It had been a week since Eryx had last seen Cassius. Whenever he tried to approach the elder boy, he would avoid him like a plague. The distance between them gnawed at Eryx's conscience, stirring anxiety within his heart. Had he done something wrong? Why was the prince mad at him?
Each day, Eryx deliberately lingered after dueling practice, requesting the commander-in-chief to pair him up with the prince. Yet, Cassius managed to elude the training sessions entirely. And if circumstances forced them to cross paths, the prince would respond with curt brevity, refusing to meet Eryx's gaze. Gone were the heated stares and flirty glancesâthey were replaced with a cold emptiness.
The attention that once irritated Eryx now became the yearning of his entire day. He craved a smile, a single glance, anything to acknowledge his presence. But his attempts were met with indifference. Cassius had successfully rattled his cage.
Infuriated and determined to confront the matter, Eryx stormed into his chambers, changing into his clothes and preparing to descend the stairs for dinner. His plan was to volunteer to serve Cassius, hoping to force a conversation that would bring their issues to light.
As he left his chambers and entered the corridors, ready to face the prince head-on, his eyes fell upon an unexpected sightâtwo royal guards, their expressions stern, standing by the nearest exit of the corridor from Eryx's room. Eryx froze, shock and disbelief washing over him in a tidal wave.
His heart pounded in his chest, threatening to burst from the sudden turn of events. What could have possibly warranted the presence of royal guards? A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but the truth eluded him.
"Eryx Knight, you are under arrest on charges of misconduct with a noblewoman," one of the guards declared, his voice carrying an air of authority.
Disbelief crashed over Eryx, leaving him bewildered and struggling to comprehend how such a baseless claim could have gained traction. It seemed inconceivable that his character, painstakingly built on honor and integrity, could be tarnished by a fabricated falsehood.
"What? I haven't interacted with any noblewoman, let alone committed misconduct," Eryx protested vehemently, his voice tinged with disbelief and a touch of desperation.
"We apologize, but we have received direct orders from the queen to detain you. It's imperative that you cooperate and accompany us," the guard explained, their approach deliberate as they closed in on Eryx, their hands reaching for shackles to secure his wrists.
Eryx's mind spun, his heart pounding with a mix of confusion, anger, and fear. This abrupt turn of events threatened to upend everything he had worked for, casting a shadow over his future. He struggled against the guards' unyielding grip, refusing to submit without a fight.
"Wait, which noblewoman? Who has accused me?" Eryx's voice cracked with emotion, his eyes searching desperately for answers, hoping to unveil the truth that lay concealed behind the accusations.
"Lady Hawthorne has filed an official complaint with the queen," the guard responded, their words sinking into Eryx's consciousness like a weighty anchor, further deepening his bewilderment and disbelief.
The weight of the false accusation and its devastating consequences bore down heavily upon Eryx, crushing him beneath a suffocating burden of disbelief, fear, and seething anger. Each breath he took felt constricted as if the very air around him had turned into a stifling prison, knowing he was being thrown into the dungeons without substantial evidence. It was a matter of Lady Hawthorne's word against his own.
He understood all too well the dynamics of power and privilege, where commoners like him often faced disregard and oppression. Would Cassius notice his absence? Would he search for him? The swirling uncertainty morphed into a knot of anxiety, tugging at his thoughts relentlessly.
"Eryx? Eryx?" A faint voice reached his ears, and he wondered if he was beginning to hallucinate.
A ghost of a smile flickered across his face as he continued walking, but suddenly, a sharp tug on the back of his shirt's sleeve jolted him backward. He spun around, finding himself face to face with Neil.
"Neil? What are you doing here?" Eryx asked, hardly able to believe his friend's presence.
Neil panted heavily, his eyes fixed on the guards who were escorting Eryx. He had been trying to stop them from moving forward.
Eryx glanced at Neil, a mix of surprise and gratitude washing over him. Neil was always one to defy the odds and stand up for what he believed in.
"Where are you taking him?" Neil confronted the guards, his voice firm and resolute.
"To the dungeons. You shouldn't interfere in the matters of the royal court," one of the guards replied with a stoic expression.
"But why?" Neil pressed further, unwilling to accept the guards' explanation without a fight.
"He is under arrest on charges of misconduct with the Duchess of Findara. On the queen's orders," another guard explained, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
Before Eryx could even voice his defense, Neil intervened.
