Junior's POV
We're really in deep trouble. I walk down the hallway, thinking about Lis. She's been missing for months—six months, to be exact. I wonder how she and my nephew are doing. Lis already told me about her relationship with the vampire and the Alpha. I know the Alpha is our cousin, but that's the least of my worries. My main problem is figuring out who leaked those rumors. I'm sure someone did it on purpose. But who? How could they know all this?
I need to find out.
At that moment, I arrive at the council meeting room. I knock on the door and enter. Everyone is there—except my father.
Junior: Hello.
Harry: Hello, my prince. Where's your father?
Nevine: I'm here, Harry.
He enters, sits down in his chair, and I stand beside him.
Varen: My king, do you know why we called you here?
Nevine: I know exactly.
Red: Can't your daughter manage not to cause trouble for once?
Seriously? He really has the nerve to say that when she's the one trying to fix their damn past mistakes.
Nevine: These might just be rumors.
Ted: My king, you know as well as I do that no one would dare mess with us.
Nevine: I know, but you wouldn't order my daughter to do that.
Harry: Nevine, should I remind you who we are?
Junior: The council members.
Red: Didn't you tell your son who holds the highest authority in HARMONY?
Wait… what's this now? Of course it's the king. Otherwise, he wouldn't hold the title if someone had more authority than him.
Nevine: He doesn't know yet.
Junior: Know what exactly!?
Harry: Prince Junior, like any state, there is a higher authority and those who execute orders.
Junior: Where are you going with this?
Red: Prince Junior, a king is under the council's authority.
Junior: Could you say that more clearly, please?
Varen: The king has been under our orders for over 3,000 years.
Junior: You mean… you've been around for 3,000 years?
Ted: Not exactly. The descendants of the council members can live over 200 years thanks to their strong resistance. But no one outside knows what I just told you. A king does not hold the ultimate power—we do.
Okay, what the hell? Now I understand why our ancestor did what the wizard council asked—kill STORM. What a bunch of idiots.
Nevine: Junior, once you are crowned king, you'll be under their orders.
Junior: So if I understand correctly, it's because of you and your so-called superiority that the witches, vampires, and werewolves…
Nevine: Junior…
The guy whose name I don't know raises his hand to stop me.
Harry: What do you mean, Junior?
Junior: I mean you sent my ancestor, Stanford, to kill the former king STORM and his son, who was a dihybrid.
Nevine: Stop saying nonsense, Junior. We have been a royal family from the very beginning.
Red: Hmm, young prince, it seems you possess a powerful ability.
Junior: So what!?
Ted: Young prince, it wasn't us who sent your ancestor to kill them—it was those who were there even before your ancestor's father was born.
Nevine: What on earth is going on here?
Varen: Your son is talking nonsense, he's only…
Junior: Only telling the truth. Centuries ago, the STORM family was chosen by the gods to rule HARMONY. But a STORM made an unforgivable mistake: the last king of the STORM family, Rayan STORM, was involved in the assault of a young woman alongside the leaders of SILVER MOON and NEVERKILLS. They had once been friends when peace reigned. But when it was discovered that the young woman was pregnant, all three DNA lines were present in her child. Alas, the Alpha Lénon and Lord Kajal denied everything. Only King STORM took responsibility. Years later, the council decided to eliminate King STORM and his son via our ancestor Stanford GRONDS. This fueled hatred from the other two against the witches. Why? Because the boy had their blood in his veins and was killed by our ancestor. The other two blamed themselves for not taking responsibility. Am I lying, sir?
I say this sarcastically, glancing at my father, who knows nothing about this.
Red: It was for the best.
Junior: Except that "for the best" was the worst for us. That son might still be alive and could want to wipe us out.
Varen: Are you serious? A young prince cannot be alive after the injury from your ancestor.
Junior: So you know the truth and don't tell the king?
Harry: We had to keep this in the past because it's already history, young prince.
Junior: What a shame. The past can become our present, and we are paying the price. My sister has been missing because of your little secret, and if we can't find her, you'll see the worst side of Athène Junior GRONDS.
Nevine: Enough, Junior! We are not here to talk about the past but to find a way to solve this problem.
Varen: Fine, let's get to business.
He says it as if I were joking. I'll show him what I'm made of.
Red: Rumors are spreading, and millions want answers about this scandal.
Nevine: Yes, but we don't know how we'll deny it if my daughter remains missing.
Varen: Maybe she ran off with someone else.
{Ares: Let me—I'll kill whoever dragged my sister's name through the mud.}
Junior: She's not like your daughter, running off with one man and then another.
I say this with resentment. That girl tried to seduce me. My father clears his throat.
Nevine: I don't believe she ran away. She's been missing for six months. Even if she had run away, she would have called, Junior, no matter what.
Red: Maybe we can locate her.
Junior: Impossible to locate.
Harry: For God's sake, will you shut up?
Junior: I'm just stating the facts.
Ted: Your negativity is not a solution, young prince.
Junior: If I could locate her, I wouldn't even be standing here saying she's missing. Only she can get out of wherever she is being held.
Varen: How are we going to clear our image then?
Red: Maybe we should win first.
Harry: I'm sure the Alpha of Silver Moon and the vampire lord will push forward the coronation date.
Nevine: In that case, we won't change the coronation plan in two days.
Ted: And it's perfect timing—it's the young prince's birthday. Crowning him now will be beneficial for us.
As if I'm going to be crowned.
Harry: So we change nothing—the coronation is in two days. But we should leave for HASRLAND tomorrow.
All council members must be present at the coronation, as well as various leaders and their families. It's the only time all the supernaturals gather.
Red: And for the scandal, I think we should make an announcement to the press.
Ted: What kind of announcement?
Red: We'll say the princess was dating the boy, and they broke up for certain reasons. I don't know how the other parties will handle it, but we already have our answer.
Nevine: That's a good idea. The coronation will go as planned.
Harry: So, young prince, I hope you won't make a scene.
Junior: I don't want to be crowned without my sister.
Nevine: To hell with your sister. You will be crowned with or without her. Clear, Junior?!
Junior: But…
Nevine: No buts! She's not the one to be crowned—you are. Behave and get ready to leave tomorrow.
I remain silent.
{Ares: Your father annoys me.}
Junior: That's our father.
{Ares: No, he's only your father. I don't have such an authoritative father.}
Red: The meeting is over. Our decision is final. Nothing changes. The coronation will proceed as planned.
Finally, I leave, fed up with being a king.
{Ares: Who said you're going to be king?}
Junior: Just an expression. I won't really be king—I'll only be by my sister's side.
{Ares: For once, you didn't say anything stupid.}
Junior: Oh, come on, Ares. Only two more days. I hope Lis arrives in time.
{Ares: Don't worry, she will.}
I hope my sister is here and can defeat Im. On my coronation day, he'll try his big plan. I can't stop him—I'm not as strong as Lis—but I will support her in these difficult moments. As long as she needs a brother, I'll be there, supporting her in everything she does.