Alexander's POV
I watch Seraphina fall to her knees, and everything inside me screams to help her.
She didn't do this. I know she didn't. I've watched Lady Seraphina at court functions for two years she's kind, honest, always helping servants when she thinks no one's looking. She's not capable of betrayal.
But the letters Julian holds look real. Her handwriting. Her seal.
Unless...
My hand moves toward my sword. I take one step forward on the royal platform. Father's advisors gasp. One step from the Crown Prince means I'm about to intervene. About to use my authority.
Seraphina's eyes find mine across the ballroom. They're desperate, pleading, filled with tears. She's begging me to save her.
I can do this. I'm the Crown Prince. I can demand a proper investigation. Question that guard. Check those letters more carefully.
I open my mouth to speak
Father's hand clamps around my arm like iron. His fingers dig in so hard I feel bruises forming.
Alexander. His voice is a low growl only I can hear. Don't.
But Father, something isn't right. We should investigate
He yanks me close. His breath smells like wine and rage. When he speaks, his whisper cuts like a knife.
Speak one word in her defense, and I'll have Marcus arrested for treason. I'll strip his title. I'll exile him tonight. Your brother will lose everything because of your stupid sense of honor.
My blood turns to ice. You wouldn't.
Try me. Father's eyes are dead serious. Marcus has been talking about reforming the tax system. Criticizing how I run the kingdom. I've been looking for an excuse to put him in his place. Give me one, Alexander. Defend that girl. See what happens to your precious baby brother.
Marcus. My sixteen-year-old brother who still believes in justice and fairness. Who trusts me to protect him. Who would be crushed if Father destroyed his life.
My hand drops from my sword.
That's better, Father hisses. He releases my arm and steps back, smiling like nothing happened.
I look at Seraphina again. She's still watching me, hope dying in her eyes as I stand frozen.
Say something, my heart screams. Be brave. Do what's right.
But my mouth won't open. Because I know Father's threat is real. He's done worse things for smaller reasons.
I look away from Seraphina. I can't watch the hope die completely.
I'm a coward.
The ballroom erupts in whispers. Everyone saw the Crown Prince step forward, then step back. They all know I could have helped her.
And I chose not to.
Duke Ashford stands up. I disown Seraphina Ashford. She is no longer my daughter.
Even I'm shocked by that. Her own father? Without even investigating?
Mother the Queen declares Seraphina morally unfit for society. Guards grab the sobbing girl and drag her toward the doors.
Julian! she screams. You know I love you! Why are you doing this?
Lord Julian Blackwell's face flickers with guilt. For just a second, I see the truth he knows she's innocent. This whole thing is planned.
And I just let it happen.
The guards drag Seraphina out. The doors slam behind her. The orchestra starts playing again like nothing happened.
I want to throw up.
Good boy, Father mutters beside me. You're learning. Sometimes we sacrifice the innocent to keep the peace.
I don't respond. I can't trust my voice.
Father walks away to greet some visiting dukes. I'm left standing alone on the royal platform, my hands shaking.
That was hard to watch.
I turn. My younger brother Marcus has somehow appeared beside me. He's sixteen but tall, with kind eyes that are currently filled with anger.
You should have helped her, Marcus says quietly. She was innocent.
You don't know that.
Yes, I do. And so do you. He stares at me with disappointment. What did Father say to you?
My throat tightens. Nothing.
Liar. Marcus leans closer. He threatened me, didn't he? That's the only reason you'd stand there like a statue while an innocent girl got destroyed.
I grab his arm. Don't talk so loud. And yes, he threatened to exile you for treason if I intervened. I was protecting you.
I don't need protection that costs someone else's life! Marcus yanks his arm free. You should have helped her anyway. I would have survived exile.
Marcus
Forget it. He walks away, his shoulders stiff with anger. I'm going to find out the truth about what happened tonight. With or without your help.
Fear shoots through me. Marcus, don't. If Father finds out
Let him find out. My brother disappears into the crowd.
I stand alone, ice spreading through my chest. Marcus is too brave for his own good. He's going to get himself killed trying to prove Seraphina's innocence.
