"Are you sure you want to question this guy with me?" Mateo said as he and Maia walked to the makeshift interview room in the shed attached to the cottage.

She nodded. "Yes. I want to hear what he has to say as much as you do."

"Mm, there's a chance he might not know anything or be willing to tell us anything."

"I know and I'm sure Willem has some creative ways of making him talk," she said, squeezing his hand. "If it comes to that, I'll excuse myself."

Mateo brought her hand to his lips. "Thank you."

"He's all tied up for you," Cornelis said as he stepped out of the shed. "Good luck."

"Thanks," Mateo said as he and Maia walked into the darkened room with a single light shining above a man hunched over in a chair with a brown sack over his head.

"Just kill me already," the man muffled as Maia and Mateo took their seats across from him.

"You're not dying today," Willem said, pulling the sack from the man's head. "Prince Hendrik and Miss Jefferies would like to ask you some questions first."

The man's deep green eyes grew wide. "No," he whispered as tears pooled in his eyes. "You should be dead."

"Yes, but we're not," Mateo said, clasping his hands in front of him. "And I want to know who hired you and your partner to kill me and my fiancée."

The man shook his greasy black head of hair as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I can't. They have my family."

"Who has your family?" Willem said, leaning against the table as he crossed his arms.

"No." The man shook his head again. "They'll kill them if I say anything."

"What if we told you we already know who hired you, but we just need you to confirm it?" Maia said. "And if you confirm it, I'm sure Prince Hendrik would agree to make sure your family is protected, right?"

"I could." Mateo nodded. "But it would depend on what kind of information we're given

"I-I can tell you everything I know about the attack, but I'd need to know my family is safe first."

"No, that's not how this is going to work," Mateo smirked. "You're going to tell us everything you know about the people you're working with and the attack and only then, will I agree to provide protection for you and your family. Otherwise," he said, nodding to Willem, who slipped a gun from his holster and pointed it at the man's head. "You won't be leaving here alive and your family will be killed once I reveal myself."

The man closed his eyes and hung his head in defeat as he cursed under his breath. "I'll tell you what I know."

"No lies," WIllem said, pressing the gun to the side of his head. "I'll know and this won't end well for you."

"It's not going to end well for me no matter what I do," the man grumbled. "You're never going to let me see my family again, but at least they'll have a chance."

"I'm not that heartless," Mateo said. "If you cooperate with us, I'll grant you visiting rights in prison."

"Thank you."

Willem clipped the safety on the gun and took a seat at the head of the table. "Now, tells us your name and what you know."

The man sighed. "My name is Bas Padilla. I work for Arnaud Haro and I was contracted to murder Prince Hendrik and Maia Jefferies."

"Why?" Maia asked.

"Because Mr. Haro has a keen interest in Prince Jorien becoming king. I don't know why, but I imagine it's to extend his cartel to Oost den Burg and when he wants you to do something, he'll make sure you comply whether you want to or not. This was supposed to be my last job for him." Bas scoffed. "And I guess it is."

"It will be," Willem said, pouring the man a glass of water and pushing it across the table to him. "How long has Haro been planning this and was Prince Jorien aware of his plans?"

Bas brought the glass to his lips, wincing as he pressed it against his bruised lips. "Mr. Haro and Prince Jorien were planning to get rid of Prince Hendrik since King Harald announced your engagement and you were coming home," he said, shaking his head. "I don't know how much Prince Jorien knew of the exact plans." He glanced at Maia. "Your ex, Sven, knew this was going to happen. He was hoping you'd come running back to him once Prince Hendrik was killed, but Haro's daughter, Saskia, decided keeping you alive was too much of a risk. Sven's lucky she didn't decide to kill him too, but that's why he left."

"That makes sense," Maia smirked. "Sven wouldn't want to put his neck out too far for me."

Bas nodded. "I was there when Saskia decided to kill you. He made a half assed attempt to keep you out of it, but she threatened his career and he folded."

Mateo shook his head. Of course Sven would choose his career over Maia's life. "That doesn't surprise me," he said, threading his fingers through Maia's. "Do you know anyone else who was privy to this conspiracy?"

"Yes," Bas said, taking another gulp of water. "Prince Jorien's loyalists are all aware of his desire and plans to get rid of you before you could challenge him for the crown, but Councillor Bram Jansen was the one who drafted the memorial plans for your death."

Maia squeezed Mateo's hand. "They've already planned the memorial?"

"Oh yes." Bas nodded. "Prince Jorien is banking on the people mourning your death so they won't have any time to react to Mr. Haro moving in the leaders of his conglomerate."

Mateo raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know all of this?"

"I've worked for Haro for many years and I've seen this kind of take over many times." Bas sighed. "Prince Jorien is one of many high ranking officials he's manipulated and Oost den Burg isn't the first country he's infiltrated and it won't be the last. What happened to you and Miss Jefferies is just part of his formula."

A barrage of knocks sounded on the door of the shed and Willem's satellite phone blared to life before Cornelis, Gerrit and Demetri burst through the door.

"We're so sorry to interrupt, but you need to see this," Gerrit said, holding up his phone while Willem slipped out of the shed to answer his phone.

"What's going on?" Mateo said as Gerrit thrust his phone in front of them and his heart clenched at the protests filling the promenade of the palace.

"Oh shit," Maia said, digging her nails into his hand. "Is that Eline?"

