NOT WORTHY TO BE KING: FEARLESS WARRIOR

37. PLEASE, CALL ME ADRIAN

Logan was settling very fast into life at Eclipse, but he couldn't help but feel curious about the palace. "Axel, can we go on a tour of the palace tomorrow?" he asked eagerly. Axel seemed very eager to help too.

"Of course," Axel replied with a smile. The next day, as they walked through the grand halls and opulent rooms, Logan was awestruck by the beauty and grandeur of it all. It was a stark contrast to the simple life he had led in the countryside, and he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the opulence and extravagance of it all.

As they rounded the corner, Logan caught sight of a strikingly attractive man engrossed in observing a painting on the wall.

"See that man over there?" Axel asked in a lowered whisper, nodding in the same man's direction. "That's your eldest cousin, Prince Adrian. Despite being blessed with undeniable good looks, he possesses a reputation that extends far beyond his physical appearance. He's always been an advocate for the truth, but his unwavering loyalty to his father is what holds him back from speaking out against him." Axel's tone was laced with admiration as he spoke about Logan's cousin. Logan could see clearly that Axel holds Prince Aiden in high regard.

As Logan and Axel drew closer to him, Logan could help but notice how tall and regal he was, a true definition of a prince. Prince Adrian turned to them and offered a welcoming smile.

"Welcome back home, Logan," Prince Adrian greeted him warmly, extending his hand.

Logan returned the gesture with equal warmth, feeling a sense of familiarity and comfort in his cousin's presence that he couldn't quite explain. He hadn't heard much about Prince Adrian from his mother or Axel, but meeting him in person felt like a surreal experience.

"It's an honor to meet you, Prince Adrian," Logan replied, not wanting to overstep any boundaries.

Prince Adrian's smile widened as he placed a reassuring hand on Logan's shoulder. "Please, call me Adrian," he said. "We're family, after all."

Logan was struck by the Prince's easygoing nature, despite his royal status. He found himself relaxing in Adrian's company, feeling like they had known each other for years. He was not used to being around royalty and still feel comfortable because back in Mercy lots of people made him feel like an outcast.

"I've heard so much about you," Adrian continued, leading them towards a comfortable seating area. "Your return has been the talk of the family and the whole kingdom. We're all thrilled to have you back."

Logan's heart swelled with gratitude as he settled into his seat. The warmth and acceptance he felt from his cousin was more than he could have ever imagined. He knew that his journey back to his roots would be a fulfilling one, with Adrian's support and guidance.

He only hoped that his cousin will choose to support him and save their people from his uncle's reign.

Logan took a deep breath, feeling a sudden urge to confide in his cousin. "I appreciate the warm welcome, Adrian. But you don't have to nurse my feelings, I know that not everyone is thrilled about my return."

Adrian sighed, "I'm aware that some people may not be happy about your return, Logan," Prince Adrian said, his voice filled with empathy. "But I want you to know that I'm here for you. Whatever happens, you can count on me."

Logan felt a sense of relief wash over him as he looked into his cousin's eyes. He knew that Adrian was sincere in his words and that he had found an ally in him.

"Thank you, Adrian," Logan said, feeling grateful for his cousin's support. "I really appreciate it."

Adrian smiled at Logan and placed his hand on his shoulder again. "You don't have to thank me, Logan. We are family, and family always supports one another."

Logan nodded, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. He knew that his journey back home would not be easy, but having his cousin's support made him feel like he could face any challenge.

As they sat and talked, Logan couldn't help but notice how different Adrian was from his uncle. He was kind, empathetic, and approachable, unlike his uncle and his other cousins even though Logan hasn't met them. He wondered how Adrian managed to stay true to himself despite being born into royalty.

As the day drew to a close, Prince Adrian stood up from his seat and stretched his arms. "I'm afraid I have to leave you now, Logan," he said, glancing at his watch. "I have some royal duties to attend to."

Logan nodded, feeling a twinge of disappointment at the thought of his cousin leaving, the only friend he has managed to make in the palace without even doing anything. "Of course, Adrian," he said, standing up as well. "Thank you for your time."

Adrian smiled at Logan, his eyes sparkling with warmth. "Anytime, cousin," he said. "And remember, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Logan nodded again, feeling grateful for his cousin's support. "I will," he said.

Logan turned to Axel as soon as Adrian left, "Do you think he would be willing to help us?" he asked.

"He's a good man," Axel replied, "But his loyalty to his father comes first. We need to be careful around him."

Logan nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "So, you're saying that Prince Adrian would make a good ally if he didn't love his father so much?" he asked.

"Exactly," Axel confirmed. "If we could get him to see the truth without openly going against his father, then he could be a valuable asset to our cause."

Logan agreed, "I see your point. We have to be careful not to put him in a difficult position."

He didn't want to betray his cousin's trust after he welcomed him with open arms but he couldn't just sit around and do nothing. His people need him and since he has already left Mercy and came here, he should do what he promised he would do.

