222 Crown Prince of Vierme

AUTHOR'S POV (IN THE DEN DEEP IN THE CASTLE)

The wind blowing in the dark catacombs in the underground den of the castle was too humid that it's almost suffocating. The rotten egg smell along with the stifling heat never faded, as it fill the air from morning till night. It's like poison in the air that slowly kills everyone imprisoned in the spell bound cages. Enduring such doomed fate, Atrius Jac and Jacomus could just count the days until they see the sunlight.

The shadows are restless today, and it had the three wonder what could be happening outside to make the guards anxious. It's been months since they were captured and imprisoned in the castle, neither seeing daylight or smelling the fresh breeze outdoors. It was least to their expectations to see Galen in the rebel camp, that led to their capture.

Galen's cold eyes were undeniably filled with an indescribable ominous stare, compared at the time when Helena was around. He was warmer back then, and easy to comprehend. But now, he's frigid and dangerously unpredictable, after almost chopping off Umbriel's hand thinking that his screams would lure Helena to them. Disappointed, Galen let Umbriel off after the tormented priest bravely suffered the pain with tight lips, refusing to satisfy the sadistic king.

Despite Galen was quiet all throughout the arrest and travel back to the palace, the King kept a guarded stance with an unreadable expression. He only said one line that sent shivers down to his prisoners' spines before the gates of their hell closed. "You will all die, if Helena doesn't show up".

Apparently, even after several months… Galen still haven't let their heads roll on the floor. It's as if he knew Helena is still coming… no matter how long it takes. Jac, Atrius and Umbriel's prison is different from everyone else's. Surrounded by brick walls and cold flagstoned floor, it's smaller, and darker. The entire confinement only casts light from the torches in the hallway. There were no beds and baths, with only a chamber pot in the corner to relieve themselves. Provisions were given only twice a day, which poorly diminished their muscle build and body outlines.

Today, a name rattled the entire underground prison.

When they heard a name of a woman that had every royal knight standing guard move around and check on them by the minute, the three high regard prisoners suddenly found a glint hope that they thought have already faded away.

Helena.

"Ha!! I knew she's coming back for us", Jacomus whooped in delight while he do some sit ups on the cold floor.

"I beg your pardon, Sir Jacomus? You're the one who constantly cried thinking that Princess Helena is never coming back for us", Umbriel sat near the metal bars as he try to listen to the faint conversations of the knights.

"That's true", Atrius agreed, sitting in the corner as he lean against the wall. His heart haven't calmed when he heard Helena's name.

Jacomus, who has shed some muscles, paused as he catch his breath. "That ain't me, Umbriel. That's the ghost of this rathole speaking", he said as he continue doing more sit ups to keep his body in shape. "Well hey, the squirrel is back! I wonder if Ottis is with her".

As they listen to the knights' conversation, they overhead the imminence of war against Vierme. They ought to hear that the sand soldiers will be attacking Nether, to save the crown prince, Prince Atrius. "Did you hear that Atrius? Your father is looking for ya", Jac said.

Atrius kept mum, holding his rosary while he caress each bead. He never wished to be saved by King Desmun. But knowing the dangers of their dire situation, the sand soldiers who are formidable in battle might be a better chance instead of counting of Helena. Thus, he couldn't deny himself that her face is the only thing he wishes to see first as soon as he get out.

When Atrius found out that Helena is a woman, his fascination in her riveting smiles and compulsive awkwardness were all justified. For a while, her chuckles were music to his ears. And her firmness of determination did quite caught his eye. He thought that treating her as a sibling like how he naturally did with all of his sisters would sound off the alarming feelings which have been growing for quite some time. However, he suddenly realized what he truly feel for her the more he listened to the beat of his heart each time she's nearby.

That was when he realized… that he is in fact in love with the Celestial Soul Traveler.

By the time he saw how Helena looked at Stellan, Atrius wished on the thousands of shooting stars to take Stellan's place. He started to think of his what ifs. Thinking that he should've just kept Helena to himself, it would be then a different story.

From there, he had a lingering sadness that's difficult for him to ease. As he observe at a distance, there was a spark in Helena's eyes that looked more beautiful than the diamonds in Vierme. And her smile that was set only on Stellan, it was a sight where he can hardly remove his gaze from while clenching his teeth.

Galen is no different. Yet, he conveyed a kind of obsession towards Helena that Atrius find fraught with danger. He was fascinated on how extreme Galen is going through just to get his hands on Helena. An instant whim got in his head in the middle of all the chaos. He found a reason to accept the throne of Vierme… to have more power equal to Galen, and title exceeding the paladin Knight only to be deserving enough for the love of Helena.

"Sir Atrius, if you don't mind me asking…why did you leave Vierme?", Umbriel looked at Atrius who seemed to smiling in the his own bubble. "Aren't you the crown prince to ascend in the position of the King?", he asked, while Jac laid on the floor looking forward to the royal comrade.

It took a while for Atrius to answer. With him being the crown prince has always been a taboo. "I didn't leave Vierme", he said. "I was forced to leave the sands.", Umbriel and Jac were left speechless. "Princess Eirah offered me a large sum of money to abandon the position of the crown prince and never show my face in the oasis again".

"Ugh… What a bitch", Jac laid sideways with his hand on his head. "Isn't that the betrothed of Sir Stellan?", he asked

"Yes, she is. It was only one time when I met Sir Stellan in Vierme. It was their first meet as an engaged couple arranged by their families.", he remembered how awkward the meeting was. It was unforgettable witnessing Eirah eagerly forward to kiss Stellan, while the paladin knight was cold and distant. "Eirah can be a little mad, for I truly understand the frustrations of a legitimate child, knowing I'm a bastard son of just one of the many concubines King Desmun had. He had many daughters, you know… and I, just one son", Atrius revealed.

"How many sisters do you have?", Jac asked.

Atrius looked up and counted with his fingers. "Twelve", Atrius answered casually. Jac cringed in surprise, coming from a quite a big family too.

"So the King got really busy", Jac thought.

"If I remember it correctly, it is important for the royals of the Kingdom of Vierme to bear sons. The crown can only be transferred to men, as they signify strength and power.", Umbriel explained.

"That's why having concubines are legally accepted there. They'll never stop until someone bears the king a son", Atrius continued. "There was a conspiracy that all King Desmun's male descendants are bound to die. In fact, I had other older siblings who were boys and died an unexplained deaths. I got away. My mother kept me and sent me to the church where I lived as a scholar.", Atrius dropped his rosary on the floor, as he straighten his legs. "But of course, the truth shall always prevail. I had questions that needed answers. And the church wasn't really helping to fill in the gaps. Eventually, King Desmun found me and immediately crowned me as his successor.", he said.