"I… I saw him holding the knife. Maybe threatening the king. I was about to approach when I saw he stabbed His Majesty. Then pretended when others came."
Adrian stepped forward.
"Who? Tell us!"
The prisoner hesitated.
"If I speak… I'll die."
"You will be protected," the Queen said firmly. "Name the attacker."
"I feel ashamed to say it…" the man whispered looking scared.
"Tell us, please," Athalia urged.
His eyes darted across the room to the king, the queen, Adrian, Athalia, and finally Eric.
He swallowed hard.
Then he pointed.
Everyone turned as their blood ran cold.
"It was… Prince Eric!"
The words had barely left his mouth when an arrow shot through the window and struck him in the throat.
He collapsed as blood pooled beneath him.
Queen Elizabeth screamed and fainted.
Athalia stepped back and her shock stinged with something else.
Adrian's heart hammered. Emelias heart raced. Athalia and the entire hall stood shocked.
Eric? But why?
Nothing made sense.
Eric stood frozen, terrified and unable to defend what he couldn't explain.
The chief adviser shouted, "GUARDS! FIND THE ARCHER!"
But the hall outside was empty.
The killer was gone and now the only man who named the attacker lay dead at their feet.
No one could believe it. Questions filled the air like smoke.
Did Eric truly do it? Or is he being framed? Was it for the throne? Why would he say father saved him if he was the mastermind?
The night air was thick with fear.
The arrow that killed the prisoner was still on the floor and dark with blood.
No one spoke for several moments.
Even the guards stood frozen staring at Prince Eric while some were staring at the lifeless man who revealed the truth.
The chief adviser's voice finally broke the silence.
"Prince Eric!" he thundered. "We need an explanation!"
Eric's hands shook. He didn't know how to explain anything.
The only thing he remembered was his father lying lifeless in his arms.
Adrian rushed toward him, impatience and fury tightening his face.
"Did you kill Father, Eric?" Adrian shouted as he stepped forward, ready to strike him.
"I… I don't remember what happened," Eric stammered. Tears gathered in his eyes, but he held them back.
"This is the council chambers, Prince Adrian," the chief advisor snapped. "Control yourself."
Adrian withdrew angrily.
"Tell me they are wrong, Adrian," Queen Elizabeth whispered through tears. "Tell me it's a setup."
Prince Eric trembled. He couldn't speak.
A part of him feared the truth might be exactly what they were saying.
"Eric, please say something!" Emelia said as tears filled her eyes.
But he said nothing.
"Prince Eric is hereby confined to his room pending investigation of murder against the King!" the chief advisor declared.
"Seal the palace gates!" he continued. "No one leaves until the archer is found!"
"Yes, your grace!" the guards shouted as they hurried away.
Adrian stood rooted to the spot as he watched his brother being escorted out.
His mind spun.
It happened too fast.
My brother… actually killed Father.
But why would he do it?
He looked at Athalia. She stood near the window with her face pale in the moonlight and her hands trembling.
"Are you okay?" Adrian asked quietly.
Athalia blinked, as if pulled from a trance.
"No… no, I'm fine," she whispered.
The chief advisor turned to the guards again.
"Double the watch on every tower. No servant, knight, or noble leaves without my permission."
"Yes, your grace!" they chorused.
When the room emptied, only Adrian and Athalia remained.
"Do you think he did it?" Athalia asked.
"I don't know what to believe," Adrian replied.
Outside, the palace corridors were nearly silent.
Lanterns flickered against cold stone walls, and the soft clink of armor echoed in the distance.
Adrian walked beside Athalia, still lost in thought.
"I can't believe this," he muttered.
"That your brother killed him?" Athalia whispered.
Adrian turned sharply to her. "What do you mean?"
"Think," she said softly. "Eric claimed someone wanted him dead but father stepped in. And when an eye witness found him guilty, they silenced the one person who could speak the truth. This isn't random"
Adrian frowned. "You think my brother wants my throne? But why?"
She lifted her eyes to him. "Sometimes power makes monsters out of people who seem harmless."
A chill ran through him.
