The castle's atmosphere was golden and full of chatter
The lamps on the walls and the chandeliers glowed brightly
People moved about while socializing
But
Somewhere in the midst of this
Leo was just standing still
Looking straight at the floor
He wasn't moving or talking
Just staring blankly
Everyone smiled a little too wide
Or laughed a little too loudly
They went on almost as if they didn't notice the kid just standing there
No one got close to him
Almost as if he was surrounded by an invisible barrier
"Leo..." Autumn muttered
Thomas was still gripping Autumn's hand
"Okay... now how do we get him out of here?" Thomas asked
Autumn could hear Thomas breathing heavily
His gaze focused on Leo
Almost as if old memories came back
The crowd suddenly fade into the background
The noise
The talking
Everything became a blur
Just the space between Leo and them
Briefly, Leo looked up at the ceiling
He moved
Finally
Lazily, Leo tilted his head to the right
As if he felt it
He locked eyes with them both
Instantly Thomas stopped breathing
Leo didn't react
His gaze didn't falter
He turned and started walking toward them
One foot after the other
Autumn gripped Thomas' hand tighter
Eyes locked onto him
Leo was now halfway to them
He weaved to the left, avoiding a group
While still maintaining his gaze on Thomas and Autumn
He didn't look away
Not one bit
"F-fuck...what do we do?" Thomas asked trembled
Autumn didn't answer
She squeezed his hand instead
Just as Leo was about to stretch his hand outward
A lady stepped backwards while laughing
She bumped into Leo
She looked to be in her forties or fifties, and slightly overweight
Her hair was a mix of grey and black
She turned around and looked at Leo
Leo side-eyed her
He didn't say a word
Then
Half the crowd heard it
The woman slapped Leo
A loud smack
Leo rubbed his jaw in surprise
"It seems you forgot your manners!!" The lady shouted
"Do you not know who I am?!"
"I will end you!"
The woman began rambling nonstop
But all this became a blur to Thomas and Autumn
They both saw Leo's hand twitched
The woman turned towards her noble friends
And began shaming Leo
Arguing nonstop
"Ezna... his shirt"
One of the nobles pointed at the crest embedded on Leo's collar
But the woman still argued and didn't look
Leo clenched his teeth
His hand straightened
He cocked it backwards
Autumn was about to move
"No!" Thomas held her back
The woman arguing turned towards Leo
She stopped when she saw Leo's hand cocked backwards
Then he fired it
Everyone squinted
Expecting a loud smack
Even Ezna
But they didn't hear that
What they heard was
"Leo!"
A soft voice called, while drawing out the last two syllables of his name
Thomas opened his eyes, scanning
Everyone turned
Eyes wide
Leo's hand was just inches from the old lady's face
And up on the upper podium
Was a blonde woman
In a long purple dress
A small crown on her head
Slowly walking down the stairs
Leo looked at the woman, then placed his hand in his pocket
An awkward silence reigned
"L-lady Esther?" One of the nobles stuttered
The woman was walking down the stairs at her own pace
Hands in front of her thighs as she walked
"Esther?" Thomas asked
He looked up at the slim blonde
Head held high
Walking as if she owned the place
When she reached the bottom of the stairs
Those beside her started kneeling
While the crowd parted ways like a domino effect
They were making way for her destination
Leo
Ezna fell to the floor immediately, way before Esther reached
"Y-your grace" she stuttered
Thomas was still standing
Fist clenched, eyes wide
Watching as Esther got closer
The nobles who were with Ezna bowed too
Suddenly, Thomas was yanked to the ground by Autumn
Thomas stayed in the position
He could hear
As Esther's footsteps stopped in front of Ezna
"Arise..." Esther commanded
Ezna rose to her feet
Esther examined her form head to toe
"Your grace-"
Esther raised her hand, cutting Ezna off instantly
"Oh, my dear Ezna,your passion is so... Inspiring. Guards, please escort lady Ezna to the dungeons to cool off"
"Yours grace, please reconsider" Ezna said hastily
But Esther smiled
"Oh dear... You'll be fine" she waved slightly
The guards arrived
"No...please no!" Ezna shouted
One of the guards placed a hand on her head
She suddenly went unconscious
They took her in silence
Everyone was still on their knees
Especially the friends of Ezna
Autumn's heart continued to pound
She could feel Thomas trembling
She squeezed his hand
Every time he budged
"You all can rise. Why so serious?" she laughed
Everyone stood up
The room was silent
Only a few muttered
Thomas stood up glaring
Esther looked around the room
"It had to be done"
"No one dares to strike our future king," she said firmly
The whole room began murmuring
Everyone looked at Leo
But he didn't say a word
"Thomas... Stop it!" Autumn whispered
Thomas' hands flared slightly
"I'm gonna kill her Autumn" he muttered through clenched teeth
"Wait, you guys didn't notice?!" she asked dramatically
She pointed at the crest on Leo's collar
"Did the king have a son?" Someone muttered to someone else
"What happened to the king?" Another whispered
Everyone was whispering
"It's alright. we forgive you," Esther said with a smile
She turned and started making her way to the upper podium
Everyone started forming in front of the podium
She was now climbing the stairs
Thomas and Autumn moved too
They were standing in the second row
"Tsk... where the hell are Bob and Richie?"
