She gasped, instinctively kicking her attacker between their legs. It didn't matter if it was a man or a woman, it would still hurt. He groaned, a distinctly masculine sound, stumbling a step back. Seizing the moment, she grabbed his lowered head and slammed it onto her knee before pinning him to the ground. He managed to get a grip before she could, rolling them over so she was underneath. She punched him in the side, knocking him off and giving her the opportunity to scramble to her feet. Her fists were ready when he managed to get up, but instead of charging her again, he held up his hands, taking a few steps back.

"Take it easy there, Your Grace—or was it Your Majesty now? Maybe we can talk about this instead."

"You attacked me," she said sharply. He looks familiar. "Wait, I know you. You're Riolf's friend. You call yourself Comrade."

He bowed but kept his eyes on her. "At your service."

"What are you doing here?"

"The same as you I expect. Looking for that key." He nodded at the object she somehow managed to keep a hold of during their scuffle. "Do you know what it belongs to?"

She raised her chin, eyeing him warily. "I do."

"Then you understand why I can't allow you to keep it." He held out his hand, watching her carefully.

Kat instinctively gripped the key harder. "Riolf told me everything. At least, everything he wants me to believe. How much do you know?"

"Enough to realize that he is Driem's true king," he said. "And I need that key to prove it." He shook his hand a little to emphasize his words.

Kat took a step back, drawing in a long breath. "Riolf entrusted me with the location of the key and document. He asked that I read it for myself to prove that he is telling the truth. I know I am the wife of the man you see as your enemy, but if Riolf truly is king... I want to do what is best for Driem more than anything." She held his gaze steadily. "I am going to find that proof if it is to be found."

Comrade was silent, studying her eyes. Finally, he bowed. "Then I shall accompany you in your search for the truth."

"I don't think—"

"Do you really think I would leave the key to the most important document in Driem alone with the wife of my enemy?" He raised an eyebrow.

She frowned, opening her mouth then closing it again. "I suppose that's understandable." She glanced at the stairs. "I need to return to the castle. I suppose my horse can carry two for that short of a distance."

He tensed. "The castle? Apologies, Your Majesty, but I can't let you do that."

Her eyes narrowed at him. "And why is that?"

"It would be too easy for you to give the key to the king and let him destroy everything."

"I already told you I'm not going to do that."

"What reason do I have to trust you?"

Kat hesitated. "Because Riolf trusts me. And you trust him. I seek only the truth because I believe the truth is what is best for Driem. If you don't believe me, you could at least put trust in your leader."

Comrade was silent, studying her eyes. "What reason do you have to return to the castle?"

"That's where Riolf says the document is. The palace library. I am going whether you accompany me or not, so make your choice. I will fight you again if I have to."

He smirked a little. "I have no doubts about that. I will join you in seeking the document. If Riolf trusts you, then I will try to as well."

She gave him a nod, then led the way out of the house. As they descended the stairs, she took a deep breath and looked down at the small key in her hand. The fate of Driem actually rests in my hands now.

It wasn't long later that her horse trotted into the castle's courtyard. She slid off it, shoving the reins into a nearby groom's hand before hurrying into the castle with Comrade hot on her heels. There wasn't time to consider what people would think of the queen running around with someone who was clearly a commoner. She would come up with a lie later if she had to.

Kat hadn't been to the big library much in the three months she had been around the castle, but she still remembered the way. Her legs were a little shaky as she hurried through the halls, shying slightly every time she came across anyone. She had to remind herself repeatedly that she was the queen, and she was allowed to go to the library whenever she wanted and with whomever she wanted.

When she reached the doors of the library, she glanced down the hall before walking in and making sure the doors were securely closed. No one was in the library, freeing her to drag a chair over to the shelves near the door and stand on it as Comrade watched curiously. She counted the shelves, taking in a deep breath when she reached the seventh one.

This is it.

Her hand slid over to the corner, gently taking hold of the three books at the end. She pulled them all out at once, handing them to Comrade, then faced the corner. There were two niches in the wood, just like Riolf said.

This is where it could all change.

Kat adjusted the key in her hand and slowly fit it into the odd keyhole. It clicked when she turned it but didn't open. She set the key down on the shelf and used the other niche as a handle to pull the small door open.

Something white rested inside the cavity.

Her heart was beating mercilessly against her chest as she drew the folded paper out, afraid of what she would find. Afraid of the truth. If Jayden was in the right, she would feel more betrayed than ever by Riolf, and more confused. If Riolf was truthful though...

