Chapter 15 – The Ventriloquist Master and His Puppet

Spending time with my brother was a constant test of patience. How could someone like him be king? His personality was unbearable, always talking about himself, seizing any chance to brag with stories I doubted were true. The worst part? I couldn't even voice a thought that might offend him. Any anger or disgust I felt vanished within seconds, as if he had some invisible power over me. My brother seemed untouchable, and I found myself forced to smile while he babbled about his hunting, boasting about cornering a moose. Such monotony.

We had been stuck in that place for two weeks. Theodor frequently came to visit me, investigating the ways the king controlled my mind. Alexander wasn't allowed near me; the king himself made it clear in official documents that the alpha must keep at least twenty meters away. Exaggeration? Maybe.

Living with William and his advisor Felder was torture. It was obvious who really ruled the kingdom. William was nothing but a spoiled, talkative boy, incapable even of managing the castle servants. Felder pulled the strings behind the scenes, a true ventriloquist, and William was his obedient puppet. Ridiculous, almost comical.

But I lacked the power to mock it; all I could do was endure. William acted like a child, and those two weeks by his side made me believe that only some kind of magic could explain why I was there. When I tried to see beyond it, my mind would idolize him again, appreciating his empty stories.

— Are you paying attention? This is serious, Albertin. — William said, his voice heavy with superiority.

— Yes. — I answered automatically, but soon was overwhelmed by intense nausea. I vomited on the floor and felt dizzy, nearly falling. William was frantic, but his disgust was greater than his concern.

He took my illness as an insult, ready to scold me, until the guards arrived demanding a doctor. They took me to my room, and after examining me, the doctor confirmed it wasn't poisoning.

— You're incompetent, you can't even listen properly. — William paced angrily back and forth.

— I'm sorry... — I replied, still dazed, wanting to tell him off but holding back. It was my fault for getting sick during breakfast.

The doctor entered and, with a serious tone, said:

— Your Highness is four weeks pregnant.

The shock was immediate. An alarm sounded in my mind, muffled by the spell dominating my thoughts.

— Can you omit the weeks? I'm sure a good bribe would fix this. — Felder smiled maliciously, already thinking how to manipulate the situation.

— Actually, it's two weeks. — the doctor corrected, reminding the date of the council meeting. Everything felt like a nightmare.

When the doctor left, William approached, but Felder quickly stopped him.

— Your Majesty! Please. This baby will be the key piece we need. It will speed up the marriage. — Felder smiled confidently, pleased with the plan, while William huffed in frustration.

— He betrayed me! That person was involved with Alexander, unbelievable. — William spoke with such disdain it was almost palpable.

— William, we were engaged. — I tried to justify myself, though I knew I didn't have to.

— Shut up. — He approached, gripping my chin tightly. I could have reacted, but I didn't. — If you think I'll care for that bastard, you're very mistaken!

— Majesty. — The advisor's voice grew firm and intense. William stepped back, recognizing the seriousness. — We need this child. We don't know what will happen when Theodor brings the mages to examine Your Highness, Albertin. If you're pregnant, we'll have a trump card for the marriage. It doesn't matter who the father is; what matters is the child exists and can solidify your authority, ending all doubts about your reign.

William considered, clearly aware of the stakes.

— Very well. A first child might not survive, but the true bloodline will prevail when my brother impregnates you again. — He smiled maliciously.

— We'll announce the pregnancy at the spring transition ball. It will be the perfect moment. — Felder said, relieved after convincing his "puppet," and William agreed.

I was left alone, feeling like a blank sheet of paper, powerless to act. I didn't want to be the rescued one, but I needed someone to resolve this. I thought for a few seconds about how depressing life married to William would be, but those thoughts quickly slipped away. No anger, no sadness — my feelings dissolved too easily. I hated the uncertainty, the emptiness without a future.

I had always been intense in my emotions, living everything deeply, and now I didn't know how to handle that child, who was clearly Alexander's. Our relationship was recent and intimate. I felt a mix of longing and resentment. Why couldn't I just feel? It was exhausting.

I slept peacefully, without William bothering me. He was probably scheming with Felder.

I woke in the middle of the night with a hand covering my mouth, pressing my face against the pillow. I thought it was the end.

— Stay silent. — It was Alexander's voice.

