Seven months ago when prince Valentine Lechium Ushgul stabbed his own childhood friend in the chest, he was not even able to listen to his last words. Otar was still
Bleeding out and trying to tell him something, but immediately after, he heard a high pitch scream. He would recognized that voice anywhere. Valentine ran outside without looking back. As soon as he swung the door open he saw his beloved Acacia laying on the floor and blood underneath her. Valentine rushed to her side and lifted her into his arms.
"No! What happened? Doctor! Bring a doctor here!" He was screaming with all his might and carrying her through the hallway. Soldiers and servants ran towards them, trying to help in every way possible. Meanwhile his childhood friend was taking his last breath alone, in the room of the prince. The doctor was found shortly, but Valentine would not let go of Acacia no matter what. Only way they could pry him away was by telling him that an unmarried woman could not be examined in a presence of another man. After an hour of mental torture prince Valentine finally received some good news. The doctor told him that the wound was not dangerous. It would take four months for Acacia to completely recover, but unfortunately there would be a scar left on her beautiful young body. Finally Valentine could breath easily. She was safe.
"She needs some rest, but as soon as she wakes up we will sand for you. Poor girl. Who will marry a woman with such a scar." Said the doctor, while wiping his hands from blood.
"Silence! She could have hundred scars on her body, that would not change my love for her. This happened because of me. It is me..." Prince Valentines eyes were fixated on the floor and his fists clenched so tight, blood was pouring on the ground. He sighed. "Thank you doctor. I... I just do not now what i would do without her. She needs to be safe!Now i will deal with the events of today, but I need you to find me immediately as soon as she moves a finger."
"Yes your highness." Said the doctor, placing his hands on his chin and taking a bow.
Valentine turned around and started walking with fears steppes towards his room, with soldiers following behind him. There were already people on the scene when he arrived. The grand generals son, Acacias brother sir Scarel Hasto Challorite was standing over the dead body and talking with a soldier, who was holding a letter in his hands. he was in command and his squad was meticulously sweeping the place. When the prince entered, everyone turned around and bowed there heads in respect. Soldiers did not use the hand to chin Greeting in a normal setting, as there hands were almost always occupied.
"Commander of the fourth battalion sir Scarel Hasto Challorite greets your royal highness prince Valentine Lechium Ushgul."
Prince looked down at Commanders feet and frowned. "At ease soldiers. Sir Scarel step away from the corps. Do you wish to damage the evidence?"
Commander immediately stepped back. "I apologize your highness. It seems i got lost in the job and accidentally stepped on this traitor". Scarel never liked Otar to begin with. He was always near the prince and his opinion was valued over anyone else's. Sure they grew up together, but who cared? He wasn't to distraught about Otars passing.
Prince Valentine avoided to look at his friends white body and opened a window. "feel me in on what you have found."
"Yes you highness." Said Scarel and went to the prices side. "We have captured the assassin who wounded Acacia. It seems, he was to dispose of Otar after he killed you. When he overheard, that you killed him he was about to enter and finish the job. Unfortunately he got spooked by Acacia who screamed for the guards and stabbed her. This was his last resort. He thought he would flee the scene while you were busy saving her life. Fortunately Acacia had alerted the guards in time and he was captured soon after. Similarly the first prince was also attacked, but was able to defend himself as well. The assassin was killed in action."
Prince Valentine was getting angrier by the second. He looked at Commander Scarel, sparks flying from his eyes. "So, who did he say was behind this? Who tried to kill me?"
Commander shook his had. "Unfortunately this was all we could get out of him. He killed himself with the chains he was tied with."
"Damn it!" Valentine shattered the window with one punch. "Did you get anything useful, or just waisted everyone's time?!"
"We did your highness. We found this letter in Otars jacket." Said Scarel and gestured with his hand to the soldier with whom he was talking with a minute ago. The soldier immediately came over with a blood soaked letter in his hand and handed it to his highness.
Prince Valentine went pale. It was his friends blood, soaking the evidence that would change his life forever. The letter implicated his own brother, third prince Datvi Ushgul as the mastermind behind all this. It said that if Otar did not kill his highness prince Valentine on the day of the engagement announcement, than his wife and daughter would never see the sunrise again.
Valentines hands started trembling. If only he told him this. If only... then none of this would have happened. He would have helped him. So why? Did he think he would not believe the accusations agains his brother? There was no one he trusted more then Otar. He looked again at the blooded corpse of his friend and remembered how he tried to tell him something before he died. He had to leave him to save Acacia, scared and alone while he took his last breath of live.
"We need to locate his family immediately. This is the number one priority. Do you understand me?"
"Yes your highness." Said Commander. "I will have someone send to the residence of the third prince."
"Yes. Have him put into custody. This letter still needs to be proven to be from him. Everyone else is dismissed."
Everyone immediately left the room. Valentine approached the body and kneeled beside it.
"Your betrayal is unforgivable. You will be buried as a traitor, with no grave stone and no prayer for your soul. There is nothing to be done about that, but rest assured I will make sure your family is safe and sound. They will
Be well taken care of. Good by forever my friend." He placed a hand on Otars shoulder. Valentine did not cry. He couldn't, for a traitor who tried to kill him les then two hours ago. He got up and left the room without looking back.
When the army battalion arrived at the third princes courtyard big commotion broke out. Datvi Ushgul and his wife rushed to the door to find the cause of it.
"How dare you barge in like this in the residence of the prince? It's the middle of the night. What is going on Commander Scarel?"
"My apologize my prince. I have a warrant to search the premises and an order to detain your highness."
Prince Datvi was shocked. His wife gripped her husbands sleeves scared and pale, not knowing what to do. Datvi gripped her hand tightly.
"On what grounds?" Mumbled the prince.
"For the suspicion of the attempted murder of the crown prince, second prince and lady Acacia Chalorite."
Prince and his wife were taken away, all the while claiming that they were innocent. Valentine did not wish to confront his brother, until he was sure of his crimes, so he arrived a minute later. The search was throughout an the prince himself coordinated it. Shortly after a soldier run up to him and bowed his head.
"Your highness we have found the hostages in the basement of the side building. But..."
He hesitated. The words would not leave his mouth. Valentine felt how his whole body went cold. The taste of metal filed his mouth. He rushed to the basement, swinging open its doors. The scene that ley before him made his knees give out and fall to the ground. A young beautiful woman was hugging desperately a small child of no more then four years. Fear and despair on her face frozen for eternity. They lay on the floor, with nothing but silence around them. Otar never even had a chance of saving them, as they have been dead for at least eight hours already. Valentine had met them many, many times and new them so vary well. The beautiful smile of this loving mother and the lovable giggle of this little innocent girl would hunt him for the rest of his life. Why? Why did this happen? The questions he would never be able to find the answers to.