99: Shift in power

Shift in power

With the exception of the Mother Queen, Aziel, and Princess Emily, everyone else's faces displayed frowns and questioning gazes at Dante's sudden proclamation. They stared at each other as if seeking answers before their eyes shifted back to focus on Dante and Maxwell. 

Queen Maya, apprehensive that her son would expose their grand scheme, quickly tried to divert everyone's attention by suggesting, "I think we should allow the girl to rest and have everyone leave the room."

But a dry chuckle escaped from Maxwell's lips, his voice carrying a hint of mockery as he said, "How bold of you, Brother, to make such a statement. And to take her for your own?" He continued, "This woman here is one of the palace's valuable treasures, and your mere word is not enough to claim her. You will need to submit a formal request in writing… just like every one of us has done in the past. Do correct me if I am wrong, Mother Queen." 

The Mother Queen felt caught between a rock and a hard place because of her two grandsons. One had the authority as the king, while the other faced a race against time, with the demon inside him on the verge of awakening. Carefully choosing her words, she responded, 

"You are correct, Your Highness. Dante will need to put it in writing, formally declaring that he intends to take the courtesan as his woman, making her exclusively his."

Maxwell said to Dante, "There you have it. Why don't you go and get the necessary writing done?" 

"Aziel." 

"Yes, Prince Dante?" the old minister promptly responded, stepping forward with his hands folded respectfully. 

"Go fetch the parchment and ink," Dante ordered the man, maintaining his position as if protecting the woman from being taken away from him. 

Prince Aiden, who had arrived late after fixing the horseshoe in the shed, asked his sister in a whisper, "Why is Brother Dante taking Anna as his concubine?" His eyebrows had drawn together with concern, because he knew how much Anastasia desired freedom rather than being bound as a concubine. 

"I guess… he just likes her a lot," Princess Emily whispered in response to her younger brother. But other things worried the princess now, especially how her two brothers looked as if they were ready to cut each other's throats over Anastasia. 

Before Maxwell could do or say anything, Queen Maya interjected, "Dante, even though you want to claim the courtesan, she will not be considered yours until an official document is drawn, sealed, and approved by the Elders. Until then, you have no rightful claim over her, and as the head of this matter, I order that—"

"I will pass on that," Dante responded, leaving Queen Maya's mouth hanging open. "Whatever you plan to say, I refuse it."

"You are defying the Queen of Versailles, Dante," Queen Maya's eyes narrowed at Dante's refusal to oblige. She said, "This order applies not just to you but to everyone in the room. Leave."

Dante took a step towards Maxwell and remarked, "After you, My King." 

Queen Maya turned to others and said, "Everyone meant everyone." 

Maxwell's lips twitched before he finally took a step back, turning to leave the room, and the others followed suit, departing one after another, still curious if the two Blackthorn brothers had their sights set on the courtesan. 

The Vizier stepped out of the room with the others and then turned to address Dante, but before he could speak, the first prince ordered, 

"Find out who left the palace this morning. Every guard, every servant, and every minister is to be brought to me within the hour. I will find the culprit before dusk." 

"But Prince Dante, I have other pressing duties to attend to in the courtroom," the Vizier attempted to reason, his mind racing to cover his tracks. He needed to eliminate the courtesan before she woke up. He said, "I will have someone—"

"Do you think I was asking you?" Dante questioned, his eyes narrowing even more than before. "Position guards here so that no one enters."

"Yes, Prince." 

The Vizier grew increasingly nervous, and though his heartbeat fluctuated, it was protected from being heard by Dante. Similar to when King William had been stabbed to his death, his thoughts and those of the other person involved were kept concealed from the late king. 

Dante's eyes scanned the long corridor, and his ears tried to listen to any suspicious sounds from nearby passageways, but he couldn't pick up any unusual activity. As they walked on, the Mother Queen quickly caught up to her grandson. 

"Dante!" the Mother Queen called out, prompting him to halt his footsteps and turn to look at her. "Where are you going?" 

"It is time to unveil the deception that has been circulating, don't you think?" Dante asked, and the older woman's eyes widened. He asked, "Is it ready on your side?"

"Almost," the Mother Queen nodded in agreement before expressing her concern, "Isn't it too soon, though? If things don't go as planned, Maya or Maxwell could imprison you in the dungeon and implicate both of us, turning the tables against us."

"There is no reason for it to fail," Dante replied confidently, and he said, "It is only a matter of time before another mistake is committed, and that moment isn't too far away. Before that happens, I need to find out who threw Anastasia into the sea."

"I wonder if someone discovered something," the Mother Queen mumbled. This worried her, knowing that if anyone found out that Dante had a soulmate, the woman's life would be in danger, especially since the demon hadn't yet fully awakened. But at the same time, luck seemed to be inviting the demon, enticing its awakening quicker than anticipated. 

Dante couldn't believe Anastasia's luck because he had personally accompanied her to the staircase and watched her ascend it, never anticipating finding her at the bottom of the sea this early in the morning. 

