Wrong decision

Chapter eleven

"Are you kidding me!" Ethan says angrily.

Lucas shakes his head slightly, "Why would I do that? You just saw what transpired between you and Carlos. And you can remember I called you Ryder the other time."

" That was because I thought it was you."

Ethan has heard the name before. He tries to search his memory. Then, it came at him dangerously.

Ryder Kingston was the name of the prince. He was telling the truth.

But his mind was still in a daze to figure out what was going on.

There was something he didn't know about. Because it was quite impossible to share the same face with the prince. There were other people he could have shared his face with.

Ethan has been alone for a long time, especially after the woman he believed was his mother passed away.

The woman confessed to him that she wasn't his biological mother. They didn't even share any similarities, to begin with. And so, she only confirmed people's suspicious.

According to the woman, she saw Ethan in front of her house one night and took him in.

Ethan looks up at Luca's questioning gaze, "Who am I?"

"I don't even have a mother or a father. So, who am I?"

The tears were running non-stop from his eyes.

"I was picked up, so what? I'm supposed to know the fucking parent that did that to their son!" Ethan screams in rage.

He turn around and stare out towards the forest, he didn't know if he should be sad or angry. But he felt both. Like the prince, he wishes he could also stay somewhere and voice out how sad he feels.

Ethan sucks inbreathe and tries to think of the good memories he shared with his mother or the one he had with Bryson.

Actually, he was tired of living with the memories.

Every time, he had to worry about his welfare. The only thing that kept him moving was the good memories he heard.

Something that eventually does bring tears to his eyes. He just wonders why life seems so miserable for him. Maybe, he was not meant to be in it.

Ethan remembers something quickly, "Are you not supposed to be serving the prince now?"

Lucas didn't respond. Instead, he goes to sit.

Ethan manages to stop the flow of tears from his eyes, "Do you think I should go back home?"

Lucas didn't respond again.

Ethan turns to look at him, Luca's brows were arched in deep thought. And Ethan wonders why.

Then the pieces were coming back at him in rocket space.

He realizes in no time what Lucas was so concerned about.

He takes a step towards Lucas, "Do you mean the prince is the beast in that forest?"

Lucas looks up at him, astound at how he managed to know.

Ethan turns toward the window again. The rumors at the marketplace were true.

He thought he was the only one passing through phrases but now he knows even the prince that was supposed to enjoy the luxury that comes with being the prince is going through one.

He's supposed to be at the palace but he couldn't do that. Now, he stays in the forest, howling like a real beast.

Ethan felt pity for him.

A horse has pulled to a stop in front of the hut again.

Ethan looks at Lucas, surprised and scared.

Lucas gestured for him to sit and mouthed the word, 'sit' for him. Ethan sits quickly and Lucas moves to the door.

He opens it and stares at Ethane, the guy he planted in the prince's palace to pretend to be Prince Ryder while he came out to see if he has cooled his temper and is ready to see him.

He opens the door wider for him to walk in.

Ethane the guard walks in and stares up at Ethan, then he bows his head slightly, "Your highness!"

Lucas sighs, "He's not the prince. But did something happen? You are supposed to be in the palace as the prince."

" The king found out that the prince wasn't in the palace."

Lucas's eyes widen with shock, the feet shake under him, " How did it happen?"

He sighs, "There's a rumor circulating the palace already about the prince. People think the prince is the beast in Tinorah."

Ethan gasps behind, " How?"

" I don't know but I think the king must have heard. So, he sent for you but you were not in the palace. So, he came into the prince's villa."

'what!" Lucas scream out, " The King entered the prince's palace?" He stares surprised at Ethane.

The King has never entered the prince's villa after the Queen's death.

Ethane, the guard looks up at Ethan" Did you say he's not the prince? How then do they look so much alike?"

Lucas closes his eyes for a moment, " I will explain later. So, the king recognized the prince?"

Ethane nods, " He saw through our lies. He informed me to give you this letter and that you are to report to him immediately," he stretches out a bundle of paper.

Lucas collects it and pulls off the rope around it, anxiously. He wonders what the king has inscribed to him.

He opens and read through, his eyes went wide and dark with surprise. He drops his hand and looks up at Ethane.

Ethane raises a questioning gaze, "What did the king say?"

"He wants me to report into the palace now with the prince."

Ethane sighs, " How do we fool the king? He will recognize his son more than anyone."

"Is there a problem I can help with?" Ethan says behind, jerking Lucas slightly and letting him know he was present. Something he had already forgotten.

Ethane looks at Ethan, "I thought the prince is in the forest. How come then is he here?" He says with so much confusion.

Lucas sighs, "I said he's not the prince!" He screams angrily and was very much frustrated that the guard was interrupting his thoughts while he was thinking hard about what to do.

"I don't know why you keep getting fooled. He's not the prince," he looks away, then slowly turns his look back to him.

An idea makes him smile widely, " Gosh, why didn't I think of it the other time. Ethane you are so brilliant."

Ethan flip his look from Ethane to Lucas, " Is there something you aren't telling me?"

"You know everything already. It's just that the prince has saved you. It's your turn to save the prince."

Ethan raises a brow, confused, " What do you mean? How do I save the prince?"

Luca's eyes sparkle with excitement, " By pretending to be prince Ryder," he smiles again as if it was no big deal.

What!

Ethan yells, "Are you out of your fucking mind!"

Lucas shrugs slightly, "Maybe or maybe not. I'm only trying to save my skin. And since I've just saved yours, you have to pay me back," his look on him was sly.

Ethan takes a step back unconsciously, shock kept him speechless for a long time. When he later regains himself, he lurches forward, towards the window to escape.

"Get him!" Lucas screams behind him.