Chapter 50

“Are you okay, Elena?” I breathed, staring at Elena worriedly. “You look awfully pale. Shock maybe? I think you should go and some rest. I’ll get the servants to bring a plate of food up to our apartments.”

“I’m fine Kieran. Just tired from all the drama,” Elena sighed as she hobbled back to her chair slowly. “The idea of rest does seem like a good idea but I have too much to be getting on with.”

“Why what do you want to do now?” I scoffed loudly while sinking in my own chair and grabbing a chicken leg hungrily. "You’ve only just got back from the city! You are doing too much! You need to rest!”

“I still have to go down to Walter’s Weedery and find out more information about the Deadly Nightshade,” Elena protested loudly, glancing at Brooke and Hollie for their backing. “I’m this close to finding out the truth!”

“Maybe Kieran is right, Elena,” Brooke butted in nodding slowly. “You do look tired so maybe some rest wouldn’t be a bad thing. Besides, it’s beginning to get dark outside. Being outside the Palace walls at this time is certainly not safe for a woman. Especially for a pregnant woman!”

“Brooke’s right. Have you not heard about the Crawlers that lurk outside these walls,” Hollie nodded while sipping her wine thoughtfully. “Why else do you think the gates are locked at night. The city comes alive even more so at night.”

Before Elena could respond, the loud clamor of a dozen brass trumpets rang out in the air, signaling the arrival of someone very important to the Palace. Groaning exasperatedly, I put down my chicken and stood up, fixing my eyes on the dining room door for my newest unannounced guest. Was there ever going to be a chance that I could have just one meal, interrupted and not filled with drama? The answer was probably not. Being the Alpha Prince, there was always drama and trouble to come, especially in this Palace! The loud racket of the doors being flung wide open lifted my head as my eyes lazily landed on my approaching mother. The room echoed out as a wave of shocked gasps and hushed whispers rang out, as many pairs of eyes fell onto the old Queen Nerissa. Many of the soldiers that were standing guard along the walls had been in service when my father ruled the kingdom. They would have definitely known who this magnificent lady was, given that the lady herself was supposed to be dead!

“Well, this place certainly looks different!” Nerissa scoffed loudly as she stopped just in front of me and looked around the room slowly. “I would have thought you would have kept the Palace as it was, seeing that your father had very questionable tastes!”

“I’m not one for showing off the family heirlooms and the crown jewels,” I responded dryly, clicking my tongue impatiently. “Showing off my wealth and having naked prostitutes dancing in metal cages at dinner isn’t my thing. I see that you eventually made it to the Palace okay?”

“I had many current affairs to sort out before I could leave the Diamond Palace. And not forgetting all of my possessions that I had acquired over the years,” Nerissa smirked casually. “Why do I get the feeling I have missed something?”

“Where would you like me to start?” I growled before catching a glimpse of Rosa, who was standing beside a larger group of servants. “I see you bought some of your staff along for the ride? Aren’t the Palacial staff good enough for you, mother?”

“I prefer to have my own team of highly trained and well-trusted staff attend to me, thank you, Kieran,” Nerissa clucked coolly. “Rosa and my other servants are hungry. I’m sure you have arranged for us to have appropriate accommodation?”

“Yes, of course, I have. There’s a very comfortable, rather sizable apartment block in the Eastern Tower that you can stay in during your stay at the Palace. I’m sure you will be comfortable there. I’ll arrange some food to be bought up from the kitchens for your staff. “

“Thank you, my son. That’s very kind of you,” smiled Nerissa appreciatively, as she carefully watched her servants being led out of the hall by one of the golden guards. “Now, is there any room at the table for an old woman like me to have a bite to eat? All that traveling has rather tired me out.”

“Of course. Take a seat beside me and help yourself,” I nodded, pointing towards the empty chair beside me. “Then we can discuss what you have missed. It makes for a very entertaining story!”

“Oh, I am all ears my son,” Nerissa smiled, eye eyes scanning the room thoughtfully. “But where is my other son? I thought he would be here, still in the Palace, despite all of his ungood intentions?”

“I kicked that son of a bitch and his long-legged, blonde-haired bitch out of my Palace a while ago. I was sick of his attitude not only towards me but towards my wife-to-be. He even mocked you in death,” I spat furiously, glancing at a disappointed Nerissa. “Trust me, Carlton isn’t the boy you once knew. He is in the Black Diamond Palace, where he belongs!”

“Oh, that’s a shame. I guess his father got into his head just a bit too much and warped his mind,” sighed Nerissa sadly. “So, tell me, son. What have I missed while I was traveling back to the Palace?”

“Someone has just tried to poison Elena with food. The culprit will be found and dealt with accordingly. I have sent my Golden Guards down to the city to find out more information on that Front,” I growled angrily while rubbing my head tiredly. “Also, we found out that Davina’s mother was in fact Greta, from Greta’s grasses. She is also now dead!”

“Greta’s Grasses? I presume Elena is still trying to find out who murdered her grandmother then?” Nerissa hummed thoughtfully. “How did Greta die?”

“You know about Elena’s grandmother? I asked shocked, glancing at Elena cautiously. “She was poisoned. Greta I mean. There was some purple poison in her cup and she drank it without knowing it was there. Incidentally, the same purple poison was found on the basket of food that was bought here for Elena!”

“Yes, I know. Me and Elena did have a good talk during her little stay with me, Kieran,” Nerissa chuckled gently. “So what is your next move? What are your thoughts son?”

“I don’t know. My head is all over the place,” I groaned before banging my fist on the table loudly. “Goddammit! I need to help Elena get justice for her grandmother, protect Elena and my baby from those who want them both dead, find out who just tried to poison my wife to be, and find out who killed Greta. And speaking of wife to be, do you remember my grandmother’s old will?”

“Yes, I do, funnily enough,” Nerissa scowled as if she was remembering something rather unpleasant. “I was there when it was written and made official. I always knew your father and his toad-faced mother wanted Carlton as king. This was their way of kicking you, the rightful heir, off of the throne! What about it anyway?”

“I’m running out of time! If I don’t hurry and fulfill the terms, then I lose everything and Carlton wins it all!”