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Secrets built the very core of who a royal should be. Whether in their past life, they killed someone. Whether in their past life, they committed a heinous act. Everyone had a secret to hide, and each one held a graver sentence than the next. To gauge the severity of one, you judge how far someone was willing to hide it. The princes had a brush with that, having to argue in a court of scholars to keep Professor Heine as their Royal Tutor. Learning his past through their Father and realizing the lengths that the Professor took to keep them safe stitched a deep cut of secrecy that slowly etched itself across the Royal Castle. Like a child with a dagger, running the tip of the blade down a wet canvas. Humming a sweet lullaby as the blade nicked off the necks and faces of those they held dear.
The princes had a brush with that down in the storage-keep, where all the criminal records and important documents laid hidden from the public’s eye. If learning Professor Heine’s past was like a child cutting off relations, learning the partial-truth that he had hurt their Father and was a marked criminal skewed the wonderful professor that they had all grown to care for. The seemingly docile but straightforward man warped into an individual that they couldn’t recognize. Haunting words echoed in their wake: “You shouldn’t trust anyone with a perfect face. The criminal can be anyone, perhaps even me.”
The memory of that day haunted Bruno. It was a stain, a tiny speck of grievance that he didn’t want to associate with his Master. The third prince understood the importance behind the secret and why Professor Heine had to do what he did, but the memory of the truth, itself, stung worse than any hurtful word that Bruno could think of. Secrets held a purpose, but this secret was too much for the heart. A level of unease consumed Bruno’s rationality, tightening his chest and choking him of the bits of air that he wanted to breathe. Secrets usually had a childish connotation, but there was nothing childish about almost losing family.
But what stirred these feelings into Bruno?
Four days ago...
It was a nice night out. Quiet, dark, and a New Moon sunk into the shadows as the residents of the Kingdom of Granzreich laid in their beds, fast asleep with their heads tucked underneath their pillows. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Not Shadow, who slept at the foot of Adele’s bed. Not Blinky, the fluffy chicken and the slight bob of her head in her slumber. Not the horses in the stables, resting their head against the other for familial support. For the first time, there was no movement in the night. But at Witching Hour-- when the clocks struck three-- a ghastly wail echoed down the corridors. A voice weak on first-impression, but strong as it ricocheted off of walls and bounced into bedrooms.
The maids and butlers were the first to wake up. Easing out from their beds, not truly aware of what was going on. Peering out from their sleeping quarters with burning candles, rubbing their eyes and trying to figure out where the wail was coming from. It sounded... like a child. Like a child crying out for their Mama or Papa, a child that was all alone in a dark castle. The disheveled palace guards followed the wail. Their footsteps slinking down the empty corridors like the footsteps of War. Buckling like horse hooves as the mighty beasts dragged cannons and wooden cages, holding beaten criminals and fractured prisoners. Ludwig and Maximilian were ahead of the group. Almost running without breathing as the wail got louder. It was close. Ludwig could almost see a pile of rags and flesh at the corner. A gruesome sight as limbs contorted, bones cracking and dislodging from place as a child morphed into a monster. But perhaps, it was never there to begin with.
No, Ludwig was quite sure he saw it. Rounding the corner, the palace guard jumped but found nothing. No rags, no child. The wail continued. It was moving, deeper and deeper into the Royal Castle. Claws sinking into the velvet carpet like knives digging into fallen flesh. As if it was merely walking while the living scurried on their feet to match its pace.
“What you standing there for?!” Maximilian dragged Ludwig by the arm, voice echoing just as much as the child’s wails. “It’s moving!”
Ludwig lifted his feet, but he didn’t turn his back fully. If he was naive, a demon or a corrupt soul could’ve easily dragged him back into the shadows from whence it was born. The search was on. The wail grew louder, almost shrieking into the night and then cutting off. Rather abruptly. The palace guards were blocked by iron doors and links of chain. A decrepit chamber door thrived on neglect, but it was happy to rear its rusty gaze over the humans, whose ancestors created it in the first place. Maximilian tugged the chains, but all he managed to do was rattle them before reinforcements came. Bearing the Majesty of Granzreich behind them, and Viktor ordered everyone to head back to their sleeping quarters.
“Your Majesty, we believe that there is a monster on the other side of the door,” Ludwig brushed a hand over the breast of his nightgown. “Let us take care of it.”
“No.” The response so quick that it was, perhaps, more startling than what Ludwig had seen. “No one can enter this chamber unless they have the blood of a King.” A pointed dagger slipped down Viktor’s sleeve, and he pricked a finger. Letting the blood run on its own because of gravity’s work.
