Kiyoshi felt as if the world had been turned upside down. Uncle? Hikaru? The name brought back distant memories, rumors of his mother's brother, the one accused of treason.
"Impossible," Kiyoshi spat, shaking his head. "You were executed years ago."
Hikaru smiled, a sad and knowing smile. "Indeed, I was. They claimed I committed treason, framed me for crimes I did not commit." he paused, his gaze flickering to the side, as if reliving the pain of the past. "But I have lived these many years, King Kiyoshi. I have lived, and I have watched. I have seen the injustice done to our family, and I have had my time."
"Framed? For what purpose? And why help me now?" Kiyoshi asked, his voice full of doubt.
"Because, my dear nephew," Hikaru said, taking another step closer, his voice low and conspiratorial, "the enemy that hunted me is the same one orchestrating this vile scheme – the abduction of the children." He paused, eyes narrowing, "Their intentions are far worse than simply using them as pawns. They seek to twist the minds of our people, to turn them against their own blood. To turn them against you."
Kiyoshi felt a chill run down his spine. "And you know this how?" he asked, his voice tight.
Hikaru nodded. "Throughout the years, I have gathered information, bribed servants, and even befriended those who might once have been my enemies. I have pieced together the truth, my dear nephew. And now, I offer it to you." He paused, his expression softening. "I offer you the chance to save your kingdom!"
"How?" he pressed; his voice thick with disbelief. "How can you help? Do you know who took them?"
"Not precisely. But I know the person responsible for my downfall, the one who used their power and influence to twist the truth and seal my fate. They are connected to your misfortune, Kiyoshi." Hikaru paused, gathering his thoughts.
"Who? Who are they?" Kiyoshi demanded, his voice cracking with desperation. "Tell me!"
Hikaru looked him straight in the eye. He hesitated, doubt and fear flickering across his features. And then, in a voice barely louder than a whisper, he uttered a name that would change Kiyoshi's world forever.
Kiyoshi stared, his breath catching in his throat. The revelation struck him like a physical blow. "Him?" he choked out, unable to believe the words that had just left his lips. "It cannot be..."
"I cannot say definitively, Kiyoshi. But I know he orchestrated my downfall, used his influence to twist the truth and paint me as a traitor." Hikaru's voice was soft, almost apologetic.
"But how? Why?" he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. "How did he use you as a tool?"
"He accused me of treachery," Hikaru explained, his voice filled with a quiet anger. "He claimed I, a loyal but ostracized advisor, was plotting against the King." He paused, his eyes distant. "He said I was working with the rebels, that I intended to overthrow the crown. They found Wrothgarian poison in my chamber, along with documents that implicated me in the plot." His voice grew cold. "But it was a setup. He planted poison dangerous for us vampires to ingest and falsified the documents. He wanted me out of the way..."
"But why frame you?" Kiyoshi asked, his voice hoarse with disbelief. "What could he possibly gain from that?"
"That, Kiyoshi, is a question that has haunted me for years. But I believe it stemmed from an insatiable ambition, a hunger for power that has only grown stronger with time."
At last, Kiyoshi had found the candlestick, and with it, a thread of hope. He struggled to keep his emotions in check, to keep from giving in to the despair that threatened to overwhelm him. Hikaru's revelation was nothing short of earth-shattering; it seemed impossible that his beloved uncle could have been involved in such treachery. But the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place. The enemy was not some faceless force, but a powerful figure who had been hiding in plain sight all along...
Moonlight, cast an ethereal glow over the land as Kiyoshi rode back to the castle, his mind racing with the implications of Hikaru's revelation. He needed to be fast to act before the traitor within his circle slipped through the cracks. Every face in the court, every trusted advisor, now held a shadow of suspicion. Reaching the castle gates, he dismounted and handed his horse to a stable boy before making his way to his chambers.
He burst through the door of his chambers and there laid Nia. Her eyes fluttered open in surprise. "What is it, Kiyoshi, what's wrong?" she asked, sitting up in bed. He looked at her, his heart racing, his eyes filled with an urgency that she had never seen before.
Kiyoshi closed the door softly, his gaze fixed on his wife. He took a deep breath, unable to speak for a moment as he struggled to find the right words.
"Kiyoshi," she repeated, her voice filled with concern. "You are scaring me. Please, tell me what's going on." Kiyoshi looked at her, his heart heavy with the burden of truth. He knew he could not keep this from her any longer. But as he opened his mouth to speak, the words died on his lips. A low growl echoed through the room, and they both turned toward the door.
Kiyoshi spun around, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. "Who's there?" Kiyoshi demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
Silence....