A/N- Wassup? It be TOBN here with a new chapter for The Royals!

Now these updates are just coming and coming. Got to keep this small fandom alive, no? Jokes!

So you all are picking up some clues I continuously leave, and soon y'all will be having a basket full of them and will be able to crack the case! What does Evelyn got to do with this? What exactly is Tobias' problem? Is it true? Is Benny really not their son?!

This chapter is kinda a filler chapter [but important nevertheless], and it revolves around the kingdom trying to find Benny, a new investigation, Ethan's new mystery, and even better, the revelation of the thief! Exciting? You bet!

Shoutouts to...

123456789vampire- You are right! Samantha does have some explaining to do! So many mysteries in this castle...so little to hide from you all. But there are so many more secrets I need to tell, and some are going to affect a bunch of people! How scandalous is this, huh? Thanks for the review!

MBAV fan66- Whoa! Let's not get ahead of ourselves my fanfic buddy! Jokes! Who knows? Maybe Samantha has something she could divorce Ross for! Who knows?! Jokes! And your theories are getting closer and closer to the truth. But hopefully, things will be answered soon. Jokes! thanks for your review as always fanfic buddy!

funkybananas47- Well, let's hope you are right! Of course, I have many twists along the way, so maybe things aren't as clear as you may think, but hey! It's your mind and you are the one controlling it...so yeah! Think what you must! Jokes! Thanks for your review!

tomo338- Dun dun duuunnn! And does Evelyn have anything to do with these things? We can't know for sure! Well, I can, since I am writing, but you can't, since you're reading. Jokes! So is it true? Is there more lies in the Morgan Kingdom than expected? Thanks for your review fanfic buddy #2!

And with that, let us get to Chapter 9! Jokes! Drop a review, and...

ENJOY!

The Royals: Chapter 9: Find No Innocence In Those Who're Guilty

Ross sent soldiers down the halls and out the doors of the Morgan Kingdom, giving them very clear commands.

"You all are going to search the lands for Prince Benny Morgan. If you fail in this search, this kingdom, along with you, will suffer. I don't CARE," He roared, frightening some knights. "If you bleed and die of thirst looking for MY son. But if he doesn't come back, there will be hell to pay. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" He yelled. The soldiers stood straight and saluted.

"Yes sir!" They said in unison, marching off to find the lost prince of Vania. Ross watched as soldiers and knights rode off on their stallions, chasing a sunset. Ross cleared his throat as he stormed back into the kingdom, slamming the doors firmly, his feelings swirling in his mind.

The first feeling he felt was guilt. He shouldn't have provoked his son, and doing so had led to this chaos. He would agree to anyone that it was his fault, and he let his anger take over his emotions. And now Benny was gone without a trace, and he can't find him.

The next feeling he felt was sadness and grief.

A great wave of remorse and sadness washed through Ross as he entered his studying chamber, closing the door softly. His son...his youngest son...he was gone. And if he couldn't find him, he didn't know what he would do. He was the last son that he ever had. What if he was never to be found? What if he was killed? He never put any training towards his son, and if he dies, his death would be his fault.

Through the doors of his study, he entered the forbidden library, the one he banned from his family a while ago. He never entered it often anymore, and he knew how neglected he was being to her right now. She was alone in there, and he hardly visited her.

So he looked for the certain book in the library and he pulled it out, a rumble tangling in his ears as he watched a door open. A staircase was revealed in the midst of the dark, and Ross took a breath as he took a torch from the walls and walked down, the door closing behind him.

Silence crept in the dark tomb-like room as he entered an old prison. Cobwebs brushed against Ross' hair as he finally saw the girl who he was looking for. She growled.

"You." She sneered, spitting at the ground. Ross winced as he looked at her. "Can you at least respect the fact you are sheltered and are okay?" He asked. The dusty blonde looked at him and rolled her eyes.

"Oh quit it. This is actually all your fault." She hissed. "I don't deserve a hidden shelter. I deserve freedom." She said with a growl, hiding her face in the shadows. Ross didn't know how to respond to that as he sighed.

"I suppose you are right. But the time is not right yet." He said with a huff of annoyance. The girl scoffed. "Leave me. Now." She commanded. The King heaved a sigh as he nodded. "As you wish." He said, leaning against the iron bars to kiss her forehead. But she turned away as she stalked back to the corner, eating the food that she had in the dungeon.

The King looked down shamefully as he walked out of the room and through the doors.

As he entered back through the library, he turned around to see the room close away from his sight, trapping the girl and the hidden prison.

Ethan walked through the kingdom, hearing the cries of all the servants and workers in the kingdom.

"My jewels are gone!"

"The necklace my mother gave me has vanished!"

"Where are my coins?"

"My diamond bracelet is gone!"

Ethan had been dodging all these complaints all day, and he couldn't stop them. The robberies have been getting worse and worse by the minute, and he couldn't seem to lay his finger down on the thief. It was obvious that they were in the kingdom, but the problem is that he couldn't catch the thief...

busy, Prince Ethan?"

Ethan turned around to see Madame Lydia, her scruffy, white, maid headband bouncing with her brown hair. Ethan smiled as she curtsied. "You look stressed." She added. Ethan walked with her down the halls.

"Oh Madame, I am glad someone had noticed." He heaved a sigh. "I am afraid these robberies are getting out of hand. We need to find the thief, and we need to find him...uh, her...erm...it soon." He said, his voice sounding bothered. Lydia sighed. "You must have many burdens on your mind, my prince. Perhaps some tea with me shall cure you of worries." She suggested, nodding her head to the drawing room.

It had been a while since Ethan was able to relax, and with Madame Lydia, he believed that he could finally do what he hadn't done for quite a while. Sipping his tea, he looked at Lydia, who was smiling.

