Noa checked her wristwatch for the seventh time, her patience thinning with every passing second.

"What is taking him so long?" she muttered, rolling her eyes and letting her hands fall in disbelief. The fact that Aiden had gathered them all here and then left them waiting for over thirty minutes was beyond frustrating.

"Can someone please explain what's going on?" Aubrey rubbed her arms together, her tone a mix of impatience and concern. "I've got class in thirty minutes."

"Where's the Prince?" Noa demanded, turning to Harry and Asher. Asher exhaled, shaking his head in frustration, while Harry scoffed.

"What makes you think we know where he is?" Harry retorted.

"You're his best friends, aren't you?" Noa shot back, her voice sharp with irritation. "You're with him all the time. How can you not know where he is?"

"Why don't you ask Paris? She's the one living with him now, not us," Harry replied, his tone tinged with sarcasm.

Anne-Marie, caught off guard, looked up at Harry. She was just as clueless as the rest of them. She could feel Asher's gaze on her but made sure she avoided eye contact. They hadn't really talked since the other day at infinity block. She still needed time to wrap her mind around all she found out. Asher knew, he could see it from her body language. He looked away, narrowing his gaze on his fidgeting fingers.

Where was Aiden? Noa rolled her eyes, exasperated.

"Can someone at least call him?" Aubrey suggested, a note of desperation creeping into her voice.

"Let's just chill," Asher interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "If he asked us to be here, he'll show up. He probably just needs a little more time."

"Do you know why we're here?" Harry pressed, turning to Asher, who shook his head.

"No clue," Asher admitted.

"Okay, where were we?!"

The group turned as Aiden finally strode into the room, his presence commanding immediate attention. He was rubbing his hands together, a gesture that seemed to signal both anticipation and determination. Elijah followed closely behind him, carrying a large, heavy-looking backpack.

"Finally," Noa exclaimed, her relief tinged with annoyance as they all turned to face Aiden, who walked past them with a focused expression. He headed straight for the bleachers, sitting down to address them all.

"My apologies," Aiden began, his voice carrying a note of apology. "We had a few challenges on the way."

Anne-Marie narrowed her eyes at him, trying to read his mood. Why did he have that peculiar smile on his face? And why had he called them all here? Just yesterday, he'd been consumed by frustration, and now... there was something else in his eyes, something that looked like hope. It made her draw in a sharp breath as she tried to figure him out.

"Is everything alright, your highness? You sounded urgent on the phone," Harry asked, cutting through the tension with his question.

Aiden's smile grew a little, and he shook his head, his demeanor more relaxed than it had been in days.

"Of course," he assured them, noting how they all leaned in, hanging on his every word.

Noa squinted, her suspicion deepening. Something felt off.

"So, if there's nothing wrong," Asher said, filling the silence, "what exactly is it?"

Aiden snapped his fingers, immediately bringing the conversation to the point.

"Exactly what I was about to explain." He turned to Elijah, gesturing for him to open the bag. Elijah obeyed, placing the backpack in the middle of the group and unzipping it to reveal its contents.

The collective gasp was almost audible as they stared at the gold bars, glittering diamonds, and rare jades nestled inside. It was a treasure trove of priceless items, each one more dazzling than the last.

"What... what is this?" Aubrey stammered, her eyes wide with shock.

"I need these sold by the end of the day," Aiden stated, his tone firm and unwavering.

Harry's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Aiden.

"Sold?" he gasped, his voice echoing the confusion of the group.

Aiden nodded.

"Yes, sold."

"But, your highness, these are gifts," Harry said, leaning closer to the bag as if proximity would make the situation clearer. He carefully picked up a sculpted jade flower vase.
"This was given to you by your grandfather, the late king, on your fifth birthday." He then retrieved a tiny gold chest adorned with blue and pink rubies.

"And this chest... your mother gave it to you on your tenth birthday. There's only one like it in the world."

Aiden turned briefly to Anne-Marie, who was still absorbing the sight of the items, listening as Harry detailed their significance. Her expression mirrored the confusion of the group, and she seemed to be piecing something together.

"Are you really going to sell them all?" Harry asked, his tone tinged with disbelief.

Aiden returned his gaze to Harry, nodding again.

"Yes."

Harry let out a frustrated sigh, stamping his foot in agitation.

"But why? What could you possibly need the money for so urgently?"

"There's been a situation in Niyagra," Aiden began, his tone growing serious as he made eye contact with each of them.
"One that we need to control before it spirals out of hand."

"Niyagra?" Aubrey echoed, her confusion evident. None of them seemed to understand, except for Anne-Marie. A flash of realization crossed her face, but she remained silent, waiting for Aiden to continue.

"What about Niyagra?" Noa asked, her tone insistent.

"They have the plague," Anne-Marie said softly, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Everyone turned to her, shock rippling through the group. "Over a hundred of them are being quarantined as we speak."

