Loyalty test
Author: Jericho Chase
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

The day was a bright and sunny one, with the birds chirping and a gentle breeze blowing through the trees outside the palace.

Nicholas sat on his throne, surrounded by his advisors and officials, attending to political matters of his newly merged country with Zaravia.

He was busy assigning governors to oversee different parts of the country, but his mind was elsewhere.

He only paid little attention to the speakers as he had been thinking a lot recently about his new position of power.

Being the king of two countries and merging them together as one was a power move that no man in this present generation had ever had.

Such powers brought envy, jealousy, insecurities, and a host of other negative emotions.

Nicholas knew that someone may one day rise up and assassinate him or his sons.

To be a king was to be alone, surrounded by a pack of enemies.

He knew the odds, and the probability that within a year or two, he would be murdered.

The Phoenix family were all loyal to him, but Nic
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    Epilogue: The interview

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    The well

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    Rose

    A thick silence fell between Nicholas and William. Nicholas could sense his father grappling with the weight of this revelation. "You believe your mother is alive? How come? She couldn't have survived that Poison all these years."Just as Nicholas was about to speak, the door swung open, and Yumi emerged, her hands raised in surrender. A look of panic flashed across her face, mirrored by Nicholas and William's shocked expressions.Before anyone could react, Mariam stepped out from the shadows, holding her rifle with a steady hand, her eyes filled with determination. "Nobody move, or else I'll shoot!" she declared with a mix of desperation and resolve.Nicholas's voice quivered with confusion as he asked, "Mariam, what's the meaning of this? Why are you doing this?"As if on cue, another figure emerged from the darkness, accompanied by three imposing men. The shock reverberated through Nicholas and William as they recognized the figure leading the group – it was Rose, Nicholas's mo

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    The silent Vanguard

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    The trap door

    Coughing and wheezing amidst the swirling dust and rumbling aftermath of the explosion, Nicholas and Yumi struggled to regain their composure.Nicholas, wiping away the dirt from his face, turned to Yumi. "What in the world just happened? Who could have done this?"Yumi coughed and replied, her voice hoarse. "Could it be... Mrs. Abigail's killer?"Nicholas nodded, his expression determined. "It's a possibility. Someone must have gotten to Hans, overpowered him, and orchestrated this explosion to seal us inside."Realizing the gravity of their situation as the dust gradually cleared, they surveyed their surroundings and discovered that they were indeed trapped within the secret chamber.Nicholas remained composed and calm. "We cannot afford to panic, Yumi. We need to find a way out of here."Yumi's eyes widened in concern. "But how? We're surrounded by collapsed walls. There's no visible exit."Nicholas's voice carried a note of reassurance. "There must be another way, a hidden passage

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    Dead

    Fear gripped Hans's face as he stared at the gun pointed directly at him. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, his heart raced uncontrollably, and his trembling hands betrayed his intense unease. The shadowy figure emerged further, revealing the person behind the weapon.Hans's shock only deepened as he found himself looking directly into the eyes of Rose. Her gaze was hardened, and she appeared like a fugitive on the run. His lips quivered as he called out her name, barely able to believe what he was seeing. "Rose... you're alive?"With the gun still trained on him, Rose responded with a cold, unwavering voice. "Yes, Hans. I survived, thanks to Nicholas's foolishness. He thought a small dose of poison would slowly end my life."Hans was trembling. "How... how did you manage to survive? After taking that poison, I thought..."Rose gaze hardened as she interrupted him. "I returned to Mrs. Abigail, who concocted a cure for me. From that moment on, I started planning my revenge ag