Chapter 4: The Man Who Ordered Her Disappearance
"Arrested?""
Elia stared at the guard.
"On what grounds?""
The guard looked uncomfortable.
"I don't know, Your Highness. The order came directly from the Lord Chancellor.""
"But the queen knows who I am.""
"Then you should explain that to the council.""
The guard reached for his handcuffs.
Elia stepped backward.
"Don't touch me.""
He stopped.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then another voice came from the corridor.
"Stand down.""
Prince Adrian entered with Captain Marcus behind him.
The guard immediately bowed.
"Your Highness.""
Adrian looked at the handcuffs.
"Explain.""
The guard swallowed.
"I was following the Lord Chancellor's order.""
Adrian took the document from his hand.
He read it once.
Then again.
His expression became dangerously cold.
"Who authorized this?""
"Lord Vale.""
"Where is my mother?""
"In the council chamber.""
Adrian tore the order in half.
"Then take me to him.""
Elia followed the prince.
The palace corridors seemed different now.
Every portrait looked like a witness. Every servant seemed to know something she didn't.
As they approached the council chamber, she heard raised voices.
Duke Ashbourne was speaking.
"The girl must be removed before this becomes a constitutional crisis!""
Another man replied.
"She is the queen's daughter. We cannot simply imprison her.""
A third voice interrupted.
"Then perhaps we should question the queen's judgment.""
Adrian pushed open the doors.
"Who dares?""
The council fell silent.
Twelve royal advisers sat around a long oak table.
Queen Eleanor stood near the windows.
Duke Ashbourne was on his feet.
And at the head of the table sat Lord Cedric Vale.
He was a tall, silver-haired man with sharp features and calm gray eyes. His black coat was decorated with the golden insignia of the royal council.
On his right hand rested a heavy signet ring.
The same ring Mara had described.
Vale rose.
"Your Highness.""
Adrian held up the torn arrest order.
"Explain this.""
Vale glanced at the paper.
"I issued a temporary security directive.""
"Against whom?""
"Against the girl.""
"Her name is Elia.""
"Her name is unverified.""
Queen Eleanor stepped forward.
"Enough, Cedric.""
Vale bowed slightly.
"Your Majesty, I understand your emotional attachment to this matter. But we must consider the consequences of allowing an unidentified woman to claim royal blood.""
"She has been examined by the royal physician.""
"A blood examination is not sufficient.""
"Then what would you suggest?""
"A full investigation.""
Eleanor folded her arms.
"An investigation into what?""
"Her origins. Her foster mother. The circumstances surrounding her appearance.""
Vale looked toward Elia.
"And her motives.""
Elia felt every pair of eyes turn toward her.
"I never asked to be here.""
Vale raised an eyebrow.
"Yet you approached the Crystal Hand.""
"Because it called me.""
A few advisers exchanged skeptical looks.
Vale smiled faintly.
"Crystals do not call people, child.""
"Then why did it glow?""
"Perhaps someone tampered with it.""
Adrian stepped forward.
"Are you accusing the queen's daughter of manipulating a royal artifact?""
"I'm accusing no one. I'm asking questions.""
Elia took a breath.
"May I ask you one?""
Vale turned toward her.
"Certainly.""
"Did you know a woman named Mara?""
The smile vanished from his face.
Only briefly.
But it vanished.
"Why do you ask?""
"She raised me.""
Vale looked at her for a long moment.
"That name is unfamiliar.""
Elia removed the letter.
"She wrote that you found me beside Saint Oria's Chapel eighteen years ago.""
The chamber became silent.
Duke Ashbourne looked toward Vale.
The Lord Chancellor's expression remained controlled.
"An interesting accusation.""
"It's not an accusation. It's what she wrote.""
Vale extended his hand.
"May I see the letter?""
Elia tightened her grip.
"No.""
His eyes narrowed.
"Then how can we verify its contents?""
"You can ask me questions.""
Vale approached.
"Very well. Where was Mara living?""
"Near the northern forest.""
"Did she ever tell you why she took you?""
"She said she saved me.""
"From whom?""
Elia looked at his ring.
"She said you would know.""
A murmur spread through the chamber.
Vale's face became unreadable.
"Your foster mother was a desperate woman, Your Highness. Perhaps she invented a story to make herself feel important.""
"She had no reason to lie.""
"People have many reasons to lie.""
Queen Eleanor stepped between them.
"That is enough.""
Vale bowed.
"Of course, Your Majesty.""
But Adrian had noticed something.
The Lord Chancellor's right hand was clenched.
The signet ring had left a red mark around his finger.
"Lord Vale," Adrian said.
"Yes?""
"Where were you on the night my sister disappeared?""
The question landed heavily.
Vale looked toward him.
"I was serving your grandfather.""
"That wasn't my question.""
"I was at the western infirmary, Your Highness.""
Elia's head lifted.
Mara's letter had mentioned the western infirmary.
"Why?"" Adrian asked.
Vale paused.
"Your grandfather had been ill. I was overseeing the royal physicians.""
Queen Eleanor went pale.
"You told me you were in the council chambers that night.""
Vale turned toward her.
"Your Majesty, I may have misspoken eighteen years ago.""
"You may have?""
Adrian moved closer.
"You were at the infirmary on the night my sister vanished, and you failed to mention it.""
"Because it was irrelevant.""
"Was it?""
Vale's expression hardened.
"Your Highness, I have served three monarchs. I will not stand here and be interrogated like a common criminal because a servant has produced an unverified letter.""
Elia stepped forward.
"Then tell us why Mara had a royal pendant.""
Vale looked at the necklace resting against her chest.
His eyes widened.
For the first time, fear broke through his carefully constructed expression.
"Where did you get that?""
Elia touched the pendant.
"From Mara.""
Vale turned toward the queen.
"Your Majesty, this girl must be removed from the palace immediately.""
Eleanor stared at him.
"Why?""
"That pendant is dangerous.""
"Why?""
"Because it was made for the princess.""
"Exactly.""
Vale's voice rose.
"That is precisely why she cannot be allowed to wear it!""
Adrian drew his sword.
"Explain yourself.""
Vale stepped backward.
Two council guards moved toward him.
But before anyone could speak, the great doors opened.
A young messenger hurried inside, carrying a sealed document.
"Your Majesty! An urgent message from the northern archives!""
Eleanor took it.
The seal belonged to the royal historical office.
She broke it open and read the first lines.
Her face turned white.
"What is it?"" Adrian asked.
The queen looked at the council.
"An original birth record has been found.""
Vale closed his eyes.
The messenger continued.
"The document was hidden inside the old chapel registry. It contains the names of the royal physicians and witnesses present on the night the princess was born.""
Eleanor's fingers trembled.
"Read the final entry.""
The messenger unfolded the second page.
"At approximately four hours after midnight, the infant princess was transferred from the royal nursery by order of—"
He hesitated.
"Continue," Adrian commanded.
The messenger looked at the Lord Chancellor.
"By order of Lord Cedric Vale.""
The chamber erupted.
Vale immediately raised his hands.
"That document is forged!""
Queen Eleanor stared at him.
"Then why does it carry your signature?""
Vale said nothing.
The queen took a step toward him.
"You told me my daughter had died.""
"I was protecting the kingdom.""
"You told me there was nothing left to bury.""
"Your Majesty—"
"You watched me mourn a child who was alive!""
Vale's face hardened.
"Because the child was never supposed to inherit the throne.""
Adrian's sword lifted.
"What did you say?""
Vale looked at Elia.
Then he spoke the words that changed everything.
"Your Majesty, the girl is indeed your daughter.""
May you like
He paused.
"But she is not the only surviving heir.""
