In an official hall where an event was about taking place, observers could spot both the youngest Prince and Crown Prince of Arcadia.
The day after the incident, King Ferdinand had already been informed of what had happened. He had even meted out punishment to Prince Kinsey, but his response was not what many had anticipated.
Initially, Prince Kinsey had braced himself for an outburst of anger from King Ferdinand, blaming him for the trouble that had occurred. However, to Kinsey's surprise, the King was remarkably composed.
Despite the gravity of the situation, King Ferdinand appeared to be keeping his emotions in check, which was obvious to Prince Caspian and Queen Rosette.
The mere thought of losing his son and not being aware of the danger had left King Ferdinand feeling both angry and vulnerable.
He couldn't bear to imagine the repercussions if news of the attempted murder were to spread throughout the kingdom. How could he expect people to trust his leadership and feel safe if he couldn't even protect his own family?
However, despite the gravity of the situation, the King's first priority was ensuring the well-being of his son. Once he knew that Prince Kinsey was safe and receiving proper medical care, his attention turned to bringing the perpetrator to justice. His anger towards Candy was palpable, and he was determined to make sure that she faced severe consequences for her actions.
As King Ferdinand laid his eyes on Prince Kinsey, he was filled with conflicting emotions. Part of him wanted to embrace his son, while another part wanted to lash out in anger. Prince Kinsey, for his part, looked pitiable with a sad, regretful, scared, and disappointed expression. He knew he had let his father down.
Despite his mixed emotions, King Ferdinand couldn't help but raise his voice and threaten to take away some of Kinsey's privileges.
However, unlike his usual self, the King refrained from following through on those threats. He was a man of his word, and he knew that his son needed his support and guidance more than ever in that moment.
The only thing that Prince Kinsey was forced to do against his will was to accompany the Crown Prince to an official event, which involved planning and organizing a future function.
This was the same event that the Crown Prince had been working on the previous day when he received the fateful call from Sergeant Smith.
Prince Kinsey had always been the black sheep of the Royal Family when it came to fulfilling his royal duties.
He despised attending official functions and meeting outwardly polished individuals who would only smile at him because of his title. He saw through their facade and knew that they would not hesitate to put someone else in their place if it served their interests.
Prince Kinsey's aversion to official functions was also the reason why he sought a simple and problem-free partner like Candy. However, it was precisely this choice that had landed him at an event that the Crown Prince was organizing.
The event was scheduled to begin two hours after 11 AM, and it was an environmental conference aimed at bringing together experts, policymakers, and activists to discuss the critical issue of climate change in Arcadia.
The Crown Prince had organized the conference as part of his commitment to promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship in the kingdom.
He knew that it was crucial to address the issue of climate change head-on, and he was determined to do his part in making a positive impact.
While the environmental conference planning was on, the Crown Prince took a moment to address the issue concerning Candy. He had just finished speaking with his father, King Ferdinand, and was now on the phone with Sergeant Smith.
"I see. I'm not surprised, given her track record," Prince Caspian remarked with a hint of disdain.
"Thank you for keeping me informed, Sergeant. I appreciate your diligence," the Crown Prince said, grateful for the update. He made a mental note to invite Sergeant Smith to the palace for a drink once the situation had been resolved.
"You don't need to thank me, Your Highness. It's my duty." Sergeant Smith replied.
"Thank you anyway Sergeant Smith." Prince Caspian insisted.
"The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness." Sergeant Smith said.
"I have to go now, Sergeant." Prince Caspian said.
"Goodbye, Your Highness." Sergeant Smith replied, before Prince Caspian ended the call.
Prince Kinsey who was standing next to The Crown Prince with his gaze never leaving him then spoke up.
"What did he say? What did he tell you?" The young Prince asked.
"You're asking the same question Kinsey." The Crown Prince began to walk, fully aware that his younger brother would trail behind him like a shadow. He had more inspections to do, especially in the large Grand Salon hall where the conference was scheduled to take place.
As expected, Prince Kinsey followed closely behind his brother, his eyes fixed on the Crown Prince's profile. However, his attention was momentarily diverted when he nearly collided with a worker who had failed to recognize the Princes until it was almost too late. .
"Oh my God. I'm sorry, Your Highness." The said worker apologized with repeated bows. "I'm sorry for_"
"No, don't be." Prince Kinsey said.
