When Eugene had imagined trying to talk to Cass about this slavery situation, he had thought that it would be much harder than talking to Rapunzel about it. Varian's outburst actually helped the process. Cass already had an issue with slavery, but now she was also willing to give Andrew and the other Saporians a chance. She didn't trust Andrew, but she held her tongue and kept her opinions about him to herself. She was clearly thinking about everything that Varian had said he'd been through.
Cass wanted to hear every gory detail, and so did Queen Arianna. It made Eugene glad that Varian had gone off to bed, because they talked about things that he didn't, and really shouldn't, know about. Eugene wished that he didn't know these things, and he tried to put it out of his mind. He'd rather not think of people getting sick and dying slowly, or being forced to punish and humiliate other slaves or else they would all be punished even worse.
What really alarmed Cass was that everybody that had been in their particular compound had been nobility or fierce warriors. They were the type of people that all of the stories said were the liberators of slaves, not slaves themselves. It made Cass feel more than a little disillusioned.
"So what are we going to do?" Cass asked quietly. "We can't just talk to the king and nicely ask him to free all the slaves."
"Actually, that was exactly what we were hoping to do." Andrew said. Hector rolled his eyes and scowled, but he didn't complain. He'd already made his opinion clear, and now he was backing off and letting the others take charge, with the knowledge that if this didn't work then Eugene still had the moonstone and somebody willing to use it.
Maybe he should mention that plan to the others, but he didn't want to be the one to suggest that they solve these things with violence and destruction. Maybe Cass wouldn't mind, but Rapunzel would be horrified. The kingdom of Corona may have enslaved Eugene's people, but the Coronans themselves were nice and Eugene still thought of many of them as friends. He didn't want to hurt anybody. He didn't want to just ignore those that were suffering though.
This slavery needed to end, and Eugene was going to do everything that was necessary to stop it, even if it meant that innocent people got involved.
"And what if talking doesn't work?" Cass asked.
"How far is this going to go?" Arianna asked. "Are we seeking freedom, or justice? I believe your people are entitled to both, but it is my duty to protect my people. I don't condone slavery, but what is going to happen to my people after this whole thing is over?"
"With all due respect, your highness, the wellbeing of your people is my last concern." Andrew said. "I want my people to be safe. Preferably I would like for our land to be returned to us, but I'm willing to negotiate with someone who isn't a tyrant. I will tell you now, I have no intention of bringing my people out of slavery just so we can enslave those who wronged us first. That will just start a cycle that none of us need."
"Frederick is a stubborn man." Arianna said.
"But he also cares about his family." Cass pointed out. "If you don't like this slavery business, and neither does Rapunzel or her boyfriend, maybe he'll be willing to listen to reason."
"It's certainly worth a try." Eugene said, though he didn't have a good feeling about this. They needed to divide and conquer. "Andrew, why don't you and Adira take the other Saporians and see if you can rally the rest of your people and anybody from the Dark Kingdom that's nearby?" The more people they had, the better they would be able to show that they weren't just a handful of people causing a ruckus. There were a lot of people that were just trying to reclaim their lives.
Arianna put a hand on Eugene's arm. "We'll try to reason with Frederick. He'll respond better to familiar faces." Eugene certainly hoped so.
"What about us?" Edmund asked. Hector was watching Eugene carefully. He seemed to know what was on his mind.
"Dad, you'll come to the capital with us, but not to the castle." Eugene said. "You and Lance can talk to the people and see where they stand on this whole thing, without actually revealing that it's a thing at all."
Cass gave him an odd look. "Since when do you take charge like this?"
"Since I found out that I'm apparently a prince, my family and people have not only been hurt, but they've been enslaved by the father of the woman I love." Eugene said just a little too loudly. He'd been keeping his thoughts in for so long, and it was absolutely exhausting. "I'm supposed to take charge, and if I don't then not only will somebody else be stuck with the horrifying responsibility, but I'll also lose what little control I have in my life!"
Everybody was just staring at him. Eugene usually liked to be the center of attention, but he didn't like the pity in their eyes. He was fine. Eugene sighed.
"Look, I'm fine, I just need some time to figure things out." Eugene said. "We have bigger things to worry about." He looked at Hector. "I want you to stay by my side. Maybe the king will be more comfortable with people he knows, but I need this, just in case."
Hector nodded. "Whatever you want from me, I'm here to serve." He didn't sound eager or disappointed that Eugene would want him there just in case they needed to use the moonstone. Hector sounded completely neutral.
"What about Varian?" Arianna asked.
"Let him stay here and rest." Andrew said. "The kid deserves a break. His dad will keep an eye on him."
"We should all rest." Edmund said. "We can leave tomorrow." Eugene didn't want to wait, but they were all tired. Sleep would probably do them all some good.