"What?!" Noa exclaimed, her voice rising with disbelief.

"You mean the V virus?" Aubrey asked, fear creeping into her voice.

"How is that even possible?" Harry added, shaking his head. "The V virus was eradicated years ago. There's no way they have it now."

"But they do," Anne-Marie said, her voice steady. "The Prince and I saw it ourselves."

"Really?" Aubrey gasped, horror washing over her face. "The people of Niyagra have the virus?"

Asher turned to Aiden, his expression grim.

"If this is true, your highness, you have to tell the king. Something needs to be done immediately. Breton can't survive another virus outbreak, especially not so soon after the last one. If it spreads..."

"I already spoke to the King," Aiden interrupted, his voice tinged with frustration.

"What did he say?" Noa asked, a hint of desperation in her voice.

Aiden shook his head slowly.

"He won't help. Not unless the people of Niyagra bow down and pledge their allegiance to him."

"But that's impossible," Aubrey said, her voice rising. "With all due respect your Highness, the people of Niyagra hate the king. They'll never accept him, no matter what."

"This is bad," Noa muttered, rubbing her forehead in distress. "This is really bad."

"The good news is, the people of Niyagra have managed to contain it so far," Anne-Marie added, trying to inject a glimmer of hope. "They've quarantined the sick and haven't reported any new cases. But they still need help."

"That's why I need to sell these items," Aiden explained, his voice resolute. "I have to stop the virus from spreading, to help them so they don't lose any more lives."

"But still, your highness," Harry said, shaking his head. "These gifts mean so much to you. You can't just sell them."

"It's only temporary, Harry," Aiden replied, his tone calm but firm. "At least until my parents lift the restriction on my accounts." He then turned to Asher. "Asher, you know the market better than anyone. How quickly can we sell these, and for how much?"

Asher sighed, glancing at the bag before speaking. "I'm not sure, your highness. I know someone who could get them sold within a few hours, but the price might be lower than their actual value since it's urgent."

"How much are we talking about?" Aiden asked, his tone tinged with urgency.

"A few million, maybe seven," Asher estimated, though he sounded unsure.

"Seven?!" Aiden's voice echoed through the hall, disbelief coloring his tone. "These are worth over fifty million! How's that even reasonable?"

Asher shrugged, his expression apologetic.

"It could be more, but it's the market. They'd fetch a higher price at auction, but if you want them sold by the end of the day, a pawn shop is our best bet—especially if you plan on buying them back later."

Aiden rubbed his forehead, clearly frustrated by the situation. Elijah stepped forward, concern etched on his face.

"Your highness, are you sure you shouldn't reconsider? If the king and Queen find out you tried to sell these..."

Aiden sighed deeply, then looked back at the group.

"I didn't want to do this, but I don't have a choice."
He exhaled and rubbed his hands. "That's not all." He said to them, lowering his head for a minute, trying to figure out a way to say his next words as they watched him eagerly, wondering what bomb he was about to drop on them next.

"I need a loan, from all of you."

"A loan?" Aubrey repeated, her voice filled with surprise.

"How much are we talking about here ?" Harry asked, though he already felt a knot tightening in his stomach.

"Fifty thousand, each," Aiden said quietly, his voice steady.

"Fifty thousand?!" Noa gasped, her hand flying to her chest. Harry looked like he might faint.

"Think of it as a donation, to a greater cause," Aiden added, his voice a bit firmer now. "A donation I'd be happy to pay back the moment my accounts are unfrozen."

Harry scoffed.

"As if." He said in a jest as they turned to him. "We all know the King's never going to let you own a bank account for one extra day in your life if you're just going to use all your money to save the Niyagrans. He hates them for their refusal to bend the knee. He'd wipe out their village again before he lets them spread the disease."

The room fell into an uneasy silence. The weight of what Aiden was asking hung heavily in the air. Fifty thousand Brents was an enormous amount of money, and the implications of their decision were not lost on anyone.

Finally, Asher spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension.

"I'm in." The simple declaration was enough to ease the pressure slightly. Aiden exhaled in relief, nodding his thanks. "What's the account to pay into?" Asher asked, his voice steady.

"Me too," Aubrey added, her voice more resolute now. She wasn't about to let Asher face this alone, and besides, this was about saving lives—her people's lives. She turned to Noa, who still stood frozen, grappling with the enormity of the situation.

"Noa," Aubrey urged, nudging her gently. "Come on."

"What?" Noa whispered back, her voice small, but she could see the determination in Aubrey's eyes, and it slowly began to mirror in her own.

"Come on," Aubrey repeated softly.

Noa sighed, knowing full well the trouble she was courting, but the thought of doing nothing gnawed at her. She exhaled weakly.

"Fine," she said finally, resignation in her tone. "I'll wire it in."

"Me too," Harry added quickly in a resolved tone. Aiden nodded at him, the tension in his shoulders loosening a fraction. It was a huge relief to see them all coming together, but there was one person left.

