"How do you find out about this place?"
"Hold up, Your Highness... The tower is much higher than I thought."
Helena leaned against the wall and caught her breath. She was tired after climbing hundreds of stairs. Violet tapped her back gently. Helena was ready to talk after a minute break. They spoke in private while Violet waited in front of the room.
Helena curtsied and greeted the Second Prince again. "Pardon my abrupt appearance. The Majesty Queen Patricia told me about the prisoner tower."
"Mother?" Prince Ruby crossed his arms. "Hah! What trick did you use to make her speak?"
She had a smug grin on her face. "That's the neat part. I don't do anything."
Helena recalled her meeting at the palace. Queen Patricia pulled her arm out of nowhere. Helena almost fell but managed to keep her balance. In that short time, Queen Patricia whispered to her.
"Prisoner tower in West."
It was her clue. Queen Patricia gave it to her because she believed in her. Helena followed her words and visited the location. The tower was located outside the palace and was surrounded by a forest. The site was used to imprison royalty or high-ranking nobles who committed heinous crimes. Since they could not be executed, they were locked inside the tower.
Helena looked around. It was a gloomy place, and the air inside was cold. There was barely any furniture in the room, only a bed, a desk and a chair. It resembled a jail more than a site for exiled nobles.
"Queen Patricia is smart. Nobody will expect the Prince to hide in the place where he is supposed to be locked."
"So... my mother told you about my location." That man sneered. "What do you want? Tell everyone I hid in here? Blackmail me to give the Crown Prince succession to my brother? Force to give myself in?"
"Your Highness, I don't care about the throne fight. I am here to investigate Paradise Star. I want to ask you some questions."
Prince Ruby had unsheathed his sword and sat down on a chair. "Fine. Go ahead."
"The question... is a bit rude. Is it all right?"
"What are you wavering for after the hassle of finding me?"
Prince Ruby was right. Helena went through all the problems to get a clue. She should take advantage of it. Helena took a deep breath. It was not the time for hesitation.
"Did someone massacre the citizen using your name?"
He was stunned by her inquiry. "What makes you think of that?"
"The Second Prince I know is not foolish enough to conduct a horrendous execution. Sure, you are arrogant and a petty man. Many noble ladies cry because of your unfaithful behaviour. You also look down upon commoners."
Prince Ruby glared at her. Whoops. Helena closed her mouth. Her blatant honesty was too much. She feigned a fake cough before continuing her sentence.
"However, you have no benefit from killing these people. It is just going to ruin your name. You have nobles, wealth and your mother's support. There is no need to bloody your hands."
Prince Ruby was speechless. Her simple insight was enough to win him. She was one of many who doubted the truth. Helena saw through his behaviour and judged the situation with a cold head. She realised the rumour did not make sense. What benefit did he gain from the murder spree?
Helena was surprised to see Prince Ruby bowing his head to her. That man was ashamed of his past conduct. It was wrong of him to condemn her before.
"I owe you an apology. When my brothers and I reinvestigated the list, we found many oversights. Many innocent people would be executed without warning. I failed to realise the cult had infiltrated the nobility."
The Second Prince was known as a prideful man. He never bothered to apologise to someone with a lower status. Yet, Prince Ruby owned up to his mistake. He still held his obligation as a royalty.
"I accept your apologies, Your Highness." Helena smiled at him. "Can you tell me what truly happened?"
He was sighing, letting out depressing thoughts. "It was so sudden. When I woke up, I received news that there was an execution edict out under my name. Some of my knights had murdered citizens. Before we set the record straight, rumour had spread through the kingdom. Everyone thought it was true. There is chaos in the street right now
because of that." That man chuckled at his condition. "Funny, isn't it? I have no power left in this situation. Nobles and people I called friends abandoned me. I must hide for my safety."
The Second Prince felt dejected and hopeless. Watching him reminded Helena of her first life. She was framed for a crime she didn't commit, just like him. Helena was stuck in the prison with no hope of escaping death.
Nothing could change the past. Instead of dwelling on grief, finding a solution would be better. There was something about the story that bothered Helena.
"Prince Ruby, if what you say is true, someone must forge the edict. Where is it? Perhaps we could use it as a piece of evidence."
He was shocked by her simple statement. Prince Ruby did not think that far. "You are right. It is a crime to forge an imperial edict. The perpetrator might get away with faking my signature, but not with the seal."
Helena was confused. "Seal?"
"Our father gave each Prince a special stamp. I have mine here." Prince Ruby pulled a wax stamp from his pocket. It has an emblem of a lion. "This stamp is unique, right? Making a replica will be hard. It won't be similar to the original due to the difficulty of the shape and curve. The artisan who made this passed away, and no one could create the same thing. Not to mention, we don't release that much edict using this stamp. Such an edict has to go through Father, or else it won't be approved."
Helena nodded. "So, this edict never reaches the king?"
"Yes. Therefore, the edict was a failure. However, the execution order still went on."
"Hmm.... The edict never gets out." Helena racked up her brain. Between endless possibilities, she came up with one conclusion. "This is only an assumption. What if your knights move regardless of a command or not?"
"What do you mean?"
"The edict is only a way to shift attention to you. They receive an order from someone else. This is why they still killed citizens without edict."
"Why would they do-"
Helena had a bitter expression on her face. Prince Ruby did not need her to spell it out for him.
"They betrayed me.... Those bastards stabbed me from the back!"
Prince Ruby stood from his seat and punched the wall. It was powerful enough to leave a mark. Helena let out a shriek of surprise. Prince Ruby was surprised and glanced at her. He lost his patience for a moment.
"I'm sorry you have to see this..."
"It's all right. Your anger is understandable."
Violet, who stayed outside the room, opened the door. "Lady Helena, I heard a loud voice! Is there any problem?"
"It's nothing, Violet."
Violet stared suspiciously at Prince Ruby. She gave him an 'I'm watching you' glare and returned to her post. After calming down, they continued their conversation.
"Now I understand why everyone favours you. You are a sharp young lady."
She flushed from the praise. "Thank you for the compliment."
"Any ideas on how to escape this situation?"
"The edict might be our clue. It can clear your name and lead us to the culprit. The question is, where do we find it?"
"I know the place." Prince Ruby scratched his head. "Any rejected edict, decree or appeal will return to the office in the middle of the capital to be reviewed before being burned."
"Let's try our luck in there."
Violet opened the door again. "Excuse me, My Lady. We have a company."
Helena followed Prince Ruby to stare down at the window. Some knights passed through the forest. Prince Ruby frowned when he examined the lines. "That's strange. They wore the knight uniform from my division, but I did not recognise anyone."
"Maybe they come to help you?"
Violet squinted her eyes. "They bring firearms."
Helena changed her mind. "Nope! They are trying to kill us!"