"There is something I forgot to tell you before," the Mother Queen uttered with a solemn expression, but before she could come out with it, the sound of hurried footsteps, as if someone were running, reached their ears, and soon they noticed Aziel rushing towards them. 

If it weren't for the excited expression on his face, one would think someone was chasing him with a sword. 

"The parchment is here! The parchment is here!" Aziel came to a sudden halt two steps away from the two royal family members and stretched out his hand, "The parchment… here!" 

Dante took hold of the rolled parchment and unfurled it to read its contents—

'We hope this letter finds you well. 

In accordance with the request made by Queen Ginger Blackthorn, we hereby affirm that the courtesan, Anastasia Flores, is now formally recognised as the concubine of His Royal Highness, the first prince, Dante Blackthorn. Henceforth, she shall exclusively belong to the said prince, and no other men or the king shall have any claim upon her. The registry shall soon be dispatched to secure the signatures of both the prince and Miss Flores, thereby preserving this decree in our official records.'

The document bore the signature of one of the Elder ministers, and Dante turned to look at his grandmother. The Mother Queen said, 

"I wanted to surprise you." 

"I am truly grateful to have you as my grandmother," Dante remarked, even though he didn't know when she had dispatched the letter. 

A grin appeared on the Mother Queen's lips, and she proposed, "So am I. How about I arrange a room for Anastasia on the same floor as yours? It will be easier to have her moved once she regains consciousness and feels physically well." 

"That would be very much appreciated," Dante replied, and the Mother Queen noticed the slits in his eyes vanishing, although the red hue didn't revert to his usual black. "I will check if the Vizier has found the individuals who left through the palace gates this morning."

Upon seeing Dante leave the corridor, the Mother Queen sighed and addressed her minister, "See, Aziel? At the mention of Anastasia, Dante's mood noticeably improves, and that is a good sign. Meaning the balance is working well."

Aziel nodded in agreement. However, a faint worry came to form on his face, and he asked, "What if they attempt to use her to get to Prince Dante now that she is his concubine?" 

"I don't think that will happen," the Mother Queen replied before her lips tightened as she recalled the scene she had witnessed back in the room. "Maxwell appears to have taken an interest in her, which would dissuade him from causing her any harm."

"He has?" Aziel inquired, too absorbed in staring at Dante to notice anything else. 

"Mm," the Mother Queen hummed in response. 

On the other side of the palace, Maxwell had returned to his room, seeking solitude, but his sister had followed him, persistently questioning him when he desired some peace and quiet. 

"Brother, have you taken an interest in that courtesan? You were just joking there, weren't you?" Niyasa asked with a bewildered expression, as she couldn't fathom the idea of Anastasia becoming her brother's concubine. "I mean, you already have Lady Evin. Why would you need someone else—"

"Get out of my room, Niyasa," Maxwell snapped, fed up with his sister's incessant chattering, like a parrot that never stopped squawking.

"But we aren't done talking. You cannot take that woman—" Niyasa began to protest.

"Did you not hear what I said?" Maxwell interrupted, before firmly gripping his sister's arm and dragging her towards the door, despite her protests. 

"Brother Maxwell, are you upset because of what I said? Because of that woman?" Niyasa didn't stop, refusing to relent, unable to accept that the eyesore had suddenly become everyone's favourite choice. 

When Maxwell successfully dragged Niyasa towards the door, knocking on it for the guards outside to open it, he roughly pushed his sister out of his room, leaving the princess staggering back in shock and embarrassment. Before the doors could be fully closed, Queen Maya appeared, and the princess voiced her complaint, 

"Mother, look at—"

"Return to your room, Niyasa. I need to speak to your brother. Alone," Queen Maya commanded without looking at her daughter. She stepped inside the room, and the doors closed behind her, leaving the young princess fuming in anger, ready to stomp her feet. But instead of doing that, she turned on her heel and made her way to where Anastasia was. 

Once inside the king's room, Queen Maya demanded, "What the hell was that back there, Max?! First, it was that deceased concubine that you took in, and now this one? Have you decided to put our heads on the chopping block?!"

Maxwell, already tired from listening to his sister, snapped at his mother, "Can you just stop talking?!" 

"How do you expect me to? Maxwell, you were well aware from the beginning that this was the course of action we had to follow through without any mistakes, as there was no room for any errors!" Queen Maya's frustration grew as she witnessed her son's immaturity and indecisiveness in sticking to their initial plans. "Why would you attempt to ruin it now? We can still salvage the situation if you don't—"

"I cannot continue with this any longer," Maxwell stated, as if tired. 

Queen Maya's eyes widened, and she walked to where her son had turned away from her; turning him to face her, she said, "You cannot do this, Maxwell. Do you realise what kind of dire situation it will put all of us in? If you were unwilling from the start, you should have said so from the beginning! Is there nothing you can do without sabotaging it?!" 