Rapunzel didn't get any sleep that night. Her dad was with her for hours, trying to explain and reason why their family had gotten mixed up in this whole thing. Rapunzel listened, but she didn't really care for it at all. No matter what her dad said, and what explanation he gave, she didn't like it any more. People had been hurt and enslaved. It didn't matter if her ancestors had been worried about the magic of a foreign kingdom, or that they might eventually be invaded. People didn't do things like that to each other.
Her father said that this was part of her inheritance. It was part of being the princess of Corona. Rapunzel had already had a hard time adjusting to being a princess. She'd never asked for this. All she wanted was to be with her family. She tolerated the whole princess thing because that was what came with being a part of her family. Being a princess was one thing. Owning slaves was something else entirely, and it was enough to make her wish that she was back in her tower. Yes, she hadn't been free, but at least she hadn't been responsible for taking someone else's freedom away from them.
Rapunzel's dad asked her about Cass and Eugene and what exactly they told her about slavery. She didn't tell him anything. Eugene and his family had just gotten away from this mess. She was not going to be the one who somehow gave them away and sent them right back into slavery.
Fortunately, her dad took her silence as a sign of shock, and that this was just because she was overwhelmed. He thought that she just needed some to adjust. He kissed her goodnight, told her that she would understand someday, which was a horrifying thought, and he left her alone.
Rapunzel sat curled up on the floor of the balcony, staring out into the city. She didn't sleep, but her mind drifted so much that it felt like she was in a dream. In what felt like a very long time, and at the same time no time at all, the sun was rising over the horizon. Rapunzel sighed and finally stood up. She needed to clear her head, and the way that she did that was she kept busy.
Rapunzel made her way to the kitchens, intending to make some pastries. Deserts always made people feel better, even if just for a short amount of time. The kitchen staff were already at work to make breakfast, but they were used to her coming here. They gave her her own personal space to work in, however small it may be, and they didn't ask what was wrong. Rapunzel loved her people. Coronans were just so kind. It was still so hard to believe that such an amazing kingdom could hide such a terrible secret.
Rapunzel got lost in her baking, but she froze the second she saw Cass peek into the kitchen. Cass smiled and looked back into the hallway.
"I told you guys she'd be in here." Cass said. She came into the kitchen, followed by Rapunzel's mom, Eugene, and Hector. Rapunzel felt happy for the first time since she had found out about this horror.
"Eugene." Rapunzel said breathlessly. She ran into his arms and swore to herself that she wasn't going to let him go again. "I'm sorry. "I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you, I just-"
"It's okay." Eugene said. "It's a lot. It's overwhelming. I know, believe me."
Rapunzel stayed in the embrace for a long moment before she finally pulled away to look at the servants. "Can you give us some space, just for a few minutes?"
"Of course, your highness." They nodded and quickly left. Rapunzel had never been bothered by the obedience of the servants, but now she was wondering how much of that was because they were just doing their job, and how much of it was because they were afraid of what would happen if they disobeyed.
"How'd things go with your dad?" Eugene asked.
"Not well." Rapunzel grimaced. "He actually seems to think that he's not doing anything wrong. I don't understand it."
"Well, if he didn't listen to you maybe he'll listen to the both of us, together." Arianna took Rapunzel's hands. "We can get through this."
"I guess we need to find the king." Eugene looked around, as though Rapunzel's father would be in the kitchen. Rapunzel knew that he would be in the throne room already for his early morning meetings. Eugene's eyes landed on Hector, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "I know you probably hate him, but you can't attack the king. Remember, we're just here to talk."
Hector didn't respond. He was just looking at the tray of pastries that Rapunzel had pulled out of the oven. There was a look of longing and disbelief in his eyes. Rapunzel's heart panged, but she smiled. She took one of the pastries and put it on a small plate. She handed it to Hector.
"I guess it's probably been a while since you've had something sweet." Rapunzel said. Hector just devoured the pastry, oblivious to the awkward sadness that the rest of them were feeling.
"You have no idea." Hector said as he grabbed another pastry before he even finished his first one. He looked at Eugene. "And I said I wouldn't act until I was told."
Rapunzel didn't know if Hector would be able to hold true to that, but Eugene trusted him, and she wasn't going to be doubting him again.
Rapunzel insisted that they all had a pastry or two before they went to the throne room. Most people couldn't have a meeting with the king whenever they wanted, but Rapunzel and Arianna were his family. They were always allowed to talk to him. Rapunzel just hoped that her dad would listen to reason.
