Crowns of Heritage

Chapter 62- Destined

(NASHI'S P.O.V)

My heart dropped when I saw Prince Antonio pointing directly at Sage and said he wanted to marry her. I balled my fist up under the table and felt my father grab my left hand. When I looked over at him, he shook his head and I had to relax myself.

I looked at Sage who was looking at Prince Antonio with a shocked expression. What did it mean, was she going to leave me after all.

No, she's mine. I thought to myself as I grit my teeth.

I saw Duke Winter stand up and gestured to Sage. She got up and they both started to walk towards the door.

“She'll be the Duchess of the Winter Dukedom, her succession ceremony will take place next week. You're welcome to come as well Prince Antonio” Duke Winter said, and they exited out of the room.

After Duke Winter and Sage left the room. I saw the King and Prince Marshall gritting their teeths.

“That little bitch” I heard Prince Marshall mutter.

Suddenly, Prince Antonio got out of his seat and so did the man next to him.

“The meeting isn't over yet” Prince Marshall said, looking directly at Prince Antonio.

Prince Antonio turned around “I already told you my condition for the peace treaty. Looks like I have to visit the Winter Dukedom” he said. He and the other man left the room.

“That fucking arrogant son of a bitch!” “ he's only 20 and already acting fucking arrogant” Prince Marshall shouted, slamming his hand on the table.

I turned my head back towards the door.

“Sage”, I mumbled. I got out of my seat and left out of the room

“Nashi!”, my father shouted.

(SAGE P.O.V)

I was appalled, when Crown Prince Antonio pointed at me. I watched how everyone's faces kept changing as they looked towards me. King Lincoln and Prince Marshall looked very angry. Isn't this what they wanted, I thought to myself.

I looked back at Prince Antonio and saw him smiling at me. Why was I feeling drawn to him.

Wait, did he realize it was me that clashed swords with him. What was it that made him point at me? I thought to myself.

I felt Duke Winter grab my hand.

“Come now, my dear we're done here” he whispered to me.

He got out of his seat and I got up as well and followed behind him as he started to walk towards the door. He turned around and faced them once again.

“Her succession ceremony will be next week, I'll be sending you all an invitation. “ He said.

We walked out of the room, and I looked up at Duke Winter.

“Are we allowed to leave like this?”, I asked, curiously.

He looked at me and smiled, “Either way, if it comes to a war, the kingdom of Vanuatu will need my military power and when they find out your father is the commander of the army. They're going to lose their minds” he said while smirking.

I felt him place his hand onto my shoulder, “Captain Capilano will guard the room while you wait. I have to go meet the Queen for a moment. How dare she keep that poisoning situation a secret from me” he said while looking upset.

I nodded my head and Captain Capilano escorted me back to one of the waiting rooms. While walking back I heard someone call my name. When I looked back I saw Nashi coming towards me. Before he could try to hug me, Captain Capilano stood in front and placed his arm in front of me, blocking Nashi.

“Young Duke of Synovial, show some respect” Captain Capilano said, looking directly at Nashi.

“It's okay, Captain," I said.

He lowered his arm and allowed Nashi to approach me.

“Sage, I missed you” he said as he hugged me.

Before I could say anything back to him, I heard someone clearing their throats. I looked over and saw Crown Prince Antonio looking at us. He completely ignored Nashi and looked directly at me.

“Hello, Ms.knight,” he said, looking at me with an amused smirk on his face.

My mouth dropped, How did he know it was me.

“Your aura” he said, as if he was reading my mind.

I felt Nashi grab my hand and tighten his grip.

“Nashi”, I said, feeling his grip on my hand.

He didn't answer me and continued to glare at Prince Antonio.

Prince Antonio smirked and turned around, “I'll see you at your debutante my dear fiancé, maybe we can even have a dance together”, he said and walked away. The other man followed behind him.

I saw Nashi grit his teeth. I moved my hand and he looked at me.

