From Prisoner to Princess

Chapter 17

Juden's POV:

Sitting in the SUV outside of a medical clinic, I look at Allisara who stares outside curiously.

“Uncle Juden, why are we here?” She asks, turning her gaze to me. My hand moves to the pistol at my waist and I think about how quick it would be to kill her, but that would leave a trail back to me.

“You’ve been gone for three months. I want to take you to a doctor so that he can give you a check-up.” Pulling my hand back and placing it on my lap, I give this annoying brat a gentle smile. I remind myself over and over again that after today I will become King. All I need to do is wait for the Doctor’s job to be done and I will finally be rid of this brat.

Opening the door, I climb out of the SUV and help Allisara to exit it as well. She holds tightly to my hand, and I allow it. The clinic is empty as we walk inside, the Doctor being given notice earlier today that I will be arriving with Allisara to get rid of her for good.

“Hi there, you must be Allisara.” Walking out from the back room, Doctor Tomas greets Allisara. She timidly hides behind me, furthering my annoyance with her.

“Allisara, this is the Doctor I want to take a look at you.” I coo to the little girl, watching as Doctor Tomas holds a hand out to her. Silence passes between us but finally, she steps out from behind me, letting go of my hand and taking his.

“As your Uncle stated, I am Doctor Tomas. I hear you need a bit of a check-up?” He is friendly to her; his soft gentle smile is the perfect act I need to deal with the last of the Nimair bloodline.

“Rory, take Allisara to the back while I talk with Duke Trilavantas. Allisara, Rory is a great helper. He has to leave soon so can you keep him company while he waits for his mom to pick him up?” After calling for the first of his many assistants, Doctor Tomas bends down to talk with Allisara. Her timidness is gone as she gives the Doctor a wide grin before agreeing to his request. Disappearing into the back with Rory, Doctor Tomas walks towards me, his friendly façade gone as he gives me a deep bow.

“What do you need me to do, your Majesty?” Happy for his change in demeanor, I help the aging doctor to stand.

"I want her dead; make it look like she was killed by the rebels." Giving him the order, Doctor Tomas nods. For years this man has been on my family’s payroll, always helping my father and then me to get rid of those that stand in our way.

“Give me three hours. I need to make sure that it looks like she has been tortured then have someone drag her dead body somewhere to make it look believable.” Happy with his answer, I handed him an envelope of the agreed-upon payment. I know with his help nothing will go wrong, but his Assistants worry me. I heard he brought in a new man to help during the night and I hope that nothing goes wrong.

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Returning to the Clinic at the agreed-upon time, I walk into the waiting area with my men trailing behind me.

“You did what you fucking incompetent idiot!” The sound of Doctor Tomas screaming at someone draws my attention, making me want to learn what has happened. Walking into the back room with Ronan taking the lead, we round the corner to find Doctor Tomas beating a man I have never seen before. This man does not try to fight back or defend himself, his eyes dazed as he giggles.

“What is going on?” Shocked by the scene, I shout my demand. Doctor Tomas stops his beating, his face pale but the rage still simmering deep inside his hazel eyes.

“This fucking drug addict I hired fucked up.” He shouts back, throwing the metal pole he was beating the man with earlier to the side.

“Instead of taking her body to the Slums like I told him to, He decided to sneak some Opium and put her body into the cremation oven while he got high.” The man sits up and he lets out a giggle, blood dripping down his face from the beating. Disgusted by him, I order my Guard Clark to check the oven.

“There is a body in there, but it's nearly ash.” His reply comes within minutes, my own rage simmering. Because of this Opium addict I have lost my chance at becoming King. Now I will need to wait for twenty years.

“Doctor Tomas, you have disappointed me this time. But your skills are still need.” I watch the fear in the Doctor’s eyes disappear as I address him. His only fault is hiring a drug addict. Looking to the man on the floor, disgust joins my fury and I look to my men.

“Put him into the oven with Allisara. Leave him alive.” Not bothering to watch what is to unfold, I make my way out of the clinic with Ronan behind me. This little hiccup has cost me twenty years of waiting, but as Regent, I still have control of the Kingdom. After twenty years I can be crowned King and when Demitrias marries and has his first child, I will pass the Throne to him.

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♔

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Allisara's POV

"So you see, I thought you were dead.” Leaning back in his chair, Juden shrugs as he concludes his confession.

“And without your body as proof you were dead, I had to wait for twenty years to pass so that I could claim the Throne.” Shocked by all this information, I run my fingers through my hair and try to make sense of all of this. The Rebellion fourteen years ago was caused by this man. My parent's death was caused by him. But there is one thing I need to know.

"You never tampered with my memories, did you?" Looking into his eyes, Juden stares back at me with an unwavering stare.

"No, I just wanted you dead." I can sense his honesty in his words and sigh. The mystery of how I lost my memories remains.

“Your confession has been recorded. You will be executed in two months and so will your co-conspirators. It will be public and televised and the people will know what you did." My decision is final. The people need to know what a monster Juden Trilavantas is and how he murdered innocent people for his own gain.

"Did your family know you did all this?” Sky asks, his emerald gaze filled with the same hatred I feel.

"No, I kept it a secret from them." Another truthful answer. I take a moment to think before pushing off from the wall I leaned on. There is a lot I have to plan now with all this new information. Looking at Max, I notice how his keen brown gaze is kept on Juden, never wavering while he stands ready in case Juden tries anything.

"Make sure his hand is healed.” I order Max, getting a quick look and a nod from the Guard before his gaze returns to staring at Juden.

“And Juden-” I call out.

"Yes." His gaze meets mine and I hesitate for a moment.

"- Your family will be spared. They will no longer be part of the Nobel families, but they will retain some land and their businesses as long as there is no Rebel ties. The land closest to Zalaris will be given to a new Duke of my choosing.” Watching his eyes tear up knowing his family is safe, I take one last look at him before striding out of the interrogation room. Walking up the stairs, I find myself in need of some fresh air for my thoughts to stop running amuck in my head.

“Do you know a place where I can be alone in the Gardens?” I ask Sky, knowing he is following behind me.

“I do. My father and his team returned the Green House back to its former glory. We can go there.” Taking my hand in his, Sky leads me down the familiar path that will take us to the Gardens.