"I can't!" Maxwell fired back at his mother, his emotions boiling over, "I couldn't protect the one woman I fell for. When I agreed to your plan, I didn't expect her to fucking die!" He expressed, overwhelmed with frustration and despair as he ran his hand through his blond hair. He wanted to be the king so he could have the woman by his side, but the moment the position was given to him, she died, leaving him consumed by anger and bitterness, now lashing out at his mother.  0

Queen Maya tried to control her anger by taking a deep breath and schooling her features. She said, 

"Maxwell… she wasn't your soulmate."

"Must two people be soulmates for love to exist between them?" Maxwell asked his mother, who stared at him with an aloof expression as if unable to understand his feelings. 

Every time he saw Anastasia, memories of Marianne flooded his mind, and the desire to preserve her in any way possible, to feel like she was still there with him, drew him to the newly turned courtesan. And then Dante came between them, and his jaw clenched with frustration. 

"I couldn't save Mary, but I can save this one," Maxwell asserted, causing Queen Maya to nearly lose her composure at her son's reckless behaviour. 

"How do you expect to save anyone if you'll be beheaded once people find out that you deceived your way to the throne?! Maxwell, for heaven's sake or your own sake, think before you act!" Queen Maya tried to make her son see reason. She continued, "You can have the courtesan as your concubine. But you will need to eliminate every single male sibling of this family, leaving no heirs for no one else to claim the throne."

Upon hearing this, Maxwell's eyes shifted to look at his mother, who nodded solemnly, as if to tell him she was serious. She said, 

"Something is not right with Dante, and you saw it too. His eyes and the way he speaks now, the way he stood against you, Maxwell. If you truly desire that woman, you should have him imprisoned in the dungeon and then kill him. You understand it, don't you?" Her tone softened as she tried to persuade him. 

In the room where Anastasia lay on the bed, Emily and Aiden sat by her side, watching the unconscious woman. Aiden asked his sister, 

"Do you think we will be scolded for entering the room again?" 

"It should be fine. The order to leave was for our two brothers and not for us," Emily replied, holding Anastasia's hand, which still felt cold to the touch. She said, "I cannot believe someone threw her into the sea. Why would anyone do that?" 

"Maybe they don't like her. Do you think it was Queen Maya who ordered it?" Aiden whispered cautiously so their voices didn't slip out of the room. 

"It's a possibility," Emily whispered, though she wasn't completely sure. "To have her taken out of the palace without anyone noticing, don't you think it is strange?" She mused, frowning thoughtfully. 

Aiden, who was thinking, got up from where he was sitting and said,  "Lily, I will see you later!" He said and swiftly headed out the door. 

Emily watched her younger brother bolt out of the room, and she sighed before turning her attention back to Anastasia. She hoped she was alright and would wake up soon while also wondering what other problems would arise in the future. 

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Niyasa entered the room. The younger princess remarked, 

"What are you doing here? I thought Mother made it clear not to enter the room."

Emily pondered whether it was Niyasa who was behind Anastasia being thrown into the sea. But as wicked as her sister was, she doubted she was capable of doing something like that. Or was she? Gathering her thoughts, she responded, 

"I knew you were going to visit your future sister-in-law. I thought you could use some company," she offered a faint smile, noticing the sharp daggers glaring back at her through Niyasa's eyes. 

"Over my dead body," Niyasa retorted, "She will never be related to me, and even if it happens, I will take matters into my own hands." 

Emily frowned, "Be careful with your words, Niyasa. If anyone were to overhear you, they would think you were the one who pushed her into the sea. And you will have to answer to a lot of people." 

Niyasa silently wished she had been the one to push the courtesan into the sea, and that bitter thought made her bite her lip. She asserted, 

"I won't let it happen."

"Okay," Emily nodded nonchalantly, but her lack of reaction only riled the younger princess, who shot her another glare before she stormed out of the room. 

Outside the palace, guards, ministers and the servants who had passed through the gates that morning were lined up to be interrogated. Standing before them were Dante and the Vizier, prepared to question them. Meanwhile, King Maxwell arrived on the front balcony of his room to witness the scene unfold to see who had dared to drown the courtesan. 

The Vizier asked, "Shall I commence the questioning, My Prince?" He waited, but received no response. 

Dante stared at the people before him one by one, his red eyes shifting from one individual to the next. After a few seconds, he walked behind the row of men and inquired, "Upon whose orders was the woman thrown into the sea?" 

He paused behind a guard, and his hand ran through the guard's back, his fingers penetrating deep into the man's flesh. So deep that his fingers curled around the guard's beating heart. 

Blood spluttered from the guard's mouth, leaving those around him in shock. It was the first time the prince had forsaken his dagger and instead used his bare hands to inflict pain. 

"To have such audacity, it seems you had no idea what you were getting yourself into, did you?" Dante's voice rang out eerily low and emotionless. 

And while his hand remained firmly lodged deep inside the guard's back, Dante shifted his attention to another guard, who looked visibly horrified. The guard's heart raced uncontrollably as Dante posted the question, 

"Feel like speaking yet?" Then without hesitation, he pulled out the heart from the guard's chest. 

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