Chapter 91: Shattered Bonds
The skies over the kingdom had never looked darker. Thick, rolling clouds hovered ominously, as if the heavens themselves were mourning the battle that had torn through the land. Prince Caledon stood on the edge of the castle's highest tower, his heart heavy with the weight of betrayal.
The events of the past few days played through his mind like a relentless nightmare. Liora—his most trusted ally, the one he had believed in above all others—had vanished without a trace. Her betrayal had sent ripples through the kingdom, and the council was in chaos, divided between those who believed in her innocence and those who wanted her head.
"She couldn't have done this..." Caledon muttered, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white. He had known her too well—or so he thought. Every moment they had spent together, every battle they had fought side by side, had built a bond stronger than any oath. But now that bond was shattered, and Caledon was left to pick up the pieces.
A knock echoed behind him. Without turning, Caledon spoke, his voice low and weary. "Enter."
Seris, the royal advisor, stepped forward, her face a mixture of concern and frustration. "Your Highness, the council is growing impatient. They demand answers."
"Answers?" Caledon scoffed, finally turning to face her. "What answers do they expect? I have none."
"Then give them something," Seris pressed. "The kingdom is teetering on the brink of collapse. Without a decisive move, we risk more than just internal strife. The northern armies are already preparing to march. We cannot afford division now."
Caledon's chest tightened at the mention of the northern threat. War was inevitable, but the betrayal within their ranks had weakened them at the worst possible moment. He had to act, but his heart still wavered between doubt and fury.
"Do you believe she's guilty?" Caledon asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Seris hesitated, her expression unreadable. "I don't know, Your Highness. But her disappearance casts a shadow over her loyalty. We cannot ignore that."
"She wouldn't run," Caledon said, his voice firm now. "Not unless she had no choice."
"Perhaps," Seris agreed. "But the council won't see it that way. They want justice, and if you don't provide it soon, they'll find it themselves."
Caledon's thoughts raced. He knew the council's thirst for vengeance, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Liora's disappearance than met the eye. Something deeper, more dangerous, was at play, and he needed time to uncover the truth.
"I will not condemn her without proof," Caledon declared. "Liora has stood by my side through battles that would have broken lesser warriors. I owe her the benefit of the doubt."
Seris's eyes flickered with understanding, but there was a hardness to her voice when she spoke. "Then you must find her, Your Highness. Quickly. Before the council takes matters into their own hands."
Caledon nodded, his resolve hardening. He had been paralyzed by doubt for too long. It was time to act, to uncover the truth that lay hidden beneath the lies and deception.
As Seris left the room, Caledon gazed out over the kingdom once more. The winds howled through the battlements, carrying with them the scent of war. He would not lose his kingdom to betrayal—not now, not ever.
With a determined breath, he descended the tower steps, his mind set on finding Liora. If she was guilty, he would be the one to face her. If she was innocent, then he would uncover the plot that had ensnared her. Either way, the kingdom's future depended on the truth he would uncover.