Chapter : 1489

  The Royal Palace of Saber was less a home and more a monument to paranoia. The walls were black basalt, polished to a mirror sheen so that any approaching assassin would see their own reflection before they died. The gates were manned by the Royal Guard, soldiers who made the Obsidian Eye look like crossing guards. They wore gold-trimmed armor and carried halberds that crackled with enchantments.

  Lloyd, Ken, and Jasmin stood before the main gate. Lloyd wore his best "humble scholar" robes, freshly pressed. Jasmin carried his bag, her hands trembling slightly. Ken stood like a rock, staring at the guards with a look that said, 'I could take you.'

  "Names," the gate guard barked. He didn't look at a list. He just stared at Lloyd.

  "Doctor Zayn," Lloyd said calmly. "And associates. We have an audience with Her Highness, Princess Seraphina."

  The guard sneered. "The quack from the party. We heard. Wait here."

  He turned and walked into the gatehouse. He was gone for a long time. Lloyd stood in the sun, feeling the heat bake his turban. It was a power play. Make them wait. Make them sweat. Show them who is in charge.

  "They are trying to rattle you," Ken murmured.

  "Let them try," Lloyd whispered back. "I once waited three days for a shipment of rare tea leaves. I have the patience of a stone."

  After twenty minutes, the guard returned. "The Chamberlain will see you. Follow the path. Do not step on the grass. Do not look at the windows. Do not speak to the servants."

  "Charming," Lloyd muttered.

  They walked through the outer courtyard. It was manicured to within an inch of its life. Not a blade of grass was out of place. It felt sterile. Dead.

  They were met at the main doors by a functionary in stiff velvet robes. He sniffed at them as if they smelled of manure.

  "This way," he said, turning on his heel.

  He led them through endless corridors of black stone and gold leaf. The palace was silent. No laughter. No music. Just the echo of boots and the whisper of silk.

  "It feels like a tomb," Jasmin whispered.

  "It is," Lloyd thought. "A tomb for a living princess."

  Finally, they reached a set of double doors guarded by four Royal Guards. The functionary knocked once.

  "Enter," a voice called from inside. It wasn't the Princess. It was a man's voice. Smooth. Oily.

  The doors opened.

  The room was a solar, filled with light from tall windows. But the light seemed cold. In the center of the room sat Princess Seraphina. She looked even worse than the night before. Her skin was translucent, her eyes shadowed. She sat perfectly still, hands folded in her lap.

  Standing behind her, with a hand resting possessively on the back of her chair, was a man. He was tall, thin, and handsome in a sharp, predatory way. He wore the crimson and gold of the Royal Family.

  "Crown Prince Cassius," Lloyd realized. The brother. The heir.

  Cassius smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. His eyes were flat and dead, like a shark's.

  "So," Cassius said. "This is the miracle worker from the slums. Doctor Zayn."

  Lloyd bowed low. "Your Highness. I am honored."

  "My sister tells me you have... interesting theories," Cassius said, walking around the chair. He moved like a snake, fluid and silent. "She says you believe she is 'drowning'."

  "It is a metaphor, Highness," Lloyd said, keeping his head bowed. "For a blockage of the vital energies."

  "Indeed," Cassius said. He stopped in front of Lloyd. He was close. Too close. "And you think you can fix what the Royal Physicians cannot? Do you think you are smarter than the King's own healers?"

  "I am merely... different," Lloyd said. "Sometimes, a fresh eye sees what the weary eye misses."

  Cassius laughed. It was a cold, dry sound. "A fresh eye. Or a greedy hand."

  He turned to Ken. He looked him up and down. "And this? Your pet ogre?"

  Ken didn't blink.

  "My bodyguard, Kasim," Lloyd said. " The roads are dangerous."

  "Not as dangerous as this room, Doctor," Cassius whispered.

  He walked back to Seraphina. He placed a hand on her shoulder. Lloyd saw her flinch. A tiny, almost imperceptible movement. But Lloyd saw it.

  She was afraid of him.

  "My father, the King, is... fond of Seraphina," Cassius said. "He is desperate for her to be well. He insists you be allowed to try. Against my better judgment."

