"Boy, who are you to be addressing Her Highness directly?" Elliot spat back, his frown deepening.
He had never seen such insolence. How did the knights let this man in? Judging by the color of his eyes, he came from Teralyn. The only person the Marquess could think of was the Prince's personal knight. Unfortunately, his behavior only worsened Elliot's impression about their neighboring kingdom.
Tylen bowed to the waist, "I apologize for my abrupt approach. Let me introduce myself."
He straightened his spine and placed a fist over his chest. His gaze flickered to Hayden, ashen horror on his best friend's face. The Prince offered him a reassuring smile, "I come from Teralyn. I am Sir Hayden Darkwood, Prince Tylen's Sword and Shield."
Alkas's golden eyes crinkled in amusement. It happened subtly that it would be difficult to notice. She had wondered if Tylen would admit to their ploy. Although… if this disturbance went downhill, it would be Hayden's name that would be raked through the mud.
Had that incurred in the Prince's head?
She glanced at the young woman for a split second. Their eyes met at that short time. The Princess couldn't deny the uncanny resemblance. Surely, everyone thought the same. It had been twelve years since that fire. Why would she appear only now?
Where did Tylen even find her for search parties to come up empty?
Stepping down the podium, Alkas kept her back rigid and her expression stoic. She walked over to the center until she and the Prince stood meters away from each other. She held no judgement despite the bitter aura aimed at her. In this scenario, at least, one of them should be level-headed—and Tylen didn' fit in that description.
"Do forgive my good friend, Marquess Jenkins," she glanced over her shoulder, "This is the first time we'd seen each other in years. I'm certain Hayden had only acted out of impatience."
Elliot scrunched his nose and sat down, "That is solely up to you, Your Highness. If you want to forgive him then, so be it."
Alkas giggled with her lips closed. She turned back to Tylen, "You had a question for me, Sir Hayden?"
Tylen swallowed his previous statement. Other than his memory, he had no other confirmation of the Princess's intentions that night. Ariene didn't even remember her past. It would be his word against Alkas's… and this turf belonged to her.
He forced himself to calm down. He could handle that on another time. At this moment, he merely needed the parliament to acknowledge Aria as Princess Ariene. It would be enough to stop the marriage and to prevent Alka's coronation.
He gestured his hand towards his companions, "I come here as the liable person for these two subjects of Aurae. I met them at the Ahana Forest, among its towers. They have a remarkable story that I deemed worthy for this court to hear."
"A tower in the Ahana Forest…" Duke Hawkins whispered. Then, he amplified his voice, "Excuse me, Sir Hayden. You wouldn't happen to know about the unconscious members of the Nocti found in the forest?"
The room revived in discussions. Theories had been formed by several noblemen. Suspicions rose from the timing of the intrusion and the report. A few strung together the possibilities as one unproven truth, connecting the Nocti, the Phantoms Pirates and Hayden's group. The tower mentioned must also be the same one.
Tylen lost contact with his mouth.
"The Nocti were in the Ahana Forest?" He croaked.
Hayden lowered himself into his seat. He saw through Tylen's lie immediately. He should have realized it sooner that it had been them who tangled with the Nocti. More importantly, he should have known that his best friend would search those towers. When Ariene went missing for a day, she had been found in a tower. It would be the first place to look.
Jameson raised a skeptical eyebrow, "You hadn't seen them near the First Tower?"
"Ah," the Prince nodded in understanding, "The tower I speak of is the Second Tower."
"So you never encountered the First Tower on your journey?" Elliot questioned, "What were you even doing in the Ahana Forest, Sir Hayden?"
"I had been travelling through the towns when I heard it was faster to arrive at Sol Palace through the forest," Tylen replied without hesitation. He had practiced this answer on their way, "I chanced upon the Second Tower for some rest when I discovered that it was occupied."
Seizing the opportunity, he strolled back to the doorway and placed a hand on Aria's upper arm.
"We only have one request and that is for you to hear us out. This could determine the fate of both our kingdoms. That should be enough reason to grant it."
Alkas felt the provocation but she stayed upright. Ariene was dead, her mind chanted. That fire had taken her sister's life and she refused to look back. It would stay in the past where it belonged. Eyes in the room fell on her. This involved her family. Therefore, it should be her decision.
She took a deep breath, "Very well. Please enlighten us."
Spinning on her heel, the Princess strode back to her seat on the podium. She sneaked a peek at Hayden. His face showed indifference but the lines between his brows indicated worry. It seemed that his best friend hadn't informed him of this plan beforehand—a reckless move on Tylen's part.
The Prince nodded at the person behind Aria.
He nodded back, brown eyes closing briefly. He closed the doors and passed between the two. His cape swayed behind him as he walked further into the room. His tan breeches and smock had been freshly cleaned. His normally bushy dark hair had been trimmed.
He craned his head at the benches. Dubious faces stared him down, creating pressure on his shoulders. This only made him more determined. He puffed out his chest and spoke with a booming volume.
"I, Sir Jack Kenley, stand before you today to testify that this young woman," he declared, shuffling his feet to one side. He offered an open palm to a pair of hazel eyes, "Is none other than, Princess Ariene Athenine of Aurae Kingdom."
Collective gasps echoed softly. It was one thing to speculate about the possibility but it was another for someone to openly claim that it was true. To hear the words out loud had shaken everyone awake. They slowly sank in and the idea that Aurae could have another ruler became more apparent.
Aria gulped, clinging closer to Tylen. She hid half of herself behind him. The Prince placed a hand on hers. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.
Hayden covered his face behind his own hand. He wouldn't be the only one who noticed the exchange. Tylen might as well confess his true identity. Otherwise, it would seem that he had betrayed the two kingdoms by being affiliated with his best friend's 'dead' fiance.
Marquess Jenkins stomped his crane on the floor several times. He shouted above the rest. A bold statement shouldn't be ignored nor should it be believed right away, "Pray do tell…! What testimony do you have to offer us?"
Sir Jack faced the parliament once more. He mimicked Tylen, placing his fist on his chest.
Then, he began to narrate the same story he told the Prince.
"I am a knight assigned at the ports near the Second Tower. Twelve years ago, an order came from the regency about Princess Ariene's whereabouts. Every knight needed to keep their eyes peeled in case she surfaced from the ashes."
He cleared his throat. Sweat trickled down the nape of his neck, "When I met Lady Aria, I recognized her immediately. She had an old woman with her and they often visited the tower for cleaning. It hadn't been long since the fire broke out so I was positive that Aria was the missing younger princess."
The occupants of the bench near Hayden mumbled heatedly with one another. These two noblemen had encountered Ariene as a child and witnessed her rare display of intelligence. They had high hopes for Aurae with her presence… and the story held promise so far.
It did raise one question though.
"I had watched her grow all these years," Sir Jack continued, "You may wonder why I never brought her here before now? When King Andre died, hushed whispers travelled the lands of ill intentions against the younger princess. A few prestigious families and nobles hoped for her death since she was an illegitimate child."
He shook his head at them.
"A defenseless child would not be able to stand among them!" His nostrils flared out of anger. The gruff tone in his accent strengthened, "As a former knight of the Sol Palace, I could not take the risk that she'd fall into the wrong hands. I had planned to bid my time until she came of age. The moment when she received the rights given by her birth and his father's will and testament."
He made a complete turn, spreading his arms like an eagle. He challenged the parliament with his glaring eyes, "Tell me what do you have to say! The once dead princess had risen out of the darkness! Would you refuse to give her this chance now?"