The Web of Knightspur-Chapter 180

Princess Eleanor walked towards the door of her room before she turned back and bowed her head.

"I will be retiring for the day now. The Crown Prince should also get some rest." Princess Eleanor’s voice was soft but there was a slight hint of annoyance coloring her tone.

Crown Prince Richard nodded his head as he moved his hand up towards Princess Eleanor. Seeing this, her eyes widened in shock. Princess Eleanor wanted to take a few steps back to avoid his touch.

But she knew that this was not something that she could do just because she disliked it. She decisively made up her mind as she stood straight and soon a light touch landed on her head. Princess Eleanor swallowed hard as her fingers discreetly formed a fist underneath her long sleeves. She fought hard to maintain her composure though it was difficult.

The Crown Prince could not see the subtle changes in Princess Eleanor’s behavior. She desperately wanted to push his hands away and walk off directly into the room, but she knew that this was not the right time. She had to endure such things at least, until the time the prophecy was revealed.

Crown Prince Richard smiled as he saw Princess Eleanor standing in front of him like an obedient child. The feeling of power engulfed his body. He had always known that he was the one destined to be the future Crown Prince ever since he was a child, and now he was. And the next step was of course to be the Emperor. But who knew that the prophecy would come down and make the Princess of the Angevin Kingdom to be the chosen one. Someone who will guide the Empire to its prosperity.

Just when everything was slipping out of his hands, he then came up with a solution. And now that he was looking down at Princess Eleanor respecting and obeying him, brought an assurance to him that whatever he had done so far was worth it. Everything had worked out the way he wanted to.

"The Princess should rest," Crown Prince Richard smiled and agreed with her as he looked down at Princess Eleanor who nodded her head. She turned around and walked off into her room.

The Crown Prince stood outside for a few more seconds. His eyes stared at the now closed door. He knew that he could not force Princess Eleanor to come to the Roulux Empire, therefore he had to create a situation where the Princess would have no choice but to come here willingly.

Crown Prince Richard walked towards his room but he saw a familiar face standing in front of his door. The man’s face was filled with uncertainty and fear which confused the Crown Prince. After all, he had never seen someone so strong and powerful behaving so afraid before.

’Unless something bad had really happened,’ Crown Prince Richard thought as he walked towards the man and looked at him. "Let’s talk inside."

The man followed the Crown Prince as he bit his lips. The Crown Prince could feel like something was not right, thus as soon as he entered his room, he turned around and asked, "What is the matter with you? Why do you have such a dreadful expression?"

"Crown Prince ..." He did not say anything as he closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.

"Commander Colt, I have never seen you this nervous. What is the matter?" The Crown Prince was losing his patience as he spoke in an annoyed tone.

"The secretary of the Emperor has gotten the news. There will be a change in the political environment soon," Commander Colt’s voice was soft as he tried hard to not sound like a child in a hurry. He wanted to get the message passed on.

"Someone had made a claim to the throne as well." Commander Colt looked up at the Crown Prince to see his reaction. It was evident that the man was certain about who would have made the claim.

"Is it the Duke?"

Commander Colt shook his head, making the Crown Prince’s eyes widen. If the Grand Duke had made the claims, then it would make sense. After all, he has royal blood flowing through him. But if it was not the Grand Duke, then who?

The question was bugging the Crown Prince. He wanted the answers to it as soon as possible. The murderous aura excluded through his body as he gritted his teeth in irritation, "WHO?"

Commander Colt swallowed as he bowed his head, "The First Prince has come back."

As soon as the words were said, the whole room turned silent. No one said a word but there was a killing aura surrounding them. Soon Commander Colt felt weightless. He knew he could defend himself but he endured it.

The Crown Prince could not see anything. All he could see was red. The anger and resentment in his body had reached their peak. He wanted to find a permanent solution to the problem which he had thought was never there in the first place.

’How is this possible? The child had died, did it not? Why would someone claim...’ The Crown Prince’s mind was filled with such questions. The questions that he did not have answers to.

Crown Prince Richard looked up at the man who had brought this bad news. His rage overpowered him as he walked towards Commander Colt and pushed him towards the wall. His hands wrapped around Commander Colt’s neck as he could see him struggling to breathe.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY? THE FIRST PRINCE?" Crown Prince Richard hissed out in annoyance. He knew that there was nothing that could assuage his anger. And he also knew that it was not the fault of his Commander, but he could not help but get angry.

"IS IT THE TRUTH? WHO TOLD YOU THAT?!"

Commander Colt struggled to breathe as he patted on the Crown Prince’s hand softly as he was struggling to keep his eyes open, as his body was fighting to get oxygen into his system. The feeling of helplessness was evident on his face which did not go unnoticed by the Crown Prince.

Crown Prince Richard knew that he was overbearing. It was not Commander Colt’s mistake that he had received such news. The Crown Prince’s hold on Commander Colt loosened as he took a step back. His eyes were tinted with rage as he ran his fingers through his hair.

Commander Colt coughed in desperation as he sucked in lungfuls of air. He took a few deep breaths to normalize his breathing and soon he looked at the Crown Prince as he walked towards the window. His back was facing Commander Colt as he looked up at the sky.

The moon was shining in the dark sky, but the Crown Prince did not feel at ease. He knew very well who the First Prince in Commander Colt’s words was. The man who originally had the right to the throne. The son of the previous Empress. The original Crown Prince.

"I heard he was dead? He has to be dead..." the Crown Prince murmured. He knew that there were still many rumors going around saying that they had spotted the First Prince at the borders. But the Crown Prince had never paid attention to such rumors. After all, all he knew was that both the previous Empress and her son had died tragically.

Crown Prince Richard was sure that they had died. After all, the matter was handled and reported by his trusted family.

"Is the news true?" Crown Prince Richard asked once he had controlled his thoughts and fluctuating emotions. A thought popped up in the Crown Prince’s mind that it could not be false, but there was still something bothering him. He trusted his family’s people but he also knew that if it had reached the secretary’s ears, then it had to be true.

Commander Colt did not answer. He knew that no matter what he said, it would not change the fact.

"Does the Emperor know?" Crown Prince Richard looked back as he bit his lips in annoyance. He was angry and he did not want to show his weakness to anyone. But the slight change in his tone did not go unnoticed by Commander Colt. He knew that the emotions the Crown Prince was going through were not right.

"The Emperor was informed by the temple. They had confirmed that the man had royal blood in him. As per my knowledge, he also has a letter from the Empress with her seal on it." Commander Colt swallowed hard as he could feel the change in his surroundings.

"The temple knew about this?" Crown Prince Richard’s voice was low as a whisper but it was filled with unsaid emotions.

Commander Colt could feel the rage burning in the Crown Prince. At some point in time, the Crown Prince had looked back and was staring at Commander Colt.

"They did." Commander Colt did not say anything else but swallowed. He saw the narrowed gaze of the Crown Prince as he stood still before walking towards the side and taking a few pages out from a locked drawer.

The Crown Prince sat at the table before he started writing out a letter. Commander Colt did not know what the Crown Prince was writing, but he could tell that it was related to the information he had given out. Everything was related.

The Crown Prince folded the letter as he kept it on the table, "Give this letter to Princess Eleanor. I explained to her why I had to leave unannounced. And make sure to inform the Grand Duke as well. Although I think he would have guessed by the time I am gone."