The sun had barely risen when Princess Guinevere stood outside Kael's chamber, clutching the necklace and the letter from Queen Solara in her delicate hands. Impatience seeped into her veins as she pounded on his door, the sound echoing through the quiet corridor. "Kael, wake up! We have urgent matters to attend to!"
From behind the door, Kael's groggy voice responded, "I'm getting ready, Princess. Just give me a moment, I'll be right outside."
The princess, unwilling to tolerate any further delay, hesitated for a moment before making a resolute decision. She pushed open the door, stepping into Kael's room, startling him from his half-awake state. His eyes widened in alarm as he hurriedly attempted to cover himself, the fabric of his clothes awkwardly clutched in his hands.
Unperturbed by his disarrayed appearance, Princess Guinevere's gaze swept appreciatively over his physique, a faint smile curving her lips. "You do clean up well, Kael," she remarked, her voice carrying a touch of amusement. "But we have an important task ahead. Hurry up and dress."
Kael, flustered and caught off guard by the princess's unexpected intrusion, scrambled to put on his attire with haste. Each garment found its place in a flurry of fabric and buttons, his discomfort palpable in the hurried movements of his hands. Meanwhile, the princess observed him with a serene countenance, seemingly unaffected by the urgency of the situation.
Once both ready, they embarked on their journey through the royal palace. The air itself seemed to crackle with anticipation as they neared the King's private study, their steps echoing through the grand corridors.
As they entered the study, the King's initial joy at their presence dimmed, his expression clouded with concern. "What troubles you, my daughter? Kael?" he inquired, his voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
"We have uncovered the truth, Father," Princess Guinivere stated firmly, her voice carrying a resolute tone. "Duke Kassadin is behind it all. Look here," she continued, holding up the necklace adorned with Nordic death runes. "This is the cursed necklace used that killed my mother. And this letter," she paused, handing the letter to the King, "is Queen Solara's own words, confessing her awareness of the Duke's actions."
The King's face contorted with a mixture of anger and helplessness, his voice laced with a bitter undertone. "Duke Kassadin," he uttered, his voice heavy with resignation. "He is the head of the black Phoenix, a nefarious organization with tentacles that reach far and wide. Going against him could bring dire consequences upon us and those we hold dear. Even I as the King have to be wary of him"
Undeterred, Kael pressed on, his voice filled with conviction. "Your Majesty, you don't know about my past and why I need a Royal pardon so badly. I believe the Duke was behind the release of the deadly Scarlet Fever in the Stormcloak villa which killed many of my kin. He also imprisoned a pregnant woman named Karma Stormcloak in the fort, all because she did not contract the illness as planned. We mounted a rescue to free her from the imperial fort and we were successful but alot of imperial soldiers died."
Eyes widening with realization, the King absorbed the weight of Kael's words, his mind grappling with the enormity of the situation. "We must act swiftly," Kael declared, his voice laced with newfound determination.
Kael then revealed another valuable asset in their fight against the Duke's darkness. "Your Majesty, I have a collaborator—a blind woman who possesses the ability to see into people's hearts, to detect the darkness and malice that lurks within. She could aid us in unveiling the truth and rooting out the spies that infest your palace. Maybe then you can begin to free yourself from the Duke's grasp."
Moved by their unwavering loyalty and dedication to justice, the King reached for his pen, his hand gliding across the parchment. With a swift stroke, he signed a Royal pardon for all those Kael had mentioned, including a man named Jayce Stormcloak.
The King asked, "Kael, don't you want the pardon? If you were part of these deeds, you should seek forgiveness too."
Kael tightened his lips. "I have it already." He uttered a spell that showed his real identity and said, "Please forgive me for deceiving you, Your Majesty. I am actually Jayce Stormcloak."
King Ignacius sighed. "I don't like being deceived, but I see why you had to hide from Duke Kassadin's agents," he said. "But this time, I might need someone who can change his appearance."
King Ignacius assigned each of the pardoned ones a golden phoenix pendant, a sign of their loyalty to the crown. He said, "I hope you all will serve me with faithfulness and dedication." Jayce Stormcloak bowed again and said, "I pledge my allegiance to you, Your Majesty."