He didn't like how easily she spoke about murder.
They reached his chamber doors. The guards bowed as he entered.
"I'll stay with you," Athalia said suddenly.
Adrian looked surprised. "That's not necessary."
"It is," she said quietly. "You shouldn't be alone tonight."
He hesitated, then nodded. "All right."
Inside, the room glowed dimly from a single candle. The golden curtains swayed with the breeze.
Adrian sat heavily in a chair, running a hand through his hair.
"What if he dies?" he whispered. "What if I lose him?"
Athalia stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Then you must be strong… and lead," she murmured.
Adrian looked up, confused. "Lead?
"Lead? That's not what I want." He spoke
She knelt beside him.
"It's what destiny demands. You were born to rule, Adrian. You can't run from it."
He shook his head. "Not like this. I shouldn't wish Father dead."
Athalia's gaze darkened. "Sometimes blood is the price of power."
Adrian stood abruptly. "Stop saying things like that!"
She rose too, her expression tightening.
"I'm only speaking the truth."
"No," he snapped. "You're turning this into something it's not."
"Then what is it?" she demanded. "Fate? Coincidence? A thief breaking into the palace just to attack your brother and kill your father instead? Open your eyes!"
Adrian walked to the window, staring at the dark courtyard below as Shadows crawled along the palace walls.
"You talk as if you know more than you should," he said quietly.
Her eyes narrowed. "What are you implying?"
He swallowed hard. "That man…the prisoner…. he looked terrified when he saw you."
Athalia froze a little.
"You're accusing me?" she asked with her voice sharp and cold.
"I… I don't know," Adrian admitted. "Nothing makes sense anymore."
Her tone softened instantly.
"I would never harm your family, Adrian. You must believe me."
He looked at her, torn.
She touched his cheek gently.
"Rest. Tomorrow we'll find out who is behind all this. I promise."
But when she leaned in to kiss his forehead, her gaze flicked toward the window and for a moment her calm mask slipped.
Outside, a cloaked figure moved through the shadows of the courtyard.
Athalia's lips curved into a faint smile before she looked away.
But Princess Athalia wasn't done yet.
Her first targets were the nobles closest to the queen.
She invited a small group of them to a private tea gathering. It was simple but elegant, yet comfortable enough that people would relax and quiet enough for sensitive topics. She wore a pale blue gown that enhanced the faint glow sorcery had given her.
The nobles arrived cheerfully, unaware of her intentions.
"A pleasure to see all of you," Athalia said warmly. "It has been quite long."
They exchanged polite greetings and settled with their tea. Athalia guided early conversation toward harmless topics of festivals, weather and the queen's latest charitable event until the moment felt right.
Then, casually, she nudged the door open.
"I passed the King's corridor this morning," she said softly. "It reminded me of the tragedy that befell our Kingdom."
The nobles bowed their heads respectfully.
Lady Maris sighed. "A tragedy. The kingdom still feels the absence of the unconscious King."
Athalia stirred her tea slowly. "Yes… especially when the truth of that night remains uncertain."
Lord Desmond glanced at her. "Uncertain? The king was attacked, was he not?"
She gave a small, thoughtful pause. "That is what was announced."
Lady Maris frowned. "Is there more to it?"
Athalia lowered her gaze as if she regretted speaking. "I shouldn't say anything for it's not my place. However, i know Prince Eric was found at the scene… confused and unable to explain what happened."
The nobles exchanged startled glances.
Athalia continued gently, almost reluctantly, "He told the queen that his father tried to save him. But someone later claimed they witnessed something very different."
She did not elaborate for she didn't need to.
Silence fell in a tense, heavy and uncertain way.
Athalia gave a small, apologetic smile. "Forgive me. I only spoke because I worry. When such questions linger, they can weaken the unity of the royal family. And Adrian works so hard to maintain stability."
The nobles murmured among themselves with an uneasy, curious and unsure way of not knowing what to believe.
A seed had been planted.
