armor clanking against marble. Healers darted in and out of the king's rooms, hands stained, faces tense.

Arrandelle held its breath.

Lena, the queen's maid, moved quietly down a shadowed corridor, carrying a silver tray. When she neared the king's doors, she slowed.

Voices behind the door—low, tense. She crept closer.

"You failed a simple task," the queen hissed, barely masking her fury. "Why was the King harmed?"

"I did my part, Your Grace," came a cold reply—a man's voice sharp and clipped.

Lena's skin prickled. "Someone else interfered. Someone who wanted him dead." Lena's breath caught.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly that. The King has more enemies than you thought." A pause.

"What's in it for them?" the queen asked, quieter now.

The man laughed—brief, dry. "Power. What else? Still, things might not be bad for you."

"Explain."

"If someone's blamed, nothing stands between the prince and the throne." Silence.

"Unless," the man muttered.

"Unless what?"

"Unless whoever set this up wants the whole royal line gone. For now, all the heat's on the prince."

The queen let out a shaky breath. "Did she—" She barely got the words out. Lena's heart hammered.

The door creaked before Lena could move.

"I thought I heard something," the queen said.

Lena straightened, forcing herself to appear calm as she entered. She looked around—only the queen.

"Were you looking for something, Lena?"

"No, Your Grace." She bowed, moved for the door, and forced herself to walk—don't run, don't run.

She was still catching her breath when she reached the end of the hallway.

Outside the king's chamber, Adrian sat alone on a chilly stone bench, thoughts spiraling. *Who would want Fredric dead? Why? Why did Father have to take the hit?* Athalia appeared beside him, easing down quietly.

"You should try to rest," she said.

"I can't. Not until I know he'll make it."

"You care about him."

"He's my father." His voice cracked. "I never imagined anything like this actually happening."

A draft slipped down the corridor. Athalia barely seemed to notice.

"Adrian," she said, slow and thoughtful, "do you remember what your father said earlier?"

"About what?"

"About Fredric. His place in the kingdom." Adrian clenched his jaw. He remembered all too well.

"Your father trusts him. The council listens to him. The people trust him." Athalia's voice dropped low. "That puts you in danger, too."

"Not now," Adrian whispered. "Not tonight."

She leaned closer. "Tonight proves it. Someone was willing to kill for power. You never had the grip you thought you did."

"So you think this is all politics?"

"I think someone wanted Fredric gone. Your father paid the price." She let the silence sit for a minute.

"And if Fredric falls," she added, "either you take his place, or you go down with him." Adrian sucked in a breath. She was right. The idea stuck, cold and heavy.

A guard came hurrying over. "Your Highness, the Chief Advisor wants you in the council hall."

Adrian stood, jaw tight. "Is my father worse?"

"No, but we found something."

Athalia met his eyes, sharp and worried.

The council chamber felt thick with tension. At the center, the Chief Advisor held up a broken dagger. Fredric was already there, standing off by himself.

Adrian walked over. "What's that?"

"The weapon used against the King." Adrian stared—battered, bloodied blade.

"That's from the royal armory," he muttered.

The advisor nodded. "It came from inside the palace." Silence.

"So someone here did it?" The queen's voice quivered.

"Yes."

Adrian looked at Fredric, hoping to read his brother's face—nothing there.

"Where were you," the advisor demanded, "when this happened?" He was looking straight at Adrian.

Adrian bristled. "Are you accusing me?"

"I suspect everyone. It's my job."

"I was with Athalia," Adrian said. He almost dared anyone to challenge him.

Athalia spoke up fast. "He was. The guards can vouch for us."

The advisor watched them, silent.

Then the doors banged open.

"Your Majesties!" A guard burst in, breathless. "We caught someone near the stables. He tried to run."

"Bring him," the queen ordered.

They dragged in a battered prisoner, blood shining in his smile.

"Name," the queen demanded.

He spat blood to the floor. "I owe you nothing."

A guard hit him, knocked him to his knees. "Talk."

He grinned. "You think I'll crack that easy?"

Athalia stepped forward, face cold, voice colder. "Tell us why you went after the prince."

"I never touched him."

"And the King?" The queen pressed.

"I'm no killer."

"Then why run?" The advisor snapped.

"Because men like me don't last long in here."

The advisor slammed his hand down on the table. "Did you do it?"

Something changed in the man's eyes. "I didn't." His voice went low. "But I saw who did."