"So I've heard things are really...vivid, nowadays, no?" She asked, swirling the tea in her hand. Ethan nodded sadly. "Yeah. Things have been rough. All of us are stressed. Rory has been spending most of his time with Erica and not saying anything, my mother spends her time outside these castle walls, my father has been either super cranky, or disappears completely. And now that my brother is gone..." Ethan was on the verge of tears now. Lydia rubbed his back, something shiny and green sparkling behind her hair. Ethan pulled back and sighed.

"I am truly remorseful of what has happened to my family. We are tearing this whole kingdom apart. We are tearing us apart." He confessed, sipping more of his tea. Lydia watched Ethan sip the tea as she smiled, not looking at the prince, who yawned absentmindedly.

"I do however, have some grand news." She announced with a grin. "I am able to pay the debt I owe to the king and I am leaving!" She cheered. Ethan grinned; he loved hearing when people from this kingdom were finally free.

"That is great Lydia!" He said, his excitement growing...along with his drowsiness...

Lydia's cheery voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"You're right! I am completely happy! I can finally roam free through this place." She said, a devious smile on her face. Ethan's smile faltered as he looked at Lydia in confusion. "I am curious, where did you get the money?" He asked curiously. Madame Lydia nonchalantly checked her nails. "Came into some...recent money and offerings." She said slyly.

Ethan's eyes widened when his thoughts raced, remembering what he had saw a few weeks ago...during the first family dinner he had in a long time...

...

Suddenly, the doors swung open. Everyone's attention faced to the doors as the maid, Madame Lydia, smiled.

"Your majesty." She curtseyed. "I brought Prince Benny."

Ethan grinned. He hadn't seen Benny since his thirteenth birthday. And he was becoming eighteen in three days. Benny stayed in his room often, eating late when no one was awake (or so he thought).

Madame Lydia's hair shone as something beneath it sparkled.

...

Ethan looked at Lydia in fear as he stood shakily on his feet.

"You...you stole all the jewels in the kingdom. You...you are the thief." He said with shaking hands. Lydia laughed as she stood, almost knocking down her untouched tea.

"Oh Prince Ethan." She said with an evil cackle. "You should know by now that things aren't what it seems in the kingdom. Let's just say...the intentions are classified." She said, a toothy grin stretched on her face. Ethan drew out his sword from its bindings on his belt.

"Madame Lydia...you have clearly shown offense to this kingdom. Prepare for the consequence." He said bravely, twirling his sword skillfully. Madame Lydia smiled as she glared at Ethan and his finished tea.

"Ethan...it's okay. You just have to...relax." She said with mesmerizing eyes. Ethan suddenly felt drowsy and tired as he looked at the tea. He looked fearfully at Lydia. "What is this? What did you do to me?" He asked in terror. Lydia smiled as she glared at the sword. Ethan's grip loosened on the sword as he limply dropped it. He shook as Lydia twirled her hair.

"My boss gave it to me. A...controlling potion if you will. Now Ethan," She said with a harsh smile. "I want you to pick up the sword." She said with a grin. Ethan, having no control over himself, picked it up. Lydia smiled.

"Point the blade at your heart." She demanded. Ethan wearily did as he was told, watching how the silver blade accidentally ticked against his skin and the small cut started to bleed. Lydia was about to command the last when a shot rang through her ears.

"Wha-"

She plopped on the ground, unconscious as a dart was stuck on her leg. Ethan collapsed as well, the sword clattering beside him as Sarah dropped the tranquilizer gun and walked to the sleeping Ethan. She looked over her shoulder as the guards of Vania and Serenia handcuffed the unconscious Lydia. Ethan drowsily woke up as he saw Sarah's face.

"Ethie." Sarah said with a smile. Ethan kissed her passionately as they sat down, kissing each other with great passion. Sarah grinned.

"Are you alright?" He looked at the small cut on his chest and he sighed. "I'm good." He said, getting up as Sarah handed him a bandage. Sarah's smile faltered. "What happened? What did she make you do?" She asked. The prince sighed.

"Lydia...she's a thief. And her boss...that person has access to potions. We are going to find out what's happening in this kingdom...before this goes out of hand." He said with confidence, walking out as Sarah followed.

Rory and Erica sneaked in the library, making sure Ross was well occupied with the arrest of Madame Lydia. Erica grinned. "All clear." She said with a smile, sneaking in the dark library as Rory held out a lamp.

"So we are trying to find a book called 'The Lost Princess' by R.M King" He said with a look of seriousness on his face. Erica frowned. "R...M...King...Ross Morgan! He is the king, and the initials are corresponding. Do you think Ross wrote that book?" She asked. Rory frowned.

"I don't think so. Maybe there is a secret meaning to that..." He said. Finally, he found the book. He smiled.

"Found it." He said, Erica rushing to his side as he took a breath and pulled out the red book.

The book didn't go that far before the bookshelves rumbled. Erica and Rory pulled back as they saw the bookshelves part and make way for a secret chamber. Torches flickered as Rory grabbed one. Erica gulped as the two went down the stairs.

They found themselves in some sort of hidden prison.

"What the hell..." Rory mumbled. Suddenly, a young voice echoed through the room.

"Hello?"

A/N- Couldn't help but update today because things are getting real!

The next chapter marks the halfway point to this story, and things are getting more and more real.

SO this time is actually the last time I update this story before going to camp. These are the things I will update.

This afternoon: Dear MBAV Writers (maybe), or a one shot that comes to mind.

Monday: A-Z For MBAV, The Haunt

Then Tuesday is the day I leave my friends! I'll think of you :)

Anyway, I kinda want to write some more since I am free tonight, so drop a review and thanks for reading!

In Fangs, We Trust