“But, Your--”
“It is unwise for those without royal blood to be here,” Viktor explained. “I cannot ensure that your lives will be spared from an agonizing demise.” He gave the guards, butlers, and maids a soft look. The guards who were old enough recognized that look. It was the same curved smile and promising eyes that Viktor wore back when he was named the God of War. It was the look that spelled out clearly that everything was going to be okay. One had to simply trust in their leader, and the older guards obeyed. Stepping back and returning to their sleeping quarters. Soon, everyone else did the same. Heavy unease settling at the bottom of their hearts as they deserted their King.
A heavy price to pay, but Viktor had to do this alone. If anyone knew what was on the other side of the door, they couldn’t tell anybody. They would’ve already been eaten. Viktor perked up when he heard a wail. Softer this time. As if it was on the other side of the door, ear pinned against the rusting iron. Listening to everything on the outside.
“I’m coming, I’m coming. Do not fret.” Viktor ran his bloody finger over the rusty door, and an entrance tore into the rusting iron. Blue eyes floating in the darkness as Viktor pulled back the hanging, iron chains and submerged himself into the shadows. Popping the buttons on his collar to free his neck. The entrance to the chamber disappeared.
At daybreak’s bell, the four princes were called to the Majesty’s Study. Their father sat behind his desk, cheerfully greeting his sons and asking if they had a good sleep. Just as he expected, no one slept well after last night’s events. Kai wanted to investigate where the wail came from, but a guard instructed him to stay in his room. Bruno was met with the same response when he tried, and the third prince muttered to the side that the palace guard was even less prepared than him. Leonhard mumbled that he hid under his blankets and covered his ears. And last but not least, Licht commented that the castle felt colder. As if something was lurking amongst them at every waking hour, something that didn’t belong.
“Now, Prince Licht, that’s a rather rude statement to say when I consider you as family,” Heine pouted.
“What the Hell?!” Licht pointed at Heine, as if the man was the source of last night’s wails. “When did you get here?”
“I was here the whole time.” Heine sipped from a teacup, making one wonder where the teacup came from. Considering that even the Majesty didn’t have a teacup for himself. After his drink, Heine was persistent in lecturing Licht that such foul language should not be rolled over a royal tongue, but Licht had better discussions in mind. Like, how did Heine get into the the Majesty’s Study without anyone noticing?!
“I hardly think my explanation is that important when the Majesty called Your Highnesses here, so urgently this morning.” Heine glanced at his old friend, eyes narrowing slightly when Viktor broke from his trance.
“Yes, your Professor is quite correct.” Viktor cleared his throat, gradually feeling his sons’ eyes on him. “I speak to you all, not as your Father, but as the King of Granzreich.” A sudden change in the room. A sudden power rose above their Father, and the princes couldn’t look away as his mighty gaze scanned them all. Everyone stood straighter, stood taller, and held their heads high to be the princes they were groomed to be. The King of Granzreich commented that he was growing old, growing slower and weaker than he used to be. Quite hard to believe since Viktor looked as young as his sons, but it was the thought that counted. With great power, came overwhelming responsibility. The King requested for the princes to keep up with their studies with Professor Heine. Very soon, a successor will be announced.
Even Professor Heine didn’t see that coming, but his calm composure hid the anxiety that ate away at his core. Despite how strong the King wanted everyone to believe, his strength was fading. For in his lifetime, humans were as fragile as flowers. Someone had to carry on the King’s work, and he wasn’t strong enough to satisfy the monster’s hunger anymore.
“Your Majesty.” It was Kai who spoke. “Why did you wait all this time before announcing a successor? You must have realized your declining health.”
“As King, I had to ensure that my successor was willing to bear the burden. No matter the cost.” Intentional or not, the King’s collar slipped down. Revealing ravenous bites and scratches that littered the sides of his neck.
Kai stood speechless, eyes shrinking in horror at the painful marks. Out of respect, Bruno averted his eyes. Biting his lower lip to remind him of who he was. He was not a son, but a prince. To express familial emotions now would dishonor the burden that the King had to bear. Leonhard stared at the painful marks, head-on. Eyebrows scrunched over his eyes as he bared his teeth. Pulling a brave face when all he wanted to do was cry. Licht maintained a frown, glancing to his older brothers for support. To see the King-- no, to see their Father-- injured to this extent was horrifying. Fresh scratches ran down Viktor’s neck like it was the work of a dagger, and the bites taunted the brothers. An invisible puppet master pulled the strings of their Father, making him do its bidding.
