"Lena is dead?" He asked
Emelia nodded in acknowledgement.
"You have to talk," she urged. "Tell them what you remember. Tell them something. Anything."
Eric shook his head. "I don't remember, Emelia. That's the problem."
She closed her eyes. "Try. Please."
He stood slowly and approached the door. His fingers wrapped around the cold metal , only an inch from hers.
"I remember walking into Father's chambers," he said quietly. "I remember hearing a sound behind me. I turned. Then… i felt dizzy and it was darkness. When I woke up, Father was bleeding on the floor as a dagger fell off my hand. The guards later found me there. That's everything."
"But you wouldn't have hurt him?" Emelia said firmly. "You would never hurt the king right?."
She searched his eyes, hoping to find even a small spark of hope. But she saw only fear of the unknown, fear of betrayal, fear of what he might be capable of without knowing.
"Eric," she whispered, her voice trembling, "you are not a murderer."
He closed his eyes. "Tell that to the council."
"I will," she said. "I'll stand beside you. They can't silence me."
"Just let it go. The knife was in my hands. What if i really killed him?" Eric said tiredly.
Emelia reached through the doors and brushed her finger against his hand. He held it tightly, as if holding onto a lifeline.
"You had no reason to. You love father." she whispered.
"I know, but i really cant explain this," he said quietly.
She looked at him, startled. "What do you mean?"
Eric hesitated.
"Whoever did this to me… or whoever shot the maid are the same person. They won't care who falls next but just want to win."
Her throat tightened.
"You should rest," Eric said gently. "Please, Emelia before they accuse you of meddling."
"I don't care," she said.
"But I do," he replied.
For a moment, neither spoke.
She wanted to reassure him, to promise nothing would happen to her but she couldn't. She felt every wall in the palace shifted around her and every shadow watched her.
Finally, the guard coughed softly. "Your Highness… your time is up."
Emelia's eyes filled with tears. "I'll come again."
"I know."
She stepped back, her chest tightening, and watched the door close as it sealed him in once more.
Inside, Eric stood motionless, watching her until she disappeared from view.
Prince Eric had been locked inside for eight days. It was long enough for the rumors to spread far, but not long enough for anyone to discover what really happened.
He sat on the bed staring at the window. A patch of morning light stretched across the floor. He had replayed the night with the King over and over, searching for something he might have missed. But the memory never changed.
He had gone to the meeting with his brother. After then they had a discusion.
"Father, it's not proper for my older brother to rule alongside me," Eric said, his voice steady but with frustration. He felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on him, heavier than the walls of the council chamber around them.
Before his father could reply.
"Eric" a voice whispered.
He turned around but perceived a faint, sweet scent of perfume drifting through the air which twisted around his senses. He blinked and tryed to locate the source, but the world seemed to tilt violently.
The next moment, darkness swallowed him.
When he awoke, the air was cool and damp, and a strange quiet surrounded him. He say his father in his arms as the dagger slipped from his hand. He struggled to recall how he had gotten here as his eyes adjusted. The guards rushed towards him. And chaos began.
A metal clang broke his thoughts. Footsteps approached and Eric stood.
"Your Highness," One of the guard said from behind the doors. He bowed, though he looked tired and troubled. "You have a visitor."
Eric's heart lifted. "Emelia?"
He shook his head. "Prince Adrian."
Eric's expression tightened, but he nodded. "Let him in."
The guard unlocked the door. Adrian entered stiff and tense in his navy cloak. His eyes scanned Eric with a sharp and uneasy suspicion.
"You came," Eric said quietly.
"I had to," Adrian replied, folding his arms. "The council wants answers, and you're the only one who can give them."
"I've told the truth again and again."
"Maybe so," Adrian said, "but it doesn't seem the truth is enough."
Eric studied him. His voice sounded influenced and guided. "Who has been talking to you?"
Adrian hesitated.
"Athalia," Eric asked.
Adrian didn't deny it.
"She has supported me through all this," Adrian said. "She hears what the nobles whisper and she knows what the court fears."
