Leaves and twigs crunched under your hastened footsteps as you forced yourself forward, holding your side. Blood seeped through your fingers heavily and it was beginning to make you feel woozy but you couldn't stop. The wound felt deep. You had to get as far away as possible from the castle. If you didn't, you would be-
Before you could finish that thought, you were hit with a strong wind that knocked you off your feet and into a tree. Quickly, you were able to get your feet but a figure appearing out of the corner of your eye made you stumble back into the tree.
"Oligarth! Please!" you pleaded between pants, trying to keep your vision from blurring. "We've known each other since we were children! Don't do this!"
"I'm sorry. I really am," your childhood friend stepped into the moonlight with a sorrowful expression. In his hand was a bloodied decorative dagger that was used as a letter opener in your study. "But I can't let a powerless witch take the throne. This is for the best of the kingdom. It's nothing personal."
"T-Then I'll just give you the crown! I-I don't even want it! Just please don't kill me!"
The man sighed and tapped the blade of the dagger against his palm, staring down at it.
"I wish you had said that before I did what I did. Unfortunately, I can't trust that you wouldn't say that this happened. Sure, I can heal you, but you could have me arrested the moment we were in front of your guards. Even if you left the kingdom, there's a chance you could change your mind and come back. I can't have that."
Your head swam as he spoke, tears streaking your face.
"Don't do this..." you repeated, your back sliding down the bark. "Please."
"You can't live, your highness. The moment you were given that crown you were marked for death. It's either you or the kingdom and... well, the choice, while one of the hardest things I've ever had to make, it is very clear. Please understand."
Oligarth moved closer during his monologue and once he was close enough, he raised his arm. Your vision blanked as the dagger was brought down in one quick motion.
-----
The sound of footsteps on marble made your eyes crack open. The ceiling above you told you were somewhere in the castle but in a room that you did not recognize at first. A fire crackling in a fireplace on the far wall had provided enough light for you to see that you were not in your room. Each room had a different painting on the ceiling and you began to realize you were in one of the guest rooms. Your room had a caged unicorn and this one displayed one of the various creatures on the Boiling Isles.
The footsteps that woke you stopped at the side of the bed and you caught sight of a figure standing over you.
"Your Highness, you're awake," a soft, familiar voice made you focus on the figure. You sat up when you recognized the mask he wore.
"Lord Belos...? What-?"
"Do not fret. You are safe. I was able to thwart your attacker and bring you back to the castle," he murmured.
"... Attacker...?"
Memories of the incident came flooding back, causing your chest to start hurting. It began to play over and over again, from the stabbing while you were trying to talk to him about situations in the kingdom up until he tried to finish the job. Glancing down at your side, you found a scar where the stabbing had been but showed that you had been healed.
"O-Oligarth-! He-!"
"Betrayed you. I know. I had speculated as much when he started acting strange outside of meeting with you. I'm afraid he has aligned himself with wild witches who seek your downfall. I'm sorry I could not get to you sooner. I believe some of your servants tried to distract me so he could get away with it."
You stared off toward the fireplace in shock.
"O-Oh my Titan..."
Belos cleared his throat after a short amount of time and lowered his voice as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Forgive me for asking, Your Highness... but I have been hearing rumors that you may not have the ability to perform any magic of your own, that you were born without the aid of a bile sac. Are they true?"
Your hands gripped the blankets in your lap as your shoulders tensed up. His tone told you he already knew the answer to that. However, if he knew already and still saved you, did that mean you could trust him? He could have let Oligarth kill you but here you were, safe and sound. With a deep breath, you nodded.
"... ... ... I see. That's why you didn't fight back. You couldn't-"
Something beating against the bedroom door accompanied by yelling grabbed both of your attentions and Belos growled, pushing himself to his feet.
"Damn. They're at it again."
"What?"
Belos turned a soft gaze to you.
"I have been keeping you away from everyone since I saved you and refused them entry until I know where they stand on the issue. You were nearly killed by agents hidden in your own court. I will not allow them the luxury of a second chance."
"O-Oh...!"
"If you wish, I can put up a shield and allow them to communicate with you through it until we know for sure who is safe to be around. I will monitor them myself as well and weed out the traitors."
Before you could respond, a question started to nag at you in the back of your mind. With a deep breath, you opened your mouth.
"W-What happened to Oligarth?"
Silence followed and Belos looked away. Your heart fell into the pit of your stomach.
"He's... dead?"
"... ... ... The monarchy had to be saved by any means necessary. I hope you understand and don't think horrible of me."
"I... I-I see... N-No... I-I guess you did what you... had to..."
"I am glad you see it my way. I have witnessed your strengths and I do believe that you are essential to lead this kingdom regardless of magic. Spiketoria needs you, not wild witch sympathizers that will raze it to the ground."
You stared up at him and suddenly felt feverish.
"R-Really?"
"Of course. You were overlooked for something that wasn't a necessary part of leadership. You are too great of an asset to lose."
Hearing those words made something well up inside your chest and you nodded. You knew where your strengths lay but no one ever took them seriously. Lord Belos may have been the only one to have echoed your sentiments. Feeling more confident, you opened your mouth but were interrupted by more banging and yelling. Belos gave a hard sigh.
"Unfortunately, those out there believe I may have murdered someone in cold blood and spirited you away. It seems they do not understand that I am trying to protect you."
Hearing what the people on the other side were saying, your eyes hardened into a glare. He was right. They were calling him all sorts of things through the door. Your confidence turned into anger and you threw the covers off to get to your feet. Your head began spinning, and Belos lunged forward as your legs gave out in order to help you back onto the bed. A brush of his hand on your exposed thigh made you realize you were half-dressed and wearing an oversized white poet shirt that had to belong to a man about Lord Belos' size.
"Wait, where are my clothes-?!"
Belos cleared his throat and glanced away with a bashful tone before kneeling beside the bed.
"I... couldn't put you on white linens while soaked in blood... I took the liberty of changing you out of those clothes after I healed you as I was afraid of calling for any of the servants to do it themselves. I had planned on delivering your clothes to the laundress before those people tried to access you. It was quite awkward and I am truly sorry."
"O-Oh!" you murmured, trying to shake off the extra heat that had been applied to your face. "I see. T-Thank you."
Once you were able to calm yourself down, you took a deep breath and glanced at the prophet.
"Put up the shield and let them in. I need to know who I can trust as soon as possible... I noticed my guards were not at their posts last night..."
"As you wish, Your Highness. I am at your command."