Chapter 39

• My heart sank into my stomach, and I could feel the ground shift beneath me. My knees buckled and I was about to crumple to the floor when Nico swept his arm around my waist and caught me. He gripped the rope tightly and said, "I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but it's what you require. If you do not assist Luc, Louis will go to great lengths to ensure that he never harms another living being."
• "But- it doesn't make sense," I stammered, "Luc is his brother."
• "Louis is King, and as such, he must prioritize his realm. Louis has to make decisions based on the welfare of the court, which is why he married Henrietta. Louis had the option of following Celia into the afterlife, but he chose not to. There were only two male heirs left without Louis, and neither was fit to rule; Casper was in prison, and Luc was barely able to control the darkness within him. So Louis put aside his personal woes for the sake of the crown. He married a woman he despised in order for her to bear the heirs he required to ensure the crown's survival. Louis makes decisions based on what is best for the crown rather than what is best for him, even if it means murdering his own brother." Nico stated.