Olivia's festival was in full swing. As he walked around with Riley, it seemed that the horrors that had befallen Cordonia had yet to touch this wintery corner of the country. Madeleine's poisoning the night before wasn't spoken of. The few snatches of conversations he heard from nobles centered around the freezing temperatures and Lythikos ale.

Did no one care what was going on in the shadows?

When Riley left his side to try and draw the enemy out, he had to fight every single aspect of his personality to remain behind. He had come so close so many times in losing her, that the thought of placing her in this type of situation hurt horribly. If something happened to her, he would never forgive himself.

"I'll be fine." Riley had pressed a tender kiss to his lips. "I promise that nothing will keep me from marrying you."

He had hugged her close, almost wishing he could command her to remain in the safety of his embrace. Yet he knew that he never would demand such from her. His love was a brave, intelligent, and independent woman. He didn't want to destroy any part of her personality just to assuage his fears.

"Stay safe for my sake." He pleaded, kissing her once more. He raised a gloved hand to her cheek, eyes tracing the features he adored. "And knock Drake down with a snowball."

She laughed while hugging him tight. He watched her walk off toward the areas where snowy fields awaited those seeking a moment away from the crowd.

If that didn't draw their enemy out, he honestly didn't know what would.

Deciding to walk around alone and enjoy the merchant tents set up, he happened upon a heated conversation between Olivia and Lucretia.

"Humph. Your mother and father would have rather died than bow and simper before the king and court." Lucretia spat.

"They did die for not showing deference." Olivia snapped.

Lucretia glared at her for such a flippant response.

"To think that their only child would roll out the red carpet for our enemies is beyond disgraceful. Where is the Nevarkis blood? Why does it not boil with hatred toward Constantine and his progeny?"

"This Nevarkis blood does boil with hatred toward my enemies." Olivia responded. "Constantine might have been my enemy in the end but Liam never has. He's the best man I have ever known. He earned my respect and devotion years ago. I--"

"Spare me your lovesick musings." Lucretia waived off Olivia's compliments for the new king. "You've allowed this school girl crush to dilute what was once the pride of the Nevarkis name." Her lip curled in disgust. "To think our line depends solely on you."

Olivia's hands fisted over the insults. "Feel free to leave anytime you wish. That's all you've been good for."

Lucretia opened her mouth then paused at the set down she was about to give her niece. A slight smile formed on her thin lips.

"Still too scared to go to the family vault and see what your name, your very makeup, is, aren't you?"

Olivia's brow furrowed somewhat. "What does the vault have to do with--"

Lucretia held her hand up to silence her. She turned around and started to walk away. "The vault is no place for cowards. If I were you, I wouldn't dare step inside."

"I'm not a coward!" Olivia snapped at her aunt's back. Blinking back angry tears, she spun on her heel and disappeared in the opposite direction.

Liam stepped out from behind the tent he had been hidden. His eyebrows drew together as he thought over the unusual turn in their conversation.

What did the vault contain that Lucretia so desperately wanted Olivia to discover?

Wishing Bastien was here, Liam was forced to call Mira.

"Meet me over by the ice sculptures with schematics of Lythikos." He whispered.

***************

Olivia's home...

In an empty room, Liam studied the layout of the bottom level of Lythikos. His jaw clenched at what could be turned into a deadly trap.

"There appears to be only one way in and out of the vault, sir." Mira pointed out.

"Appearances can be deceiving." He told her, eyes narrowing at the lack of secret passageways marked on the blueprint. He knew from his visits here that it was similar to most of the castles in Cordonia. Each one had numerous hidden doors, hallways, and secret rooms.

There had to be at least one that the Nevarkis ruler would have used in the past to reach their treasured possessions.

"We'll watch from here." Liam tapped on an old storage room. "We will be well hidden and can easily see if anyone approaches the door." His eyes narrowed. "If Lucretia tries anything, we can stop her without anyone getting hurt."

"What about Lady Olivia?" Mira asked.

Liam didn't hesitate. "She is not the one attacking Cordonia."

"But, her parents--"

"She is innocent." He snapped. "Olivia has been my friend since she was five years old. She would never betray me."

Mira bowed her head. "Sorry sir."

He wished Bastien was here. He would have at least offered something more than accusations. "Once the court has retired for the night, we will take up our post."

****************

A little after 2 a.m.

It took all of Liam's willpower to not step out of his hiding place.

The sight of Olivia and Riley appearing out of the wall to calmly enter through the locked door leading down to the vault had made his muscles tense in anticipation.