  Chapter : 1490

  He leaned down, whispering in Seraphina’s ear, but loud enough for Lloyd to hear. "Do not get your hopes up, sister. He is likely just another peasant looking for gold."

  Seraphina looked at the floor. "Yes, brother."

  Cassius straightened up. "You have one hour. If you hurt her... if you distress her... you will not leave this palace with your head attached to your shoulders."

  "Understood," Lloyd said.

  "Guards," Cassius barked. "Remain in the room. Watch him."

  He turned and swept out of the room, the doors booming shut behind him.

  The air in the room seemed to lighten instantly, but the tension remained. Seraphina looked up. Her eyes were filled with tears.

  "I am sorry," she whispered. "He is... protective."

  "He is a viper," Lloyd thought. But he smiled gently.

  "It is understandable, Highness," Lloyd said. "Now. Shall we begin?"

  He walked over to her. He knelt so he was at eye level.

  "The guards," she whispered, glancing at the four soldiers standing like statues in the corners.

  "They are furniture," Lloyd said. "Ignore them. Look at me."

  She looked at him.

  "Tell me," Lloyd said. "When did the drowning start?"

  Seraphina took a shaky breath. "Three years ago. After... after my mother died."

  Lloyd’s mind raced. The Queen died three years ago. The King was broken. The Prince was in charge. And the Princess was bound.

  It was a coup. A slow, silent coup.

  "And the migraines?" Lloyd asked.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Every day," she said. "Worse when I try to... try to use magic."

  "Ah," Lloyd said. "You are a mage?"

  "I... I was," she said. "I had a gift for Light magic. But now... it feels like fire in my veins. I cannot summon even a spark without collapsing."

  "Because the pipes are clogged," Lloyd said. "The water builds up pressure. If you try to force it, the pipes burst."

  He reached into his bag. He didn't pull out a stethoscope. He pulled out a small, clear crystal. It was just a piece of quartz, but it looked impressive.

  "This," Lloyd lied, "is a harmonic resonator. It will help me see the blockage."

  He held it up. "May I?"

  She nodded.

  He placed the crystal on her forehead. It was cool against her skin.

  "Close your eyes," he commanded softly.

  She obeyed.

  Lloyd activated his [All-Seeing Eye]. He channeled his perception through the crystal, using it as a focus.

  He dove into her energy field. It was worse than he thought. The bindings weren't just wrapped around her core; they were woven into it. They were parasitic. They were feeding on her mana, growing stronger as she tried to fight them.

  And the signature... the magical signature of the bindings... it was cold. Dark. It felt like the Abyssal energy he had seen in Oakhaven.

  Devil magic.

  Lloyd suppressed a shudder. Prince Cassius was using Devil magic to bind his own sister.

  He pulled back. He opened his eyes.

  "I see it," he said.

  "Is it... bad?" she asked, opening her eyes.

  "It is complex," Lloyd said. "But not impossible."

  He wasn't sure if that was true. Breaking a Devil curse without revealing his own powers would be tricky. But he had to try. She was the key. If he freed her, he weakened Cassius. If he weakened Cassius, he could get to the King.

  "I can help you, Highness," Lloyd said. "But it will take time. And trust."

  "I trust you," she said immediately. Too immediately. She was desperate for anyone to throw her a lifeline.

  "Good," Lloyd said. "Then let us begin with something simple. A breathing exercise. To lower the pressure."

  He spent the next hour teaching her how to meditate, how to visualize the flow of her energy, how to gently route it around the blockages rather than forcing it through. It was basic mana control, but to her, it was a revelation.

  For the first time in three years, the pounding in her head receded from a roar to a dull throb.

  "It... it stopped," she whispered, touching her temple. "The hammer stopped."

  She looked at Lloyd with wonder. "You are a wizard."

  "Just a doctor," Lloyd smiled.

  The hour was up. The doors opened. Cassius didn't return, but the functionary did.

  "Time," he snapped. "The Princess must rest."

  Lloyd stood up. He bowed. "Same time tomorrow, Highness?"

  "Yes," she said eagerly. "Please."

  Lloyd turned to leave. As he walked out, he glanced back. Seraphina was sitting straighter. The color had returned to her cheeks.

