There were guards all around the castle.

It was clear just by looking at the security that getting in wasn’t going to be easy. Starna had followed me, though she didn’t seem as enthusiastic about it as she had when we started.

It seemed like she had assumed that I had some dramatic way to prove I was the prince, which would negate Alessa’s succession to the throne and make the marriage unnecessary.

My original plan had been close to that, but now it also included a caveat to grab Alessa and run if they wouldn’t listen.

I’d never been to the castle, which became obvious as I wandered around the outer wall. I’d also never been on this side of town, so I hadn’t realized that there was a wall around the castle.

“How did the two of you get out?” I looked around the wall, but it looked like there was only one gate.

Starna walked over to the wall and little stone handholds grew out of the smooth stone.

“I thought you were an ice mage.” I grabbed a handhold and started climbing. Once I was at the top of the wall, I slid off into the bushes on the other side.

Starna landed next to me. “Just because I mostly use ice magic doesn’t mean I can’t use other types.”

I nodded. Magic didn’t mean too much to me because of my time around my brother. He broke anything magical that he touched, which made the idea of owning or using anything magical an empty dream.

“Where do we go now?” I looked at my guide.

Starna pointed at the large building on the eastern side. “The hall is there, so that’s where they’ll be doing the ceremony.” She started moving through the bushes. “There’s a workers entrance in the back, we should be able to get in there.”

There was a single guard at the back. I didn’t give him time to react as I burst out of the bushes. I used my body to pin him against the wall with my hand over his mouth and my other arm on his throat. I slowly weakened him as he fumbled for his sword. He was unconscious before his hand found the handle that was in between us.

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I let him fall to the ground. “That was easy.”

Starna came out and started dragging him into the bushes. “We need to hurry. He’ll probably wake up before someone notices he’s missing.”

I thought about killing him to give us more time, but we weren’t going to need it. Either this plan worked or it didn’t. His being conscious wouldn’t happen until after the conclusion.

The tanned elf opened the door to the kitchen and walked in. the staff that was there didn’t seem surprised by her entering. They did react to me.

“Wait!” Starna hissed as one of the cooks headed for the door. “This is the prince!”

The cooks all looked like they didn’t believe her, so I straightened up. “I am Prince Sectum Malus. I’ve been in hiding for my safety for the last fourteen years, but I’m here now to expose the traitor Arkun and see that he is removed from power.”

They seemed to like the part about removing Arkun from power, but a green Elf walked up to me with a knife. He cut his arm, then held it out. “Prove it.”

I held out my hand for the knife. After hesitating, he handed it over. I made a similar cut on my other arm, then grabbed him. The shallow cut moved from my arm to his. “Only royalty can use singiving.” I smiled at the shock on his face.

He hit his knee and bowed his head, as did everyone else.

“My King.” The Elf slowly looked up at me. “What do you want me to do?’

“First, I’m the Prince. Alessa will be Queen.” I didn’t want the throne or anything that went with it. I was here to support my cousin, not steal her throne. “Second, I need to stop the ceremony, so if you could get me there..?”

He stood up and motioned for me to follow. “There are servant halls that we can use to keep you out of the public eye.” He opened a door on the outside wall and motioned for me to follow him.

Starna fell in behind me and leaned forward so she could whisper in my ear. “You know that trick isn’t going to work on the diplomats.”

I sighed. I’d been hoping it would, though I still had another trick that I could use that would potentially work. Two of them actually, though I doubted the second one wanted to be considered an option.

The cook stopped in front of a door and motioned to it. “This is the door to the main hall. It opens to the east of the thrones.” He seemed very nervous.

I put my hand on his shoulder. “You did good. Now go back to the kitchen before someone notices you’re missing.

Starna and I had to push into the wall as he fled. While my display might have been enough for him to recognize I was important, he didn’t want to be seen with me while I was launching a sort of coup.

I grabbed the handle and looked over at Starna. “You ready?”

She nodded and I threw open the door.