She and her mom started to discuss strategies. They could mention that they could have some powerful allies if they tried to make friends with people instead of enslaving them. They could have a stronger military force if all of their best guards weren't being sent off to keep the slaves in line. And Rapunzel believed that her dad was a good person. He was just going on with this because it was tradition. Legacy and tradition was important, but Rapunzel also believed in changing for the better, and after knowing her surely her dad would see that was true now.
Her father gave them a bright smile when he saw Rapunzel and Arianna. His joy dimmed slightly when he saw Cass and Eugene. When he laid eyes on Hector all signs of kindness and happiness vanished. Rapunzel felt like she was staring at a stranger.
"Guards, leave us." The king said. "I need to speak with my family." The guards all looked at each other, but they left without a word. When they were alone Frederick raised an eyebrow at them.
"Rapunzel, darling, who is your companion?" King Frederick asked.
"This is Hector." Eugene said. He tried to step in front of Hector protectively, but the older man side-stepped and tried to stand protectively in front of Eugene. They eventually just stood side-by-side. "He's a family friend."
"I thought you didn't have a family." King Frederick narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Rapunzel gave Eugene a panicked look. They hadn't come to confront her father, but to talk rationally to him. They needed to be calm and not throw accusations around, however true they might be.
Eugene met Rapunzel's eyes, and he sighed. "It's complicated."
King Frederick gave him a cold look. "Eugene, when I sent you to check on the Warden's security, I didn't intend for you to break somebody out to test her skills."
Rapunzel was confused for a short moment before her gaze landed on the mark on the back of Hector's hand. The slave mark. Her dad knew what Hector had been. This wasn't the way that Rapunzel wanted to do this at all.
"Dad, I can explain." Rapunzel said. Her dad's gaze softened slightly to a look of disappointment, as though she was just acting like a naive child who didn't know any better.
"Darling, I understand that this is a lot to try to understand, and if it means so much to you we can talk about offering freedom and redemption to some slaves." Her dad said. "But the Brotherhood is not the best place to start. Their people are dangerous."
"But what if they're not all dangerous?" Rapunzel asked. She didn't think that any of them were that bad, they were just desperate. But Rapunzel knew how to word things to appease a parent. She hated that she was doing this with her dad, but at least the skill was coming in handy again.
Rapunzel clung to Eugene's hand. "What if they just act out because they're scared, or desperate, but deep down they're actually really nice?" She smiled at Eugene, and he smiled right back at her. This wasn't how they had wanted to do this, but Rapunzel wasn't afraid. Eugene was here with her. As long as he was by her side, she could do anything.
"Darling, I know you want to see the best in people, but you can't trust them." King Frederick said.
"You trusted Quirin." Arianna said. She walked up to Frederick and put a hand on his arm.
"Only because I had no other choice." The king sighed. "But he was the exception. I heard about this one here, and he's dangerous." Rapunzel tightened her grip on Eugene's arm. She hadn't even considered that her dad had been told about Hector because he caused so much trouble. Rapunzel didn't blame Hector for being resistant, but it complicated things a little bit.
"If he's so dangerous, why hasn't he done anything?" Cass pointed out. "He's calm, even though he has every reason to not be."
King Frederick gave Hector a curious look. "Indeed. Why? What are you planning?"
"I'm not the one that makes plans." Hector said. He looked at Eugene. "I'm here for one reason."
Rapunzel didn't know what Hector was here for, but it didn't really matter to her. Eugene wanted him here, and that was enough for Rapunzel. She needed to take her dad's attention away from Hector.
"You know I don't want to hurt people." Rapunzel said quietly. "I was locked up for my whole life, forced to do things that I didn't like. I don't want to be responsible for making anybody else feel like that."
Her father looked pained and conflicted. He sighed and approached Rapunzel. She felt hopeful. Maybe she'd been able to talk some sense into her dad after all. He'd seen how much she had suffered in her life. Maybe if he could see how similar the slaves situation was to hers, then he would have some sympathy for them.
There was a softness in King Frederick's eyes, but as he came closer his gaze drifted to Eugene's hand. Too late Rapunzel realized that he wasn't wearing his glove. Eugene's slave mark was out in the open for the world to see.
Rapunzel slid closer to Eugene and tried to hide his hand between their bodies, but it was too late. Her dad's eyes narrowed. He grabbed Eugene's wrist and forced him to lift his hand and show his mark.
"You…" King Frederick looked stunned, but then that cold look that she hated returned to his eyes. "Horace."
Eugene grimaced. "Well, that didn't remain secret for long."
"I've looked for you for years, and you were under my nose this whole time?" King Frederick's grip on Eugene tightened painfully, making him flinch and try in vain to pull away. "Was this your plan this whole time? To infiltrate my family and destroy us from the inside?"
"What? Dad!" Rapunzel tried to pry her dad's hand away from Eugene, but his grip was firm. "He didn't infiltrate anything!"
