Raghav sat opposite to the King and Queen; who sat beside one another; Aurelia sat between the two on the single sofa facing the fireplace. Reinhardt stood behind The King and Queen.
Raghav kept looking down at his laptop placed on the table; seriousness in his entire body. The King leaned forward. "You asked to talk with me."
Raghav raised his head, looking at The King with narrow eyes. "Hmmm." He then looked back at his laptop one last time before looking at the King. "I learned of Vonreid's condition today and have found the cause; alongside it, I found the reason for your troubled mental state."
The King tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean?" Raghav pulled out his phone and handed it to The King, showing him the pictures he took of the ledger. "Neem leaves, valerian flowers, passion flowers; these are simple yet effective sedatives found in nature. Prince Vonreid has been fed a mixture of these herbs, which is possibly enhanced using Mana for five years. I believe this to be the cause of his current state."
The King dropped the phone; which Raghav caught in the air. "I cannot believe it; it was right here all along." The King looked up at Raghav, his eyes shaking. "Was this all an accident?" Raghav shook his head and swiped in his phone showing the other picture to The King. "They have been adding Kava powder to your steak to enhance its flavour and help you relax, but there are some special cases where they can cause the person to be more anxious, have mood swings and even anger issues. It is advised to stop using it urgently in these cases. You seem to one of the special cases."
The King's mouth was left agape as Aurelia looked at Raghav. "Is someone behind this?" Raghav looked at Aurelia and nodded before turning to The King who was still left in shock. "Vonreid's state, your mental instability and the assassination attempt all have the same mastermind." The King looked up at Raghav, his expression hardening. "WHO?"
Raghav looked at Aurelia from the corner of his eyes before he picked the laptop and placed it on the sofa. "The Duke of the west, Galreid." The King growled as he stood up, punching the table with his left hand, breaking it. "YOU WOULD FUCKING DARE? AN OUTSIDER ACCUSING A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY!"
Anessa and Aurelia gasped at The King's outburst. Raghav remained calm and serious as he looked at The King. "Bel, please listen to what I have to say."
The King grabbed Raghav's collar and pulled him up. "IT IS KING BELREID TO YOU! BASTARD. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? WHAT RIGHT DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO ACCUSE MY BROTHER?" The King growled as he held Raghav.
Raghav, with his unchanged expression; gently raised his hand and placed it on The King's hand as he blinked multiple times and looked around then back at Raghav, letting go of his collar. His face changed from an angry one to one of confusion and shock.
His lips quivered as he looked at Raghav. "I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry." Raghav grabbed a hold of The King's shoulders, guiding him back to the seat. "It's okay. I take it you are not one to curse or get angry." Aurelia held her father. "He has never raised his voice like this; this only started a few days ago."
Raghav nodded, walking over to the bedside table pouring a glass of water and came back handing it to Aurelia; who took it and gave it to her father. "It is the second time I have heard you yell since I was summoned. You also suddenly cut our conversation last night in the arena. I would advise you to stop taking Kava powder immediately. Otherwise it can have some lasting effects."
Raghav sat back down on his sofa, looking at his laptop.
Aurelia and Anessa helped The King calm down. He then looked at Raghav. "I am sorry for using such vulgar language." Raghav turned to face The King as he shook his head. "It was not your fault. But can you answer one of my questions?"
The King nodded, his eyes lowered to the floor, unable to withstand the guilt and remorse. Raghav looked down at The King with solemn eyes, yet his face remained serious. "Why was I summoned?" The King looked up, his mouth slightly opened and his eyes getting wet. Raghav closed his eyes the moment he saw The King and stood up kneeling before The King. "It is okay, don't blame yourself over such trivial matter. You did nothing wrong."
Raghav pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to The King, who wiped his tears as Raghav sat back on the sofa. 'He is a really kind person; to be saddened by the way he acted towards me. It is admirable.'
The King collected himself as he looked at Raghav, a small smile present on his face. "I beg your pardon, I did not quite hear your question."
Raghav nodded with closed eyes. "Why was I summoned? If the prophecy about the hero is a lie?" The King closed his eyes. "It is true the original prophecy spoke nothing of the hero or the twin comet. It spoke of a war that would doom all. The first King of this kingdom, my ancestor King Istreid, saw a vision at the end of the Great War. A hero standing against that doom, he told the people when evil will return and that there will be a hero to save us and that he will come with the comet."
He opened his eyes as he clinched his fist. "I believed in his words, as did the world. Someone to save us from doom; someone who will save us all." He then gripped his chest, taking a deep breath. "As the 108th cycle of the twin comet drew close. A fear began growing in me; what if he does not come? What if it is all a lie? I told myself that the hero will come but the fear kept growing and I finally decided to summon someone in hopes that he may be the hero or yet that I can at least save others from the fear that plagued me."
Raghav listened attentively, his narrow eyes looking at The King as he grabbed his head. "I thought I was strong, strong enough to protect the people and stand beside the hero when he came." The King began crying as he covered his eyes. "I now realise that I am a coward who gave into his fears, but I never stopped believing, no matter how hard it got. I never stopped believing that there was hope for us. I just could not take the risk of the hero not appearing."
