The Royal Contract

"Find me that traitor." He shouted at his assistant as soon as he was back in his private office inside the palace.

He could not believe that Nick would stab him in the back. He had been a fool to think that Nick had every intention to help him. Instead, it would seem that he planned to put all the blame on him.

With the way he saw the shreds of evidence before him, it would appear that he was behind the abduction. He did have the motive to want his cousin gone.

"Sir?" Vince looked at his boss with furrowed brows, unable to comprehend what he was ordering him to do. "Your highness, find who?"

He had no idea who he was asking him to find or contact. He could think of several people to who his boss might be referring. He did have many enemies he had a beef with.

He followed his boss into his private chambers and stood before him, waiting for his command. He did receive his orders, but he needed a few more details.

"I need you to find Nickolas Travis." Edward enunciated each word to his assistant, ensuring he understood what he wanted him to do. "Now." He barked once more, dismissing him immediately.

Alone in his room, he could feel his blood boiling from his anger toward the man who dared to betray him. He dropped to his seat to conjure a plan to avoid being pinned down in a crime he did not make.

He could still see the face of his father as the Council confronted him about the abduction. The duke suspected that Nick might have something to do with this, so it was only natural that they would question him about it.

His mind returned to the meeting earlier when he finally took his seat, just right next to his father. Everyone had been silent for a few seconds until his father opened the session for the most immediate concern.

It was actually the only concern discussed during the entire few hours they were stuck in that room. The abduction of the newlywed couple and the man responsible for it.

"We suspected that Nick was the one responsible for the ambush before the abduction." The duke narrated what the investigators speculated, so far, based on motives alone.

But, in terms of evidence, nothing was concrete yet. The men captured during the incident still had nothing to say to connect them to Nick.

There was also no physical evidence that would point back to him. No paper or money trails that would lead to Nick. "The only chance for us to catch him will be through your cooperation."

The duke directed his gaze to his nephew, who had been silent in his corner. He did not want to believe that Edward, the young one, would be capable of doing this to his cousin. His family.

But, greed could drive anyone to the edge of reason. The duke only hoped that Edward did not resort to such. He still wanted to believe that his nephew had nothing to do with this despite the evidence that might lead them there.

"As much as I want to help, I had no clue of what was going on with Nick. This is the first time I am also hearing about my cousin and his bride being kidnapped." Prince Edward told directly to his father, letting the entire Council members hear his explanation.

As far as he knew, the couple was on their way to their honeymoon. He also had avoided being associated with Nick in his underground activities. He was aware of it, but it did not mean he was a part of it.

"Any information that could help us find where Nick took them, this would be the time to tell us." Count Wellington said. It was as if he was trying to convince him to divulge everything he knew.

"As I said, I had no prior knowledge of his activities or plans. We are only legitimate business partners. I invested in his company. It was the extent of our business relationship." He stated with finality, not liking what the Count was implying.

He might be the father of Lance and a family relative, but he was still his prince. He should never question his honor, especially when he had no proof against him.

"Then, I hope you can explain all this." It was Lance this time who spoke. 

He stood up from his chair on the other side of the table and walked toward the prince. He handed a folder containing several documents to the prince before returning to his previous position.

He was not a Council member yet. But his father was grooming him to take over his position once he retired. Just like the prince was included in this meeting and some of the qualified sons of the other members.

He had been sworn to secrecy about this place and the urgency and sensitivity of the matter at hand. He was here to help out in any way he could to find his cousin and bride.

"What is the meaning of this?" The prince flipped through the pages and read some of the reports.

His eyes almost bulged out of his socket at the implications of the written reports. He finally dropped the folder on the table after skimming through its contents.

There were pictures of him in Nick's club drinking and playing poker with some wealthy men. Based on the report, they were mafia leaders and their associates.

"Have you seen this?" He asked his father, looking into his eyes but seeing only sadness in their depth. "Surely, you did not believe any of this."

But he could see through him how much this had affected him. He might not believe it entirely, but it certainly created doubt in his mind. After all, he was not exactly an exemplary example of a son after the numerous mischiefs he had done.

"I swear. I had nothing to do with this." He wanted to scream. For the first time, he was innocent, and nobody seemed to care, not even his father.

He had no idea about this. He thought that he was legitimately doing business with these men. He even paid the best investigator to check on their backgrounds. Damn, then he remembered that Nick recommended him. He must have set him up all this time. 

One of the captured drivers in the previous car accident had been discovered to be part of the mafia gang. It all became suddenly clear to him. He was being framed.

"Everyone, could you give us the room? I want to speak to my son alone." The King had finally spoken, gesturing for everyone to leave the room.

Once the room was empty except for him and the younger Edward, he stood up from his seat and paced the room. He had seen the evidence that the Council had gathered.

Although they were not accusing his son of wrongful doing, they might. If they gathered more proof that would point to him as the mastermind of the abduction, then they would have no choice.

"Dad, you must believe me. I had nothing to do with this." He begged him.

He had to try to convince his father of his innocence because if he could not, what chance did he have with the Council. He could still remember the solemn face of his father as if he had finally given up on him.

Now, he sat in his office, trying to figure out how to serve Nick on a silver platter and save himself from this dilemma. He remembered the money transfers that Vince had shown him.

If the Council learned about that, too, then it would seal his fate. He could already see that the paper trail would lead them back to the mafia organization.

"Nick, I will make sure that you will pay for this." He mumbled to himself as he stared into thin air.

His father was right. He should not have involved himself with a man like him. He should follow him when he said to cut his ties with Nick. 

But he was a fool, thinking that he could handle a snake and tame it to do his bidding. It would bite when least expected. A snake might change its skin, but it would still be the same.. A snake would always be a traitor.