"Apologies Your_"
"It's fine, you can go." Prince Caspian said with a second long polite wave.
"Thank you, Your Highness." The worker said before walking away with a slight bow.
Prince Caspian let out a small sigh before turning to face his younger brother.
"There's never a dull moment with you around, is there?" he remarked, with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Well, you refused to answer me, and I was too anxious," Prince Kinsey replied, keeping his voice low like his brother's. "I still am."
"You don't need to feel anxious," Prince Caspian reassured him. "Your girlfriend wasn't amputated."
With that, the Crown Prince turned around and resumed his inspection, leaving his younger brother behind again.
Prince Kinsey followed his elder brother closely, feeling frustrated and agitated. "You know that's not what I meant. I don't care what you do to her," he said, trying to clarify his earlier statement.
However, Prince Caspian continued walking, seemingly ignoring his brother's pleas. Frustrated, Prince Kinsey raised his voice slightly. "Come on, brother! Answer me!" he exclaimed, his tone becoming more urgent.
Feeling his frustration mounting, Prince Caspian walked over to the backstage area, a place where few people were allowed to go.
He was aware that Prince Kinsey would follow him, but he didn't want to scold him in front of others and risk diminishing his younger brother's standing.
Sure enough, as soon as Prince Kinsey stepped foot in the backstage area, Prince Caspian tugged on his arm, pulling him into a more secluded space. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down before speaking.
"Then why do you keep pestering me?" Prince Caspian asked as he released his brother's arm.
"I just need to know!"
"Why huh? Cause you still have feelings for her don't you?" Prince Caspian asked with a quirky brow.
"That is not it!" Prince Kinsey defended.
"Then what Kinsey? What?!"
"It's just... I just want to know because... because it has to do with me."
"Really, Kinsey? Are you sure?" the Crown Prince asked, his tone serious.
"Yes, I am!" the young Prince replied, his voice filled with sincerity. "I had feelings for her, but she tried to kill me. Don't you think I have a right to know why?"
"No, you don't have a right, Kinsey," the Crown Prince replied firmly. "There's a reason why Father asked you to accompany me. If you think punishing you is the only reason, then you're wrong."
"What do you mean?" Prince Kinsey asked, his confusion evident.
"You lack discipline," Prince Caspian answered bluntly, sensing the tears that were beginning to well up in his younger brother's eyes.
"Is that why I should not be involved in my own affairs?" Prince Kinsey asked, as the thought and memories of being treated like a child started to flood his mind.
"Oh you mean the affair that almost got you killed?" Prince Caspian asked.
"Why are you always treating me like a teenager, brother? Dont_"
"Because you act like a child. Grow up, and you'll earn the respect you desire. Respect is earned," the Crown Prince said bluntly before turning and walking away.
His words left Prince Kinsey feeling broken and alone, and he stood there for a few moments with clenched fists before wiping away his tears and walking away in anger.
As he emerged from the backstage area, a man approached him with a parcel in hand. "Your Highness," the man greeted him.
Prince Kinsey recognized him as one of the chauffeurs who had escorted them to the conference.
He took the parcel from the man and thanked him before continuing on his way, his mind still reeling from the encounter with his elder brother.
"Good day," Prince Kinsey greeted the chauffeur as he approached him.
The man explained that the Crown Prince had left something important in the car and had sent him to remind him of it. Prince Kinsey nodded as the man handed him the parcel.
"Thank you. I'll give it to him," Prince Kinsey said, dismissing the man with a nod.
Once the chauffeur had left, Prince Kinsey looked around to see if his elder brother was nearby before turning his attention to the parcel in his hand. He wondered what could be inside and debated whether to open it or wait until he saw his brother again.
Prince Kinsey muttered under his breath, a stupid idea forming in his mind as he looked at the parcel in his hand. "Well, well, well. Who would've thought that the Crown Prince himself orders stuff," he said to himself.
Without thinking it through, he hurried back to the backstage area, causing some workers to stop and wait for him to pass. Once he was alone, he tore open the parcel, his curiosity getting the better of him.
As he looked inside, he paused for a few seconds, surprised by what he saw. The "important thing" that his brother had forgotten was none other than Ava's slipper which he could clearly recognize!