“Sage sorry, I..” he said and paused for a second.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”, I asked, while rubbing my right hand. He gripped it so tight it hurted a bit.

“I'm sorry, can we talk for a moment?” he said.

I nodded my head and he followed me inside of the waiting room.

As soon as the door closed, he kissed and lifted me in his arms.

“You're mine, I won't allow you to marry someone else” he said.

Something felt odd, I should be missing him but I don't feel anything. Why was Nashi being so aggressive? I thought to myself as he continued to kiss me.

“Nashi put me down Captain Capilano is standing outside the door” I said.

He placed me back onto the floor.

“I'll see you at your debutante” he said and grabbed my right hand and kissed it. He turned around and left the room.

“What the hell was that”, I mumbled to myself.

(DUKE WINTER’S P.O.V)

I walked up the stairs as I heard whispering around me. All of the noblemen who were in the meeting was staring at me.

I made my way to my daughter's side of the palace. When I saw Hannah, she bowed her head and greeted me.

“How's my daughter?” I said.

Hannah gestured for me to follow her. We walked into the room and I saw my daughter was asleep.

“How long has that son of a bitch been poisoning my daughter?” I asked, while balling up my fist.

“A few years,” Hannah answered,

“Bring her to my castle, tell her to tell the king that she's taking a vacation” I ordered her.

“Yes, your grace ” she said.

I felt my daughter grab my hand. I looked down at her and placed my hand on her forehead.

“Father, I think Sage should marry the Crown Prince of Kalpana '', she said.

“Why?”I asked, “Isn't she with Young Duke Nashi?” I said.

“I think they're destined partners. Plus young Duke Nashi is too weak. He can't protect her from the danger that's coming once the other kingdoms find out.” She added.

She gestured to Hannah, and she walked over to a door. When she opened it, it was a little office hidden inside Malaysia's room. When Hannah came back she handed me a little book.

“Open it”, Malaysia in a weak voice.

When I opened I saw a photo of Moises and Morgan. They were younger in the photo.

“Turn it, “ she said.

When I turned it, my eyes widened. When I saw a picture of Sage and Rosemary when they were younger. Hannah pointed at Sage and then turned the page to Moises and pointed at him.

“My goodness” I said “ I knew about Moises but I didn't expect Sage's. The Crown's birthmark is our family's lineage since our ancestors, it's been 300 years since someone in our lineage had this specific crown” I said.

I looked at Malaysia and placed my hand on her head.

“I'll speak with Moises, because now it looks like we have to protect her from every neighboring kingdom now” I said.

“Wait, father,” Malaysia said.

She gestured to Hannah, and Hannah pointed at Rosemary. I looked down at the book again.

“Well, isn't this interesting? I need to return and talk to them.”

Malaysia nodded her head, “I'll see you when you come to the castle” I said.

I kissed her on the forehead and left out of the room.

After I left the room, I made my way back to the waiting room. I saw King Lincoln pacing back and forth. When he noticed me, he walked over while glaring.

“What the hell do you think you're doing, Duke Winter?” he asked.

I really want to kill him but I must wait until the coronation and my daughter's marriage can be voided. This bastard doesn't even know once he isn't King anymore, his peace treaty with the Winter Dukedom expires the day he loses his crown.

“Watch your tone Lincoln, if it wasn't for my daughter and you weren't her destined partner. Your little kingdom would've been destroyed. If you didn't kill your older brother, you would've never become king. If you come after my great grandchildren again. I'll personally come and cut off your head and place it on the gate” I said looking directly at him.

He held his head down and balled his fist.

“Enjoy your son's coronation.” I said, “And you

should look for that illegitimate son of yours before he causes trouble for you” I added.

I walked off and looked back at him, “Ah, I've been meaning to tell you this. Prince Moises is back” I said.

I saw the expression on his face as he balled up his fist tighter.

