The moon was a pale lantern above the palace as Odi slipped through the corridors with urgency in her step. Her mind raced with the weight of what she had just overheard—words spoken in shadows, secrets not meant for her ears. Heath's voice, smooth and calculating, still echoed in her mind as he spoke to that... thing. A being from another world. She needed answers. And she needed Valerie.
Odi found her in her chambers, the air thick with the remnants of stray magic. Books lay scattered across the floor, one still crackling with residual energy. A broken mirror stood by the wall, its glass shards reflecting fragments of an anxious princess.
Valerie spun when Odi burst in. "Odi? What's wrong?"
"Heath. He's not who he says he is," Odi began, breathless.
"What do you mean?" Valerie is shocked and curious.
"I overhead him... He's evil, he's bad... He's the villain here, not you"
Valerie stilled. "What did you hear? What's wrong Odi, tell me."
Odi looked out the door the door behind her, ensured no one was listening or paying attention and she stepped closer to Valerie. "He was talking to someone. Someone not from here. Another dimension. I think, because it wasn't an actual being, it was just a voice, like he summoned something. He called the person dad, I think that was his dad. The voice was... inhuman, deep, commanding. He was telling Heath to find the Heartstone before Darius does. And Heath—he plans to follow me. To steal it from me. He thinks he's the rightful heir to the throne"
Valerie's face drained of color. She sank onto a velvet chair, her hands trembling. "So, the prophesy was right after all"
There was a slight pause and she continued, "When the prophesy said the villain is royalty that claims he is the rightful heir to the throne, it made me feel so much that it was me. I never even thought of Heath."
"He's not who you think he is and he needs to be exposed. "
"You're right. But, how did you know he had something up his sleeves?"
Odi nodded. "He eavesdropped on I and King Darius' conversation, I saw him when I was leaving the throne room and I knew it was strange for him to be that curious about what conversations I had with the King. I believe I was just led by something to follow him. I followed him out of instinct. And I heard it all."
For a long moment, Valerie said nothing. The tension between them hung thick like a veil. Then, with quiet horror in her voice, she murmured, "So I'm not the villain."
Odi looked confused. "What? I told you, I told you Your highness that you can't, you're a nice person. And I'm sure you know that yourself too."
"Yeah, I just thought I would change."
Valerie stood, her hands clenched into fists. "For years I've feared this power in me. Thought that if it ever came to light, I'd be branded the traitor. The cursed. Heath was the only sorcerer the people recognized. The kingdom's golden boy. I... I thought if magic was forbidden, it had to be because of people like me. But it was him. All along."
Odi crossed the room and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "You're not the villain, Valerie. You're the protector."
Valerie looked up, her eyes wet. "Should we tell Darius?"
Odi hesitated, then shook her head. "Not yet. Darius trusts Heath. If we tell him without proof, he may think I'm trying to sabotage his closest advisor. Or worse—that it's some twisted political game."
"So what do we do?"
Odi's jaw set in determination. "We get evidence. We follow him. We wait until he slips up again. And then we expose him."
Valerie nodded slowly. "Then we bring him down."
***
Meanwhile, in the far reaches of the Eastern province, within the damp halls of the secondary palace, Ben was wreaking havoc.
"Where is it?" he growled, flipping over another ornate chest.
The room he was in belonged to the High Advisor of the province, and Ben was certain he kept the map there—the one that would help him find the underground tunnels leading back to Darius' palace. Tunnels the royals used centuries ago, forgotten by most but not by thieves like Ben.
He paused only when the door creaked.
"Ben," said a shaky voice.
He turned, eyes narrowing at the scrawny palace servant who dared disturb him. "You again?"
"You're not supposed to be in here..."
"And yet I am," Ben smirked, grabbing a rolled parchment. "Go away, or you'll be the next thing missing from this place."
The servant squeaked and scurried off.
Ben unfurled the scroll. Not the map, but something better—a log of movements. Guards, supplies, nightly patrols. Perfect. If he couldn't sneak out, he could create a diversion.
He slipped the parchment into his tunic and grinned. Soon, he'd return to the palace. And this time, he wouldn't be sneaking in just to see Odi.
He had a plan. One that would shake Darius' court to its core.
---
Back in the royal palace, Valerie and Odi sat side by side on the floor of the princess' chamber, surrounded by open books and glowing trinkets.
"I always thought Heath was too polished," Valerie murmured. "Too composed. And Father used to tell me... magic has a price. Heath never paid it. Never showed the strain."
Odi ran her fingers along a page. "He was trained by his father, wasn't he?"
"Yes," Valerie nodded. "A cold man. Said to have dabbled in dark magic. Heath inherited everything from him—his status, his power, his pride."
Odi looked toward the window. The stars blinked in the distance, silent witnesses to the darkness brewing within palace walls.
"We need to keep watch," she said. "And when the time is right, we strike."
Valerie reached for Odi's hand. "Together."
Odi nodded. "Together."
They were onto him, watching him and waiting for him to implicate himself.