"What!" The accused girl's voice rose above the already loud crowd. "Adrian, what are you talking about?" He could hear the panic erupting from her throat. This is what he meant. 'Be better than me' Leaving the competition in the dust. If he truly was going to thrive as king. He couldn't have any distractions. Not by friends, or family.
"Viola, killed my father and I…" To be honest, he didn't want to continue his words, but if he did… would anyone believe him? "I want her executed tomorrow. That is my first statement as king." He could feel the sweat making its way down his fingertips. Would they believe him? Would they call him crazy, dethrone him? Everything at the time seemed like it was on the line. He steadied his body slightly, just in case the crowd before him didn't accept his offering.
"I believe you." The sound of someone cheering for Adrian's proposal made themselves loud and clear. The boy didn't know where the voice came from, but it was enough for a whole wave of Gravers to start chanting. He'd done it. He's going to succeed. With the people of Gravesville trusting him like this, nothing would be enough to trample them. After hearing the sound of approval he turned around to greet the so-called murderer.
"Viola Conneese Veyron, do you confess to the crime of murdering the king?" He spoke with a stern look. Even though he was in the wrong, he still kept a strong face. And he was met back with that same strongness. He watched as Vi's face didn't even flinch from the anger well decorated on her face. Although Adrian could see the tears, he didn't feel bad. She about ruined his life, why not the other way around. Beside her, Anry with full tears hung around her arm. It was almost infuriating to see two worthless people side by side. "Anry, step away from her. She killed him. Let her confess." Seconds then went by without words being spoken. Adrian could see the servants and guards confused on what to do.
"I," Viola opened her mouth to speak. Was she going to turn it around? What would she say this time? No matter what, he was ready to defend himself. For the last few days since the letter. He's been planning this. Every response. Every argument. Everything. "I did it." Except those words. He planned for everything except those words.
"Vi. I-" Before he could finish his sentence guards all over the castle pushed their way past Adrian and Anry. People below the balcony screamed things, Adrian himself would never say. He wanted to fight past them, but knew it would be stupid. With him feeling scared of everything, he didn't notice the blood that was exposing itself from his knee. She did this, she wanted this. And he did as well. Then why wasn't he happy? The thought wrestled in his mind as he watched the guide drag Vi to the holding cells, where she would be called for questioning. While some people did cheer him on, a select group of kids in the front booed him in Viola's absence. A part of Adrian hated how much they sounded like his inner thoughts. Most of the crowd cheered while a small part of him questioned his moral ground. At the end of the day… they were right. He'll do anything for power, for fame, for himself. The air around him almost seemed dark compared to the others. He lived his life in a lonely boat, for anyone who boarded it became a pungent resource for him.
"Adrian." He turned to see Anry still letting her tears take control of her face. "Adrian, did she really do it?" Her voice hitched as she spoke. A part of him found it hilarious how shaky her voice sounded. And another part of him hated her. What was it so hard to get her to understand? She killed their father.
"Anry, go into the room and do not come out." Adrian moved himself past her as he continued to keep his eyes on the guards. He wanted to see Vi's face/ was she scared? Contempt? How was she feeling? She never had anyone punish her, not even their father placed a hand on her. Why when his plans work, he always feels some type of guilt? This is why he had to do it. He had to get rid of every distraction that showed his true nature. Because under everything… he was weak. He loved his family. He knew he spent every night since he was eight crying about what happened. He knew after all the drama and yelling, he was weak. Too weak enough to have both family and power. For him there was no balance. Either one of the other, and he didn't have a choice. He felt his face to see what was causing him so much irritation. Tears. To his surprise it was tears. He didn't know why, but tears felt the need to come out. Just as he goes to wipe them off he feels a hug around his body. He knew who it was, of course.
"I think you need some time to rest." Her soft words almost were enough to shield him from the hell he placed himself, almost. But he knew better. He knew that when he woke up in the morning he'd had to confirm the execution of his own flesh and blood. Instead of confirming her words, Adrian managed to wiggle her arms off him. He didn't need this. All he needed was space. Time to think. Someplace that wasn't crowded by the sound of blind followers. He needed someone, someone to defy him. Someone to tell him that his actions were wrong. A balance.
"Gosh, what is wrong with me?" Adrian made his way into his room. If it wasn't for the fact Adrian was tired. The feet below him would turn into a ball and chain. He was stuck. Both mentally and physically. Mentally, he had no competition. He had taken out decades of competition in months. Physically, he couldn't move. His body felt like millions of people were weighing him down and in a way, they were. As king, it was his job to bring the people of the town and many people to come to salvation. That was his debt.