Over the next days, Athalia visited different groups of young nobles, elder advisors and even junior officers in training. She never repeated the story the same way. Sometimes she expressed sympathy for Eric's "confusion" that night. Sometimes she mentioned an "eye witness." Other times she wondered aloud if Eric's memory had gaps.
Always soft, hesitant and careful.
She never presented an accusation but simply allowed people to reach one and with her sorcery-enhanced charm, they did.
Questions began drifting through the palace:
"Why was Eric the only one found with the king?"
"He claims he doesn't remember but is that believable?"
"Who was the witness who was killed afterward?"
"Why did the council close the investigation so quickly?"
None of these questions had originated from Athalia's lips but they grew from the doubts she nurtured.
By the end of the second week, the whispers spread like smoke.
One evening, Athalia accompanied Adrian to a meeting with several senior nobles.
Throughout the meeting, Adrain spoke clearly and respectfully as he offered reasonable suggestions.
When the meeting ended, Athalia approached Lady Helena, one of the queen's trusted advisors.
"A productive discussion tonight," Athalia said pleasantly.
Lady Helena nodded. "Yes. Though… I felt some tension in the room."
Athalia lowered her eyes. "It's only natural. After all, people still worry about the night His Majesty was attacked."
Helena stiffened slightly.
Athalia added gently, "Adrain tries so hard to act as though everything is normal. But it's difficult for some to forget that Eric was the last person seen with the king well."
The advisor hesitated. "What if it was a setup?."
"No," Athalia replied softly. "That is the official report. Who sees someone with a dagger with a murdered person and claims he didnt kill him?. Besides there was a eye witness."
She said nothing more for she didn't have to.
Lady Helena walked away unsettled, and Athalia walked in the opposite direction with quiet satisfaction.
Her focus was on Eric.
She watched him carefully assigning guards to watch him.
"He shouldn't be admired after what people believe he did" she thought. He should be questioned and banished.
Adrian noticed the rising tension long before he understood it.
"Athalia," he murmured one afternoon, "people are whispering about Eric. Asking strange questions."
She looked up from her book with a soft smile. "Are they?"
"Yes. Some think he was involved in Father's death. But that's absurd."
"Is it?" she asked quietly.
Adrian froze. "…What are you suggesting?"
"I'm suggesting nothing." She closed her book. "I only say what others are thinking. They remember that Eric was at the scene. And that he has no memory of how the king was injured."
"That doesn't make him guilty," Adrian whispered.
"No," she agreed softly. "But uncertainty is dangerous in a kingdom. Doubt grows when answers are missing."
His shoulders sagged with conflict.
"I don't want this," he said. "He's my brother."
Athalia stepped closer. "And that is why you must protect yourself and your name. If people suspect Eric had motives… you must stand clear of the shadows."
"I don't believe he would hurt our father."
"You don't need to believe it," she said gently. "Other people do."
Adrian looked away, tormented.
And thus, the ground beneath the brothers began to crack.
The rumors roamed further.
A late-night meeting? Proof of secrecy.
Eric in confinement? Signs of guilt.
His silence on the matter? Evidence he had something to hide.
Every action twisted into suspicion and Athalia only needed to give small, careful nudges.
In the hallways, the gardens and the quiet corners of council chambers, she fed doubts and they grew into flames.
Soon, some nobles openly questioned whether Eric had wanted the throne enough to remove the one man standing above him. They also asked if he was planning to remove Prince Adrain.
Athalia never said those words herself but she had created the path for others to walk.
One night, Lira rushed into her chamber.
"Your Highness, some nobles gathered tonight. They discussed Eric and many believe he is dangerous."
Athalia's breath slowed. "Did they say why?"
"They think the witness who was killed back then… must have really said the truth. Something the council didn't want revealed."
Athalia's lips curved slowly.
"Good," she whispered.
She dismissed Lira and stood before her mirror. Her reflection glowed faintly in the candlelight as beautiful, persuasive and powerful.
"I will reshape this kingdom," she murmured. "And Eric will not stand in our way."
Behind her reflection, the faintest flicker of darkness shimmered.
But Athalia did not look away and her path was set.
And the kingdom was already bending to her will.