And it will be my fault for not stopping this when I had the chance.
Three hours later, I'm in my private chambers when Owen Hart, my personal guard, enters without knocking.
Your Highness. Owen's face is grim. We have a problem.
What now?
Prince Marcus just left the palace on horseback. Alone. He told the guards he was going for a night ride, but... Owen hesitates. One of the stable boys heard him muttering about investigating Lady Seraphina's case.
My heart stops. Where did he go?
We think toward the Blackwell estate. To question Lord Julian.
No. No, no, no.
Julian Blackwell is clearly involved in whatever conspiracy destroyed Seraphina. If Marcus confronts him, if Marcus discovers the truth and threatens to expose it...
Julian might kill him to keep the secret.
I'm already moving, grabbing my sword. Get horses ready. Now.
Your Highness, perhaps we should tell the King
We tell no one! I snap. Especially not Father. He'd probably let Marcus die just to teach me a lesson about obedience.
Owen's face darkens, but he doesn't argue. He knows I'm right about Father's cruelty.
We run through the palace corridors. I should never have let Marcus see how guilty I felt. He's going to get himself killed trying to fix my mistake.
If Marcus dies, it's my fault. Just like Seraphina's destruction is my fault.
We reach the stables. I mount my black stallion while Owen gets his brown mare ready.
Where exactly is the Blackwell estate? I ask.
About an hour's ride north. But Your Highness Owen grabs my horse's bridle. What if this is a trap? What if someone wants to lure Prince Marcus out of the palace?
My blood freezes.
Owen continues, Think about it. Tonight was carefully planned. Forged letters. A paid witness. Perfect timing. What if destroying Lady Seraphina was just step one? What if the real target is
The royal family, I whisper. What if someone is trying to kill Marcus and make it look like an accident?
Owen's face confirms my worst fear.
I dig my heels into my horse. Ride hard! We have to reach him before
A young messenger boy runs into the stable, gasping for breath. Your Highness! Emergency message from the north road!
He hands me a blood-stained piece of paper.
My hands shake as I open it.
The message is written in shaky handwriting, like someone wrote it while dying:
Alexander ambush on north road. Five masked men. I'm hurt bad. They're after something bigger than me. They mentioned the plan and phase two. Find Seraphina. She's the key to everything. Don't trust anyone at court. Not even
The message ends there. Cut off.
At the bottom is Marcus's signature. And a bloody handprint.
NO! The word rips from my throat.
Owen grabs the paper, reads it, goes pale. We need to ride. Now!
We explode out of the stables into the night. My horse's hooves thunder on the cobblestones. Cold wind slaps my face but I barely feel it.
Marcus. My baby brother. Bleeding somewhere in the dark because he tried to do what I was too coward to do.
And his last words Find Seraphina. She's the key to everything.
What does that mean? She's being taken to a convent. She's the victim.
Unless she's not just a victim. Unless she knows something. Unless tonight's conspiracy is bigger than anyone realizes.
My horse races through the palace gates into the forest. The moon is hidden behind clouds. Everything is shadows and fear.
Marcus! I scream into the darkness. Marcus, where are you!
No answer. Just wind and the pound of hooves.
Owen rides beside me. Your Highness! Look!
A hundred yards ahead, something gleams in the moonlight. Something metal.
We reach it and my world ends.
Marcus's sword. Lying in the dirt. Covered in blood.
But no Marcus.
No body. No brother. Just blood soaking into the ground and drag marks leading into the dark forest.
They took him, Owen whispers. He's alive, but they took him.
I fall to my knees next to my brother's sword. The metal is still warm.
This is my fault. All of it. Seraphina. Marcus. Everything.
Because I was too afraid to do the right thing.
I pick up Marcus's sword with shaking hands. Blood drips from the blade.
And I make a vow to the uncaring night:
I will find who did this. I will save Marcus. And I will discover the truth about what really happened to Seraphina Ashford.
Even if it means betraying my own father.
Even if it costs me the crown.
Even if it kills me.
Because I should have spoken up in that ballroom.
And my silence might have just gotten my brother murdered.