“Th-Those,” Leonhard managed to spit out. His brave face shattered, revealing a frightened little boy on the other side.
“There is a passageway in the castle, where only Kings are allowed to enter,” Viktor explained. The sudden shift in tone told the brothers that their Father was speaking, not the King. “Sometimes, it is referred as ‘The Chamber of Secrets.’”
The name, just the name, sent a chill in the air. As if it was a secret too heavy to tell. Much too heavy to bear because for the first time, Professor Heine and his students realized how frail Viktor had become. He wasn’t as sickly as Licht was awhile back, but there were definite marks of age on dear Viktor when he buttoned up his collar. His fingers fumbled, it took longer for him to complete such a simple task. Heavy lines creased over his eyes, a weathered quality chipped into his face when his gaze met his sons yet again.
“My sons, I am the King that Granzreich needs, but not the one it deserves right now.” Viktor licked his lips, unable to keep a steady gaze on his sons anymore. “I need to have a successor.”
In the present timeline where Bruno stood, that was the jarring memory that reminded him of Professor Heine. His Father was no stranger to secrets, but to think that...Bruno didn’t know where to begin. Just knowing that his Father held a heavy burden like this, was it worth being King?
“I think it is,” Leonhard whispered. The two brothers were in Bruno’s room with journals in their hands. In case they didn’t survive, at least Licht or Kai could read their entries and know of the monster that lurked the Royal Castle. This wasn’t just an unsolvable mystery anymore. It was as if the secret was a family curse, doomed to wreak havoc if its prey suddenly decided to drop dead. Before leaving, Bruno and Leonhard went over their plan. Comb the castle for anything strange, listen for the wail, find the chamber, and kill whatever was on the other side. Or at least, negotiate some sort of peace treaty.
Leonhard’s eyes were dull with bloodlust. Sharpening a hunting knife in his hands. Twirling it between his fingers without a care in the world, as if he had done something like this before. Leonhard believed that if it was killed, no one in the family would have to lay their lives before a corrupt puppet master. Ever again. Because humans were not the subjects to Evil, but the proud Light that will shun and destroy every speck of it.
“Do you still believe it’s a demon?” Bruno murmured.
“Demons often take the form of a child to lure their prey in. Get their prey to drop their guard before…” Leonhard’s voice trailed off, but his hunting knife did all the talking. It pierced through his journal, like it was cutting through butter. A glass vial of holy water hung around Leonhard’s neck, tied to a string-necklace that Adele made for him earlier today. As long as Leonhard was able to land a solid hit, he knew he could have the demon subdued with holy water. At least, that was his plan.
“It’s most likely a wild animal. A dragon is more believable than a demon at this point.” Bruno had his own guesses on the monster, and a wild animal seemed more plausible in this realm of reality. Narrowing several species down, Bruno speculated that it might be a wolf of some kind. His Father bore heavy scarring from scratches and bites, and wolves were prevalent in the forest around Granzreich. A wolf biting another at the neck was a ritual of asserting dominance. Perhaps, because of Viktor’s failing health, the wolf felt that it needed to be the dominant one because Viktor couldn’t hold it back anymore. Plausible . Farfetched as best, but it lined more with Bruno’s logical side than a demon ever could.
What did they have between them? Leonhard had his hunting knife, his journal, and Blinky. Adele’s pet chicken.
“Does she know that you’re sacrificing Blinky?”
“I think Adele likes Shadow more,” Leonhard confessed. He hugged the fluffy chicken close to his chest, but the bird wasn’t stupid. She flapped her wings, clucking loudly. Leonhard shushed Blinky, scratching under the chicken’s wing to calm her down. “Besides, if we’re encountering a demon, it’ll take the chicken first. I’m sorry, but you lived a good life here.” Leonhard rubbed his nose over Blinky’s beak, as if he was trying to embody a bird so that Blinky would trust him. Bad idea. Now Leonhard was emotionally attached to her.
Bruno, on the other hand, had a more sensible approach. Rope to make a snare, his journal to document his dying breaths, and a burlap sack to muzzle the wolf once it was caught in his snare.
“Yeah, you’re going to die.”
“That is not the encouragement I need right now!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” Whatever humor Leonhard had left wasn’t present in those brave words. “That’s what partners are for, right?” An innocent tilt to the head.
It was hard to comprehend how Leonhard could be so comical and innocent one moment, and then serious and level-headed the next. The duality of Man was perfectly executed by Leonhard in a span of a few minutes. The fourth prince had already sealed his Fate. He will become King. He will bear the burden so that his brothers wouldn’t have to.
