Chapter 6 - RICHARD VALE’S OFFER
Alina stepped out.
Vale’s security men surrounded Marcus.
Richard poured himself coffee.
“You’ve caused me a lot of trouble.”
Alina stared at him.
“You murdered my parents.”
“Straight to the point. I respect that.”
“Did you?”
Richard took a sip.
“No.”
The answer caught her off guard.
“You financed Stefan.”
“Yes.”
“You supplied weapons.”
“Yes.”
“You bribed military officers.”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t kill them?”
Richard’s smile disappeared.
“I wanted your father removed from power. I wanted mining contracts. I wanted influence.”
He put down the cup.
“I did not order the bomb.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because killing King Nikolai created chaos. Chaos is expensive.”
Marcus laughed from across the room.
“That may be the most billionaire sentence I’ve ever heard.”
Richard ignored him.
Alina stepped closer.
“Who ordered it?”
“Your brother knows.”
Everything inside her stopped.
“Leo?”
Richard nodded.
“He was there.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?”
Alina remembered the photograph.
Leo beside Stefan.
Smiling.
Richard continued.
“Your brother survived because Stefan wanted him alive. A male heir is useful.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means Velkria’s military won’t follow Stefan forever. But they may follow Prince Leo.”
Alina’s voice dropped.
“My brother would never help him.”
Richard shrugged.
“People do extraordinary things when they’re afraid.”
Alina looked toward the server door.
“What is Project Crownfall?”
For the first time, Richard lost his calm.
Only slightly.
But she saw it.
“That name means nothing.”
Marcus smiled.
“So it means everything.”
Richard’s guards moved closer.
Vale sighed.
“You have two choices, Alina.”
“Princess Alina.”
Rovan’s voice came from the doorway.
Everyone turned.
He stood there holding a pistol.
Daniel was behind him.
Richard looked almost impressed.
“General.”
“Move away from her.”
Richard raised his hands.
“You know, Viktor, we could all stop pretending this ends with gunfire.”
“It usually does around you.”
Alina moved toward the server room.
Richard spoke quickly.
“Project Crownfall is not about your father.”
She stopped.
“It’s about tomorrow.”
Rovan’s face tightened.
“What happens tomorrow?”
Richard looked at Alina.
“Your brother becomes king.”
Silence.
“Stefan plans to announce his abdication,” Richard continued. “Leo will take the throne. Once that happens, every contract signed afterward becomes legally protected.”
Marcus said, “Including your mining contracts.”
Richard nodded.
“And one more thing.”
Alina’s patience snapped.
“What?”
Richard smiled.
“Leo requested that you attend his coronation.”
She stared at him.
Then Daniel shouted.
May you like
“Everybody down!”
The server room exploded.