I nodded. The alpha stepped back as I sat up. He removed his hood and lowered his mask, revealing his face. There was a subtle glow around his feet — some kind of magic, since we were so high up.

— I couldn't come sooner, security was tight and only now did I manage a spell to reach you. — Alexander hugged me. — Why did you give up on us?

— I love my brother. — I answered automatically, without thinking, but let him hold me. In my mind, I had rehearsed words to say in front of everyone, but none felt sincere.

The alpha gripped my shoulders firmly.

— I know you're under a spell. I have to find a way to break it. — He looked me over from head to toe, searching for signs, until he saw the medallion on my chest. When he reached to touch it, a glow pushed his hand back.

— So that's it... — He murmured, full of bitterness.

— You can't say that about my brother. He is your king, and you will be hanged. — I repeated mechanically, like a puppet, echoing the words automatically.

Alexander covered my mouth.— I'll fix this. I'll take that thing off your neck. — I only let out a low whimper. Then I started crying. I didn't understand why I was crying. But the older one hugged me tightly and held me in his arms, comforting me completely. His scent, his pheromones.

I desired him with all my strength. His skin against mine, the sound of his breathing. I wanted to scream everything that was suffocating me, but no voice came out. Only the sound of tears.

I eventually fell asleep. When I woke up, everything seemed like a sweet dream. The doctor gave me medicine again. William appeared soon after, but he was harsher than before, speaking offensive words while forcing me to smile and thank him for the humiliation. I felt anxious, just wanting him to shut up and leave me alone.

I noticed some soldiers training in the courtyard. I found myself watching their exercises. I missed training, fighting with Bob. I saw Alexander crossing the yard, talking to someone. That's when William grabbed my chin forcefully, making me look at his angry face.

— Why are you distracted when I'm talking to you? — He asked disdainfully, glancing at Alexander now looking our way from the other side. — Haha. You really are a filthy wretch.

Even though I pulled away, William thought slapping me in public was a great idea. I raised my hand to my face; the spot where he hit was hot. It hurt.

— What do you think you're doing? — Alexander approached, irritated with the king. — How dare you touch the prince?

For a moment, the king looked intimidated. At first, he tried to step away from Alex. A complete coward. But then he realized a duke couldn't intimidate someone with so much power and quickly regained his stance.

— I am the king. — William said with authority. — And you owe me respect.

— May I remind you that the council made it clear there will be no forgiveness if there's any physical abuse by our king against the crown prince? — Alexander said with the same threatening tone. He looked at me and saw I wasn't going to react. He just stepped back quickly toward the soldiers.

I thought the duke would take more decisive action, and even the king looked stunned by what just happened.

— Let's go. — William said, still intimidated.

I followed him feeling discouraged. It was like carrying so much in my throat I could barely breathe. I was suffocating slowly, and the only one who could save me simply turned his back, leaving me with no hope at all.

I think it was two days like that until the council urgently gathered. I stayed in my room by William's order until they summoned me to appear. I had to obey my brother, but I doubted I could stay locked up much longer. The ball was approaching, and a sudden meeting could be seen negatively by the others.

— King William, did you take the liberty of slapping Your Royal Highness Albertin? — The counselor asked with an intense tone.

— I would never commit such an outrageous act. — The king replied indifferently.

— Different witnesses and even the Duke himself saw you committing such a brutal act. — He added.

— Ask my brother. — William smiled proudly.

— I didn't... get slapped. — I said, even though the swelling on my cheek clearly said otherwise. I couldn't resist my older brother's orders and was just a passive puppet.

— See? — William smiled arrogantly, thinking himself untouchable.

— Your Majesty, the witnesses cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, the prince does not appear to be acting normally according to reports from the last two weeks. He will be isolated from the rest of the castle. — The counselor said categorically, as if delivering a sentence.

— He's pregnant! My brother is pregnant with my child. You can't take him away from me like this. — William said dramatically and desperately.

Alexander looked utterly horrified. Soon everyone began to whisper. My brother's counselor didn't seem happy with the situation. On the contrary, his face twisted with anger and frustration. William didn't realize he had just made a huge mistake.

I stayed silent. My brother was proud of himself. My alpha, Alexander, was obviously incredulous and outraged by everything. And all I could do was wait.

To be continued...