The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 172: Uneducated Crown Princess.

Chapter 172: Uneducated Crown Princess.

Aunt Eve recounted everything Helene had revealed or other spies collected for her, she kept her tone slow and steady so as not to scare Ren. When she finished, she added grimly, "I believe Araben wants the throne of Alvonia. She plans to kill you, make it look like a suicide, and then move in on Dankin."

Ren felt her mouth go dry. That bitch! She was even planning her own twin brother?

"She’s mad!"

Aunt Eve nodded. "Mad, and ambitious. And the Crown Prince of Al-Delone is even worse. Greedy, this word isn’t enough to describe him. I’ve heard whispers that he’s been the shadow behind the rebellions of the last five years, claiming he fights for the self-governance of each kingdom. But it’s a lie. He wants your father dethroned. I heard that he is making a weapon to break through Sunkiath’s scale."

Ren’s mind flashed back to Sunkiath’s tunnels, to the King’s warning, to the cold, watching eyes in the dining hall. Predators. They were waiting. Like hyenas watching the lion falter, ready to tear him down the moment he fell to his knees.

"Aunt Eve," Ren called her name, her voice serious with steel resolve, "we’ll go to the King the moment she wakes. But about Araben’s plan, are you sure you heard it right?"

"I am," her aunt replied without hesitation. "Lora is loyal to you. I already sent her a message, telling her you’re willing to take her with you."

Ren exhaled sharply, fury tightening her chest. That little snake was trying to trap Kai. Sending that poor Josa to the brothel was another wicked act. How could she do that to a pure maiden? Lora must be so scared to have the same destiny.

"Send another message," she said darkly. "Tell her..."

She paused, calculating.

A plan unfolded swiftly in her mind, a scheme to destroy Araben’s reputation from the roots up. She wouldn’t just stop her. She would ruin her. Even if she had to beg Azrael to drag her soul to hell himself. But before that, she’d make sure Araben lost face, lost the chance to marry that wretched prince.

Al-Delone, the Fourth Realm of the Seven Kingdoms, would never welcome a disgraced would-be queen.

They were tough people, unyielding, with fire in their blood. It was difficult to satisfy them. Al-Delone might not have claimed as much land, but they were wealthy beyond measure. Their diamond mines brought in fortunes, enough to purchase armies, mercenaries from every species, loyal only to coin. They even owned giants, kept as slaves to toil in the depths of their mines.

And then there were the horses.

They were renowned as master horsemen, taming wild, powerful beasts that left even the finest royal steeds in their dust. No other realm bred such speed or strength.

"I’ll send the message when Lora comes to collect her things," Aunt Eve said quietly.

Ren tapped her fingers against the table, her thoughts racing. "How many people burned in that building?"

Aunt Eve shook her head. "I don’t know. I’ll need to send a raven to the vendor who works near that place. The auditor there kept records, every name. Gods willing, he’s still alive."

"Good. I’ll send Rail with you now, get back to your chambers," Ren recommended. Her tone darkened as she continued. "Be careful, Aunt. Those assassins weren’t after Lady Helene. They were there for you. If Rebedina uncovers your secrets, she won’t hesitate to use them. Now we are certain that House Kalia is helping Victor Keleemont."

Aunt Eve rose to her feet, her expression strained. "Thank you, Reneira... for saving her. If anything had happened to Helene, I...I wouldn’t have forgiven myself. That would’ve been the end of me."

Ren’s frown deepened. She understood the weight of those words. The finality behind them.

When her aunt departed with Rail, Arkilla, and Gloria emerged from the bedroom, their faces solemn.

"We’ve cleaned her body off dirt and dressed her properly, poor woman, her hand..." Gloria reported. "Her body was fully healed, not even a bruise remained."

"Good. Come here. Put the bucket down," Ren said, her voice low and purposeful. "There’s something I need to tell you, something very bad."

She waited until Gloria stepped closer.

"It’s about Araben," Ren continued, her tone hardening. "What she did... there’s no heart in it. No empathy. Just cruelty."

As Ren repeated the truth, Gloria’s expression began to unravel. Disbelief gave way to horror, and then to fury.

"She murdered that maiden’s entire family, and no one punished her?" Gloria nearly shouted, her voice shaking with rage.

Ren shook her head slowly. "That’s exactly what Araben does, she preys on those who show even a hint of weakness. I’m not asking you to become heartless, Gloria, but I need you to be cautious. This throne... it may fall to you. We don’t yet know what King Benkin will decide. So prepare yourself for anything."

Gloria’s eyes widened, and she waved a hand in protest. "That’s not possible. You’re the King’s daughter."

"Yes," Ren said, her voice calm and firm. "But only a human can rule over humans. And I’m not fully human. I’ll always be here whenever you ask, I’ll be around to guide you, Gloria. You’re the sister I never knew I was missing, and gods know how grateful I am to have found you. But if the humans harm me, it could spark a war with the Fae. A second Great War. I won’t let that happen."

Gloria leaned forward, grasping Ren’s hand. Her voice trembled. "But I’m uneducated. How could I ever be the crown princess?"

"I’ll teach you everything," Ren said with determination. "You’re sharp. You can read it already. You understand history, you grasp mathematics. I promise you, you’ll know more than Araben."

Gloria bit her lower lip, uncertainty clouding her face. "And what about Dankin?"

Ren’s expression hardened. "He’s not made for ruling. A person who looks down on others can never be a great king. The only thing I ever admired about King Benkin was that he never thought himself superior. He lived for the people, and he tore down tyrants to protect them. He bloodied his hands to keep the lives of others clean."

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