Thomas looked around the building
The upper windows
The balcony
Into the crowd
The curtains behind the podium
The guard posted around the room
For any sign
But
Nothing
Esther and Leo were now on the podium
The room became silent
"Now, you all may be wondering why there was a coronation so soon"
She suddenly went silent
Her eyes went to the floor
"Grieving news, king Alec has been... assassinated"
Everyone heard when Esther sniffed
Her eyes closed
As she gripped her dress
The whole crowd erupted around Thomas and Leo
"What!? how!?"" Someone shouted
"That's impossible!!" Another shouted
Thomas and Autumn stood close
The only two calm in the chaos
People were shouting all over
The Queen raised her hand
Silence reigned once more
"It wasn't just the king... The assassin struck while the royals were in chaos. P-poisoned wine... Hidden blades in the dark... I-I am the only one left"
Esther's voice swelled and cracked at the right time
Even managing to wipe tears
The crowd gasped
Murmurs everywhere
"Fucking bitch!" Thomas clenched his fist tighter
Autumn didn't try to calm him down this time
Her eyes were wide while looking up at Esther wiping her eye
"Do not weep for me" Esther said after wiping her eyes again
"Do not fear. I caught who was left of the assassins"
She nodded
Suddenly the curtain behind her fell
The crowd stopped breathing
"Oh no" Autumn muttered, hands covering her mouth
Thomas' eyes twitched as he began growling
Bob and Richie were behind the curtains all along
Both tied to a wooden post
Battered and bruised
Richie had a swollen eye
No teeth as far as they could see
Bob had blood running from his face constantly
His body swung as he remained limp
A golden chain bound them to their post
Suddenly the crowd started shouting
"Kill them!!"
"Murderers!!"
"Pieces of shit!!"
"Crucify them!!"
Thomas clenched his fist so hard that his nails drew blood
A few drops fell to the floor
"Autumn, get me up there"
Autumn didn't answer
He turned
Autumn was trembling
Eyes locked onto Esther
"Our plans failed... we're gonna die"
The crowd went silent again
Esther spoke
"But amidst this tragedy... a light remains "
"King Alec had one secret. One blood relative he kept hidden from the world, just so you all prosper even when he is gone"
She put a hand on Leo's shoulder
Leo didn't react
"Meet the true heir. The future king."
By this time some people were already in tears
Some cheering
"Long live king Alec!!!" They repeated
As if they forgot about Bob and Richie
Esther was smiling and chanting with the crowd
Until all of a sudden she stopped
Her smile faded
The light in her eyes disappeared
She held a cold gaze towards the crowd
"You think we are safe?" She asked
People stopped cheering
"No. We are not safe. We caught the masterminds... But there are two more"
"And they are in this very room"
Autumn's heart sank all the way into her stomach
Thomas stopped huffing
His face softened
As everyone started exchanging glances
Esther turned her head on the podium
Her blue eyes locked directly onto the two
She didn't say a word
Just a faint smirk forming at her lips
"We have to leave... now!" Thomas muttered hastily
He started backing up
But then he bumped into someone's chest
Turning around he saw a guy looking menacingly at him
Autumn backed up from the opposite end and bumped into Thomas
Everyone was looking at them
End