“If you’re trying to be the scapegoat for all of us, I can’t let that happen. What kind of older brother would I be, then?” Bruno matched his brother’s seriousness. With Blinky in their group, the intrepid duo became the brave trio. Just ten minutes before Witching Hour, they all left Bruno’s room and approached the darkness with lit hearts.
Licht had a valid excuse for not being here. Recovery from a hurtful diet, Licht was in bed. Resting after a nightly snack of jam, brought in by a maid. Kai was with Adele and Shadow, protecting them in case the monster decided to rear its ugly head into the room. That left Bruno and Leonhard to their own devices, but the two didn’t mind. With Blinky by their side, they had enough company. Besides, as detectives for unsolved mysteries, this was the first mystery that brought them to the darker side of the Royal Castle. Figuratively and literally.
Like clockwork, Bruno focused his eye on the audience. Reciting the opening lines for this journey.
“On this segment of ‘Unsolved Mysteries’, my brother, Leonhard von Granzreich, and I, Bruno von Granzreich, will be uncovering the truth behind the ‘Chamber of Secrets’. Down these dark corridors, that form the arteries and veins of the Royal Castle, a monster lurks among us. Hidden in the shadows. Whether supernatural or not, we will uncover the truth.”
“With Blinky as bait,” Leonhard added. The chicken turned its head and glared at the fourth prince before fluffing itself. Before Blinky could growl, Leonhard scratched under her wing to calm her down. No noise for right now. Witching Hour was upon them. Somewhere in the castle, the clocks struck three and a child’s wail echoed somewhere in the maze. Soft at first before growing in strength. Out here in the open, it really did sound like a child. Leonhard gave Bruno a look: I told you so.
This was supernatural territory now. Leonhard asked for Bruno’s rope, and he tied it carefully around Blinky’s leg before setting the fluffy hen down. The chicken scratched the floor and fluffed herself again before wandering around a corner. If the demon grabbed Blinky, it would also yank Leonhard. Giving the fourth prince a chance to subdue the Evil with holy water. If anything grabbed Blinky, it would also yank Leonhard and the prince was armed and ready to stab something with his hunting knife. Besides, Blinky served as a beta tester, testing to see if the situation was safe before Bruno and Leonhard shuffle in. Either way, Blinky was on a losing team, but the hen didn’t care. She led the brothers down the hallway, acting as their eyes when they didn’t want to look.
Tonight, the wails weren’t as bad. They were still loud, but not as loud as the first night. On this fourth day, the wails weren’t moving. As if the monster was grounded to one place, anticipating them. Waiting for fresh meat to wander willingly into its mouth. It got colder, cold enough for Leonhard to see his breath on an Autumn night. Bruno jotted quick notes into his journal every now and then, documenting the adventure. Leaving his last testimony before uncertain death.
Around the last corner, the wails faded into silence. Blinky was gone. Leonhard pulled the rope. Whatever stole Blinky did it meticulously. No sign of struggle. The rope wasn’t torn or slashed. The rope wasn’t adjusted. It was as if Blinky disappeared in thin air.
“Do you believe me now?” Leonhard showed Bruno the evidence.
“She probably slipped out.”
Leonhard raised an eyebrow. If Bruno wanted to believe that, fine. He half-wondered if he could trick Bruno to be bait, but that was a bad idea. If the wailing has stopped and Blinky was gone, the demon was far away. Perhaps, it was right…
Leonhard spun around. Nothing. He couldn’t let his guard down. Not now. He couldn’t possibly--
“Bruno?” Leonhard’s eyes darted back and forth. Bruno was gone. As if he was never by Leonhard’s side to begin with. Wait, did the demon separate them? Was he, Leonhard von Granzreich , alone and separated with a bloodthirsty demon? If darkness could choke a man, Leonhard felt the pressure around his neck he saw the iron doors to the Chamber of Secrets before him. There was a hole torn in the middle of the entrance. He understood now. The demon wanted to pick him off. One on one. Biting his thumb, Leonhard approached the hole. Every fibre in his being told him to run. Every nerve in his body told him that he wasn’t strong enough to do this. He couldn’t handle this alone.
Did his Father experience this while in combat? Even with his Father’s level-headed mindset, it must’ve been hard to shake off fear when one’s life was at risk. Did that deter Viktor? If he had let his fear puppet his every move, the Kingdom of Granzreich wouldn’t be the peaceful nation that the world knew today. Every obstacle and adversary struck fear in the hearts of Man. What set the difference between a coward and a King was that a King accepted his fear. Willing to brush aside the thought of it to do what he knew was right. Plucking his thumb out from his mouth, Leonhard smeared his blood on the iron entrance as payment before sinking his whole being into the demon’s lair.
