Crowns of Heritage

Chapter 83-False Alarm?

(NASHI'S P.O.V)

When my father and I received information from Prince Morgan, that our territory was being monitored by some of Prince Marshall's spies. I stopped contemplating and finally made my decision and accepted my father's demand.

After careful consideration, my father suggested that I get engaged to one of the neutral party member's daughters. Instead of Duke Pordigase's youngest daughter, because it would definitely cause Prince Marshall to find that suspicious.

Since my father is one of the King's advisors, our dukedom has to remain neutral between the two factions, because we directly serve the King. The neutral party was meant to serve the royal family unbiasedly. From the stories I heard from my father, supposedly the neutral party was formed when our kingdom and the previous Winter Kingdom became one. Before then, the two kingdoms were hostile towards each other from what I learned in my history class from an old tutor. The neutral party was also former followers of Prince Moises. Since he was supposed to be the next king. It makes us an easy target for Prince Marshall, now that Prince Moises and his family are back in the kingdom.

Even King Lincoln wouldn't be able to stop our family from being charged with a crime. Once Prince Marshall gets crowned. Especially the one Sylvester committed under Prince Morgan's orders. The only way I can stay in Sage's life publicly, is if I act like I don't know her personally.

Unfortunately, I have to be another young noblewoman escort for the debutante. Since Prince Marshall will be in attendance.

During the conference, I noticed Prince Marshall looking towards my father and I throughout the meeting. I tried my best to remain focused and keep my eyes off of Sage. My father scolded me after I left out of the previous conference behind Sage and Duke Winter, which was a huge mistake and it put a target on my family.

When I saw Sage during the intermission, I felt my heart breaking that we had to part ways. Since the King is clearly pushing for her marriage with the Kalpana Kingdom. I just hope my obsession for her doesn't take over me completely.

After my guard and I left the palace, we suddenly heard the sirens go off and I felt that I needed to get back home quickly for some reason.

“Let's hurry, I have a bad feeling”, I said to my personal guard who was driving.

(SAGE'S P.O.V)

After Peyton comforted me for a while, I finally was able to get a hold of my emotions. It finally set in, that Nashi and I had officially broken up. Although, I knew it would come to this after talking with Peyton and my mother. I still felt heartbroken, maybe it was because he was my first and now we have to act like strangers in public, if Prince Marshall or any aristocratic members are around.

I was laying my head on Peyton's lap and she was caressing my hair.

“Sage”, Peyton said, and I looked up at her.

“Yes”, I responded.

She caressed my hair again, “What did Prince Marshall say to you?”, she asked, with an upset expression.

I raised my head up and sat properly, while looking directly at her.

“He said he's going to kill whoever helped my mother and I escape the dungeon. He also said he's going to kill my father and everyone around him soon enough”, I replied.

Peyton frowned, “That son of a bitch”, she said.

Suddenly, the sirens started to go off and we heard a loud commotion in the hallway. Peyton got up and put her hand out and gestured for me to stay back. While she peeked out of the door.

We heard the guards in the hallway saying the palace was locked down for the moment.

Shit, I mumbled. Don't tell me I'm going to be stuck in the same place as that bastard of a Prince.

“Duke Winter”, I heard Peyton say.

A second later we heard a guard calling out to him. Then Captain Capilano came by the door and Peyton moved out of the way.

“Young Duchess, the King has called you and the Duke. Please follow me”, he said.

Peyton and I left the waiting room, and followed behind Captain Capilano. A few minutes later, I saw Duke Winter staying in front of a door as we approached him. He gestured for me to follow him and Peyton remained in the hallway with Captain Capilano.

When we entered the office, King Lincoln was sitting behind the desk. Those light gold eyes that stared at me still made me feel a bit intimidated. I noticed two other people were inside of the office with him. They were standing in front of his desk. One was a woman, who dressed up elegantly and had long light blue hair. The other person was a middle-aged man, with short grayish hair who was also dressed up elegantly.

I followed behind Duke Winter and we took a seat on the couches. I saw the woman smile at Duke Winter and noticed he smiled back at her.

When we took a seat, Duke Winter whispered to me.

“The woman standing by the desk is Morgan's wife, Princess Sylvia”, he said.

Wow, she's really pretty, I thought to myself.

“Princess Sage, Since the palace is locked down for a moment until we find out what's going on. I decided to go ahead and introduce you.”,King Lincoln said. He gestured towards Princess Sylvia. “I'm sure Duke Winter just told you who she was, so I'll skip the Introduction.” he said and gestured towards the older man. “This is Baron Berrian,''he said. “These two will teach and help you prepare for the banquet you will be hosting. Follow them to the library, you have much to learn, in such a short time” he added.

