Chapter 26: The Princess and the Prince with the Plague (Part 1)
The silence in the room was palpable.
Seated comfortably on a high-backed, crimson-stitched chair, Leornars let out a long sigh that echoed softly against the stone walls of the candle-lit study. He shifted his gaze toward the woman seated across from him, her eyes lazily half-lidded as she flipped through pages of a dossier.
"Wait," Leornars suddenly said, his voice sharp yet casual, "I just realized something we forgot… about two months ago."
Stacian, without looking up, tilted her head. "And what's that?"
"The elven princess," he said, eyes narrowing. "The one who gave us a ride through the eastern glades."
That caught her attention.
"I've been wondering where she vanished to. If she's still alive, she could've been useful… her influence alone could've helped me spark chaos between the Theocracy of Lurtra and the elven kingdom of Seralyndra."
He tapped his fingers together rhythmically, his mind already weaving dark possibilities.
"If she were killed… or even injured severely, that would stir the continent. An uproar. Maybe even a war," Leornars muttered with a smirk. "And that war would benefit me — with the funds I've been 'redirecting' in this human kingdom and the growing influence I'm planting. She could be… an asset."
Stacian smiled faintly. "I was thinking the same thing. In fact, I already made arrangements to meet Lurtra's First Princess — Princess Alisha Montgomery."
Leornars arched a brow, amused. "Efficient as always. Did you bring the information I asked for?"
Without a word, Stacian produced a folded piece of parchment from beneath her cloak and passed it over.
Leornars opened it with a flick and scanned the contents. His lips curled into a grin.
Then, he began to laugh. Low at first… then louder, darker — maniacal.
"Perfect. Just as I expected," he said through the laughter.
"So… the 'crowned prince' is a bastard. A mistress's son. The true heir is the princess."
He leaned back, delight sparking in his six-colored eyes.
"I'll turn the prince against his own father," he whispered. "Then… I'll do something about the princess. Hm… I wonder which one I should crown in the aftermath?"
"We could just… overtake the country," Stacian suggested lightly.
But Leornars shook his head. "Too risky. For all we know, there could be international treaties hidden deep in royal vaults. If Durmount hears even a whisper of our plans, they'll be at our gate before dawn. I'd rather build a kingdom from dust than steal one crawling with rules."
As the candlelight flickered low, the two shared the bed — as usual — backs turned, thoughts wide awake.
---
The next morning, Leornars stood before the mirror adjusting his black silk suit, its threads refined to nobility.
"Fix the hair," he said lazily.
Stacian, in a royal red dress, took the scissors and combed through his black locks with precision. A few snips later, he looked regal, dangerous — exactly how he wanted.
"You clean up well," she said, tying her snowy hair in a formal royal loop behind her head.
Their carriage pulled out of the castle gates.
"Huh?" Leornars blinked. "Weren't we supposed to meet the princess at the castle?"
"She stays elsewhere," Stacian replied. "A manor in the high streets. Odd, isn't it?"
Leornars leaned back. Why would a royal stay away from the throne's shadow?
When they arrived, the manor was grand. Marble statues lined the gardens, and noble maids in perfect sync bowed.
"Welcome to the Lutra Family Manor."
"Scripted. Great," Leornars muttered.
They were given a tour until they reached a lavish audience chamber. Inside sat Princess Alisha — blonde, beautiful, young — and beside her, the stoic prince.
Leornars tilted his head. "She seems..."
"Uncontrollable," Stacian whispered from his side.
"She'll have to die when the prince takes over," Leornars said under his breath. "She'll ruin the plan."
"She must be swiftly eradicated," Stacian replied calmly.
"Poison? Blade? Hm…" he thought aloud.
"No… I'll let the prince kill her," Leornars said coldly, a trace of malice in his tone.
They stepped forward.
"A pleasure to meet you," said the princess, offering a polite smile.
"Same here," Stacian replied courteously.
"I heard you have another retainer," Alisha said, eyes locked on Leornars.
"I do," he answered, meeting her gaze deliberately — a royal insult. "He's… busy digging something for me."
The butler, standing nearby, stepped forward, furious. "How dare you speak to the princess like that!" he barked, grabbing Leornars by the collar.
Bad move.
Leornars' eyes gleamed with bloodlust. "I'll give you one second. Move… or die."
The butler froze. Then chuckled, thinking it was a bluff.
Shnk.
In a blink, Leornars drew his dagger and drove it into the man's neck.
"I don't recall giving you permission to touch me," he said coldly, stepping back as the butler collapsed.
The prince and princess recoiled in horror.
"I did give him a chance to move," Leornars added, lifting his hand as black mist flowed from his palm.
The butler's corpse twitched — then rose.
"You'll have no name. No title. Just a foot soldier," Leornars said to the newly risen undead.
Clearing his throat casually, he turned back to the room.
" why did you request to meet me?"the princess asked
"I'm not here for you" Leornars said coldly
Alisha narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"
"I don't care about you," Leornars said flatly. "I'm here to speak to the prince."
Her lips parted in shock. "You dare—?"
"You're less important to me than a grain of sand in a desert," he said as he turned and walked to the prince, who stood near the wine table, stunned.
Perfect, he thought. Show me your rage, your weakness. In anger, humans reveal their truths.
Behind him, the princess trembled, her fury boiling beneath her mask of etiquette.
Outside, Stacian entertained her idly, watching through the window.
The prince had grabbed Leornars by the collar, his voice raised, eyes burning.
"Oh?" the princess asked, stepping toward them. "What's going on out there?"
Stacian smiled sweetly. "Ah… nothing too serious."
She's so irritating, Stacian thought with a quiet laugh.
But everything's going according to plan. The prince reacts exactly as Lord Leornars predicted… Perfect.