Eric stepped closer. "And what do they fear? That I will hurt Father? That I brought down the King for the throne? Adrian, it makes no sense."
Adrian's eyes dropped. "But Father pointed at you."
Eric looked away tightening his chest.
The King had woken briefly two days earlier looking weak and confused. Only a few people were with him: physicians, guards, Adrian… and Athalia. Eric was kept outside.
Later he heard what happened: the King whispered one broken word and lifted a shaking hand toward Eric's name.
It was enough to ignite the entire court.
"Father was delirious," Eric said. "His words cannot be taken as proof."
"But people remember them," Adrian said softly. "They won't forget. That's another witness against you."
Eric saw the conflict in his brother's eyes. "You doubt me."
"I don't know what to believe," Adrian whispered.
"You used to trust me without question." Eric said
"And times were simpler," Adrian replied. "Now the kingdom is unstable and every choice matters."
"Whatever Athalia is telling you..." Eric began.
"She's protecting the throne," Adrian snapped. "She's doing what must be done."
Eric shook his head. "Or what she wants done."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "I didn't come here to argue."
"Then why? Why did you come?"
Adrian stepped closer to the bars. "To warn you."
Eric's breath caught. "About what?"
Adrian nodded. "The same fragrance found on your cloak was found on Father's robe."
Eric's stomach twisted. "Adrian, I don't wear perfume."
"I know," Adrian said quietly. "But the nobles don't know you like I do."
Eric gripped the bars. "Do you truly believe I would harm our father?"
Adrian looked down. "I want to believe you. But this is bigger than us."
Eric noticed a faint gold shimmer on Adrian's sleeve. He had seen it before.
"Athalia was with you today," Eric said.
Adrian froze. "She's my wife?"
Eric swallowed his dread. "Just… be careful."
Adrian said nothing and walked out. Eric was right to be scared for athalia wasn't done.
The castle corridors were unusually still that morning, it was the kind of silence that presses against your chest. Even the faint shuffle of servants seemed muted as though the walls themselves were listening.
A few days before the king awakened, the Royal Investigator was called in. The Royal family and council members were in the hall. Prince Eric was brought into the hall with two guards by his side.
The chief investigator moved deliberately through the old wing as his long coat brushed the floor and his sharp eyes examined every detail from frayed tapestries to small scuffs on the stone, as if secrets could be read in the dust itself.
He checked through the arrow and the rope that once hung on the palace wall. He approached them cautiously, pausing before his gloved fingers hovered over them. The rope seemed almost alive to him as if whispering events it had witnessed.
"Notice anything unusual, Lysander?" asked the Chief Adviser, standing a few steps behind, with concern.
Lysander knelt slightly. "Yes," he murmured. "There's a scent… faint but on both weapons. It smelt floral and sweet, yet sharp beneath it, it was medicinal. Whoever left this intended for it to be noticed… and felt."
The Chief adviser frowned. "Is it Perfume?
"It is not merely a fragrance, "The investigator said gravely. "This scent was meant to hypnotize its host."
Adrian shivered. "Hypnotizing… isn't that dangerous?."
"Exactly," Lysander said. "And we must trace its source. Whoever handled the rope, also shot the maid and he or she carries this perfume. However, this person had been quite careless. But we have to find where this arrow came from!."
"It came from the Elite guards." The Chief Adviser said quickly.
There were murmurs in the hall.
"Very well then. We know where to search!.'" Lysander said.
"Bring out all Elite guards and search their quaters!" the chief advisor declared.
After searching with the royal investigator, the investigation led them to Talen's quaters who was a young guard. His quarters carried the same faint fragrance of the perfume until detected from a shirt. It was brought before the council.
"Talen," Lysander said, his voice calm but firm, "Where did you get this fragrance?."
Talen's eyes looked at the shirt.
"I don't know what you mean, sire. I probably got it at the market" Talen said confidently.
"Do you know what this fragrance is for?"
"No sire" Talen said.
There was a eye contact between the Chief Adviser and the investigator.
"Guards, hold him." The Chief adviser thundered.
