NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: Two suns in one sky
4 hours earlier,
Nicholas walked through the hallways, making his way to the dining hall. With a purposeful glance, he spotted one of his male servants cleaning the windows. "Where's Peter?" he called out, his voice resounding with authority.
"Tell him to come here right away."
Five minutes later, the heavy wooden doors creaked open, and Peter stepped in, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "You summoned me, Your Highness?" "Send 10 more men to guard the empress' courtyard," he said.
"Did something happen to the empress?" Peter asked in a grave tone.
Nicholas's eyes flashed with something indescribable as his mind went to Luciana's words. He didn't like that she was meddling and sneaking around his mother, but he couldn't deny there were some truths in her words. His mother had become restless these past few days.
"Nothing happened; just do as I say," Nicholas said.
"I will get right to it, Your Highness," Peter said and turned to leave.
"Wait, I think you should send the spy guards; rather, make them wear a servant's uniform and tell Samira I brought more servants to my mother's courtyard because she became more restless recently. Let them report anything strange to me," Nicholas instructed and continued on his way.
He had a strong suspicion his mother's recent behavior was due to someone plotting something behind the scenes. 'Why would a maid say all those things to Luciana when she just arrived in Gloryland? Someone wanted to make a scapegoat out of the princess.'
Luciana didn't know that her little lie had made the prince arrive at such a conclusion, and after a string of events, the prince's idea of everything he believed might change.
~~~
"Greetings, Your Highness," General Aaron said and bowed to Prince Nicholas, with his son, Joshua, also following suit.
"No need for formalities between us, Rise. I hope I didn't keep you waiting." Prince Nicholas asked.
"No, Your Highness," General Aaron said.
"Okay, let's eat; we can discuss what you found out over the meal," Nicholas said and sat together with them at the table. He was in a bad mood after what just happened between him and Luciana a moment ago, but that didn't mean he should neglect his duties.
"I wasn't expecting you to return so fast, but I'm glad. Did you find anything suspicious?" Nicholas asked with raised eyebrows as soon as they began eating.
"Yes, Your Highness, I returned as soon as I found out that there had been increased surveillance from the 2nd Prince on in the southern region. We found out the magistrate and the second prince have some shady dealings, and the 3rd prince has no idea about it. However, we have planted spies in the southern regions to investigate and report to the capital immediately if they find out the actual deal between the magistrate and the 2nd Prince," General Aaron reported.
"Were you able to speak to my 3rd brother? Did he receive the message I sent him?" Prince Nicholas asked. The 3rd prince was the son of Lady Diana, one of his father's concubines, and they had been close when they were young. He didn't know when the second prince began to get between them and make the third prince think he was after his life and that he was the one who suggested that he be sent to the Southern region.
After realizing the 2nd Prince's interest in the southern region these past few weeks and some stories of rebels being spotted in the southern region, he was worried about the 3rd Prince and wanted to reach out to him. He didn't want the person he saw as a brother to face any mishaps.
At Prince Nicholas' question, General Aaron shook his head with a look of disappointment on his face.
"The 3rd prince is very dependent on his eunuch and our investigations show that the eunuch is the Second Prince's person. The 3rd prince had been brainwashed by his eunuch and thinks you are out to harm him; when I noticed all these changes in the 3rd prince, we didn't convey your message about the 2nd Prince to him, in fear of it falling into the wrong hands. Please forgive this servant for his incompetence."
Nicholas could only shake his head in self-blame. If he had not distanced himself from the 3rd prince some time ago, all of this wouldn't have happened.
"What about the antidote for my mother? Do you have any leads on that?"
"Yes, my prince, we have been able to locate the poison master, and I have sent some of my most competent men to go and find him and bring him to you. I think we can also ask him if he can identify the man who bought the poison from him and finally find the culprit who fed poison to the empress," General Aaron said.
Nicholas' eyes flashed as a deep look of contemplation fell into his eyes.
"Thanks for your hard work; the journey has been long. You should go and rest," he said and turned to look at Joshua, his friend, and General Aaron's son. In front of the general, Joshua acted calm and hardly spoke; it was as if he were an entirely different person, but today's silence was a bit unusual. Why hadn't he spoken a word ever since he arrived? Was something wrong with him?
"Joshua, can I have a word with you in the study?" Nicholas said and took a napkin to wipe his lips and got up from the table. Joshua also followed suit, and they made their way to the study room.
~~~
In the Prince's study, he sat down and poured himself a cup of tea and another one for Joshua.
"What happened for you to look so gloomy and quiet, like the world is coming to an end?" Prince Nicholas commented, swirling the teacup in his hands.
"My prince, I think it's time you also start gathering ministers to support you in court to become the next crown prince. I know you're not interested in the throne, but have you thought about how the people would suffer if the 2nd Prince becomes the next king?"
"Are you going to talk to me about the same thing over and over again?" Prince Nicholas asked in exasperation. He knew it was his birthright, but was it so wrong for him to want to live a peaceful life with his mother and not think about all the scheming and sacrifices that came with being an emperor?
"My prince, my father did not want you to worry before getting solid proof, but the second prince has a lot of influence over the government officials in the Southern region. I'm sure there's something he is protecting there, and I have a feeling it's somehow going to affect you badly if you continue to allow him to do as he pleases," Joshua said.
"I know, but you and I both know the emperor would not allow me to go if I asked to go for an inspection in the Southern region. After arresting the corrupt officials who were making life difficult for the commoners by overcharging them for renting lands to do farming and my conquest in Serenevale. The Emperor has warned me to lay low. My hands are tied," Prince Nicholas said.
"Maybe you can tell him about your suspicions; he might agree to let you go; you're his favorite candidate for crown prince, after all," Joshua said.
"Is that what you think? He knows I blame him for neglecting my mother and focusing on the women in his harem, and he wanted to put me in the same predicament by building a harem I didn't ask for in my mansion. He's waiting for me to also slip and repeat his mistakes so that he would have a reason to point my mistakes to my face," Nicholas said.
"Is that why you don't spend time with your concubines? But the rumors out there say the emperor specifically chose wives from influential families in Gloryland and important countries to help you ascend the throne," Joshua said in disbelief.
"The emperor is alive and well. Would he be happy if there were two suns in one sky? Besides, he appointed all those greedy men from his favorite consort's family and had given them those important positions in court to give the 2nd Prince support." Prince Nicholas said, and Joshua felt like the veil covering his eyes had been lifted.
In Gloryland, Prince Nicholas was the people's favorite, even though some people called him the devil. Most people believe he only becomes violent when he wants to seek justice for the oppressed; for this reason alone, the emperor indeed wouldn't like it if people always praised Prince Nicholas and wanted him to be their king when he was still alive.
"So what are we going to do now, Your Highness?" Joshua asked in deep thought.
In the next moment, hurried footsteps approached the study, accompanied by hurried knocks on the door.
"Your Highness, it's Peter," Peter's voice came from behind the door.
"Enter."
"What happened?" Nicholas asked Peter,
"Your Highness, your suspicions were right; we found a servant adding to the empress's incense. We have summoned the imperial physician," Peter said.