Chapter VII
A week passed by since the revelation of Santos as the person of interest in the assassination attempt of Crown Prince Asteri. Everyone was in shock that such an upright and honest man was involved in such an act. The Miriam heir and Scion came and apologized to which Asteri accepted and apologized as well surprising them but they dismissed the apology as they agreed that the Prince was not responsible. Asteri did not entirely believe it until Justin knocked some sense. He argued that the Crown Prince was not responsible of changing the mindsets of people around him. Asteri reluctantly accepted and decided to let it go. Adonis could tell that Asteri was truly not accepting it. He decided that it was time to bring the big guns.
The next day saw Asteri painting in the Royal Gardens. He was sitting in front of the easel and canvas facing the oak tree where he met Justin. He held the paint palette in one hand and the brush in the other, chewing the end in thought. Along with him were Commander Giroldi and his partner Andros. Both were looking at the Crown Prince with a trace of worry. They knew that the Prince was not okay as he believed that he made some mistake against Santos for him to hate him.
They went over Santos's entire life very carefully and found no traces of interaction with the Prince. However, they found him in connection with a lot of gossip groups. Along with that some interesting names popped up that warranted an undercover operation which was in the works. As they were all absorbed in their thoughts, they did not notice an elderly man standing at the entrance. This man was none other than Dimitri Makris, the Royal Father-in-law of the King, Grandfather to the Crown Prince and father to the late Empress.
He had been in the country estate when he received the letter from the King regarding the problems that occured in the last week. Dimitri had heard about it. He was pleased that the King and his grandson were reconnecting but he knew that the young man was too much like his mother. He was feeling too deeply. Dimitri walked up to the Prince to see the painting, Cassian and Andros bowed in greeting to which he returned. He peered over the shoulder to see a painting of the oak tree with....something he couldn't tell. Asteri was still lost in thought. "That is quite an interesting painting grandson mine. What are you trying to do ?" Dimitri asked. What happened next would be something Cassian swore to never forget and use it as potential blackmail.
Asteri screeched in shock and ended up throwing the paint palette in the air while he tripped into the ground. The paint palette fell back down on top of his head thus covering his hair in paint. Everyone stared at him in astonishment while he looked embarrassed. The astonished silence was broken by giggles erupting from Andros. Cassian also started guffawing while the Marquess couldn't help but smile. Asteri groaned. He knew that he was never going to live this down. "Hello Grandfather, it is so nice to see you again but give me a warning please ? I don't want to embarrass myself again in front of heathens." Asteri said with sarcasm to which Andros and Cassian yelled back "Hey!" in retaliation making the Marquess laugh. "Alright, why don't you go freshen up and have lunch with me at your Palace ?" Dimitri asked. Asteri nodded and sped away quickly before anyone caught him looking like a mess. What Asteri did not know was that Adonis had witnessed everything from the Palace as his office was facing the gardens and was laughing his guts out.
Asteri quickly changed and made his way to the informal dining room to see his grandfather sitting there. As he sat, they serve lunch and caught up. Once the food was taken away and they were alone, Dimitri decided to talk. "Asteri, come here." he said. Asteri got up and sat next to his grandfather. Dimitri stared at him seeing his daughter's features in Asteri's face. He pulled the boy into a hug. Asteri was confused but hugged him back. "Asteri, you are so much like your mother. She would also feel like she was at fault when someone was hurt because of her. You are not responsible for Santos Miriam's decisions. You sometimes will have to understand that things happen randomly. You are not at fault. It's okay to feel but don't give yourself the burden of blame."
Asteri did not speak. Adonis was right of the fact that Asteri still felt responsible but some of the points that Dimitri made were quite right. "Asteri, you did not attend the Academy because Adonis needed help. He was grieving with a lot of things and the fact there was a threat that made you step up and help in the process. Most of us knew that you spent a whole year on passing out of Illoria that you avoided social seasons and the like. People have begun to see this as a sign of a tyrant. That is why you don't have a fiancé or fiancée. You need to understand that the rumours have run for too long. It is time to show that you are different. Put your guilt beside and change your world." Dimitri finished off and looked at the boy who was lost in thought. "Think about it. It is time to look at things beyond foreign trade and relations. Live a little and find happiness." Asteri nodded. They spent the rest of the afternoon talking.
As the evening approached with the family having dinner, we look to the other side of the Capital to see a group of men meeting again. They were all angry and irritated. "What are we going to do ? Santos has been taken and imprisoned. Now, all is lost." muttered one man. "Calm down sir. We still have many contingencies up our sleeves. We will definitely find a way to get the true man on the throne." muttered another. The tension was so thick that it could be easily sliced with a knife. However, this was of no consequence to the man sitting at the front of the room holding a goblet of blood. He was tall and sturdy. His hair had a salt and pepper look and the looks of a war toughened soldier. He calmly surveyed the murmuring crowd and promptly drained his glass and threw it across the room gaining attention. "Now, now gentleman. Let's not get everything tied up in knots. As long as we hold the power of the Royal Court, there is still hope. We can always strike the Royal Family later. Now, my target has still not changed. I want the Crown Prince killed off and put the blame on the Werewolf Kingdom as it will give us the edge. Another target will be the King. He is far too powerful. Let's get to work."
Everyone calmed as he looked in the direction of the Palace swearing revenge. Why ? He was none other than the "Late" King Gerald Don Drakos, father to King Adonis and Grandfather of Crown Prince Asteri.