Chapter 12
Maximus's
POV
As I sat in my throne room, contemplating the betrayal that had been uncovered, I knew that I couldn't take any chances. The map that Titus had shown me was a clear indication that there were traitors in our midst, people who were working against me and the stability of our kingdom.
I needed to act fast, and I needed to be careful. I couldn't just start accusing people without proof, or I would risk causing even more chaos and confusion.
But there was one person who I knew I could trust, one person who had always been loyal to me no matter what. And that was Marcus, my head tracker. "Marcus," I said, turning to him. "I need you to gather a team and investigate this map. Find out who created it, and why."
Marcus nodded, his expression serious. "Consider it done, your highness. We'll get to the bottom of this."
As he left the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Marcus was one of my most trusted advisors, and I knew that he would do everything in his power to uncover the truth.
But at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Who could be behind this betrayal? Was it someone within my own council, or was it someone from outside our kingdom?
I knew that I needed to be more vigilant than ever before. I couldn't let my guard down, not even for a moment. Because in my kingdom, there were always those who wanted to see me fall. "Your Highness," one of my guards interrupted my thoughts. "We still haven't found Mrs. Blackwood."
I clenched my jaw in frustration. "What do you mean you haven't found her yet? It's been one month now since she has disappeared."
"We've searched every corner of the kingdom, Your Highness," the guard replied. "But we haven't found any trace of her."
I stood up from my throne, feeling the anger boiling inside of me. "How could this happen? How could she just disappear without a trace?"
"Your Highness, we're doing everything we can," the guard assured me. "We have men searching the nearby villages, and we've sent out scouts to search the surrounding forests."
I paced back and forth, my mind racing with thoughts of where she had been hidden.
As the days passed, Marcus and his team worked tirelessly to investigate the map. They interrogated suspects, followed leads, and pieced together a picture of what was really going on.
And what they uncovered was shocking. It turned out that the traitors were not just a few rogue individuals, but an entire faction of rebels who wanted to overthrow me and take the throne for themselves. I couldn't believe it. How had I not seen this coming? How had I been so blind to the signs?
But there was no time for self-pity. I needed to act fast, before it was too late. I called a council meeting, and as my advisors gathered in the throne room, I laid out my plan.
"We need to root out these rebels and put an end to their plans," I said, my voice firm. "We can't let them threaten the stability of our kingdom."
"But how do we know who they are?" one of my advisors asked.
"We don't," I replied. "But we have a few leads. We know that they're hiding out in the forest, and we know that they're planning something big."
"So what do we do?" another advisor asked.
"We launch a surprise attack," I said. "We catch them off guard, and we take them out before they have a chance to strike."
My advisors nodded, clearly impressed by my plan. But I could see the fear in their eyes, the fear of what was to come.
I knew that this would be a dangerous mission. But I also knew that it was necessary. I can't let these rebels threaten the safety and security of our kingdom.
I was in my room thinking.
"Your Highness," Marcus's voice interrupted my thoughts. "We've made a breakthrough in the investigation."
I turned to face him, my heart racing with anticipation. "What did you find?"
"We discovered that the traitors are planning to launch an attack on the castle," Marcus replied. "They're gathering their forces in the nearby forest, and they're planning to strike soon."
I felt a surge of anger and determination. "We will not let them succeed," I declared. "We will defend our castle and our kingdom with everything we have."
As we prepared for the impending attack, I couldn't help but think about Felicity. I need to find her.
As the sun began to set, we set out into the forest, our weapons at the ready. We moved quickly and quietly, trying to avoid detection.
But as we approached the rebel's camp, we realized that they were ready for us. They had set up traps and ambushes, and they were armed and ready to fight.
But as the battle raged on, I pushed thoughts of Felicity to the back of my mind. I needed to focus on the task at hand, on protecting our kingdom from those who sought to destroy it.
The battle was fierce and brutal, with swords clashing and arrows flying. But in the end, we emerged victorious.
As we stood in the aftermath of the battle, I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. So many lives have been lost, so many families torn apart.
But at the same time, I knew that we had done the right thing. We had protected our kingdom, and we had put an end to the rebellion.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards my advisors and my guards. They had fought bravely, and they had risked their lives to protect me and our kingdom.
But I also couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Who else was out there, plotting against me? Who else wanted to see me fall?
I knew that I needed to be more careful than ever before. I couldn't let my guard down, not even for a moment. Because in my kingdom, there were always those who wanted to see me fail.
The thought of Felicity still weighed heavily on my mind.
"We need to find her," I said to my advisors. "We can't rest until we find her."
"We'll keep searching, Your Highness," one of my guards promised.
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards my loyal guards and advisors. But at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration and anger towards those who would dare to threaten the safety and security of my kingdom. "I will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice," I declared, my voice firm. "And I will not rest until Felicity is found and returned to the castle."