The investigator moved closer and stuffed the scent from the shirt and the rope directly where his nose could perceive it. Talen was calm and stood like a statue. The effect caught up quickly after a little slipped into his nose.
"How long have you been carrying it?" He asked steadily.
Talen said nothing.
" I implore you to speak." Lysander thundered.
"I was told to!" Talen said on his feet in hypnosis.
"By whom?" Lysander asked sharply.
Talen glanced around the council hall and toward the doorway.
"Princess Emelia." Talen said.
Everyone murmured. Some in disbelieve.
Eric's eyes widened. "Emelia? That's impossible!"
The Chief Adviser raised his hands and silence fell again.
Eric's eyes widened. "Continue" The investigator asked firmly.
"She said it would help to calm and guide the prince to claim the throne from his brother." he said
There was whispering in the hall.
"So he really tried to take his brother out for the throne!" some thought.
Adrian's eyes widened. "The throne?" he thought as he remembered Athalia's words.
"Hunger for power turns people into monsters". she said.
"We should probably confirm the facts before drawing conclusions. I mean, he is being hypnotized but that does not prove what he says is right, does it?." Adrian said in disbelieve.
"What if someone could be using this to frame her?" he continued.
"Hypnotism never lies. Anyone who was hypnotized remembers everything in hypnosis but when they are themselves, they loose their memory's." Lysander said.
"Does that mean... my son?" The queen asked.
He nodded in acknowledgement.
"So when brother says he doesn't remember anything, it probably meant he was hypnotized and lost his memory?" Adrian asked curiously.
"I believe so, Prince Adrian. Once hypnotized, the victim can be hypnotized over and over again if the same smell persists." the investigator said.
The hall was filled with murmurs again.
Then the investigator turned to Talen. "Tell us. What did you do?" he asked.
Talen shook violently. "I only followed instructions and sprayed it on him, then i left!"
Lysander turned to the queen and Royal Adviser. Athaliah smirked slightly while Adrian stood in disbelieve.
"There must be something wrong. Emelia could have never done this" Eric shouted.
"Prince Eric." The chief adviser said. "One more word and you'll be sent back to confinement until this investigation is over."
Meanwhile, the Royal Investigator and the chief adviser exchanged a look, then made their way toward Princess Emelia's chambers. Guards hurried ahead of them, pushing open the door and searching each corner.
Emelia was walking through the castle corridors close to her chambers unaware of the storm closing around her.
When they finally found Emelia standing by her window, she turned in shock.
"Princess Emelia," the chief adviser said, his tone measured, "we must search your chambers for anything connected to the King's attack."
Her heart dropped. "The King's attack? I… I had nothing to do with it."
"We will determine that," the investigator replied quietly. "For now, allow us to do our work."
When they searched, the faint scent of perfume clung to one of her cloak and ribbons, leaving a trail invisible to the untrained eye but clear to those who knew what to look for.
"Princess Emelia," The Chief adviser said. "You must come to the council hall now."
Her heart raced.
All eyes were on her as she walked into the hall with two guards by her side. There were wild whispers in the hall, some filled with disappointment and disbelieve. The chief Adviser raised his hands and silence fell.
"Please continue, Lysander." The Chief Adviser said firmly.
"Princess Emelia, the guard, Talen, claims you sent him with this fragrance," Lysander said calmly lifting up the bottle of fragrance they had seen in her chambers. "He says you asked him to influence the Prince."
Emelia's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! I would never..."
"Princess," Lysander said firmly, "the scent on the rope, the arrow and traces of fragrance on your belongings suggest otherwise."
"I… I don't know anything about this!" Emelia exclaimed. "Someone is framing me! I swear I did nothing to endanger the king!"
The Chief Adviser exchanged a glance with Lysander. "Then explain why the scent is on your dress and room."
"I… I don't know!" Emelia cried.
Athaliah smirked faintly. Her plan was flawless as Emelia faltered, even as Lysander's steady gaze observed her gestures. The room seemed to shrink around the princess as it was more heavy with tension and suspicion.
"Tell them the truth, Talen!" Emelia said, voice trembling. "It wasn't me! Did someone else..."