"Yes," Mateo said through gritted teeth as the news cameras zoomed in on his sister's face leading the shouting and chanting crowds to the palace. "She started a riot."

Everything was going to plan and Jorien found it hard to mask his joy while his family grieved the loss of Hendrik and his fiancée. His father was so beside himself with grief that he didn't think twice about allowing Jorien to address the country in his stead.

Jorien gazed at himself in the mirror, fighting the urge to smile as he fastened his ceremonial orange and navy blue sash to the golden epaulet on his shoulder. While the people mourned for his brother, he would be securing the future of his partnership with the Haro conglomerate.

Oost den Burg would no longer be seen as a meek insular kingdom, but one of the most powerful and commanding domains in Europe and the people would learn to love him for it or they could leave if they didn't.

Jorien could care less what the people thought of him after Oost den Burg became a haven for weapons and a paradise for world's most influential people like Arnaud promised. He'd finally have the respect he deserved instead of living in his brother's shadow.

"You look wonderful, my king," Gesina said, smiling as she waddled across the room in a flowing navy blue gown with her hair braided around a glittering diamond tiara. "Are you ready?"

"I am," Jorien said, sliding a hand over her stomach as he leaned into her ear. "The world is ours, my love," he whispered.

"Yes it is," she said, kissing his cheek as she thread her fingers through his. "And the world is waiting for you."

Jorien brought her hand to his lips. "I love you, Gesi."

She smiled. "And I you, Jori."

"Your Highness," Lars said as he entered the room and gave Jorien a curt bow. "There have been some developments, sir. I don't think it would be wise for you to address the public."

Jorien frowned. "And why not?"

Lars sighed as he crossed the room and flung open the curtains. "Because hundreds of people are marching toward the palace accusing you of killing Prince Hendrik."

Jorien's eyes grew wide. "What?" he said, moving across the room to the windows and his heart clenched and plummeted to the bottom of his stomach. The roaring crowd nearing the palace held up makeshift signs calling him a murderer while they chanted justice for Maia and Prince Hendrik and the crash was an inside job. His jaw clenched as he eyed the news cameras and reporters flocking around Eline leading the crowd to the gates of the palace. "Why is my sister leading them?"

"It would seem Princess Eline has some strong opinions about Prince Hendrik's death and the people agree with her," Lars said, crossing his arms over his chest. "And it's not just the people of Oost den Burg who are suspicious of you. Every social media channel is talking about their deaths being orchestrated by you."

"Oh my God," Gesina said, sliding a hand over her mouth. "What are we going to do? This isn't true!"

"I'm not going to hide," Jorien said, turning away from the windows. "This is my country, my kingdom and I don't care what the people think. Prince Hendrik is dead and there's nothing they can do to bring him or that fucking author back."

"Your Highness," Lars said, grasping his arm. "I would advise you not to do anything drastic."

Jorien scowled. "I don't need you to advise me of anything," he said, shrugging Lars' hand off of him. "My father is incapacitated so that makes me king by default and I'm going to address the people like I planned."

Lars took a step back from him and bowed like the obedient servant he was. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

"Gesina, come with me," Jorien said, holding out his hand to her. "I'm not letting the people or my sister ruin our moment."

"Yes, my love," Gesina said, taking his hand as they swept out of the room. "Jorien, we can't address the people like this," she whispered as they walked down the hall to his private chambers.

"We can and we will," he said, pressing the code on the keypad. "Arnaud and Saskia can take care of the crowds for us."

"Yes, but Eline is out there," Gesina said, digging her nails into his arm. "I don't want her to get hurt. She's your sister."

"And Hendrik was my brother," Jorien seethed. "Eline should've learned to be more like Adrie," he said, slipping into the room and snatching the phone from the receiver. "Then she wouldn't be in any danger right now."

"Jori, I don't like this," Gesina said as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. "The people won't trust you if anything happens to Eline. What will your mother think? What about your father?"

"This isn't about them!" Jorien roared. "It's about me and my place as king. I thought you were on my side, Gesi?"

I-I am, but maybe Lars is right," she said, sliding her hand over his. "Maybe we should just wait this out and address the people tomorrow."

"No, " he said, punching a few numbers into the phone. "I'm doing this today and Saskia is going to make that possible."

"We're already on it," Saskia said as she answered the phone. "Do everything just like we planned. A little protest is just teething problems."

"Thank you," Jorien said, sighing. He pressed a kiss to Gesina's hand. "Make sure Eline isn't harmed in any of this."

"Mm, sure, but I can't promise anything."

"That's good enough for me," Jorien said, hanging up.

A smile spread over Gesina's lips as she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "You're a good man, Jorien."

"I try to be," he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Come on, I think you deserve to wear the queen's crown today."

A/N: 😯 Go on Eline! You start that riot! You spread those theories! Justice for Maia and Mateo! It was an inside job! I'd be right there with her protesting 🙌🏾✊🏾 I don't believe Saskia is going to spare Eline any harm and Jorien is a piece of shit for not caring about her. And Gesina...SMH...I didn't expect much from her, but damn. I am SO excited about what's going to go down at this public address! What do you think? Maia and Mateo showing up with Bas to tell the truth OR just Maia and Mateo blowing up Jorien and Gesina's spot in a big way? Ooo there's so many ways they could reveal themselves 😈