Chapter 273: Vanishing act

Three days passed, and there was still no sign of them.

Nathan stood in the war room of the palace, staring at the map spread across the table. Red pins marked every reported sighting of Amelia and Kenji—every rumor, every whisper, every false alarm. There were dozens of them, scattered across the kingdom. None of them had led anywhere.

"She’s definitely gone" the First Prince said, his voice tight with frustration. He stood across from Nathan, his silver hair disheveled, his eyes ringed with dark circles. He hadn’t slept much in the past three days. "She knows every hidden passage, every secret route, every blind spot in our patrols. She could be anywhere. I hate to admit it, but she knows this kingdom better than I and father do."

Nathan studied the map. "She won’t leave the kingdom. She’s too proud. She’ll regroup, find allies, and try again."

"Allies? Who would ally with her now?"

"Anyone who sees an opportunity. Valdris. Solara.... The Demon King."

The prince’s expression darkened. "You think she’d go that far?"

"She’s already gone that far. She turned a child into a murderer. She tried to overthrow her own father. She’s not going to stop now."

The prince was quiet for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly.

"You’re right. She won’t stop." He looked at the map, his eyes hard. "But neither will we."

---

The king had not left his chambers in three days.

Servants reported that he sat by the window, staring out at the city, barely eating, barely sleeping. The First Prince visited him every morning and every evening, but the king said little. He just stared, his eyes hollow, his face pale.

Nathan accompanied the prince on the third day.

The king’s chambers were dark, the curtains drawn, the candles unlit. The king sat in a chair by the window, a blanket draped over his shoulders, his hands folded in his lap. He looked old. Older than Nathan had ever seen him.

"Father," the prince said, stepping into the room. "You need to eat. You need to rest."

The king didn’t respond.

"Father, please. The kingdom needs you."

The king looked up. His eyes were hollow. "I failed her. I failed all of you."

"You didn’t fail. She chose her path."

"I should have seen it. I should have stopped her."

"We all should have seen it. But we didn’t. Now we have to move forward."

The king was silent for a long moment. Then he said, "You’re going to be a better king than I ever was."

The prince didn’t respond. He didn’t know what to say.

Nathan stood in the doorway, watching. He felt a pang of something—pity, maybe. Or understanding. The king was a weak man. But he was also a broken one. And broken men were dangerous—not because they lashed out, but because they gave up.

"Your Majesty," Nathan said, stepping forward. "I know this is difficult. But we need you. Not as a king—as a father. As a man who loves his kingdom. We need you to stand up and fight."

The king looked at him. His eyes flickered—just for a moment. Then he nodded slowly.

"I’ll try," he said. "I’ll try."

---

The tournament was officially cancelled the next morning.

The announcement was made from the palace steps, delivered by a herald in crimson and gold. The crowd that had gathered to watch the matches dispersed slowly, their faces a mix of disappointment and confusion. The hero was gone. The princess was gone. The tournament—the event that was supposed to select the Hero’s Party—was gone too.

Nathan watched from the sidelines. He felt a pang of disappointment—the tournament was his best chance to get close to the royal family. But that was no longer necessary. He was already inside. He was already allied with the prince.

"The tournament is cancelled," the prince said, approaching Nathan. "But I have a different proposition for you."

"I’m listening."

"The Demon King’s forces are moving. They’ll reach the capital within weeks. I need every capable fighter I can get. Will you join me?"

Nathan didn’t hesitate. "Yes."

The prince nodded. "Good. We’ll need all the help we can get."

---

The war room was crowded.

Nathan stood near the map table, surrounded by the prince’s allies—nobles, generals, and a handful of adventurers who had stayed in the capital after the tournament was cancelled. Aeliana stood beside him, her hood pulled back, her pale green eyes scanning the room.

The prince stood at the head of the table, his expression grim.

"The hero is gone," he said. "That’s a blow to morale. The people believe in the hero. They believe he’ll save them. Without him, they’re scared."

"They’re not wrong to be scared," one of the generals muttered.

"No. But we can’t afford to let fear dictate our actions." The prince looked around the room. "We fight. Not just for the kingdom—for everyone. The Demon King won’t stop with Albion. He’ll consume everything."

Aeliana stepped forward. "The elves of Solara will stand with you."

The prince’s eyes widened. "You speak for your people?"

Aeliana hesitated. "I... I don’t have the authority to commit our forces. That decision belongs to my mother, the High-elf Queen. But I will return to Solara. I will speak with her. I will do everything in my power to convince her to join this fight."

Thorne stepped forward, his hand on his sword. His voice was quiet, measured—a stark contrast to his usual brashness.

"The High-elf Queen is not easily swayed. She has kept Solara out of human wars for centuries. She will not commit our forces lightly." He paused, his jaw tightening. "But she is wise. And she is just. If anyone can convince her of the threat, it is the princess."

Faen nodded, his expression unusually serious. "The Queen’s judgment is absolute. She does not act on emotion or impulse. She will weigh the evidence, consult the council, and make her decision. We must present our case with clarity and respect." He glanced at Thorne. "No dramatics."

Thorne didn’t argue. He simply nodded. "No dramatics."

The prince studied them both for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly.

"That’s all I can ask."

Aeliana straightened. "We leave at dawn. The sooner we reach Solara, the sooner we can return with reinforcements."

The prince nodded. "Then we have a plan. Aeliana and her companions will travel to Solara. The rest of us will prepare the capital’s defenses. We have weeks—maybe less—before the Demon King’s forces arrive."

He looked around the room. His eyes were hard.

"We fight," he said. "Not just for the kingdom—for everyone. For the people who can’t fight for themselves."

The room was silent. Then, one by one, the nobles and generals nodded.

---

Far from the capital, on a forgotten road that wound through the forest, a carriage moved in the darkness.

It was a simple carriage—no banners, no crests, no markings to identify its occupants. Two guards sat on the driver’s bench, their faces hidden by hoods. Four more rode alongside, their horses silent, their eyes scanning the trees.

Inside the carriage, Amelia sat with Kenji.

Kenji was asleep, his head resting on her shoulder. His breathing was slow, peaceful. He looked younger when he slept—less like a killer, more like the boy he used to be.

Amelia stared out the window, her mind racing.

They’ll be looking for us, she thought. The prince, the king, the entire kingdom. They’ll search every road, every village, every forest. But they won’t find us. Not where we’re going.

She glanced at Kenji. He was still asleep, still trusting. He didn’t know where they were going. He didn’t know what she was planning.

He’s still useful, she thought. He’s still my weapon. I just need to point him in the right direction.

The carriage continued through the night.

They think they’ve won. They think they’ve exposed me, humiliated me, driven me out. But they don’t understand. I don’t need their kingdom. I don’t need their approval. I don’t need their throne.

I can take it all by force.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small crystal—a communication stone, dark and pulsing with a sickly red light.

The Demon King has been waiting for an alliance. He’s been waiting for someone with ambition, someone with power, someone who isn’t afraid to do what needs to be done.

He’s been waiting for me.

She crushed the crystal in her palm.

The red light flared, then faded.

Somewhere in the darkness, something answered.

Amelia smiled.

Let them search. Let them prepare. Let them think they have a chance.

When the Demon King’s army arrives, they’ll have more than just monsters to worry about.

They’ll have me.

She glanced at Kenji, still sleeping, still oblivious.

And I’ll have my hero by my side.