Meanwhile…
The royal chamber was dim, lit by the candles and the fireplace. The only sound breaking the silence was the faint clinking of utensils against porcelain plates.
The King's gaze never wavered as he studied his son, who sat across from him. "I thought you were wiser, Aldric. But to show such favor to a viscount's daughter so openly before everyone…" he let out a slow breath, shaking his head, "That was not the decision of a future king."
"I believe Lady Bianca is more suited for the position of the Crown Princess," The Crown Prince said. His light gray eyes, inherited from his mother, were fixed on the food as he spoke, "Her academics were outstanding, and her beauty and charm will please the people. She would do the Kingdom a great service. Much greater than Lady Celine ever would. The faster everyone realizes her worth, the better it is for them."
"So? Where exactly is that prized Lady Bianca now?" the King asked, a slight scoff playing across his lips, "You were so eager to break the engagement with Lady Rochefort and yet you've placed your hopes in a woman who seems to be, what? Missing in action? Do you think me a fool, Aldric?"
"I don't need your mockery, Father," Aldric stopped eating, jaw tightening, "The more time we are wasting on this conversation, the farther away she might be."
The glass shattered against the wall, missing the Crown Prince by a margin, the wine splattering everywhere.
"Diamante Kingdom is at war against the South Alliance. The border has become unstable and the security isn't as tight as before, and you want me to retreat our soldiers so you can rescue some random lady from the clutches of her kidnappers? Whoever they are?! You think our enemy would just sit around and wait for you, and give you the time to come to her rescue?!"
"Father—"
"Enough! You should focus on mending your relationship with Lady Rochefort. She at least is still in reach," the King said, "The only way to save Lady Bianca is by winning the war, and securing a victory. Only then would Diamante's name alone be enough to scare off your enemies."
The King paused, studying his son's reaction. When Aldric looked back at him, ready to protest, he sighed, taking a deep breath, "I never wished to say this, for it would reveal the truth…" he set his knife down, his voice growing heavier, "...that our dynasty's greatest accomplishments were not solely due to our royal blood."
Aldric frowned, unsure where this was going.
"You may not have realized it," the King said, "but the Rocheforts have always carried a secret. One I have known for years but never spoken aloud." His foot tapped an uneven rhythm against the floor. "They give birth to the most brilliant minds, the most gifted talents. My own great-grandmother was a Rochefort, and because of that blood, my grandfather became a ruler of unmatched wisdom. It was his mind that allowed Diamante's territories to expand as they did in his time."
Aldric's frown deepened, but he didn't interrupt.
"The power they once wielded could have crushed the Diamante Kingdom had they wished." The King's voice grew tight. "But now? Now, they are only a shadow of their former selves. We saw their threat, we prepared, and we won. All thanks to this—" He pointed at his blue eyes. "This… blue inheritance, that should have been ours, was usurped by the Rochefort. We've been reclaiming it since."
"Are you saying Lady Celine carries the same inheritance?" Aldric asked, not bothering to hide his skepticism.
The King exhaled sharply, his fingers curling into a fist. "I thought she was born faulty… or at least I used to think. There were times I questioned if she was even a Rochefort at all, if she was merely a blue-eyed scapegoat to cover for another heir beside her late brother." His gaze dropped to his plate. "But I'm not so sure now," he mumbled, "I've been searching for the hidden heir for nearly a decade, yet there's been no trace of anyone. That's why I agreed to break off the engagement. I thought it would be an opportunity to see how far her true worth could reach, to see what impact she would have on the Rocheforts' clan as a whole."
Aldric's brows knit together. "Why tell me this now?"
The King shook his head, his foot tapping harder against the floor. His thoughts seemed to drift, no longer focused on his son. "I shouldn't have agreed to break your engagement," he murmured. "I thought she would be the end of Rochefort's line, but now, I am starting to believe she is its beginning."
Paranoia crept into The King's expression, his head snapping up. "Where is she?!" His voice rose, urgent, almost frantic. "Where is Celine Rochefort?!"