LOGINThe next day, Salvador was banished from the palace.The guards who had escorted Evelyn came back to report.Once Morvane learned that Evelyn had failed, he never came for her.She was left to wander the border. Without magic, a dark elf would struggle to survive between our two lands.When my other brothers heard I'd been hurt, they rushed back to the palace.“Cecilia, are your wounds all healed?”“Cecilia, I'll teach you how to use a sword. Then you can protect yourself if you're ever in danger!”“No, no, no. Listen to me. From now on, we'll take turns guarding Cecilia, one day each!”My brothers talked over one another, fussing over me until I felt surrounded by their love again.They taught me how to fight and how to use new kinds of magic.Soon, I'd put what happened with Salvador behind me.The key I'd once given Evelyn was found and returned to me.My father had my palace restored and put a spell on the doors.Only Lucia and I could come and go freely.No one else would ever ent
Salvador lunged at Evelyn and grabbed her by the shoulders.“That baby isn't mine. Evelyn, you'd better explain yourself!“I trusted you so much. I didn't care that you were a dark elf. I was willing to defy my own father to bring you home.“And this is how you treat me? How dare you betray me!”Evelyn shoved his hands away and spat at him.“Salvador, you're nothing now.“If you were still crown prince, who would have dared to test me like this?“This is all your fault for being so useless!”Beside himself with rage, Salvador slapped her hard.“Evelyn, I'll never let you get away with this!”Evelyn held her cheek and burst into wild laughter.“What do you have left? You're not the crown prince anymore. No lands, no army. Nothing.“If I'd known, I never would have wasted my time on a loser like you!”Salvador lost control. He hated her now as much as he had ever loved her.He grabbed her by the throat and squeezed, cursing her the whole time.But Evelyn wasn't one to back down. She kept
No light elf child had been born in years.None of the 12 princes had any children yet.If Evelyn was telling the truth, the baby she carried would be my father's first grandchild.The guards who had been about to arrest her didn't dare touch her now.My father still had his doubts, and no one knew what to do next.He pulled me down to sit beside his throne and took my hand in his.Golden light spilled out from between his fingers and covered my wounds.The bleeding stopped, and the cuts slowly began to close.Even the scars on my back faded away in no time.Salvador couldn't take his eyes off Evelyn's stomach.“Is it true? Evelyn, we're having a baby!”He begged our father to spare them.“Father, this baby is one of our own! A light elf!“You can't seriously allow your grandchild to be born in a dungeon!”My father called a healer forward to examine her.A green orb of light formed in the healer's hand and drifted toward Evelyn's belly.Within moments, a rune of life appeared inside t
When my father finished, Salvador swayed and nearly fell.The color drained from his face.“Father, you can't make a decision like this so hastily!“Nobody has even looked into what happened yet. This isn't fair to me!”My father spoke gravely.“Salvador, I've already sent the guards to find proof.“But understand this. Whatever evidence they find won't change my decision.“You're Cecilia's brother, yet you failed to protect her.“You're the Crown Prince, yet you stood by and let someone attack the High Priestess!“Those two failures alone are reason enough to strip you of your title.”All the fight went out of Salvador.“Father, I've already told you! I had no idea Evelyn would treat Cecilia that way!“This has nothing to do with me. Please, Father, give me one more chance.”Tears of regret rolled down Salvador's face.When he realized our father wasn't going to change his mind, he turned to me.“Cecilia, I know I was wrong.“I'll make things right. I promise Evelyn will never hurt yo
Evelyn looked up at the guards on either side of her. Rowan had already been dragged away.Those who had once obeyed her now kept their heads down.Not one of them dared to answer her. They all understood now.Even with the crown prince behind her, Evelyn would pay for crossing me.My father had her bound in ashwood chains.He etched runes into them to suppress dark elf magic.Evelyn dropped to her knees in pain.“Let me go. Salvador will come for me!”My father's stern voice rang through the palace.“Throw her in the dungeon. Nobody lets her out without my order.”The guards had barely taken two steps toward the door when Salvador stormed in and knocked them to the ground.“Evelyn is my wife. Get your hands off her!”Salvador didn't look at me. He didn't care about my wounds either.He planted himself in front of Evelyn, breathing hard, his eyes burning with rage.“Father, even if Evelyn did something wrong, I'll take responsibility for her.“Please let her go. She's my wife!”My fath
Rowan let go of me in terror and tried to run.My father raised his hand. Another orb of light formed and slammed into Rowan.The blast made him cough up blood, and it soaked his clothes in an instant.The guards my father had brought pinned him down.Rowan's voice shook.“Your Majesty, it was Prince Salvador's order!“I'd never dare hurt the princess on my own. Prince Salvador and the crown princess made me do it.”He shook his head frantically, trying to shift the blame.“I only wanted the princess to behave. I know I was wrong.”My father ignored his excuses. Countless needle-thin rays of light pierced Rowan's body.He collapsed, screaming. His arms hurt so badly that he couldn't lift them.When my father spoke, his voice was ice cold.“As of today, you're no longer a member of the royal guard.“Take him away. See that he gets the punishment he deserves.”Rowan was dragged out, and my father came back to my side.He reached for my hand, then stopped when he saw the bloody, mangled s