Mira had silently questioned if she should save their future queen. He held his hand up to stop her. He could tell that Riley was not a prisoner. She had come willingly down here, most likely in support of Olivia.

It wasn't long though that he noticed Lucretia with a man that he knew too well.

"Is that--" Mira whispered.

Liam nodded.

He had finally found the link to every attack in the palace: Justin.

****************

"You should have stayed in New York, Riley." Justin said. "Why did you have to accept Liam’s proposal and come back?" His lips twisted in a bitter grimace as he leveled his pistol on her chest.

"Shoot her and get it over with." Lucretia snapped.

"No!" Olivia cried out trying to move in front of Riley.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Liam ordered as he and the King's Guards fanned out as much as possible in the narrow hallway.

Justin shook his head in frustration. "It is my time! I am the king Cordonia needs."

Lucretia maneuvered between Justin and Liam. Her evil smile formed as she pretended to stumble against the stone wall.

"If Olivia will not take her rightful place as queen, then she too must die with the rest of the filth."

Liam heard an ominous click as the entire bottom floor shook. His eyes widened at the charges exploding around the vault.

"Get out of there!" He screamed at Riley and Olivia.

He pushed his way through the guards rushing to stop Justin and Lucretia from escaping through yet another hidden door. His hands reached out towards them, praying he could reach them before they were trapped in the vault.

His mind refused to contemplate them being crushed to death by the heavy stones.

Riley grasped Olivia's hand and pulled her out. She went directly into Liam's arms, closing her eyes tightly as shouts filled the hallway and the floor finally stilled.

Olivia waved her hand through the dust in an attempt to see if they had caught the two who were behind this new wave of treachery.

Lucretia was handcuffed and held down on the floor by a guard while Mira cursed.

"Justin escaped." She told them bitterly.

Liam's arms tightened around Riley when he felt her tremble.

"At least now we know who our enemy is." She said, clutching him to her.

Liam placed a kiss on top of her head. "Yes, and he will never have another chance to harm you again."

When Prince Leo abdicated, the nobles of Cordonia were actually laughed at by the rest of the world. The teasing began with mere good natured ribbing at parties of how unfaithful a Cordonian must be.

It was enough to sour any disposition, especially one that was already so.

Neville Vancoeur kept his noble mask firmly in place. Nothing was going to stop him from his destiny.

Nothing. No one. 

But the newest crown prince was best friends with, it was disgusting simply thinking of the word, a commoner. A commoner! What noble much less a direct descendant of the king himself would ever align themselves with someone who was absolutely worthless

Yet, the embarrassment that was Prince Liam didn't end there. He then went on to favor a poor waitress from America of all places. A waitress. He redeemed himself in Neville's eyes when he chose Countess Madeleine Amaranth of Fydelia to be Cordonia's queen. Though he didn't quite understand why the normally shrewd countess would allow the waitress to travel with the nobility, perhaps it was to give Drake Walker a playmate (one has to entertain pets, he supposed) he accepted it as a way to appease the people they ruled over.

Then New York happened. King Liam threw aside a well respected, birthed to perfection noble for that mongrel American who did not possess the first clue of how to behave amongst Cordonia's elite court.

Neville would have found it humorous if he was not permanently tied to his country.

To top it all off, not only was he forced to endure such unworthy company, he was shamed in front of them by some minor noble who had failed to win Liam. He blamed that brief moment of weakness for finding Lady Hana attractive on being inadvertently influenced by what had to be Drake and Riley's baser inclinations.

There was only one action left to a man so much more above these lowly peasants.

He was going to have to put these people in their proper place.

*******************

Liam knew that some of his fellow nobles took their positions as some sort of right in lording over those they considered their inferiors. It had never sat easy with him. He himself had a mother who had been a, "simple commoner". Yet, being in the tenacious situation he was in as a new king, he had to ignore for the most part their rude behavior.

But there was only so much he could stand when it came to the one he loved.

He knew something was going on the night of Madeleine's ball. As he stood on the other side of the ballroom, listening to Duke Godfrey drone on and on, he noticed Drake bump into the future earl. He knew there were very few nobles his best friend respected so seeing the flash of anger was normal.

Riley's though was surprising.

That unusual bitter twist to her normal, friendly smile followed by what he could only assume were heated words between his love and Neville made him feel the need to rush over and place himself between them. That desire to protect Riley was so strong that his body had already turned to leave Godfrey mid sentence.

But then Neville walked away.