They all turned to Anne-Marie, who was still lost in thought, her mind spinning with the implications. Could she really take that much from Paris' account without permission? The risk was enormous, and the consequences could be catastrophic if she were found out. But then, she thought about the people of Niyagra—their desperation, the plague that had taken her own parents. How could she turn away now?

"I'm in," she finally said, her voice firm with determination. Aiden met her gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. He knew how much this decision meant to her, and he was grateful beyond words.

Aiden then turned to Elijah, who was standing to the side, his expression conflicted.

"Elijah," Aiden called, raising an eyebrow.

Elijah looked startled, blinking as if unsure what was expected of him.

"Me?" he asked, hesitating.

Aiden nodded, his gaze unwavering.

"But, your highness—" Elijah began, but Aiden cut him off.

"You're not going to help?" Aiden asked, his tone slightly challenging. "You make more than that in a month working for the royal family. Niyagra is your responsibility too. Are you really going to turn your back on them?"

Elijah let out a heavy sigh, knowing Aiden was right. It was pointless to resist.
"I'll get it ready, your highness," he said finally, bowing slightly, though his reluctance was evident.

"Great." Aiden smiled, the tension in the room easing further. But the relief was short-lived as he looked at the group once more. "We're still a few thousands short."

"How about we hold a fundraiser in Niyagra, your highness?" Aubrey suggested, her voice breaking the lingering silence.

Everyone turned to her, surprised by the suggestion.

"A fundraiser?" Aiden asked, his brow furrowing.

Aubrey nodded, her confidence growing.

"If the people of Niyagra won't accept help from the king, maybe they'll accept it from the people. There are plenty of Breton citizens who don't agree with what happened seven years ago. They might be willing to help, especially if it means getting to see Niyagra for themselves. There's so much curiosity about how they've rebuilt without any outside help. We could use that curiosity to raise funds."

"You want to hold a fundraiser in Niyagra?" Noa asked, skepticism lacing her tone.

Aubrey nodded again, more resolute.

"It's the last day of their anniversary in two days. It's the perfect time to set up a tour. We could sell tickets, spread the word, and let people know that you, the prince, will be there. People love to see you, Aiden. They'd buy tickets just for that."

"But there's a virus outbreak," Harry pointed out. "No one will want to risk their lives, no matter how curious they are."

"We could quarantine the infected areas," Asher suggested. "Limit access to specific places and take all the necessary precautions. It's risky, but it could work. Besides, almost everyone in the country have been vaccinated against the virus."

Noa nodded in a haste.

"We could invite the Breton Disease and Infection Service, make sure it's safe. It's a good plan."

"Even if our ideas are sound," Asher added, "how do we spread the word about the fundraiser and make sure it reaches everyone in two days? We have less than forty-eight hours to get everything set."

"Leave the promotion to Noa and me," Aubrey said, a small smile playing on her lips.

"I have a few friends who can help spread the news," Harry offered.

"We can get everything prepared once you give the word, your highness," they all turned to Aiden, who sat quietly, listening intently to their suggestions. He was amazed by their resourcefulness and the brilliance of their ideas. But there was still one significant hurdle they had to overcome.

"Don't you like the plan, your highness?" Aubrey asked, noticing his hesitation. "Don't you think it's a good idea?"

"It's not that," Aiden began, his voice trailing off. His gaze drifted toward Anne-Marie as if she could sense what was weighing on him.

"It's the elders of Niyagra," Anne-Marie interjected, understanding his concern. Aiden nodded, acknowledging her insight.

"It's going to be hard convincing them to let us hold a fundraiser in their village," Anne-Marie continued. "There's a reason the people of Niyagra have kept their doors closed for so long. I don't think they'll be eager to open them now, even for something like this."

"Not even when it could save their lives?" Noa asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

Anne-Marie sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. "I'm not sure," she admitted.

"I've got to talk to them," Aiden said suddenly, standing up as if the decision had just solidified in his mind. "I have to convince them."

"You think they'll listen?" Asher asked, his tone skeptical.

"I don't know," Aiden replied honestly. "But I have to try."

"I'll come with you," Anne-Marie volunteered, her voice firm.

"Uh, I don't think the both of you meeting the elders of Niyagra is going to be a good idea," Noa interjected. "They hate your father just as much as they hate the king, remember?"

"Yeah, but I might have a way to get them to change their minds," Anne-Marie said, turning to Aiden. "I can be very persuasive. I'm sure I can help."

Aiden nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. There was no point in arguing with her. If there was one thing he knew about Paris—and now Anne-Marie—it was that she was determined to do what she believed was right, no matter the odds. And besides, he realized, he could use all the help he could get.

With that, the group exchanged glances, the gravity of what they were about to do sinking in. The stakes were higher than they had ever been, and the risks were great. But they all knew what was at stake. And for Aiden, there was no turning back now.