I stood up and bow, “Yes, your Majesty”, I said.

I looked at Duke Winter and he nodded. Princess Sylvia and Baron Berrian started walking towards the door and I followed behind them.

When we exited the office, they both looked back at me with smiles on their faces.

“Wow, She really does look like Prince Moises”, Princess Sylvia said, “I heard so much about you from Prince Morgan and my daughter Princess Kalia. I was excited to meet you” she said.

Wow, what a bubbly personality, I thought to myself.

(DUKE WINTER’S P.O.V)

On my way to the office, the sirens suddenly stopped but the palace was still in an uproar while trying to figure out what was going on.

When Sage and I entered the office, I noticed Morgan's wife and one of his personal aides standing in front of Lincoln's desk. At least, that bastard picked Sage's assistants from Morgan's side.

After Sage left the office, the room had an awkward silence. Lincoln got up from the desk and walked over to the window. He stood next to the window, and I could feel something was off about his demeanor. During the conference, I noticed he looked tired and very annoyed as if he hadn't been getting any rest. Not that I have any sympathy for that bastard. Maybe what I said at the last conference, finally put some sense into that arrogant head of his.

“Lincoln”, I called out to him.

“Duke Winter”, he said as he looked over at me.

“Why did you summon me to your office?”, I asked.

He turned and faced the window again.

“Do you think the western border was attacked again?”he asked, in a calm tone.

“That's unlikely, after all Prince Antonio has already visited my castle and apologized for the last attack. He still intends to marry Princess Sage. Maybe your kingdom has more enemies than you thought.”, I said.

He continued to look out of the window.

“I see”, he said, in a calm tone once again and turned away from the window.

Where's the usual arrogance he always shows. What the hell is going on with him?, I thought to myself.

I watched as he walked over to his desk and took a seat again.

I wanted to know why he suddenly gave Sage such an important task as her first official duty.

“Lincoln, what made you finally acknowledge Sage?”, I asked, curiously, “Does it have anything to do with Moises returning to the kingdom?”

He looked a little annoyed by my question as he looked directly at me.

“Does it matter whether or not I acknowledge her? You always did whatever you wanted to do anyways. The western region is the only region that isn't under my full authority. After all, it is a part of your original land. Which is why Moises doesn't have to remain exiled under your Dukedom’s name. Since I have no control over that, I know that son of mine will use that to his full advantage. Now that the region belongs to his oldest daughter. I might as well acknowledge her, since she has become one of the highest ranking nobles after taking your title. Even if she is an illegitimate Princess ”, he said, in an annoyed tone.

I guess he isn't ignorant after all, I thought to myself.

“What a hypocrite”, I said, “You also have an illegitimate son. Did you forget?”, I asked.

He glared at me for a bit, “Speaking of that illegitimate son of mine, I guess his mother is that woman Macy Livens, that ran away from the palace a long time ago”, he said, with a frown on his face.

“You should know better than me, who all you slept with”, I said, while glaring at him.

He continued to glare at me for a bit.

“Don't be too hasty to think you know everything”, he said, in a serious tone.

This bastard, I mumbled.

“Lincoln, I have a question I've been meaning to ask you for awhile now”, I said, while studying his body language.

He sat back in his chair and folded his arms with annoyed expression.

“What is it?”, he asked.

“Why did you finally decide to have Prince Marshall's coronation, and why was it suddenly pushed ahead as if he was in a hurry or something?”, I asked. “He should've been crowned King a long time ago, why did you postpone it for so many years?” I questioned him.

He remained quiet for a while, and I continued to wait for an answer.

“Duke Winter, you are free to leave the palace,” he said, while glaring a bit.

This bastard, just as tight lipped as ever, I mumbled to myself.

I grabbed the top of my cane and stood up, and walked towards the door without looking back.

“Duke Winter, I will only say this one time and it stays in this office”, he said, in a serious tone.

I continued to walk towards the door without looking back.

“I'm listening”, I said and stood in front of the door and placed my hand on the knob.

“If Moises plans to rebel against Marshall for the throne, I won't intervene," he said.

I was surprised at what he just said, I thought he wanted Prince Marshall to become King. Did something happen that I don't know about? He knows for a fact that Prince Marshall is weaker than Moises.

“By the way, Malaysia left the palace earlier, she should be on her way to your castle”, he said.

I left the office and Captain Capilano walked over. I looked back at the door, and thought to myself for a moment.

