Chapter Forty-Two #3
His throat bobbed. “Ezrielle never spoke of it. To anyone. I can’t imagine. Never receiving love or help ... My parents were no support at all. Sometimes I wondered if that’s why she’s so— If it’s because ...”
Execution was not punishment enough for such a monster that crawled straight out of the depths of hell.
They died only to leave a lifetime of confusion and consequences with those they hurt, and with no remorse.
No regret for the damage they inflicted.
I didn’t understand why the world allowed such cruel things to happen, allowed such people to live while those with hearts of love and good died.
“That’s why I’m so close with my uncle,” Valeris continued. “He saved me, became the father I never would have had. I don’t know what I would do without him. He’s been with me through every step of life, guiding me, never asking for anything in return.”
My insides turned cold as his words sliced straight through my heart.
Guilt flooded me. We had kissed, he had shared a traumatic piece of his childhood with me, and here I was preparing to take his most precious thing in life away from him—and he had no idea.
He would hate me if he knew. Would kill me.
My mind tore at itself, telling me I couldn’t possibly kill his uncle. But it was my life—including Desmond’s and Nadiyah’s lives—or his uncle’s. And the consequence of not fulfilling my end of the bargain loomed before me, making me sick.
I leaned closer, intertwining my hands with his, feeling like a traitor. “Why did Ezrielle write that coronation speech, and why were you so upset about losing to her at the puzzle ball?”
He let out a nervous chuckle, looking at the room around us and squeezing my hands.
“My father would kill me if he knew I told you, but ...” His voice faded.
“Before the first ball, when we learned my eldest brother, Rivero, had been assassinated, we kept it quiet. If the other kingdoms knew someone was out for us, we’d be seen as too high of a risk to form an alliance with. ”
He fell quiet, and I squeezed his hands in encouragement, holding my breath.
“In lieu of those events, my father decided to change the line of succession, pitting me, Ezrielle, and Zandyr against each other in a game for the throne. We each had certain alliances we had to make, certain requirements he wanted fulfilled. As seventh in line for the throne, I never imagined I would have a chance, but I knew I couldn’t allow the crown to pass to Ezrielle or Zandyr.
They would destroy Paravellia with their selfishness and greed.
My people deserve better. So I vowed to beat them to it. ”
I sat back. “That’s why you were so upset about me undoing your alliance with Lord Eyreling,” I sorted. “You thought you had it in your pocket, and I kept destroying everything for you.”
He offered me a small smile. “I wanted to strangle you. This unknown woman who had the audacity to interfere in my business and outdo me. You made me angry.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Some things never change.”
We both laughed, then our expressions grew serious once again. “What did you mean by changing the line of succession?”
“Paravellia’s line of succession is strict. Eldest to youngest, but once an heir has been bypassed for a younger sibling, they can never be considered again—an ineligible heir. Their claim to the throne is obsolete.”
My eyes narrowed. “What about your brother’s children, were they not heirs?”
Valeris shook his head. “They don’t become heirs until Rivero is crowned king.
The original line of children is the only one that matters until one of us is crowned.
It’s confusing, I know, but it’s been that way in our kingdom for centuries.
My father’s practically breaking the law by encouraging this competition between us. ”
“Then—” I hesitated, unsure of how to ask it. “If you become king, and something happens to you before you have children, who becomes king then?”
Valeris shrugged, not bothered at all by the idea. “Who knows? A long-lost relative? It’ll never come to that, but any way you look at it, if I became king all of my siblings would be left ineligible for the throne.”
Ineligible for the throne.
I doubted the idea of changing the line of succession came from King Zaricor.
Why was he anxious to have a competition between his three youngest?
Political advantage, yes, but there was another element here.
Something Valeris didn’t seem to be getting.
He was being encouraged to win the throne.
Someone knew he could win the throne above his siblings, and once he was crowned, if he died, that left the throne wide open.
For anyone.
My mind twisted and worked around the information.
Someone wanted Valeris on that throne. Someone who had been working on him for a long time, who knew the political affairs better than anyone, who knew how to encourage the line of succession to be changed, and who knew how to work it to his advantage.
“I have to go.” I stood to my feet. “I’m sorry to run out, but there’s something I have to—”
Valeris gave me a questioning look.
“I’ll explain later.”