Chapter 10 - The Nursery Was Empty for Forty-Seven Seconds
Adrian ran.
He did not remember leaving the shop.
He remembered Gabriel driving through red lights.
He remembered calling Rowan.
He remembered nobody answering.
They reached Bellmont Palace eleven minutes later.
The north gate was open.
Two guards were unconscious.
Adrian sprinted upstairs.
"Evelyn!"
Her door was locked from inside.
He hit it once.
Twice.
Gabriel kicked near the hinge.
The door broke.
Evelyn stood beside the bed holding Alexander.
A pistol shook in her hands.
Adrian stopped.
"It's me."
She lowered the weapon.
"What happened?"
He crossed the room and grabbed her.
For several seconds he could not speak.
Then he saw the empty cradle.
"You have him."
"Of course."
"Did anyone enter?"
Evelyn's face changed.
"A nurse."
"When?"
"About an hour ago."
"What did she do?"
"Said she needed a blood sample."
Gabriel examined Alexander.
"Where?"
Evelyn pointed to a tiny mark on his heel.
Adrian turned toward the corridor.
"Find her."
The nurse was gone.
Security footage showed a woman entering the maternity wing.
Forty-seven seconds of footage then disappeared.
When the cameras returned, she exited carrying a medical case.
Rowan arrived.
His face was furious.
"Our communications were jammed."
Adrian looked at Gabriel.
"The Council has people inside."
"Obviously."
"How many?"
Gabriel stared around the palace.
"Enough."
A medical examination showed Alexander was unharmed.
But his blood had been taken.
Why?
Beatrice answered.
"Succession verification."
Adrian looked at her.
"They already had genetic records."
"Not enough for the Crown Tribunal."
Evelyn frowned.
"The what?"
Beatrice explained.
Bellmont's constitution contained an ancient emergency clause.
If the legitimacy of an heir was formally challenged, a secret judicial body called the Crown Tribunal could demand genetic verification.
Adrian had never heard of it.
"Because it hasn't convened in ninety-four years," Beatrice said.
"What happens if they challenge me?"
"The throne can be frozen."
"Frozen?"
"No royal appointments. No military confirmations. No budgets signed by the Crown."
Gabriel understood.
"Government paralysis."
Beatrice nodded.
"Until succession is resolved."
Adrian looked at Alexander.
"And they plan to use him."
"Perhaps."
A guard entered carrying a silver tray.
On it sat a letter.
"Delivered to the front gate."
Adrian opened it.
The seal belonged to the High Court.
By order of the Crown Tribunal, Prince Adrian Bellmont is summoned to answer a formal succession challenge at noon tomorrow.
The claimant's identity shall remain protected until proceedings begin.
Evelyn stared.
"Who is challenging you?"
Adrian thought of Helena.
Gabriel.
His son.
Then his supposedly dead father.
Beatrice looked terrified.
"The Council found their candidate."
At noon the following day, the royal court chamber was full.
Judges entered.
Nobles whispered.
Journalists had been excluded.
Adrian stood beside Evelyn.
Gabriel watched from the gallery.
The chief judge rose.
"The Crown Tribunal recognizes a lawful challenge to the succession of Adrian Bellmont."
A side door opened.
A man stepped into the chamber.
Gray hair.
Walking cane.
Scar across one side of his face.
Adrian forgot how to breathe.
The man looked directly at him.
"My son."
Evelyn gasped.
Beatrice collapsed into her chair.
May you like
King Julian Bellmont, officially dead for ten years, stood before them.
And he had returned to challenge Adrian for the crown.