  But the guards were still watching. The cage was still there.

  Chapter : 1491

  "One bar at a time," Lloyd thought. "We break the cage one bar at a time."

  ----

  They left the palace in silence. They didn't speak until they were back in the safe house, the door bolted and the silencing wards active.

  "That place is a snake pit," Ken spat, finally breaking his silence. "The Prince... he smells of rot."

  "He smells of power," Lloyd corrected. "He is running the show. The King is a figurehead. The Princess is a hostage."

  "Did you see the guards?" Jasmin asked, shivering. "They weren't looking at us. They were looking at her. Like jailers."

  "Because they are," Lloyd said. He paced the room, his mind working furiously. "The binding on her... it's Devil magic. High level. Cassius is either a warlock himself, or he has a pet Devil in the palace."

  "Devil magic?" Ken frowned. "In the Royal Palace of Altamira? They are supposed to be purists. They hate magic."

  "Hypocrisy is the luxury of kings," Lloyd said. "They hate magic they don't control. But if it gives them power... they will drink it like wine."

  He stopped pacing. "We have a problem. I can treat her symptoms. I can make her feel better. But to cure her... to break that binding... I need to use my Void Power. Or my Spirits. If I do that in the palace, the alarms will go off. Cassius will know."

  "So we can't save her?" Jasmin asked.

  "We can," Lloyd said. "But we can't do it there. We need to get her out."

  "Out?" Ken stared at him. "Out of the Royal Palace? That's a fortress. And she's the Crown Princess."

  "We need to get her to a neutral location," Lloyd said. "Somewhere I can control the environment. Somewhere I can mask my energy."

  "Like the clinic?" Jasmin suggested.

  "Too small. Too public," Lloyd shook his head. "No. We need... a field trip."

  He grinned. "Doctor Zayn recommends fresh air. A change of scenery. Maybe a visit to the Royal Gardens? Or a temple?"

  "Cassius won't allow it," Ken said.

  "Cassius won't," Lloyd agreed. "But the King might."

  "The King?"

  "We haven't met him yet," Lloyd said. "But Seraphina mentioned him. She said he is 'desperate'. He clings to her. He loves her. Cassius controls him by controlling her. If we can get to the King... if we can show him that his daughter is getting better... he might overrule his son."

  "How do we get to the King?" Jasmin asked.

  "We make the Princess strong enough to ask him," Lloyd said.

  He sat down at the table and pulled out a piece of paper. He began to sketch a diagram of the binding he had seen.

  "For the next few days," Lloyd said, "I am going to teach her how to fight back. Not with magic, but with her mind. I am going to teach her to resist the drain. To build up a reserve of power. Just enough for one burst."

  "One burst?"

  "One moment of clarity," Lloyd said. "One moment where she can stand up, look her father in the eye, and say, 'I want to go outside.' And if she does it right... Cassius won't be able to stop her without revealing his hand."

  He looked at his team.

  "We are playing a dangerous game," Lloyd admitted. "We are interfering in a royal succession crisis. If we get caught, they won't just execute us. They will erase us."

  "We're already ghosts," Ken said with a shrug. "Ghosts can't be erased."

  "That's the spirit," Lloyd smiled.

  He looked at the drawing of the binding. It was ugly. Malignant.

  "Cassius thinks he has a bird in a cage," Lloyd murmured. "He doesn't realize he's trapped a phoenix. All we have to do... is give her a spark."

  The next few days were a blur of tension and subtle maneuvering. Lloyd returned to the palace every morning. He treated the Princess. He fed her small amounts of mana-infused tonics disguised as herbal tea. He whispered lessons of control and will.

  He saw the change. It was slow, but it was there. Her eyes grew brighter. Her hands stopped trembling. She began to speak more, to ask questions.

  Cassius watched. He attended one session, standing in the corner like a vulture. He watched Lloyd work. He asked sharp, probing questions. Lloyd deflected them with blather about "humors" and "resonance." Cassius seemed unconvinced, but he couldn't deny the results. His sister was looking better. The King was pleased. Cassius was trapped by his own narrative of wanting her well.

  Chapter : 1492

  On the fifth day, Lloyd decided it was time.