Meanwhile, Bruno and Blinky wandered around the castle on their own. Blinky nuzzled against Bruno’s chest as the prince held the chicken close. Somehow, they got separated from Leonhard and it was only a matter of time before...Bruno stopped at a corner, pulled out his journal, and began writing. Against the odds, if he was going to die tonight, he was going to put up a good fight before accepting his Fate. Blinky clucked softly, wiping her beak against Bruno’s shirt as the prince wrote down his last thoughts. It wasn’t hard to come up with the last entry. Bruno had no way of telling if he was going to die, but he at least wanted to impart a message so that Kai and Licht would know that he and Leonhard died in bravery.
Bruno traced Blinky’s foot so that some part of her would be left behind. The single proof that she existed. Setting the chicken down, Bruno tucked his journal into the corner before following Blinky. The hen bobbed her head along, stopping every now and then. Hearing something. Bruno gulped. All he had left was a burlap sack. Not enough to fight against anything, but Bruno understood his weakness and pushed forward. He was not alone. He had Blinky, and the fluffy hen never left Bruno’s side. Only backing away from the prince when they came face-to-face with the Chamber of Secrets.
Doors closed, but that was to be expected. Blinky retreated, huddled behind Bruno’s leg. Trembling from head to toe. Something was on the other side of the door. Whether supernatural or not, Bruno couldn’t afford to retreat. He originally began this journey with Leonhard, and he will end it the same way. Coming back to civilization with Leonhard. Leonhard’s hunting knife was left behind. At the foot of the door. Leonhard was inside, battling whatever Evil that threatened to dominant over him. Bruno approached the door, running a hand down the rusting iron. Fingers smearing against fresh blood. Possibly Leonhard’s?
One had to give payment. Bruno was no stranger to this. In order to call for something, one had to sacrifice something of equal value. Bruno’s life for Leonhard’s life. Because as King, there were sacrifices you had to give. Not everyone could be saved but if one life could be saved, a King was the kind of person who would trade theirs to protect another. Protect. Sacrifice. Secrets. The trademark descriptions that laid behind the position of power, which in turn, were the building blocks for whom a King was. And if a King should fail or fall…
Tightening his fist, Bruno bit down on his thumb until he drew blood. It took a minute before his teeth tore through, and he drew the family crest over the iron gate with his blood. A pale copy, but it gave Bruno the courage to meet the darkness on the other side. The metallic chains slipped off the door as the iron gates were pulled open by the puppet master inside. Bruno could turn back, but what kind of brother would he be if he left Leonhard to Death. Accepting his Fate, Bruno stepped inside.
“Viktor, I do not approve of this.”
Is that Master’s voice? Bruno opened his eyes slowly. His spectacles were barely hanging onto his nose. His head tipped down, pointing to his knees. Bruno’s bangs were long enough to hide the fact that he was awake. He kept his breathing slow and steady, blinking rapidly to wake himself up. From the corner of his eyes, his brothers were fast asleep. But even so, why would they sleep with their heads down in a chair? Was this an exercise of some sort?
“At anytime, a King has to face his worst fear,” Viktor began. “It can take the form of anything, willing to corrupt a man from the inside-out. To be a strong leader, you must learn how to control your fear and not let it puppet you.”
“Not to speak ill, but isn’t hypnosis a cheap trick?” Bruno could hear Professor Heine adjusting his spectacles.
“Our worst fears live inside our minds. You’re not stranger to that, Heine.”
Silence on the Professor’s part. Bruno managed to grasp the situation. This was just a test. So if someone conquered their fear, they would wake up. Bruno glanced from the corners of his eyes. Licht was struggling with something. His fingers burrowed into his knee cap. Kai was limp, slumped over in his chair. Leonhard grinded his teeth, as if he wanted to move but this body was limbs were relaxed and numb because of hypnosis. So Bruno was the only who managed to wake-up.
He conquered his fear but even in the dream he had, he didn’t know what his fear was. No, the prince did know and now, Bruno had something to strive for. But while his brothers were still asleep, Bruno closed his eyes. Trying to re-enter his dream. Longing to see the face that hid in his Chamber of Secrets.
An unsolved mystery, nonetheless, because Bruno had already conquered his fear. He would never know who sat on a throne on the other side.