Asta
"Your Grace, words have reached my ears that a red-haired princess was sighted in Everia capital. It has been two days since the letter was sent to the Everia king," Councilman Willow said to the king with his head low. Although he was belittled in the council, he always stood his ground.
Edmund exhaled, his eyes fixed on the table as numerous thoughts ran through his head. The eastern prince has been quiet after his arrival. Yet, no one knew what he was up to.
"Edmund! What do you think?" The king's loud voice jolted Edmund out of his thoughts.
"Ye–yes, Your Grace?" He bowed with wobbly lips.
Councilman Eric then replied instead of Edmund. "Your Grace, it appears that the king of Everia has not given a favorable response, I must say," he asserted before looking in the direction of Councilman Willow.
"What if the king has not seen the princesses? Let's wait a little. After all, they just got to Everia," Councilman Baylor stated, and the plump one nodded in agreement.
"There is no need to wait, Baylor. My sources have seen the princess in the city," Councilman Willow objected instantly. "They are very reliable, and I'm sure that it has come to the King of Everia's notice," he replied with a glare towards councilman Baylor who was fuming from his seat.
"Councilman Willow, your sources might not be reliable. What is the king going to do if we don't wait? Go on a war with Everia for two princesses? Perhaps another princess should be betrothed to Prince Ronan Thorne," Councilman Baylor attacked the old councilman.
Eric threw a glance at the king, who was looking at his councilmen with a grim expression on his face.
Councilman Willow immediately stood to his feet upon hearing Baylor's statement. "I can see age is no longer on your side, Baylor. The eastern prince wants Princess Lysandra. As you heard yesterday, he made it clear that he wanted to see his red-haired bride-to-be," he emphasized as his fingers clenched into a fist.
Baylor placed his hand on top of the dark wood table, unbothered about the man's word. "You are older than me, Willow. Your sources are not reliable," he repeated. "The Lord of the House of Mist was seen escorting Princess Albertina to an inn. Your sources didn't tell you that, did they?" he lifted an eyebrow at the man who was seething.
"Lord Kael was also seen with Lysandra," Eric replied and rubbed his temples. The men were causing a slowly turning commotion into a headache. "I bet she has told the Lord about the reason for her escape. Don't you think, Councilman Edmund?"
At the mention of this, the table immediately turned quiet. All eyes fell on him, staring with conflicted gazes. "Perhaps the Lord has decided not to send the princesses back. The mention of the eastern prince alone often puts fear in the mind of oth–"
"Are you trying to say that the King of Everia would rather forsake King Owen's request because of mere words of a young princess?" Councilman Willow asked. Looking from Eric to the king, who was looking grim.
"A princess who would marry a man such as the eastern prince, her words are no mere Willow," Baylor uttered intrusively and quickly looked away.
Willow was about to retort when councilman Sullivan intervened. "Then what is she, Baylor? You all care too much about your opinions, which doesn't solve the problem," he puffed in annoyance and leaned against his chair, frowning.
King Owen raised his hand in the air to stop the Councilmen from speaking. These arguments were taking them nowhere. Even after sending some people to bring the girls back.
The councilmen stared at the king in anticipation. Each one thinking they were right.
"Council dismissed!" King Owen proclaimed and stood up from his seat. "My head is aching so badly. Fitzgerald, tell the butler to see me in my room," and with that, he strode away from the throne room.
The council was left speechless at the king's sudden dismissal. Councilman Edmund immediately followed the king while Eric stood up and left the throne room.
Councilman Baylor sighed and rubbed his eyes. Willow, on the other hand, stepped out of the room. Councilman Sullivan stood from his seat and came to stand by the huge French windows that lined the throne room.
"I wonder what the king would do if princess Lysandra refused to return. He's getting more conflicted as the days went by," he voiced as he stared at royal guards below, patrolling the castle.
Baylor sighed again and came to join him by the window. "The eastern prince is trouble. If the girl refuses to return, more trouble. If the Lord of Everia refused to send the girl back, that is war," he thought out loudly.
Councilman Sullivan nodded his head in agreement. The other councilmen weren't seeing this side of the matter. They were just focused on currying favor from the king. "I heard that Lord Arin also mingled with them–"
"Why did King Owen betroth Lysandra to Ronan Thorne without their consent? Even the council wasn't aware of this news," Baylor interrupted and turned to look at councilman Sullivan. "Were you aware?" He asked with a knowing look.
Councilman Sullivan rubbed his bald head and shook it. "Of course not. But I caught news related to it three years ago," he declared. Although he wasn't sure, there was a time when Caspian frequented the library. "I once saw Caspian with the royal lineage record. I didn't think about it until now," he mentioned while Baylor blinked.
"Is King Owen hiding something from the council?" He asked, an unsettling feeling gnawing at his inside. "The third princess was born out of wedlock and the king's household refused to accept her fully."
"My thoughts exactly. Perhaps we are wrong. Caspian was a loyal man who served the king for twenty years. He wouldn't just wake up one day and rebel. There is also one thing that wasn't carried out properly."
"What is that?" Baylor asked, bracing himself for what the Councilman was about to say.
Councilman Sullivan straightened and took a look around In case anyone was spying on them. "Caspian was killed instantly. Lady Victoria and Catelyn were killed. It was as if the King didn't want us to know something."
"So my guess was right. Lady Victoria and Catelyn were executed. They didn't die from an illness, did they?" The eastern prince asked as he emerged from behind the king's throne.