"That's only what he wants you to believe." King Frederick said, as though he was speaking to a child. "I should have known. Quirin saves my wife, and immediately afterwards my daughter goes missing. Of course Quirin was probably involved."
"Quirin had nothing to do with it." Rapunzel snapped. "Gothel took me." Her dad acted like he hadn't heard her.
"Was this your plan? To take my daughter and try to indoctrinate sympathy for slaves into her, and then when she was of marrying age you came to 'rescue' her and trick her into being in a relationship with you so you could take over my kingdom?"
"Frederick, that's enough." Arianna snapped. "There was no such plan, and you know it. You've kept an eye on Quirin. You would have known if he had anything to do with Rapunzel's kidnapping. As for Eugene, he was five years old when Rapunzel was taken from us. He was just a child."
"I will not let you hurt my family." Frederick growled. Eugene looked furious.
"Hurt your family? I would never hurt Rapunzel. You're the one that's been hurting my family." Eugene started to move his free hand towards his satchel, fiddling with the straps anxiously. "What did they ever do to you? Why did you invade the Dark Kingdom and enslave the people?"
"Your people have access to terrible magic that is too risky to allow in anybody's hands." King Frederick said. "I've heard of the destructive magic of the moon, and I couldn't let them use it against my people." Rapunzel was confused. What moon magic was he talking about?
"We didn't even know what Corona was." Hector said. He was tense and looked ready for a fight, but he didn't attack. He just watched Eugene carefully, waiting or something. "You didn't want to keep the magic safe, you wanted to use it for yourself."
"Because it couldn't be trusted in the hands of anyone else." The king said.
Arianna grabbed Frederick's arm and pulled harshly enough to make him let go of Eugene. She spun him around and glared at him sternly.
"Frederick, you can't do this." Rapunzel's mom was stern, hurt, and desperate. "You can't control people's lives because you're afraid of what other people can do." Arianna put a hand to his cheek. "This isn't the man I fell in love with. I know you're just doing what you think is best for those you care about, but you've gone too far. Please, listen to us."
Rapunzel's dad looked conflicted and thoughtful. Please, let this be it. Let him find that kindness that Rapunzel knew was inside him. He seemed to be thinking about it for a long moment, but then his gaze hardened again. This was not going well.
"So when I sent you to keep the slaves in line, you helped your family escape instead." King Frederick said. "Clearly this one is out. Who else escaped?" His eyes narrowed. "Where's Varian?"
"Leave that poor boy alone!" Queen Arianna said, but Rapunzel's dad brushed her off.
"He's a nuisance and needs to be taken care of accordingly." King Frederick said, and Rapunzel recognized his tone of voice. He was not going to change his mind.
"Guards!" King Frederick called out. The guards that had been standing right outside the door came in. Rapunzel's father gestured to Eugene and Hector. "Take these two to the dungeons. I'll deal with them later. Then tell the captain to gather his men and be ready to raid Old Corona. We have an escaped prisoner to find."
"Dad, no!" Rapunzel cried out. They had just come here to talk. It wasn't supposed to go so bad, but her dad was trying to arrest Eugene and Hector again, and who knew what they would do to Quirin and Varian.
"You're not going to lay one hand on that kid." Eugene said dangerously. "Not ever again." The room seemed to grow darker and colder, and a moment later blue and black rocks erupted out of the ground, surrounding the guards and trapping them completely. One of the rocks grew right between Frederick and Arianna, separating them and nicking Frederick slightly as it did so.
Rapunzel stared at the glowing rocks in shock for a long moment before she saw a brighter glow out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Eugene holding a rock that was glowing a bright blue, just like Eugene's eyes were. Rapunzel was stunned.
"Eugene," Rapunzel said breathlessly. "What-"
"I'm sorry." Eugene said. He closed his eyes and held the stone out to Hector. "I wanted to negotiate, but I have to keep my family safe." It wasn't what Rapunzel wanted, but she understood.
"Hector, we're doing things your way." Eugene said. Hector took the stone.
"What would you have me do?" Hector asked.
"A warning." Eugene said. "I don't want anybody to get hurt if they don't have to, but we need to let them know that we mean business."
"One message, coming up." Hector closed both his hands tightly around the stone, causing it to glow. The room grew colder and more black rocks began to erupt out of the ground, leaving a path of destruction out of the throne room and into the rest of the castle.
"You wanted to control the powers of the moon." Hector said. He was talking to Frederick, but he wasn't looking at him at all. He wasn't looking at anything. Hector was just staring blankly into the distance. That, combined with his emotionless tone of voice, made him seem almost possessed. Rapunzel knew there was a lot happening here that she really didn't understand.
"You're about to see what these powers are capable of."