  "Highness," Lloyd said as he packed his bag. "You are improving. But the air in this room... it is stagnant. It is heavy with old magic. To truly heal, you need to reconnect with the earth. With the sky."

  "I... I cannot leave," Seraphina said, her eyes darting to the door.

  "Not forever," Lloyd said. "Just for an hour. A walk in the Royal Park. Under the sun. The sun is the greatest healer."

  "Cassius..."

  "Ask your father," Lloyd whispered. "Ask the King. Today. When he visits you. Show him you are strong. Stand up. Walk to him. And ask."

  Seraphina looked at him. She looked scared. But beneath the fear, there was a spark. A tiny, flickering flame of rebellion.

  "He will say no," she said.

  "Make him say yes," Lloyd said intensely. "You are the Princess. This is your life. Fight for it."

  She took a deep breath. She nodded.

  "I will try."

  Lloyd left the palace with his heart in his throat. He had wound the clockwork. Now he had to wait and see if the bomb would go off.

  That evening, a royal messenger arrived at the clinic.

  "A decree from His Majesty, King Aurelius," the messenger announced. "Her Highness Princess Seraphina will visit the Royal Botanical Gardens tomorrow at noon. Doctor Zayn is commanded to attend her."

  Lloyd took the scroll. He grinned.

  "She did it," Jasmin whispered, her eyes shining.

  "She did," Lloyd said. "Phase one complete. Now for phase two."

  "Phase two?" Ken asked.

  "Phase two," Lloyd said, his eyes turning cold. "We go to the park. And we see who is following us."

  He looked at the map of the city.

  "The Orchid House," Lloyd said. "We still don't know exactly where it is. But Cassius knows. And if I can get close enough to Cassius... or his minions... I can take the knowledge from them."

  He clenched his fist.

  "Tomorrow," Lloyd said. "We go for a walk in the park. And we hunt a Prince."

  The Royal Botanical Gardens of Saber were a marvel of magical engineering. Located on a floating island of earth suspended by ancient enchantments just above the city, they were a paradise of exotic flora from across the continent. Waterfalls cascaded off the edge into the city below, turning into mist before they hit the ground. It was beautiful. It was opulent. And it was crawling with guards.

  Lloyd, Ken, and Jasmin arrived early. They stood near the entrance, waiting for the royal procession. Lloyd scanned the area.

  "Sniper points on the rooftops," Lloyd muttered. "Mages near the fountains. Undercover guards disguised as gardeners. Paranoid is an understatement."

  "It is a fortress with flowers," Ken agreed.

  The royal carriage arrived, a monstrosity of gold and glass drawn by white griffins. It landed softly on the receiving pad.

  The door opened. Prince Cassius stepped out first. He looked annoyed. He scanned the crowd, his eyes landing on Lloyd with a look of pure distaste.

  Then he turned and offered his hand.

  Princess Seraphina emerged. She looked... radiant. She wore a simple white dress and a wide-brimmed hat. She didn't take Cassius's hand. She stepped down unaided. It was a small gesture, but it was a declaration of independence.

  Behind her came the King. King Aurelius was a shocking sight. He was a large man who had wasted away. His robes hung loosely on his frame. His face was gaunt, his eyes wet and wandering. He looked like a man who was haunting his own life.

  "He looks broken," Jasmin whispered.

  "He is," Lloyd said. "He is holding onto reality by a thread. And that thread is his daughter."

  The procession moved into the gardens. Lloyd and his team fell in behind them, flanked by guards.

  "Doctor Zayn," Cassius said, slowing his pace to walk beside Lloyd. "You have achieved a... remarkable improvement in my sister. My father is pleased."

  "I am but a servant, Highness," Lloyd murmured.

  "Indeed," Cassius said. "Tell me, Doctor. What is your opinion on the... fragility of life?"

  "Life is resilient, Highness," Lloyd said. "Like a weed. It finds a way to grow even in stone."

  "But weeds are pulled," Cassius said softly. "And flowers... flowers wilt if they are exposed to too much sun."

  It was a threat. A thinly veiled, elegant threat.

  "I shall keep her in the shade then," Lloyd replied evenly.