"He would never do that. I suggest you let him go now," Neil stated confidently, his voice filled with unwavering conviction.
The guards smirked and disregarded Neil's plea, leaving Eryx shackled in a corner. They grabbed nearby decor items, preparing to attack Neil.
With agility and precision, Neil skillfully evaded most of the projectiles, even breaking a vase with a single stroke of his arm. The sound of shattering glass filled the air as fragments scattered around them.
The guards, undeterred, lunged forward to confront Neil, their intentions clear.
Neil gave a vicious blow to one of the guards' faces, who staggered backward, while he pulled the other one into a dangerous headlock. The guard tried escaping by taking a few jabs at Neil's ribs, but he was unwavering. He grabbed a painting from a nearby wall and slammed the painting over the guard's head.
This visibly weakened him.
By the time the other guard had recovered before he could attack, Neil turned ninety degrees to the side. He brought his right forearm up to counter the blow, formed a fist with his left, and threw it at the guard's outstretched jaw. Eryx flinched while simultaneously blood spilled over from the guard's mouth. His head collided with the floor harshly, and he became unconscious.
The remaining guard tried to protect himself feebly by attempting a punch, but Neil easily blocked him. He kicked him in the shin and then punched him in his face; there was the wishbone snap of his nose breaking. Then he grabbed his hand and twisted it behind his back as the man yelled out a cry of agony. He delivered one last blow over his head as the guard passed out from the pain.
Eryx was beyond baffled at this point once he unclenched his fists. He saw the bloodstains on his palm caused by the action of his nails biting on his sensitive skin, opening up his older wounds in the process.
"What's with all this commotion?" echoed a cool, authoritative voice within the room's four walls.
The queen, Cassius, along with a handful of guards, had gathered at the site.
Cassius's eyes widened instantly at Eryx's state; he was shackled and his palms were bleeding profusely. He rushed to his side to comfort him.
"What happened to you?" he asked as he simultaneously began to clean his wound with a handkerchief he removed from his pocket, tying it around his wound to stop the blood from oozing out.
"I was arrested under the charge of misconduct with Lady Hawthorne, your highness," Eryx said.
"What nonsense is that? I can attest to the fact that he has never spoken to her alone. I was always by his side if he was ever in any sort of situation with her. He was always civil and compassionate towards her," Cassius said contemptuously.
"I knew it. I knew that those were just baseless allegations," Neil said.
"And who are you?" Cassius asked, annoyed.
"I'm the guest of the prince of Cascadia. I was invited to stay in the palace by your brother, your highness," Neil said politely.
"Oh, that's why you're here," Eryx said.
"And how did you end up here?" Neil asked.
"It's a long story. We have a lot to catch up on," Eryx replied.
"How do you two know each other?" Cassius inquired.
"Oh, Neil, he's..." Eryx's gaze fell on Neil's face, and he smiled, "he's my family."
Cassius confronted the queen, his eyes filled with a mixture of betrayal and anger.
"So, it was your doing, wasn't it? You wanted me to abandon Eryx because you disapproved of our relationship. Despite being in love with him, I chose to trust your judgment, to listen to you. And what did you do? You falsely accused him, and kept me oblivious to his fate and safety," Cassius's voice quivered with profound disappointment. "I made the most difficult decision to let him go, all based on your advice. And now, I discover that you plotted against me, against us."
The queen pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation, "Cassius, please, let me explain. It was out of fear that I spoke, afraid of losing you, afraid of the consequences your love for him might bring upon our kingdom."
Cassius's face was etched with a mixture of sorrow and anger. "You let your insecurity cloud your judgment, and in doing so, you shattered the trust I placed in you."
Eryx understood the depth of Cassius's anguish, recognizing the magnitude of this heartbreaking revelation.
Cassius's voice hardened with resolve, "My previous statement still stands I'm willing to leave the kingdom if I can protect Eryx, even if it means standing against you."
Cassius, torn by conflicting emotions, took the key from a nearby guard's belt and released Eryx from his shackles. He enveloped him with a protective arm, guiding him away from the scene.
Tears streamed down the queen's face as she sobbed, "Cassius, please, I cannot bear to lose another loved one like this. Please."
Cassius guided him away from the turmoil, their path now diverging from the queen's shattered realm.
A/N
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