“The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there… and still on your feet.” — Stephen King, The Stand

  ???

  The wind howled outside the frost-crusted windows of Wintergarde Villa, the northernmost of the royal properties, and one which existence that only a mere handful knew about. But for Prince Lucien von Aubere, this place had long been both a sanctuary and a gilded prison, the walls of his exile for more than half his life.

  The fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls, even as Luca sat in the plush armchair, frowning as he listened to what Jonah had to tell him, and even Ewan’s reports about the kingdom’s current state. The fire, however, did little to ease the cold that clung to the room.

  Luca sat in silence, his eyes scanning the headlines of the latest issue of The Alathian Times.

  Leaning against the wall next to the tall, arched windows that currently had the dark blue curtains drawn across it, Ewan Nightray was dressed in his travelling outfit as he always did whenever he ventured out on his rare trips to either buy groceries, or even when he made his periodic trips to Evershade.

  Every single time Ewan does, he normally brings with him a letter from Luca to Yulia, and vice versa, and even a copy of the national paper.

  Being as isolated as they are, news might be slow to reach them, but it still does. And the recent news had Luca understandably concerned, even as he placed the paper onto the table beside him.

  “What is Rem doing?” Luca finally asked, wanting to know.

  From the letters that Luca and Yulia have exchanged via Ewan over the years, as few as there are, and while Yulia never came out to say it, Luca also knew her well enough to read between the lines. He could sense the frustration in those words, and even the growing tension whenever Yulia so much as mentioned Rem, which is rare as it is in her letters.

  But with the news that Ewan and Jonah have both brought him, it makes sense now.

  Jonah and Ewan exchanged grim looks. “The problem is,” Ewan began carefully, “Prince Rem isn’t doing anything.” Luca’s eyes narrowed. “From what I gather from my House members on the few occasions when I return to Evershade, he doesn’t even realise how dire the situation is.” Ewan revealed. “Parliament’s keeping him in the dark. Either he won’t listen, or they’re making sure he only hears what they want him to.”

  “Even Yulia?” Luca asked, a faint flicker of pain visible in his eyes when he spoke her name.

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  Ewan hesitated. “From what I gather, my lady is about to give up on him. She’s almost done,” he said. “She’s taking matters into her own hands now. All the Ten Great Houses are. If they’re not already defying Parliament, they’re outright ignoring the Crown. They’ve been revamping and strengthening their garrisons, fortifying their own towns and villages, and even forming alliances. Preparing for war, too, if it comes to it.”

  Jonah winced, rubbing his temples. “This isn’t looking good,” he admitted. “If the Crown Prince loses the support of the Ten Great Houses, the militia will follow. The minor nobles will, too. And even the commoners. The people won’t follow a king they don’t respect. And Prince Rem…” He hesitated, looking at Luca. “Prince Rem isn’t built to survive a kingdom that turns on him.”

  Ewan gave a grim nod. “Even King Edric, as cruel as he was, at least acted. He cared in his own way,” he added. “Prince Rem’s inaction… It’s starting to look like apathy. The people are starting to believe that he doesn’t care.”

  Luca was silent for several moments, his gaze falling onto the newspaper again. And then, he sighed, crossing one leg over the other, leaning back into his armchair, propping his chin onto one hand. “Parliament is playing him like a Goddess-damned harp,” he muttered irritably.

  Ewan nodded solemnly. “Even my lady is barely around these days. Despite that she’s still in the Academy, most of her free time is spent running around Nightray territories, trying to fix the problems. As far as I can gather, the Ten Great Houses held a meeting recently. They’re all losing patience. Especially Lord Kael. And considering what is happening in the Northern Holds right now, I can’t say I blame him.”

  Jonah nodded with agreement. “No lord worth his name would stand idle while his people suffer,” he agreed.

  Silence fell in the room again, broken only by the sound of the crackling fire in the hearth. Then, Luca’s gaze snapped toward Ewan. The two older men could almost see the cogs turning in Luca’s head.

  “Uh oh, I don’t like that look,” Ewan half-joked. “What are you cooking up in that brain of yours right now, Luca?”

  Luca gave a small smile. “You still have contacts among the militia, don’t you? More specifically, among the generals and field commanders?”

  Ewan raised a perplexed brow, but he nodded slowly. “I do,” he said slowly. “And so does Jonah, from his Crownsguard days.”

  Jonah nodded in answer.

  Luca was silent again, staring at the flames in the hearth for several moments. Then finally, he turned his gaze to Ewan and Jonah again, his eyes flickering between the two men. “I need a favour,” he said at last. “And I need your loyalty, no matter how this ends.” Both men stiffened, and Luca smiled slightly. “You both swore to me when I first left the Imperial Palace. You swore that you’d stick by my side, no matter what. And that you’ll wield your swords in my defence. I’m asking now, does that oath still stand?”

  Ewan and Jonah exchanged looks. Ewan was the first to move forward. “I made a promise to stay by your side,” he said quietly. “And that I’ll wield my blade in your defence, and in the place of my lady. That hasn’t changed. I am loyal to my lady, but I’m also loyal to you, Luca.”

  Jonah nodded as well. “I raised you,” he said softly. “I made a vow to Queen Lysandra that I would protect you, and help you become a man who could hold his head up high. My loyalty is with you.”

  Luca nodded slowly. “Then… I have a plan.”

  Jonah straightened. “What are you planning, Your Highness?”

  Luca smiled slowly. A thin and bitter smile crossed his face. “A plan to save the kingdom,” he said simply. “To root out the corruption that had taken root in Parliament and the very kingdom itself. And Rem…” He shook his head. “Rem is still dreaming of peace in a world that is on fire.” His smile is sad. “That brother of mine… But no matter.” He shook his head again. “This kingdom doesn’t need a prince right now. It needs a monster. A common enemy.”

  Luca got to his feet. “King Edric is dead. Not including Rem, apart from House Nightray, there are only two others who knew of my existence—Lord Hunt and Lord Merren. And neither of them would say anything. I won’t be surprised if they forgot about me at this point. Nothing is stopping me from leaving this place and returning to the Imperial Palace.”

  Jonah stared. “You mean to return…as Prince Rem?”

  Luca shook his head. “No. As a tyrant. Someone the people will learn to hate.” His smile was sad. “If I become the kingdom’s common enemy, they’ll be forced to unite. And when that corruption has been burned away… When I fix the mistakes that my father had made… I’ll hand the kingdom back to my brother. A kingdom without darkness.”

  Luca looked at the newspaper on the table again.

  “They will need someone to blame. Someone that they’ll curse. Someone who will do the things that Rem wouldn’t. Or couldn’t.” Luca looked at Ewan and Jonah. “So let it be me.”