Elias had run to his father, a weeping nine-year-old boy. He’d begged for his mother’s portrait to be returned after his stepmother had refused him.
His father had frowned and turned to the empress. “My darling, perhaps we should put the portrait back.”
With a deep sigh and a shake of her head, she’d said, “Unfortunately all the portraits were damaged.”
Apparently, there had been some flooding in the part of the palace where they’d been placed.
“It’s such a shame. I wish I could bring one of them back. But I can’t,” Empress Emmeline had said to Emperor Hugo.
His father had believed her words. He’d always believed his second wife over his son.
When Elias had claimed, “She doesn’t like me,” and, “She gives all my belongings to Matteo,” his father had repeatedly taken her side.
“He is just adjusting. It is new for all of us,” she had said. “He is not used to sharing with others.”
His father had nodded and told Elias he needed to try harder and embrace their new family. He’d never once seen through Empress Emmeline’s twisted words.
Emperor Hugo had often been praised for being a good-natured ruler, kind, generous, and empathetic. Unfortunately for Elias, his father was also a fucking fool. He could not see the bad in anyone. Ever.
He could not see that his new wife hated his son and the memory of his dead wife. Nor could he see how she and the councillors of Zephyrias had manipulated him to give up Elias’s throne to his younger stepbrother.
“We need a strong sorcerer on the throne,” his stepmother and the councillors had all told the emperor. “We need to show Draconia we have a powerful future leader. And a single leader would be less confusing to our own people. That is what is best for our kingdoms.”
Elias had watched as she’d clutched the emperor’s hand, leaning in close and smiling as she’d guided her husband like clay in her skilled hands.
The original signed treaty between the Kingdoms of Voltaria and Zephyrias had stated that Elias and Matteo would reign together one day. There’d even been talk of the stepbrothers marrying, since there was no blood relation. But the empress did not see Elias as a suitable match for her eldest son.
His father had quickly come around and agreed that Matteo should be the one and only heir. Many Voltarian councillors had opposed. The combined Kingdoms of Voltaria and Zephyrias functioned under a constitutional monarchy. Whilst the kingdoms had two joint rulers, they also had a council who voted.
But despite some opposition, in the end, the vote was passed. A new treaty had been signed naming Matteo as sole heir.
Honestly, Elias did not mind that Matteo was heir. Elias had never been interested in the throne. He hated all those dull duties involved in ruling. He wanted the kingdom running well. But he did not want to be the one who ran it.
Still, for his father to give up Elias’s birthright with so little resistance stung.
Now the entire council, half-Voltarian and half-Zephyrian, were solidly in the empress’s pocket. They knew where the true power lay within their joint ruling couple.
“Do not tell your father about your powers,” his Great-Uncle Jules had told him once he’d tested Elias and realised the extent of Elias’s powers.
“Why not?” Elias, only just twelve, had wanted his father to be proud of him and love him as he’d done before Empress Emmeline had entered their lives.
His great-uncle had gripped Elias’s shoulder. “Because he is besotted and will keep nothing from Empress Emmeline. And honestly, the man never could keep a secret to save his life.”
So Elias had followed his great-uncle’s advice. He’d never told his father his abilities. Even when the empress had used his lack of power to hand the throne solely to Matteo. Elias could not rely on his father.
“Are those your mother’s earrings?” his father asked Elias, voice softening.
The empress’s eyes glinted.
Chapter
Ten
Elias stroked a dangling sapphire-and-silver earring. “Yes. These belonged to Mother.” He smiled. “They are one of my favourites.” And one of his mother’s belongings that he’d hidden away when things had started to disappear after Empress Emmeline became his stepmother.
His father smiled. “They were your mother’s favourite too. She always wore them. Almost every day.” He stared at his son. “You really do look just like her.”
The empress turned away.
