17 Only time will tell.

Her words stung him like the bereave scorpion who lay its anguish on an innocent tresspaser.

He groaned. The pain was higher, higher than what he felt before. He knew what she meant but that was not enough. What could he do...

Earlier his father had tried to kill me, it sounded unbelievable but that was it.

He knew what will happen next, his father would apologize, yes, he would, like a sly fox, he would. He would blame it on his unruly anger. The anger that seems to break the family, more and more.

He needed his freedom, atleast when he is still alive.

... .... .... ..... ... .... ... ......

Natalie ran into her room and the door. She only felt safe there. She never felt so only.

She minced at the remembrance of the words she had told the prince. She was so angry, she didn't care.

He deserved it anyway.

How did he think mere apology would change anything, she knew his father hated her, not so oblivious. Now he had more reason to. Why would he play with her life just like that just because he could?

The king would put an extra eye on her, now he thinks the prince was involved with her. That was the last thing she wanted, it would be difficult, so difficult, and the danger? . She shook her head in defiance, this was too much, oh, she whispered her sister's name. Where us guide, you said you sent. Because I am lost and confused.

Her thoughts glided to Sebastian. She didn't expect what he had said, wait!, what did she expect.

She couldn't put all the blame on him, but she wished he had not said that, it would have made it better.

He didn't even trust her, not even a little.

As from now hence forth, everyone would stay on their path. She would leave this palace with or without Sebastian.

She needed her freedom and she didn't care how.

..... ..... ... ... ..... ..... ..... ...

The king paced about in the palace, this recent development with the prince had not been go at all. The prince had pushed he to the edge that he had to...

Oh no, what if the prince became rebellious, that would not end well. Why can't he just listen for once, he spat bitterly.

Williams has been very anger when he left the room, he wondered where he was now.

I must see him before nightfall. He must not take this issue to bed. He feared this might result to a more bigger issue.

Williams was his son, he wondered if he still considered him as his father. He had never been this disturbed.

He would wait till Williams comes to him, that would mean that he was already calm.

Yes, he would wait till everything calm down. Like they say time heals everything.

But there are somethimgs time does not heal tho, that frightening image of Williams mother, bloated from the fall that solemn night refuse to fade from his mind. It just needed slight provocation and that whole episode start replaying just like it just happened. He refuse to believe it had been more than a decade.

He finally sat down waiting for his son to meet him.

Two hours gone and there was no sign of Williams, worse still the palace was silent like a grave yard. That he wondered who died. In a sudden, it was like everyone was grieving.

The sun was already setting and he was still restless.

Where is Williams?

Of course he hasn't run away? Has he?.

That would only mean one thing, Williams had deserted and disowned his father. Over everything, the family, the kingship and the kingdom was at stake....

..... .... ..... ... ..... ... .....

His head balanced on the rocky edge as he lay down, he was out of the palace and out of it's troubles.

He wondered what his father was thinking now, would he be scared?

But he had tried to kill him, was he not doing his worst, had he considered him as his son while he strangling his neck and he was there struggling to breathe.

Would he be sorry, if he had died?

He needed to be out if the palace, for his sanity, because his thoughts was racing, wild in anger, still on the reason that his father had tried to kill him.

The thought only scared him than the action, his father had gotten so angry that he didn't want Williams there, living and arguing with him.

He was scared, he had never been scared in a long time. The first time he was, was that sad morning. His father announced to him, his mother had died.

She fell from the window, he had said with his eyes fixed on the ground with tears dropping.

She had killed herself.

She had committed suicide and it scared him. It scared him that there were reasons that his mother would choose to die than be with him. His mother chose death for other options. He couldn't comprehend it. So

He cried, he needed it, for it was a long time coming.

.... ... .... ... .... .... ..... ....

Sebastian sat up, he had wanted to go to the fields today atleast to stroll there inspecting the work.

But he felt weak, too weak to even leave the room. All his life, he had never trusted anyone above himself, when Natalie came, he had naturaly accepted her, he had grown to fancy and more still like now.

But now, he wasn't sure anymore not for the fact that he liked her but for the fact that he had made a mistake.

A grave mistake, he had not known her enough for his feelings to grow towards her. How can you make such mistake, Sebastian, you are better than this.

He scolded himself. For all he knew, Natalie could be using him, she may use him to get out the palace at the same time getting the prince.

It was all in the grand scheme. He had done this but he wasn't foolish, he hoped she knew this.

He could be dangerous when revengeful, so she better knew what she was up against.

He committed no crime by liking her, now he was paying for it. The prince telling his father about his feelings for her was no coincidence. He has seen the way he looks at her. If the prince was defying his king and going for his father's prisoner then it was not random at all. He underestimated Natalie, surely she was desperate. Too desperate to deceive him...

..... ..... .... ..... .... ..... ...... ....

The king had given up seeing the prince that day, he had searched his room, everywhere around the palace. He has told the royal servants specifically not to mention it to anyone.

His greatest fear had come to reality. He awaited the worst.

Well "the worst"came in form of the prince coming from God knows where, into the palace. He looked like he had spent the night in the open valleys. Yes he had but the king had no such time to ask him that.

Williams, he cried out, you are back, he hugged the prince sniffing like he had been crying all night. The servants watched in bewilderment.

Williams was too shocked to talk and too smitten. This was the first time he had spend the night outside the palace and he was not ready for the outcome. He never knew he would do it.

He was wet from the morning dew that had seek refuge on him. He was shivering from the cold henceforth. Apparently, he had not slept at all. He was glad no one saw him.

The shock from the father he shut him up, so his father was able to hug him after he almost.

Damn this, why was he here anyway. He had only headed out with the cloth on his body and a knife. In case of anything. He hadn't think to bring other things, he was so angry that he wanted to leave in a second.

Williams, I am so sorry, i was so angry, I didn't know...

It is fine, I get it... You wanted to kill your son because of your raging anger again...

It is not like that he said with a gentle face as gentle as a lamb you wouldn't think he could hurt a fly more or less hurting someone.

I wouldn't dare hurt you, you are my only son, the king said.

Am I?

Yes you are, I blame myself, I admit I am wrong this time. I apologize. I will never do that.

Of course you won't because I am not staying here, the prince said stamping his foot.

What! The king said defeated, what do you mean, this is your home, your life, your kingdom. What do you mean by that.

You will know soon, the prince said as he left there leaving his father, his mouth wide open in shock.

Williams is not serious, he thought. He wouldn't do that, what would become of him, this kingdom. There was other heir, Williams was the only heir. He had made sure of that even when his mother had threatened to leave with him.

He is joking, of course he his the king said to himself. He wondered of he was just saying or he was trying to convince himself.

I have worked so hard for this not to happen, the king said.

Why now? Why ever.

Natalie listened with rapt attention, earsdropping, she had heard it all.

Had she been wrong about the prince, all this while. Has his intentions been genuine.

And the king had tried to kill his son.

The murderous fool, she thought. Not surprised, he had did this same to woman that birthed him.