Page 20 of Quest

Annoyance clenched my jaw.I’m capable of assessing His Highness impartially.Though the lantern’s words stung with their accuracy, exposing my secrets with the very illuminating magic I’d wanted directed towards the prince instead.

“If that is actually true, then I will leave the judgment of his character to you.” Though Lumis appeared to concede, I sensed the challenge in its words, carefully chosen knowing my pride would compel me to accept the challenge it subtly posed.

The problem consumed my thoughts as night deepened, weighing each step as we ascended the stairs and prepared to rest in one of the temple's spacious antechambers while I wrestled with a way to subtly test the prince’s integrity without revealing my true intentions.

Slowly I constructed a careful test of integrity, orchestrating a moral dilemma that would not only reveal Prince Darcel’s true nature but also clarify whether he was fit to wield the power of the spell that was my duty to protect. Crafting a scenario that would force him to choose between personal gain and the greater good would provide the insight I needed to decide the level of trust I could afford to place in him.

The prince sat apart from us, brow furrowed in concentration as he went over the scroll we’d recovered from the hidden library. He looked up at my approach and offered a rare but warm smile that momentarily caused my steps to falter—both in surprise and at the way the gesture softened the harsh lines of his handsome features.

“Do try to conduct your test without the bias of your attraction.” Lumis’s wry tone drifted from beside my pillow where I’d left it.

Defense immediately stiffened my shoulders.I amnotattracted to this odious man!

Though it remained silent, I could sense Lumis’ skepticism drift across the enchanted thread binding our thoughts. It took every ounce of willpower not to send the lantern a glare that would be within the prince’s notice.

“Are you alright, Ren?” Prince Darcel’s voice drew my attention back to him and the off-putting concern that further softened his expression. My heart fluttered against my will and I silently cursed. That blasted lantern was right: Iwasattracted to the man. That didn’t mean I had to like him, and I possessed enough sense not to allow those aggravating feelings to influence whether or not he was worthy of my trust.

“I’m fine,” I lied, the irony of my dishonesty not lost on me when I was about to try the prince’s own character. I forced a smile, a nearly impossible task beneath Prince Darcel’s searching perusal. I resisted the urge to touch my cheek and ensure that my disguise held.

“If you’re certain.” He held up the scroll. “I wanted to thank you again for your help. Without you, we never would have found this temple, nor recovered this valuable clue about the curse still lingering within the kingdom.”

I couldn’t bring myself to speak under the weight of his uncomfortable praise, so I simply nodded.

“I’ve been poring over this legend to see if there’s anything we might have missed,” he continued. “If you had time, I would appreciate your looking over it again to see if you have any additional insights.”

He’d unknowingly presented the opening I had been hoping for, almost as if he sensed my need to test his character and was determined to meet the challenge head-on.

“That’s actually what I wanted to discuss with you,” I said.

He set aside the scroll, giving me his undivided attention. The intensity of his soulful dark eyes sent a wave of lightheadedness that almost left me dizzy. I took a deep, steadying breath, gathering my courage like I would adorn myself with armor for an upcoming battle.

“The spell we discovered within this legend…I know something about it, even if I can’t read it yet. My family are actually the guardians of the magic that should be able to heal the cursed darkness’s lingering hold upon the land.”

I paused to monitor his reaction to this confession but he didn’t appear surprised, confirming my initial suspicion that he had been fully aware of what my family protected when he recruited us. I braced myself for the pending confrontation, but rather than press me for details, he simply nodded, encouraging me to continue.

I chose my next words carefully so as not to arouse his own suspicion; the prince was far more perceptive than I often wished to admit.

“Part of the legend that has been passed down is the knowledge of a secret ingredient that I am certain could be useful in crafting the spell. This component actually resides within this temple. While not essential as it can be created without it, this ingredient is said to amplify the healing properties of any herbal concoction tenfold, thus enhancing its power and effectiveness.”

Prince Darcel eagerly leaned forward, his interest clearly piqued. “What is this component?”

“Silverleaf.” I held my breath as I awaited his reaction. Prince Darcel had already demonstrated an impressive knowledge of herbal lore—enough to even catch me in a lie during our encounter by the stream—meaning there was a possible risk he would detect my current deceit.

His eyes bulged, a break in his usual composure that confirmed the significance of the herb I’d chosen. While it was a fictional element of the recipe the legend alluded to, the ingredient itself was not only real, but well known for its rarity and value…enough to be tempting for even someone as wealthy as a prince.

“The legendary silverleaf ishere, in this temple? But of course…” His voice trailed off as he pondered the possibilities, his eagerness almost tangible. I felt a pang of regret, revealing a truth I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge even to myself—despite my cynicism, I found myself wishing I didn’t have to distrust him.

With a heavy heart, it took every effort to continue setting a trap I no longer desired, yet deemed necessary to discern his true motives and determine if he was worthy of the duty entrusted to me in aiding his quest.

“This silverleaf is stored in a hidden location within the temple, guarded by a sacred pact that forbids its removal. Taking it without respect to the proper rites could bring misfortune or disrupt the peace the temple guards.”

His eyes narrowed, his first sign of suspicion. “If it’s forbidden to be removed, why are you telling me this?”

Guilt seeped over me, but I hastily suppressed it and forged ahead. “Because it is my duty as the herbalist whom you’ve entrusted to present all the knowledge at my disposal for your judgment. Having the silverleaf could significantly aid our quest and even ensure our success after we gather the other elements required to prevent the return of the cursed darkness.”

I could almost see his moral dilemma play across his stoic expression as he weighed the options: the dishonorable act of stealing the silverleaf under the rational of it being necessary for the greater good, or respecting the sacred traditions of my craft despite the potential benefits ignoring them would offer.

After a tense pause, he heaved a deep sigh. “As beneficial as obtaining such a valuable ingredient would be, I cannot in good conscience do so now that you’ve outlined the full consequences. Are you absolutely certain it’s not a necessary component in dispelling the last of the darkness?”

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