Victor’s eyebrows jumped, and every sound in the room stopped. The very air became charged as if lightning were about to strike. Hugo was sure that the guards even ceased breathing, as if they couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.
But the king surprised Hugo when his eyebrows lowered, and he smiled. “That’s exactly what I’m searching for in a husband.A partner. Someone who wants to be actively involved in the betterment of Wulia.”
Hugo licked his lips, his train of thought faltering for a second. That was not how he’d expected the king to react to his words, but he wasn’t willing to give up. This hadn’t been about making himself into an undesirable mate.
“Please, think about what you’re doing. How are you breaking this cycle of pain and letting our countries heal at last? Yes, taking me from Everand might be briefly satisfying and pay back the debt of Victoria being stolen?—”
“Grandfather did not steal my grandmother!” Everand broke in.
Hugo spun and pointed a finger at Everand. “No. This isn’t the time for that. In fact, the exact details of the past don’t even matter anymore.”
“What?” That single word slammed into Hugo from two directions as both a prince and a king shouted at him.
“Come on! The people who know what happened and why are all dead. Those are the same people who need to apologize for their actions. I’m not saying either side’s pain doesn’t matter. Only that an apology from the survivors will never be enough.” Hugo turned to Victor and took a step toward his desk. “And you know this plan will continue the cycle. You’ll let the past go because the debt is paid, but what about Everand? He will now fester with the same anguish and rage that his grandfather felt. New wars will start under the guise of trade disputes or bandit problems, but it will all tie to how you forced Everand and me to separate.”
“Let him suffer,” Victor drawled. He smiled, but Hugo charged the desk and slammed his fist down on the surface with a loud bang.
“You’re better than this!”
Victor stiffened, his wide eyes locked on Hugo. He looked as if Hugo had slapped him, and just maybe Hugo’s heart cracked a little, but he pushed on in a softer tone.
“You’re both better than this. You’re willing to hurt a man you’ve never met before.Your own cousin.Not to mention, plunge your country into a war over events that happened decades ago. I’m not saying your pain and your father’s pain aren’t valid. Only that innocent Wulian citizens shouldn’t have to pay with their lives for you to get justice.” Hugo stared back at Everand. “And you’re prepared to send thousands of Branem soldiers to their death because of me. You’re acting out in pain and fear, but real leaders protect their people and do what is best for all of them, not what will satisfy old wounds and battered egos.”
As silence reclaimed the room, Hugo took a step away from Victor’s desk and rubbed his trembling hands together, sure he’d lost his mind. He’d shouted at a kinganda future king. They were going to fight about who got to put him in front of a firing squad or chop off his head after such disrespectful behavior.
To his shock, Victor grunted and stared past Hugo at Everand. “Is that the future you want? A consort who will not spare your ego in the name of protecting your kingdom?”
Everand tipped his chin up and returned Victor’s stare. “Yes. A hundred times, yes.”
“Then I give you a second option.” Victor paused and paced a bit behind his desk, his eyes lowered as if he couldn’t face them and make his demand. When he continued, his deep voice was almost as soft as a whisper. “Provide me with proof she cared.”
“Victoria?” Everand verified.
“Mn. Tangible, physical proof she thought of the son she left behind. A hint that at least once she regretted her decision.”
Hugo spun around, afraid to hope. Was it even possible that such a thing existed? It was hard to stomach, but what if shehadn’t regretted it? Could she have lived her entire life and not missed her first child?
Just as Hugo was drowning in his swirling fears while imagining a life here in Onisa, a life without Everand, the prince nodded. He lifted one of his shackled wrists and pointed at the long table on the other side of the room.
“I need a map.”
“Captain,” Victor said, but the captain was already in motion, pulling open a drawer in one of the nearby bureaus. After a couple of minutes of digging, he withdrew a large, tan-colored parchment with a map of Branem and Wulia and brought it to the table. Hugo joined Everand as he studied the map, barely holding back the urge to grasp his hand for reassurance. He couldn’t tell if he’d improved their chances of ending the ill will between the two kingdoms or made it more impossible.
“What are you looking for?” King Victor demanded as he walked to the map as well. Captain Ryze shifted his position to place himself between his king and the two captives.
“There.” Everand pressed his finger to a spot on the map in Branem, very close to the border. “We need to go there tomorrow. If we leave here at dawn, we should reach the spot by late afternoon. It’s a cliff less than a mile inside the border in Branem. You can see Onisa through a break in the trees. Ryze, do you know it?”
The captain squinted at the area Everand indicated, lines digging deep in his forehead. “We watched your people building a structure there less than a year ago, but it was deemed too little to have any kind of military value. We didn’t investigate further.”
Everand snorted. “Military value? No, that’s Queen Victoria’s crypt.”
“She’s not entombed with the rest of the royal family in Frostbourne?” Hugo gasped. It was unheard of. All of the family rested in the royal city. There was even a big funeral processionthrough the streets of the city. He and his family had attended it and tossed roses at her casket as it passed.
Everand’s smile was frail as he glanced at Hugo over his shoulder. “She was removed from the royal tomb after the crypt was finished, but no one outside of our family knew of it. Until now.”
“That’s your proof? That she wanted to have her crypt where it overlooked Onisa?” Victor scoffed.
“No, the proof is in the crypt. That’s why we have to go tomorrow,” Everand bit out. “But we need to keep the party small. Father will have people watching the border for movement. If his scouts spot an entire battalion marching in that direction, he’ll move forces to oppose them. I’m sure you don’t care, but I don’t wantourgrandmother’s crypt pockmarked with bullet holes and other battle damage.”
