The Crown Of Tears

The safe bet was to await favorable circumstances to strike. However, Prince Angelus's patience was running thin. He needed an outlet for the burning rage in his heart.

He was upset seeing the extent his father was willing to go to see his bastard son on the throne. Prince Angelus sat silently beside his brother's bed and watched over him.

His mind is playing with the pieces of the glass knife trap he set for King Edmund, his bastard daughter, Elveryn, and his royal Mistress Diane. Prince Angelus was pleased with his wicked plans.

Before long, King Edmund and Royal mistress Diane stormed into the infirmary in worry. The royal physician stopped grinding the medicine and faced the royal family.

"Greetings your Majesty," he greeted the king.

"What happened to my son?" King Edmund asked in a panic. He forcefully pushed Angelus from the bed and sat himself next to Augustus.

Prince Angelus blankly watched the difference in the way the king treated him and his brother.

"How grave are his injuries?" asked Diane to the physician. "And why are you here?" She diverted her attention to Prince Angelus.

"I chanced upon him being attacked. I got his perpetrators captured and hurried him here to get treated," Prince Angelus explained.

"Prince Augustus is lucky to have had the Grand Prince bring him in when he did," The physician let into the conversation. "We stabilized his condition, but Prince Augustus has suffered severe wounds."

King Edmund held Augustus's hand and squeezed it gently to give him warmth. Diane took her place across from the king. She ran her hand over her son's hair and massaged his forehead softly.

"The prince has sustained several broken bones, a head injury, and a potential ruptured spleen," the physician enlightened King Edmund and Mistress Diane.

It's been so long since he'd seen someone so badly hurt. King Edmund shook his head in mild disbelief, he hated seeing his son in that condition.

"How soon will he recover?" inquired King Edmund.

"Due to his severe injuries. I can't say for sure if the prince will wake up let alone when he will do so," the physician broke the news to them.

"What are you saying? Will my son never recover?" Royal Mistress Diane felt air clear out of her lungs.

"I want to hear what solution you have to offer for his problem. I don't wish to hear you give up on my son, do you understand me!" King Edmund roared.

The physician shivered. Helping Prince Augustus was above his expertise. He wanted King Edmund and Mistress Diane to prepare for the worst.

There was a high possibility that Prince Augustus was never going to recover. His injuries ran deep to his core.

Prince Angelus noted the broken expression on the King's face. It satisfied his ego to watch his world crumble.

Princess Elveryn arrived at the infirmary with Lady Isabella. They rushed to Prince Augustus's bedside. "Father, how's brother's condition?" Everyone sounded in a pained voice.

"He's hurt but I'll make certain that he gets better," King Edmund assured her.

Prince Angelus rolled her eyes at his confidence. The king was going up against him and he had no intention of letting him win.

Queen Rosalyn came abruptly to the room and barreled right into her son. Prince Angelus steadied her with his hands on her shoulders. "Whoa, take it easy."

"Sorry," Queen Rosalyn said with a sigh, taking a step back. "I heard you were at the infirmary and my heart nearly stopped beating," she let out. "I feared for the worst."

"I'm alright, mother," Prince Angelus assured his mother.

"I'm happy to see you unharmed. Where did you disappear from the wedding?"

"I went out for a walk," Prince Angelus replied. "Thank the heavens I did. I was able to save my brother from those who wished to harm him," he brought Augustus to his mother's attention.

Queen Rosalyn snapped her head to the bed where Prince Augustus lay unconscious. Her eyes brushed over the King and his Mistress as they cried over him. She couldn't muster any sympathy for Augustus's situation.

"My son has to get better. I can't live without him," Mistress Diane cried out.

"Hush now, mother," Elveryn comforted her mother. "Father has given his word. He'll move heaven to ensure that Augustus gets well," she added.

Prince Angelus left his mother's side and inched closer to his step-sister. He leaned down next to her ear and whispered. "Just because a lion is silent doesn't mean that it's forgotten how to hunt. You took a shot at me, now it's my turn."

"What are planning to do, Angelus?"

"I'm going to make you bleed, Elveryn. You'll rue this day for eternity, this I promise you!"

Princess Elveryn shot him a stunned gaze. Her eyes darted from her brother Augustus and back to Angelus, and a shiver ran down her spine. It occurred to her that Augustus's accident happened after the wedding. No way that was a coincidence with the way Angelus sounded.

"Prince Augustus arrested a criminal and was bringing him to the castle to stand trial. A magic practitioner, father," Angelus informed. "He lost control of the criminal along the way and the man did this to him," he added.

King Edmund was enraged. His favorite son was wounded gravely and on top of that, he learns that someone practicing magic in his kingdom was behind it. A vein nearly popped in his head.

Princess Elveryn narrowed her eyes at Prince Angelus, suspicious of the story the male told.

"Davon succeeded in subduing the man and brought him to the cells at the castle," Prince Angelus spoke up.

"Who is this man that dares to harm my son?"

"He goes by the name Mordred Falck, your Majesty," Angelus brought to light.

Light faded from Elveryn's eyes, her body became white as she registered the name of the culprit responsible for her brother's condition.

Princess Elveryn felt her heart skip a beat. She knew Mordred and she was certain he didn't practice magic. Everyone snapped her head at Angelus, wondering what game the man was playing with her.

"He lived right under our noses with the guise of a farmer. However, Augustus managed to sniff him out," Angelus said. "You must set an example of our father. Not only did he break the law and practice magic, but he also attacked Prince Augustus. Mordred deserves no less than to be beheaded," he added.

Princess Elveryn stumbled back. Ice crawled down her spine as she heard Angelus's harsh remarks. The man in question meant a great deal to her, he was her beautiful secret.

"Before one is unfairly executed they must be proven guilty," Lady Isabella spoke up. She wrapped her hand over Elveryn's shoulder to steady her. She understood her friend's internal turmoil.

"I sent word out to General Zard asking him to investigate the matter. He raided Mordred's house and discovered a great deal of magical artifacts and memoirs of his magical journey," Prince Angelus confidently disclosed. "General Zard came himself to deliver the evidence against Mordred. He's resting in the east wing of the castle. You can consult him on the matter," he added.

Prince Angelus gave Elveryn a knowing glance. He had her cornered. She was the reason his love was forced to marry another Infront of him. Prince Angelus refused to let her live out her days peacefully.

Cassiel extracted the truth of Elveryn and Mordred's affair from Augustus's head before they beat him into a coma. With Cassiel's help, they were able to frame Mordred for the crime and accuse him of being a magic practitioner.

Two crimes Prince Angelus trusted his father wouldn't be able to forgive. He envisions his plans playing out in two ways: the king learns of Mordred's relationship with Elveryn and pardons him for her by disbanding the law that forbids the practice of magic. Or he executes Mordred to avenge Augustus and creates a rift between himself and Elveryn.

Either way, Angelus saw King Edmund weakening. It was a start to the end of his reign.

"I have set the stage for disaster. Let's see who gets to live and who dies," he challenged Princess Elveryn.