A Prince’s Unrest

A Prince's Unrest 

The air in the palace was still, but within Prince Lilian's chambers, a storm brewed in his mind. He sat at the edge of his bed, fingers tangled in his hair, his jaw clenched as he replayed the day's events. 

Mai's bold questioning about the royal lineage had unsettled him, but what angered him the most was Lord Delian's sharp tongue against her. His heart had pounded with fury when Delian insulted her—something no one but he was supposed to do. 

"Why did I get so angry?" he wondered. "Why did I even dismiss him so abruptly?"

Lord Delian was his cousin, an ally, yet he had dismissed their meeting out of irritation over Mai. He hated this feeling—the strange, unexplainable unrest stirring within him. 

Meanwhile, in her chambers, Mai spread the long parchment across her desk. Her eyes scanned the royal lineage once more, her fingers tracing the names of ancient rulers. Each king had a direct bloodline to the previous one—until King Eric. 

There was no mention of his ancestors in the royal line. 

"Who was he before he became king?" she thought, her brows furrowed. "How did he claim the throne?"

A knock on her door startled her. Sofia entered, her expression serious. 

"You dismissed your lesson early," Sofia noted, closing the door behind her. "Something happened, didn't it?" 

Mai hesitated but then sighed. "Sofia, tell me… King Eric—does he truly have royal blood?" 

Sofia's eyes flickered with alarm before she quickly masked it. "Why are you asking such dangerous questions?" 

"Because I need to know," Mai insisted, her grip tightening on the parchment. "If King Eric has no connection to the former rulers, then how did he become king?" 

Sofia stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You're playing with fire, Mai. Those who question the throne do not last long." 

Mai's heart pounded, but she refused to back down. "Then I need to find out before I become the next person who disappears." 

Later that evening, Mai wandered into the palace gardens, lost in thought. The cool night breeze rustled the leaves, offering a temporary escape from the suffocating weight of her discovery. 

She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Prince Lilian standing a few steps away, watching her. 

"Mai." 

His voice startled her. She turned to find him staring at her, his usual arrogance absent. His expression was unreadable, his hands shoved into the pockets of his royal tunic. He looked… conflicted. 

"You dismissed the lesson early today," he said. "Why?" 

Mai hesitated. She wasn't ready to share everything with him yet. "I had things to think about." 

Prince Lilian narrowed his eyes. "Like what?" 

She met his gaze, debating how much to say. "Like the fact that King Eric's name doesn't appear in the lineage of Veries." 

Silence. 

Prince Lilian's entire body stiffened. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She could tell from the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes that he had never considered it before. 

"I—I must have overlooked it," he finally said, though his voice lacked conviction. 

Mai crossed her arms. "Then tell me, Lilian. If you're the prince, if you've been taught about the history of this kingdom, why don't you know the answer?" 

His jaw clenched. "That's not something I need to question." 

"But it is something I need to question," Mai countered, stepping closer. "Because if he isn't the rightful king, then what does that make you?" 

Prince Lilian flinched as if she had struck him. His hands curled into fists at his sides, and for a moment, Mai thought he might lash out. But instead, he turned away sharply. 

"This is dangerous talk," he muttered. "You shouldn't dig into things that don't concern you." 

Mai watched him, her heart beating fast. She had shaken him, whether he wanted to admit it or not. 

"If you're so sure there's nothing wrong, then prove it," she challenged. "Find out for yourself." 

Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Prince Lilian standing alone in the dimly lit garden, staring after her. 

As Mai disappeared into the palace halls, a shadow moved in the distance. A hooded figure, hidden within the garden's hedges, had been listening. 

The moment Mai was out of sight, the figure slipped away into the darkness. 

Deep within the palace, in his private chambers, King Eric sat with a goblet of wine, his sharp eyes glinting under the candlelight as a servant whispered into his ear. 

"So, the girl is asking questions," the King mused, swirling his drink. 

The servant bowed. "She may become a problem." 

King Eric smirked. "Then let's make sure she never finds the answers." 

---