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Back to the present day..
Eira's eyes flashed as she roared at Nelson. "You'll never rule, Nelson. Not while I breathe."
As the conflict escalates, alliances are tested, and secrets unfold.
Nelson turns his focus to Felicia. Nelson's eyes narrowed. "What do you know, Felicia?"
Felicia was hesitant to give Nelson a reply.
Nelson's gaze lingered on Felicia's, his fury simmering. "Explain yourself," Nelson growled.
Felicia finally spoke up, her voice remained steady. "I know Eira's true intentions. She's not here to reclaim the throne for justice."
Eira's eyes narrowed as she scanned to see if Felicia had any real insight into her plans.
"What do you mean?" Nelson asked, his grip on his sword tightening.
Felicia's words dripped with conviction. "Eira seeks to exploit the kingdom's weakness for her own gain."
Nelson's eyes snapped to Eira. "Is this true?"
Eira's smile twisted. "This wife of yours knows nothing," Eira spat.
Felicia's eyes flashed. She smiled mischievously, and her smile hinted at secrets.
Turning to Eira, "You greatly underestimate me. In my short time here, I have been resourceful enough to gather much needed intel on everything and everyone." She said, confidence dripping in her voice.
She turned her focus back to Nelson, "I've discovered that Eira shares a connection to King Ryker," Felicia revealed.
Nelson's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean she shares a connection to Ryker? And what kind of connection are you talking about?" Nelson growled.
Felicia's voice dropped to a whisper. "I mean King Ryker has been funding Eira's claim to the throne."
Eira's face paled. "What! Who told you…How did you...?" Eira trailed off as she stood mouth agape at Felicia's knowledge. She truly had underestimated her wrongly.
Meanwhile, Nelson's anger boiled over. "That treacherous Ryker!" Nelson roared.
Felicia's gaze met Nelson's. "There's more. Ryker seeks to weaken your hold on the kingdom. It is the only way he can get to you."
Nelson's eyes blazed. "I will crush Ryker and his puppets. I will destroy every single one of them!"
Eira's eyes flashed, and then she burst out into a maniacal laughter. "You'll never win, little brother." Eira spat.
Felicia's grip on Nelson's arm tightened."Let me handle Eira, I can get a few more truths out of her," Felicia urged Nelson in a low tone.
Nelson's gaze lingered on Felicia's. "Fine. You can go ahead," Nelson gave in.
Felicia's eyes locked onto Eira. "Now tell me, Eira, what's Ryker's ultimate goal?"
Eira's smile twisted into an evil smirk. "Ryker wants the Bianchi empire," Eira said.
Felicia's eyes sparkled as she asked, "And what exactly is your role in all of this?"
Eira's voice cracked. "I am the key to Ryker's plan."
Nelson's anger surged. Raging, he said, "You will definitely meet your end before you get to sit on my throne" Nelson vowed.
Felicia's grip on Nelson's arm steadied him. "Wait," Felicia said.
Turning back to Eira she inquired, "so, you mean to tell me that you would willingly partner with a total stranger to betray your younger brother?"
Eira remained silent.
Felicia's eyes locked onto Eira's. "There's more to your story, and since you have refused to tell it and come clean, I will gladly do that for you," Felicia said, her voice cocky with pride.
Eira's expression faltered. "What do you mean?" Eira asked.
Felicia's smile gave off her expert knowledge of more secrets. "I know about your mother, Lady Elizabeth . Even more interesting, I know about Lady Elizabeth's past," Felicia said.
Eira's eyes widened in shock. "You can't know. It's not possible," Eira whispered.
Felicia's voice dropped to a whisper. "Lady Elizabeth was more than just your mother."
Eira's face suddenly grew pale as Felicia went on.
Felicia's gaze met Nelson's. "Lady Elizabeth was a pawn in Ryker's game even when your father, King Edward, was on the throne."
Nelson's eyes narrowed. "Could you quit talking in riddles and cut to the chase. Explain yourself, Felicia." Nelson demanded.
Felicia's voice revealed a hidden truth, one that no one knew. "You see, Lady Elizabeth was Ryker's sister. So, Eira here, is King Ryker's niece."
The revelation shook the chamber so much so that Sophia, Felicia's handmaiden, who had been watching the entire event unfold in silence gasped aloud.
She immediately covered her mouth with her hands when Nelson darted a death glare at her.
Felicia went on, "Now, we all know that Lady Elizabeth was Ryker's sister, and King Edward's mistress."
Nelson's eyes widened. "Yes, but where exactly are you heading with this?" Nelson asked impatiently.
Felicia's gaze met Eira's. "As it turns out, Lady Elizabeth was used by Ryker to infiltrate King Edward's inner circle."
Eira's face paled. "No, that's not true," Eira defended in a low tone that almost sounded like a whisper..
Felicia's voice came out again, with much more confidence this time around. "Ryker manipulated Lady Elizabeth, using her beauty and charm to gain King Edward's trust."
Nelson's anger surged. "I always knew Ryker to be heartless, but using his own sister to try and orchestrate my father's downfall, now, that was just evil" Nelson growled.
Felicia's eyes locked onto Eira's. "Eira, you're a product of their affair, but contrary to what you think, you are also a pawn in Ryker's game."
Eira's eyes blazed. "I won't be used," She vowed.
Felicia's gaze met Nelson's. "I'm not done yet. Lady Elizabeth's past holds more secrets," Felicia said.
Nelson's curiosity piqued. "Well, go ahead and reveal them already!" Nelson commanded.
Felicia's voice hesitated.
"Lady Elizabeth was not just Ryker's sister... but also King Edward's second cousin."
The chamber fell pindrop silent.
Nelson's eyes narrowed. "This means...," Nelson trailed off.
Felicia's voice completed the thought. "Eira's claim to the throne is tainted by bloodline."
Eira's face crumbled. "No, this can't be," Eira whispered.
Felicia's gaze met Eira's. "Oh, but it is. Your entire birthright is built on deceit and betrayal."
Nelson's anger boiled over.
"Ryker's treachery will be punished," Nelson vowed.
Eira's eyes flashed. "I will definitely claim my rightful place on the throne," Eira spat.
Felicia's grip on Nelson's arm held him back from striking Eira. "Wait, Nelson," Felicia urged.
Felicia's eyes locked onto Eira's. "There's more to Lady Elizabeth's story."
Eira's expression faltered. "What else?" Eira asked, now confused.
Felicia had a mischievous smile spread across her face. "Lady Elizabeth's death was not an accident."
"What the hell do you mean!" Eira blurted out of anger.