Raghav leaned forward gently, placing his hand on The King's shoulder making The King look at him. "If you believed that the man you would summon will be the hero who will save all. Then I ask you to believe in me; I do not know if I am the one that your ancestor spoke of, but I give you my word. I will do everything to help you and the people of this world."
Raghav let go of The King as he leaned back. "Shall we get back on track?" The King nodded, wiping his tears and face. "Yes, we should."
Raghav leaned back his eyes growing narrower. "I suspect Galreid to be behind this whole situation. He stands to gain the most out of this."
Aurelia looked at Raghav grabbing his hand. "How?" Raghav turned to her. "He is the son of the previous King's younger brother, If King Belreid were to die. He will be the most obvious choice to rule until Vonreid comes to age or you get married and have a King consort. Until then he will be King."
Aurelia looked at her hands as she gulped down the lump in her throat and closed her eyes. "Why not kill Vonreid? Why go to such lengths to keep him asleep, why suggest father to take kava and create unnecessary risk."
Raghav grabbed his chin as he looked back at Queen Anessa and then at Aurelia. "I do not believe he wants to Kill Vonreid or anyone else other than The King. Galreid has no wife or children. I believe he just wants to sit on the throne and enjoy being King for a while."
The King frowned. "You are telling that the only person in the world I call brother, wishes to kill me just so he can sit on my throne and call himself King for a few years. He can't do that not for something so insignificant. We have a special bond. We grew up together in this very castle. The halls still echo of our childhood."
Raghav met The King's gaze with his narrow eyes. "Where I am from there is a saying; I will translate it for you. 'There is something very special about betrayals, they always come from someone special.' I hope you understand that."
The King leaned back looking at the ceiling as small tears escaped his eyes. "Do you have any proof?" "I do."
The King looked back at Raghav who turned his laptop towards the King showing him the footage of the cell where the assailant was held.
The King's eyes widened as Anessa gasped and Aurelia placed a hand over her mouth and shook her head.
They all saw Galreid sitting in front of the assailant talking to him. "This is happening this instance. I do not know what they are talking about as it does not have a microphone."
Aurelia pointed at the screen shaking her head. "He could just be there to question him, it is not proof that he is working with him. Do you have any other proof?"
Raghav nodded as he pulled out his phone and showed the picture of the rune in the throne room. "Remember this?"
Aurelia's lips parted as he gritted her teeth and nodded. The King and Queen Anessa were confused as Queen Anessa looked at the rune. "What is it?"
Raghav turned to look at The Queen. "It is the rune that the assailant used to get in the throne room. It is drawn with invisible ink, a form of ink that cannot be seen under normal circumstances except for under UV light. At lunch I checked his hands for traces of this ink and I found it laced on his fingertips."
He then looked back at The King. "The maid Venessa who found Vonreid and has been taking care of him for the last five years is from Marne, overseen by The Duke of the west. I suspect she is also working for him."
Aurelia closed her eyes as she gritted her teeth. The King rested his elbow on his thigh as his head dropped down. "We will hold a trial tomorrow, Galreid will have to answer for his crimes." His voice lost all its strength.
Raghav looked at both of them unfazed by everything. "May I make a request?"
The King without looking up closed his eyes. "Yes, you may." Raghav closed his laptop and stood up from the sofa. "Let me oversee the trial tomorrow and please keep the findings about the reason behind Vonreid's slumber and Venessa a secret. Do not arrest Galreid, let him walk freely to the trial."
The King looked at Raghav in confusion, but he sighed and closed his eyes and nodded. "I accept." Raghav looked back at the family one last time. "I am sorry to hurt you like this. It will get better, I promise it will get better."
He then left the room leaving the family to deal with their grief.
As the door closed another opened as Galreid looked at the guards standing outside his room. "Yes?" "His Grace summons you to the throne room this instance as you are."
Galreid stepped out closing the door behind and nodded to the guards. "Best not make The King wait."
Galreid began walking in front of the Guards who walked behind him. 'What could be the urgency for brother to summon me like this?'
He was brought out of his thoughts as the door to the throne room opened and he saw that all the guests previously present at the banquet were gathered there and stood on either sides of the throne room. He then saw a wooden trial stand placed in front of the steps of the throne. He froze as he looked at it until the guards pushed him forward as all the eyes looked at him.
He looked at all the eyes staring at him until he reached the wooden stand looking at it. Suddenly the guards grabbed his neck and pushed him in the stand and closed it from behind. Galreid fell on the railing as he grabbed it and stood up looking at The King sitting in his throne with Reinhardt standing to his right.
Prime Minister Vaughn in his chair and Princess Aurelia in hers. He then looked up and saw the Queen in her balcony above the throne. He then lowered his gaze to the bottom of the steps to the throne.
There sat Raghav with his eyes closed, the ten fingers of his hands crossed and placed under his nose and his elbow resting on his knees. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at Galreid. He then places both of his hands on his knees and stood up.
Never once looking away from Galreid. Galreid looked at The King; yelling at the top of his lungs. "What is happening brother?"
The King remained silent and tightened the grip on his throne. Galreid lowered his gaze and met the Hero's. "Galreid! You are hereby placed on trial for the plot to assassinate King Belreid."