Don't tell me he's been waiting for Moises to return all this time, I thought to myself.

“Your Grace?”I heard Captain Capilano say, as I was lost in my train of thoughts.

I turned around towards Captain Capilano, “Let's go get Sage and Peyton. We're heading back to the castle.” I said.

We started to walk down the hallway and ended up seeing Prince Marshall and one of his advisors walking in our direction.

Prince Marshall glared at me when he saw me as we passed each other.

“I heard the siren was a false alarm”, he said, while smirking and continued to walk towards King Lincoln's office.

(PRINCE MOISES P.O.V)

After making it back to the car, we rushed out of the small town, and started to make our way to the Northern border. It was about a four hour drive from the eastern region.

“The sirens didn't last long, was it really a staged attack?”, Valian asked.

Marshall could be trying to lure me out, after hearing what Valian had said, while we were running through the forest. If I make a hasty decision like showing up to the Synovial Dukedom it could endanger Duke Vernon's family before the rebellion could start.

“Marshall knows the person I was closest to during the time I was the Crown Prince was mostly Duke Vernon. Since the Synovial Dukedom directly serves the King. I was supposed to be the next king but was exiled before my coronation could happen. Now that he knows I'm back, and Sage has inherited the Winter Dukedom, he must be trying to see if Duke Vernon and I are working together. After all, Duke Vernon's family is supposed to serve him once he's crowned.” I said.

“If Duke Vernon was the closest person to you. It makes sense that his family is a target now.” Nathan said.

“My guess is he's trying to find out who helped Sage and Natalie escape. It is positive that he thinks someone who was close to me helped them. I think he is trying to make the connection between Sage and Natalie's escape, with Serbia's disappearance. Since he is trying to hire bounty hunters to find her. Just so happens Sylvester was in the palace dungeon. He was locked up after Sage ran away from the palace. That's how she met you in the forest.”, I said to Nathan. “I'm sure he is monitoring them to find out if Duke Vernon's family are involved in both of those crimes”, I added.

“Hold up”, Valian said and paused for a moment.

“What is it?”Nathan and I said at the same time.

“I think the reason why the Synovial Dukedom is under surveillance is because Prince Marshall must think Sylvester might have witnessed Serbia in the dungeon. He wouldn't want it to get out that he was holding a pregnant woman in the dungeon.” Valian said.

“Shit, you might be right. That makes it even more dangerous for the Synovial Dukedom.”, I said.

We continued to travel towards the northern border. About two hours later, Valian suddenly drove by a local bar in one of the nearby towns.

“Why did you stop here?”, I asked, curiously.

“Wait for us inside of the bar, the owner of the bar is a friend of my father, a retired mercenary named Gloria.”, he said, “Nathan and I will check out the Northern border”, he added.

I nodded and got out of the car and walked toward the bar.

Nathan and Valian left and I walked into the bar. It was empty and only had a woman standing near the bar. She looked up and noticed me immediately.

“Prince Moises?”, she said.

I nodded and she suddenly bowed.

“I'm guessing you are Gloria?”, I asked.

She nodded her head. Unexpectedly, she rushed over to the door and locked it. She put up the close sign and looked over at me.

“I heard the sirens ringing for a bit then they suddenly stopped.”, she said,“You can sit comfortably anywhere, pick a seat”, she added as she started to walk towards the bar.

“I was told you were a friend of Masiro Henrico”, I said.

Her eyes widened a bit when she turned around, “I am, he came here not too long ago. He finally found his daughter after we searched for her over the years.” She said, “He left in a hurry after we told him about someone who was trying to harm the Young Duchess of the Winter Dukedom," she added.

“His daughter is my wife”, I said, with a serious expression.

Her mouth dropped as she looked appalled by what I just said.

“The young Duchess of the Winter Dukedom is our oldest daughter”, I said.

“What?!”, she said, "Really?", she added.

Suddenly, I heard someone outside of the bar's door. They knocked and called out Gloria's name.

“Shit, that's one of my squad members, dumb bastard probably forgot his keys again”, she said and walked over to the door.

When she opened it, I saw a young man with short sandy colored hair that was tied up.

“Jase, what the hell, how many times did I”, Gloria suddenly stopped talking. “Is that blood?”, she asked, “What the hell happened?”

I walked over closely and saw that he had some blood on his shirt and he looked very pissed off.

“We were attacked by some assassins near the border”, he said. “Looks like they found our group's headquarters”, he added.

“What group? I asked, curiously.

Gloria and the man Jase looked over at me with serious expressions on their faces.

“The northern rebels group”, they both said at the same time.