This is the moment I find out.

She sat on the chair she had been standing on, worried she would fall while reading the paper's content. Maybe it's blank. Maybe it's a forgery. It's not possible that Riolf is telling the truth. It can't be. Because if he's telling the truth, then Jayden... She shivered breaking away from that thought.

Comrade hovered over her shoulder. "This is it," he breathed.

Her hands were quivering as she unfolded the paper with a rustle that broke loudly through the library's silence. The first thing that caught her eye was the bright red wax at the bottom of the page, making the paper weigh oddly in her hands. It was stamped with a very complicated signet. It was round, with a border of minuscule crowns and a thick line imprinted diagonally through the middle. On the left side was a large wavy line that represented the River Peace, with many small, elaborate streams cutting away from it. On the right side was a detailed drawing of the sun rising over the ocean. The king's seal. It was made with such intricacy so no one would be able to duplicate it. Whatever this paper was, it had been signed and sealed by King Andros before his death. Just like Riolf said.

Kat's eyes skimmed up to the beginning of the paper, taking in a deep breath as she began to read.

I, King Andros of the strong kingdom of Driem, create this document in the event that Kane Silvas (a boy acting in place of my son, the crown prince Jayden Hycantran) refuses to yield the throne to my son.

The story follows as such:

When Jayden was born, I knew he would constantly be in danger of abduction or murder. I took in a boy under the name of Kane Silvas to replace my son until the throne was secure in his reign. Kane would act in Jayden's place as crown prince until Jayden's twenty-second birthday, when he would relinquish the crown to the true prince, who shall be posing under the name and title, Duke Riolf Quir. Thus, Jayden's most dangerous years would be over, and he would be established as king.

I have fears that Kane may someday become ambitious and arise against Jayden, therefore I have created this document. The man on the throne is not the true king of Driem. His friend, the duke with oddly colored eyes, the Duke Riolf Quir, is truly my son and the rightful ruler. I pray this document shall wither away from disuse, but caution (or perhaps paranoia) drives me to establish it. If this document finds its way into the hands of anyone aside from Duke Riolf Quir or King Andros Hycantran, I command you to return it to one of us—to fail to do so is to defy the order of the king of Driem.

If it is after Jayden's twenty-second birthday and a blond man is still on the throne, something has likely gone terribly wrong in our planning, or I feel that Jayden is still unsafe. If Kane has stolen the throne from Jayden, I will most likely be removed by his hands. If any of this has come to pass and this document is found by an unknown person, do not show this document to anyone besides Duke Riolf Quir or I. If we have both been killed, hide this document until a time comes when Kane shows himself to be a king intent on destroying Driem, then present it to people you trust and find a way to reveal the truth to everyone.

I wish only the best for Driem, for Kane, and for my son. May the stars lead us all to a magnificent future of peace.

King Andros Hycantran.

Kat could not breathe, even though she was practically gasping for air as she studied the paper over and over again. Riolf is king. Jayden lied. Riolf is king. Jayden lied. Her head was spinning. All Driem had been deceived, and she worse than any of them. The man she loved and thought she could trust above anyone else had deliberately misled her in a fantastic, elaborate ruse that wove thread upon intricate thread of lies until he had created a story everyone believed. All the while, Riolf stood to the side, creating his own tapestry of lies that was no less sophisticated, and intertwined it was Jayden's to create a deception like Driem had never seen.

Comrade gently took the paper out of her hands to take a closer look. She was too shaken to protest.

She had been betrayed before while she lived with Solie on the streets, and she thought she would never be hurt more by a betrayal than when Riolf was shown to be a traitor. Now that ache was overcome by a wave of pain a hundred times larger than what now felt to be a droplet of betrayal. Jayden, the love of her life, the man who adored her above his own kingdom, the one who called her his gem and kissed her tenderly every night, had been the pretender.

What should I do now? The question pierced through her tumultuous thoughts like glass shattering in the night. I need to take this to Riolf. No, I just saw him, the dungeon will surely be suspicious. It says to only allow Riolf to see it, so I can't show it to anyone else. What will happen when I do give it to Riolf? Will he assemble an army against Jayden? Will Comrade rescue him from prison? Driem may be plunged into a war for the throne. Is that what I want? She rubbed her forehead. Of course it's not, but what choice have I? Do I just let Jayden remain on the throne, deceiving the entire kingdom, and leave an innocent man in prison? She shook her head, groaning a little. I need more time to make this decision.