Save Ethan at all cost

Chapter fourteen

Lucas strides into the King's villa.

Three maids were waiting outside his chamber. Lucas looks at them for a while before moving closer to them.

He knew better than anyone else that the king doesnt keep three maids.

"Where's the king?"

One of the maid raises her head to look at Lucas, "He's in the assembly room."

Lucas thought as much. He turns around and starts back to the South part of the palace.

The palace is so spacious that even the assembly room is far from the king or the prince's quarters. If the queen was alife, she would have managed the west-south chamber.

What a pity she wasn't.

But then, Lucas couldn't stop thinking about why the kind would demand to see Ryder.

He had never talk with them since the death of the queen. Sometimes, Lucas would feel anger towards the king.

The prince was passing through a phase, the king should solidly be beside him and not away from him. But all that the king had to spare all these years were cold shoulders and nonchalent attitude.

Ryder was left to carry his cross himself.

But then, why did he suddenly demand to see the son he had abandoned? What made him change his mind?

Lucas' mind was in daze as he walks to the entrance of the assembly room. He join the guards outside. There were also twenty maids outside at the other side waiting for the king.

There seems to be heated argument ongoing in the room. So loud that Lucas could hear everything that was being discussed.

"How do we know it's really not the prince," a deep voice says. Lucas recognizes it anywhere. It was the voice of Maverick, Liam's father. He was the notorious and most corrupted minister.

No wonder his son took in his way. Maverick was also brilliant and many Minister look up to him, even more than they look up to the king.

"Yes! We need to be sure that the beast in Tinorah isn't the prince!" Amir supports.

"Rumours have gone throughout the kingdom. The kingdom will fall if we don't curb it on time! " That's Greyson.

" My son is currently in the palace!" The king roar, frustrated already.

Lucas looks back at the maids, " Move back!" He instruct.

The maids bow slightly and move away. Given that most rumour of the palace are carried out by the maids, Lucas was sure the current one might leak out.

"He can come over here if that's what you want!"

Silence permeate among them.

"Your majesty," Maverick started again, "The prince is of age. He's twenty-eight already. It's time for him to start sitting beside you and watch how his father run the kingdom."

What! Lucas eyes almost went out of it's sockets. So, this was what they were planning to do.

No wonder the king wanted to see Ryder urgently. He might be thinking of speaking with Ryder to take up the position he was born to carry.

Well, Ryder is twenty-eight already. He's of age to start addressing state matter. Aside from that, he's of age to marry.

Gosh, Ryder have so many things he hasn't enjoyed and is not even guarantee he might enjoy them.

Life is a bitch, especially to Ryder.

The assembly ended after series of heated conversation. Lucas father didn't say a word. The Ministers in support of the prince all kept quiet.

Well, they have been defending him for a while now. Even when they didn't know what the prince really is.

Only Lucas and his father, Lincoln knew about the prince's curse.

Lucas bow his head slightly as the ministers walk out of the assembly room. He didn't see his father and knew he might have stayed behind to talk with the king.

Lucas looks over at the eunuch, "Announce me."

The eunuch turn towards the door, "Your Majesty, Lucas is here."

"Let him in," the king commands and Lucas was allowed in.

Lucas was right. It's just that Brook also stayed behind with his father. Lucas walks closer and bow slightly, "Your Majesty."

"Where's my son?"

"He's at his villa."

The king let out a sigh, the worried look on his face seems to fade away for a while.

"What do we do your majesty? Maverick can be a bastard but he's right. We can't keep hiding the prince forever," Lincoln advises.

" Isn't there a way we can curb the prince's anger?" Brook asks worriedly.

Lucas looks up at the king, " Your majesty. I want to tell you that his highness have been cured," Lucas says and heads turns toward him amazingly.

"What are you talking about!" Lincoln yells at him.

Lucas felt his heart skip a beat. He knew he shouldn't be doing it especially when the present prince is only an imposter.

But Lucas knew how much it would affect the king if the prince doesn't start taking responsible.

And well, it would help erase the bad rumour surrounding Ryder.

Lucas would do anything to make the world better for Ryder. Perhaps, Ryder would get better tomorrow and come back to the palace.

Then it would be easy for him to go about with his daily business.

He would do it! He would use Ethan for it.

"Are you sure of what you are saying?" The king's voice shakes with slight tremor to it. There was hint of concern in them. For who? For Ryder of course.

Lucas nods briefly, a bright smile on his face, "He got cured. That was why we had to leave the palace. And fortunately for us, the curse was successfully removed from him. So, he's better now."

Brooks looks up at the king, with pure joy spread across his face, "Your majesty, this is good news."

Lincoln still couldn't believe it. Shock kept him motionless and speechless for a while. When he finally regain his voice, a deep scream of joy escapes him.

"Congratulations your majesty," he says happily, "Now, the prince can serve the kingdom beside you with no cause for alarm. This is great."

The King went on verge of tears. He had to blink away the tears, "I want to see him tonight."

When Lucas walks back to Ryder's villa, there was this sadness her felt so deep in him.

He was glad, that the king now wants to see his son. But how would it have been if it was truly Ryder. How would he have felt?

Lucas walks inside hurriedly, it would be evening soon. He needed to tell Ethan and let him go over the lessons before he would face the king.

Any mistake and it would be dangerous for them both. The moment he walk in and couldn't find any maids, Lucas thought it was only because Ethan didn't like it.

He went inside the waiting room but noone was there.

He searched everywhere. The sunroom, the closet, the bedroom but Ethan was nowhere to be found.

Lucas walks out tiredly. Just where the heck would Ethan be? But he was sure he would be somewhere around. Ethan would only want to go sightseeing around the palace.

Ian runs forward, "sir!" He screams severally before he got near.

Lucas looks up at him, tiredly, "Is something wrong?"

"Something bad is happening at the marketplace," Ian takes in a lot of air and continue, "The king Is still to save a man called Bryson. Damian said he would behead him if Ethan doesn't show up."

"What?" Lucas felt his head bang tremendously.

Ian shakes his head briefly, "Thats not even the important aspect. The Prince have been taken by the ministers' sons."

Lucas eyes almost shot out. He needed to do something quickly. He needs to save Ethan. He closes his eyes briefly and quickly think of what to do.

Lucas open his eyes and starts walking away, "Get the prince's soldiers. We are going to save the prince!"

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