"You should know that Prince Adrian is different from the rest of his siblings," Axel said.

"What do you mean?" Logan asked.

"Well, from what I've learned in my life living in this palace, Prince Adrian is more open-minded and progressive than his siblings," Axel replied. "He doesn't always follow tradition blindly and he's willing to listen to different perspectives. I think we might have a better chance with him than with the others."

Logan felt a glimmer of hope. If Prince Adrian was indeed different from the rest of his siblings, then they might have a chance of convincing him to help them.

"It's the same with Princess Loyalty, but she got married years ago and she rarely visits the kingdom."

When Logan didn't say anything, Axel continued to talk about Logan's other cousins.

"Speaking of marriages, have you heard about your uncle's marriages?" Axel asked.

Logan raised an eyebrow, curious. "No, what about them?"

"Well, your uncle has been married seven times," Axel revealed. "He got divorced four times, and his two eldest wives are dead."

Logan's eyes widened in shock. "What? That's... a lot of marriages."

Axel nodded, "It is. And the interesting thing is, he married Prince Adrian and Princess Loyalty's mother first but she died after giving birth to Loyalty."

Logan felt a pang of sadness for his cousin's loss. "That's terrible. What happened?"

"Rumor has it that she died because she was heartbroken as the then prince, your uncle, cheated on her while she was pregnant," Axel explained.

Axel hesitated for a moment before speaking, as if considering whether or not to share what he knew. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, "Logan, there's more to the story. The rumors about your uncle's infidelity and the death of his first wife were proven true."

Logan's heart sank as he listened to Axel's words. "What do you mean?"

Axel sighed, "Your uncle asked the then king, your grandfather, for permission to marry his pregnant girlfriend. She gave birth to two sets of twins - first Prince Colin and Prince Calvin, then Prince Rhett and Prince Wyatt. But she soon died, too. No one knows if she died a natural death or if your uncle killed her so that he could take his third wife."

Logan felt sick to his stomach at the thought of his uncle possibly being capable of such a heinous act. "That's... horrible. How could he do something like that?"

"I don't know," Axel said softly. "But it's something you need to be aware of. No one really talks about it, but it's important that you know the truth."

Logan nodded, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. "I won't let him get away with this. My people deserve better than a ruler who can't even be faithful to his own wife."

Axel placed a comforting hand on Logan's shoulder. "We'll find a way to make things right, Logan. We'll make sure that justice is served, and that your uncle pays for his crimes."

Logan took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult road ahead. But he knew that he couldn't turn a blind eye to what was happening in his kingdom. He had to take action, and he had to do it now but he knew that he needed to uncover all of his uncle's deeds so that even those who believed in him would see that they'd been sailing the wrong boat.

As Logan and Axel talked, they both knew that they needed more information before they could take any action. They discussed possible ways to gather evidence against Logan's uncle, but it seemed like a daunting task.

"I have an idea," Axel finally said. "We should start by talking to the people who were closest to your uncle's first two wives. Or we can ask his third wife if we can find her." Axel then explained to Logan that the king's third wife just disappeared before it was announced that they got divorced.

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Do you think they would be willing to talk to us?"

"It's worth a try," Axel replied. "We can start by talking to the servants who worked in the palace at the time. They might have overheard something or seen something that could help us."

Logan nodded slowly. "Alright. Let's start with the servants. But we have to be discreet. We don't want anyone to know what we're doing."

"Agreed," Axel said. "We'll have to be careful, but we can't let fear hold us back. Your people are counting on you, Logan."

Logan nodded, feeling a sense of determination settle in his chest. He couldn't let fear control him. He had to be strong for his people, and that meant taking risks.

"I'm ready," he said. "Let's do this."

"On second thoughts, there's someone else we could talk to," Axel said, looking at Logan thoughtfully.

"Who?" Logan asked, intrigued.

"Your new aunt," Axel replied. "Your uncle's latest wife. She might be able to help us without hesitation."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Really? How so?"

"Well, from what I've heard since I haven't been here much for the past five years, she's very independent," Axel explained. "Being born a princess, she doesn't really need the king. She married your uncle out of choice, not necessity. And from what I've gathered, she doesn't really care about palace politics. She's more interested in her own projects and hobbies."

Logan thought about this for a moment. It seemed like a long shot, but it was worth a try.

"Do you think she would be willing to help us?" Logan asked.

"I don't see why not," Axel replied. "She doesn't have any loyalty to your uncle. And if we approach her the right way, she might be willing to lend us a hand."

Logan nodded slowly, considering this. It was risky, but it might just be their best chance.

"Alright," he said. "Let's talk to her. But we have to be careful. We don't want her to get hurt in the process."

"Agreed," Axel said. "We'll be careful. But I think it's worth a shot."

A very risky one at that. What if she doesn't want to betray her husband? Or what if she doesn't know anything about it? Logan wanted to ask all of that but he decided to keep it to himself.