“No need to rescind his exile, because he's a Winter now and if you touch Morgan, I'll personally run a sword through Prince Marshall's heart” I said and left without looking at him.

I walked toward the waiting room and went to get Sage. When Captain Capilano opened the door, Sage had comfortably dozed off on the couch.

“Carry her to the car” I said, looking at Captain Capilano.

(PRINCE MOISES P.O.V)

While waiting for Sage and my grandfather to return from the conference. The rest of us were planning our next move, involving Count Livens and the rebel groups.

“After they return, we'll head to the headquarters and meet up with Prince Morgan”, Nathan said.

“I have a meeting with Count Livens, I think Natalie and Peyton should join me. It'll be even more interesting if Prince Marshall would be there” Masiro said, while smirking.

While we were discussing our plans, my grandmother came into the office.

“Grandmother”, I said.

She came into the office and gestured to Rosemary.

“Since the Duke should be on his way back. I thought I should come and ask Rosemary her opinion" she said.

Rosemary pointed at herself.

“Rosemary, the Duke and I, are planning a debutante for you and Sage.” She said,

“A debutante?”Rosemary asked, looking confused.

“It's a ball for young women who become of age in the noble society” I explained.

“Sounds fun, when are we having it?”, she asked.

“Next week, Sage's succession will take place at the debutante ball” she said.

“We'll begin picking out your dresses and getting your measurements. Before you leave to go to the Northern border”, she said.

“Okay” Rosemary responded, while looking excited.

Suddenly we heard a knock on the door, and the head maid Lucy opened the door.

“The Duke and young Duchess are back” she said.

We all walked out of the room to go downstairs. When we made it downstairs, I saw Sage was asleep and Captain Capilano was carrying her. I reached my arms out and he placed her into my arms. I turned around and walked up to her room and placed her into the bed. She looked exhausted. When I came out of the room. My grandfather, Natalie and Rosemary were standing in the hallway.

My grandfather gestured for us to follow him. When we made it to his office, he turned around facing us with a serious expression.

“What I'm about to say, stays in this room for now” he said.

We nodded our heads.

“The Crown Prince of Kalpana wants to marry Sage, he announced it in the conference in front of everyone” he said.

“What the hell”, Rosemary said.

My grandfather held his hands up, “Moises and Natalie, I have a question” he said.

He still had a serious expression on his face.

“What is it grandfather? I asked.

He walked up to me and placed his hand on my right shoulder.

“Did you know Sage has a Crown birthmark?”, he asked.

“Wait, she does?” I asked.

I looked at Natalie

“I know she had a birthmark when she was born, but since we weren't in the right situation, I only got a good glance at it,” She said.

“Yeah, Sage has a crown birthmark on her right shoulder. I even thought it had grown bigger from when we were younger. We asked Peyton what it meant but she said birthmarks were normal” Rosemary said.

"In the Winter lineage, for the last 300 years, the people who bares a crown on them are destined to be rulers and they are very powerful on the battlefield. They are mighty warriors who crave the battlefield. Your mother was the same before you were born. They find their destined partner who will rule with them. Just like your grandmother and I did. Your mother's destined partner just happened to be your arrogant father. Since she was my only child, I settled for the Dukedom and she became the Queen and united the kingdom's together. Just like Natalie is your destined partner and Yeshiva is Rosemary's partner. I can see the auras you share." Grandfather explained.

“But I don't have a crown, mine is a leaf or whatever it is” Rosemary said while lifting up her left sleeve.

“That's not a leaf my dear” grandfather chuckled, “it's a shield, you my dear are destined to be the Empress guardian knight.” Grandfather said.

“No wonder I'm so overprotective of her,” Rosemary said, while smirking.

Grandfather looked to be deep in thought and then looked over at me.

“Moises, Sage is your successor to the throne, meaning if you choose not to become king. She's next in line. She is destined to be an Empress and whoever marries her becomes an Emperor. But it seems like her destined partner is Crown Prince Antonio”, he said.