Maxwell's brief sadness followed by Hana's irritation had him focusing once more on Riley's anger turning to resigned acceptance. Her relaxed stance returned as his group of friends found a table to sit and enjoy their meal.

He knew then that he would need to keep an eye on Lord Neville for the rest of the Unity Tour.

*****************

It didn't surprise him at all the insults and tension between Drake and Neville during the charity polo match. Liam felt sorry for Rashad and Maxwell being stuck on their team and forced to work with the two men that seemed to truly despise one another.

Liam also felt a large bit of pride when Riley used Neville's refusal to pass to Drake to score.

He also was relieved that Neville had not turned his disdain toward her.

Perhaps he was beginning to respect his future queen.

**************

It shouldn't have affected Liam like it did. Maybe it was the fact he was under so much pressure from keeping his father's cancer hidden, the fear from hearing he had been rushed to the hospital, all the terrorist attacks and threats, and then having to focus on pampered nobles instead of actually running his kingdom that caused him to lose his last shred of patience.

This ball was one that he had looked forward to. It would be the first of his escorting his Riley before the court. He had waited so long for such a moment to show his world how proud he was to have won her heart.

And Neville had to ruin it during their first dance.

The heated exchange of words escalated when Riley jumped in to defend Drake. Liam could see the utter hatred and lack of respect Neville had for the two people he was closest to. The way the young lord talked down to his beloved sent a bitter resolve through Cordonia's king.

"I've had enough of your insolence!" Neville snapped.

Liam saw his hand reach for his pocket and begin to withdraw a white glove. Before he could think through what he was about to do, he slapped Neville with the back of his hand, cutting short the challenge the lord was about to issue to Drake.

The entire court gasped. Silence fell as all watched this rare occurrence of Liam losing his temper.

"I've had enough of your insolence." Liam bit out. "Lord Neville, I challenge you to a duel."

Neville paled. His eyes darted around the ballroom, searching for anyone who might possibly be on his side. Seeing no sympathy, his chin lifted.

"I accept." His voice cracked slightly.

****************

"Liam, why are you doing this?" Riley gripped his hand as they walked out to the courtyard.

"I'm tired of his attitude." Liam explained. "Especially around you."

"I can handle his snide remarks." She countered. "What I can't handle is the thought of you possibly getting hurt."

Liam paused and slipped his arm around her waist. "You don't think I can take him?"

She smiled, looping her arms around his neck. "I know you can." She snared him with a tender kiss. "Just make it fast. There's a certain king I want to slow dance with."

His lips curved once more before turning toward the growing crowd. "As my queen wishes, so it shall be."

With a wink to her, he removed his sword from its sheath with a dramatic flourish.

Her delighted laughter followed him as he faced his opponent.

Neville swallowed uncomfortably as Constantine laid out the rules for the duel.

He barely managed to block Liam's blows, footsteps retreating most of the time. His lip curled into a snarl when the new king sliced into his blazer.

"My lady was right," Liam taunted, "that is a dreadful dinner jacket."

Neville's cheeks burned when those watching nearby chuckled. Each time he tried to make an offensive strike, Liam not only blocked it but somehow turned it into a point in his favor.

At one point they locked swords. Neville hated he had to tilt his head up to meet Liam's eyes. He hadn't expected to see the coldness there.

"You will apologize to Riley and Drake." Liam commanded in a low tone. "You will also never speak to either of them with such disrespect again."

"Why should I?" Neville breathed. "They need to learn to respect their betters."

"Really?" Liam's tone held a sinister edge. 

With an elegant spin that happened in the blink of an eye, he knocked his opponent’s sword out of his hand, caught it in mid air with his free one, and had both blades crossed with Neville's neck in the middle.

"Well done!" Constantine cheered from the sideline.

Riley let out a whoop as she hurried over to Liam's side. 

"Wasn't there something you wished to say to her grace, Lord Neville?" Liam asked

Neville's ready sneer died when he felt a slight nick to his tender skin.

"Forgive me, your grace." He managed to say without choking. "I will remember my manners when next we meet."

Riley gave a regal nod of acceptance.

Liam lowered the swords. "You're dismissed."

Neville scurried through the amused crowd, keeping his eyes downcast.

Riley yanked Liam into a passionate kiss once all the compliments were given and the crowd dispersed.

"My lady?" He asked with a grin. "What brought that on?"

"Nothing except my impressive Prince Charming fighting for me." She responded. "Perhaps he would like to find somewhere more private where I can better express my admiration."