HARRISON
“CHANGE…shifts?”
Vice Commander Clark Darwin had summoned me in the middle of my training. Other knights guarded the training grounds, but most patrolled the castle. I had only just begun wondering if I should head to my assigned post when the summons arrived.
“That’s right, Harrison. Go take over as Princess Pride’s imperial knight. I don’t care who you swap with. No one has taken a break since it happened.”
Fatigue left deep shadows on the vice commander’s face. It wasn’t a matter of stamina; he feared for the firstborn princess’s condition.
Last night, the royal order had received urgent instructions to dispatch knights. Word arrived that Princess Pride Royal Ivy may have been the target of an assassin after she suddenly collapsed. I was the one knight who drew attention to myself, as an aura of pure murder suffused my body. Every knight had gotten a pressing castle assignment to guard the royal family or the guests.
“As you wish.”
After meeting with the vice commander, I headed to the royal residence. We hadn’t received word of Her Highness recovering or showing any signs of improvement, so I assumed she had yet to open her eyes. Everyone wondered if it was an illness, a poison, or maybe even a special power, but no one offered any confirmation. We could act if we knew the cause or at least determined the attack was intentional. If there was a culprit behind her collapse…
“I won’t go easy on them.”
It was a grave crime to harm the firstborn princess, send the commander and vice commander into action, and attempt to rob my captain of his leader. Spilling our enemy’s blood wouldn’t be enough. I would use every last skill at my disposal to make the suspects talk. With permission, I’d gladly line them up and interrogate them—even the nobles and royals.
As I walked, I spotted a group of carriages coming and going from the grounds of the royal residence. I knew a long line of carriages waited outside the gates, but activity at the royal residence could only mean guests from faraway countries had stayed here overnight. Perhaps if they were leaving, Her Highness had opened her eyes. If they knew she was safe, they would feel okay going home…or so I assumed.
I quickly learned I was wrong.
“We’ll pray for Princess Pride’s safe recovery.”
“We hate to leave at a time like this…”
“Please send our well-wishes to Her Majesty as well.”
They left these words with the guards as they departed. The royal family were too busy to bid the guests farewell, hence their leaving the task to the guards. These guests must’ve been heading home due to other circumstances that required their attention. Though they had stayed much longer than usual, they couldn’t remain in the castle forever, waiting for Her Highness’s condition to change.
We don’t know when that might happen.
I passed the departing carriages, wondering if any of them contained the culprits. If they did, I would chase them down, jump on the carriage, knock their horses down, and take the scum into custody myself. All the passing carriages started to feel like suspects fleeing the scene, and my murderous impulses multiplied.
Problem was, we still didn’t know if someone had intentionally triggered Her Highness’s episode. The knights wouldn’t let me question anyone, but if the culprit really was inside one of those carriages, I would chase them down until my legs gave out.
I entered the palace, heading for Her Highness’s room. I exchanged terse greetings with the other knights and guards along my path, until I came to the staircase landing with a large mirror. It reflected a useless knight who could only sit back and wait for someone else to do something. I stopped and stared at myself…then covered one of my eyes with my hand.
“You’re right. It’s an honor to have the same color eyes as you, Vice Captain Harrison. Although…yours are much more beautiful.”
Princess Pride Royal Ivy had looked me straight in the eye and said that without hesitation. My heart had skipped a beat at those words from the firstborn princess. I never realized we shared an eye color before that moment. I didn’t care about my own appearance whatsoever—but since then, I’d at least felt proud of that.
In the mirror, Her Highness stared back at me through my own eyes. I couldn’t help but think of her, my beloved leader. I would do anything for her. These eyes she praised, the same color as hers, would watch over this country she ruled.
Breaking eye contact with the mirror, I hurried toward my destination. As soon as I started moving again, urgency tugged me down the hallway to the room where she lay. I couldn’t possibly lose her now.
I would not go easy on the culprit. For the sake of the vice commander, the commander, my captain, and the Freesian people…I wouldn’t go easy on myself either.
A crowd of knights and guards clustered outside her door, the air around them heavy with melancholy. I knocked, stated my business, and waited for permission to enter.
Whether Her Highness was a victim of a crime or something else entirely, the truth would come to light—no matter what. Countless people other than myself were seething with rage, desperate to save her.
A guard let me into the room. I instantly spotted Her Highness asleep in bed. Princess Tiara Royal Ivy sat at her side…along with Arthur Beresford.
✦ ✦ ✦
A dagger pierced my heart, and a rage I’d never felt swelled inside me. I scowled at the three imperial knights against the wall, and once Arthur finally regarded me, I delivered their orders.
“It’s time for a shift change,” I said. “I don’t care who, but someone needs to switch with me.”
Someone had put Her Highness in critical danger. Someone had put that look in Arthur Beresford’s eyes.
Whoever it was, I would show them no mercy.