Prince Killan's POV
"Your Highness," Ajax, my personal guard who was more like a kid brother to me; bowed before me. He was the brother I never had- although we aren't that close. Ajax has been my guard since he was 10, while I was just 12. "Be at ease" I ordered.
"The lady who created a scene at the restaurant the other day; is dead" as he said that, my eyes widened. I had suspected that there was something unusual about her, "Find out who's behind it" I ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness" he replied then turned back, ready to leave but he was resistant to, "What is it?" I asked, my voice softened a bit.
Ajax turned to me slowly, "The marriage between Prince Wilder and Poema is today…"
I clenched my fist angrily on the table, "Ajax.." my voice hardened. "Don't push me. I don't want any connections with her!" I slammed.
"Your child…" my hand grabbed his neck which made him choke, "I don't care either, what if she made this all up?" I said then threw him to the floor.
Rage filled me, "She might as well approach me it for a ill intention". Ajax didn't settle for that thought, he was there when the imperial physician checked her.
"Your Highness, you asked both the doctor and imperial physician to check her and it was all positive results, which confirmed that the baby is yours" Ajax told me.
My darkened eyes lighted slightly, Ajax was goddamn right. I was also present that day, and had solely inspected their checkup very carefully.
Despite that, "She and her baby are both scum" my voice hardened. "I don't want to hear any more words about them" I added firmly.
Ajax replied, "I'm sorry. Your Highness" I scoffed, "Just watch her closely" he was about to walk away when my voice stopped him, "And, find out who killed that lady" I smirked.
"Yes, Your Highness"
As Ajax left, my hands brushed all the items on the table and they fell to the floor. "Argh!" I screamed in fury as I was totally out of my sanity. I went to the flower vase section in the room and smashed them all angrily.
"Killan" a familiar voice called my name. The voice was laced with much mockery which made me scoff. My voice also lace with mockery, I asked "You got bored with your wedding?"
"Ptff" he clicked his tongue, "I see you don't have it in mind to attend".
I rolled my eyes, "You see through me clearly. I'm quite honoured, brother"
Wilder scoffed, "Few days ago, you wanted to prove you supported my marriage, now you don't want to come to the ceremony. What changed?"
My hands brushed through my forehead tiredly, as I was clearly bored with the conversation. "Coincidentally, I'm too busy today. I won't be able to grace your marriage".
"Do you mean my presence here is disturbing?" he asked. I tilted my head foward a bit, "Yes, you should leave now".
He shot me a hard glare after which he turned his back against me. Just as he was about to leave, he paused, "You don't want father to get angry with you".
I sneered, "I love to spice things up with my dare games".
Wilder didn't say anything further, he just left in annoyance while I snikered. Ajax came in next, "Your Highness, there are no traces of her death. She committed suicide"
"..", I caressed my lips, "I found this in her mouth", he took out a small container then stretched it towards me. I took it from him then opened it. As I did so, a gasp left my mouth as I muttered inaudible words to myself. "This is….a 'Soul shattering poison'.
"Aha! The physician said so, Prince Killan" Ajax nodded his head slightly.
'Why did she poison herself?' Not just that, if she did commit suicide with this poison, why was she with it? Didn't she sacrifice her life for someone? "Insane" I mumbled.
"Mmnn" I clicked my tongue impatiently, "Where did you say you found this?" I pointed to the 'Soul shattering' poison"
"It was found in her palm" Ajax replied.
This is more complicated than I thought, "Did the physician confirm that the poison killed her?" I probed further.
Ajax looked confused, probably wondering why the sudden interrogation, "Yes"
My hand tightened into a fist which I banged on the table, frustrated. "Then why's there a second one? If she took the poison, why was this found in her palm?"
Probably, Ajax understood where I was driving at, he stuttered "T-that's right, Prince Killan".
"If she had two on her, the question is.." I paused, "Why? I think someone is trying to stir up trouble, but who? If she had two 'Soul shattering' poisons on her, it means she was prepared for death."
Then it dawned on me, she wasn't alone that day. She had other allies too, "Quick, get the other girls who accompanied her that day and ensure strick questioning" I replied flatly.
Certainly, someone was behind it but sooner or later, whoever made her place her life down won't be let off easily. "Ok" Ajax simply said.
As he left, another guard came in, "Why are you here?" I asked, since I have never come across him before.
"The King summoned you to come for the wedding" he bowed, shivering with great fear.
"Alright." I assured him then he left.
My phone which was in my side pocket suddenly vibrated. I took it out only to meet several texts from Freya. '2nd brother, the wedding is about to begin and there's still no sign of you coming'.
'The Queen is very furious, and she told father to punish you with several lashes'
A smirk escaped my mouth as I read that, just a few lashes won't do shits to me. '2nd brother, the wedding has begun and father…'
'Father issued a decree, you'd be sent to the cold Palace, and you'd be there for a week'.
That also isn't new, I've faced worst situations than that. "Rules are meant to be broken".
Several guards came in, and I recognised one to be Father's messenger. He was an old man, who was prolly in his mid- fifties. His face was masked with pity which made me scoff.
In his hand was placed the decree which was written on a scroll. "His Highness sent a decree" the messenger said.
He opened the decree then read loudly, "The 2nd Prince disregarded me, as his punishment, he is to stay at the cold palace for a week" he said.
'Easy, peasy" I muttered.
Just then, the old man's lips suddenly parted, "Diring this days, he is to receive 100 lashes every dad. And lastly, his position would be stripped off him for a month".
Not my position, no! This must be a joke, how could Father…? I had worked tirelessly to build the Eastern part of the Great Kingdom Of Nereza. How could father just take that from me?
He should know better, he should ficking know better that among the three regions, the East Region, 'Olsen' which I controlled is the most flourishing because if my years of hardwork and dedication.
There must be a mistake somewhere, he can't stripe off my position just because I didn't attend that dumbass wedding right?
My lips widened, as it appeared to be very real, I wasn't dreaming. It was as though my world crumbled, what I'd been building for years suddenly crumbled in a day.
Though Rome wasn't built in a day, it can be destroyed in a day. I clenched my fist in anger, this woman was really doing a great job manipulating my father. "Just wait, I'd expose your true colour to the world. Astoria"
"Prince Killan, accept the King's decree" the messenger pushed the decree foward for me to accept it. I took the decree angrily from the man then walked away, although my Rome which I couldn't build in a day crumbled right in front of me in a day, I'd rise stronger and take all that is rightfully mine.