Lior Croft: The Storm They Never Saw Coming!

THE REAL HEALER REVEALED

As Lior stepped forward, the crowd's gaze shifted from admiration to anger, their faces twisted in shock and disbelief. 

The king's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "Repeat what you said, Lior Raz," he commanded, his voice firm but with a hint of curiosity.

Lior stood tall, his voice clear. "I said, I was the one who healed the governor's daughter. That gift belongs to me now."

The crowd erupted into gasps and whispers. Delilah, Frederick's mother, was livid. "How dare he!" she hissed. 

"A common servant, under punishment, has the audacity to claim such a feat?"

The king raised his hand, silencing the crowd. "Lior, are you sure of what you're saying?" he asked, his tone measured.

Lior nodded, unwavering. "I'm positive, Your Majesty."

The governor leaned forward, his eyes locked on Lior. "If you're lying, boy, you'll regret it. Describe my daughter's condition."

Lior's gaze didn't falter. "She was stung by a wild forest bee, known as the scorpion bee. The venom's been spreading, causing her pain.

It had spread to all parts of her body and was slowly creeping closer to her heart when I…"

The governor's eyes widened, cutting Lior off. "How do you know that?" he demanded.

The crowd's murmurs grew louder. "How can he know that?" someone whispered. "Impossible!"

Lior bowed, “It was fifty percent a lucky guess, and fifty percent a past experience when someone close to me was stung by the same bee. 

The technique I used to heal your daughter, I learnt from a physician who used the same technique to heal the close person I earlier spoke about.” 

“I see, impressive,” the governor thoughtfully.

Prince Frederick’s face turned red with rage, as he noticed the governor was starting to believe Lior. He stormed forward, grabbing Lior’s shirt. "Liar!" he spat. 

"Who gave you the right to make such a claim? You're nothing but trash!"

“Horny, please calm down, you are making a scene.” Rhea Smith tried to intervene, but Frederick pushed her aside, his anger boiling over. 

"You're just a lowly servant, Lior. How dare you try to steal my glory?" He spat at Lior.

The king’s voice thundered, "Enough, Frederick! Such behavior is not fit for the crown prince of Azurefang."

Lior smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. He was beginning to enjoy how everything was falling in place. 

"In fact, Prince Frederick, you were the one who kicked the governor’s daughter with your leg when she begged for your help, weren’t you?" Lior added, making the situation more intense.

The crowd gasped, shocked by Lior’s words. Frederick’s face turned pale, and he stumbled backward, releasing Lior’s shirt.

The king’s expression turned stern. "Lior, such accusations will only make your current punishment worse…"

But Lior interrupted, his voice calm. "I’m telling the truth, Your Majesty. Let the governor’s daughter arrive, and she’ll confirm it."

The hall erupted into chaos; nobles shouting, servants whispering, guards exchanging uneasy glances. 

Some cried out, “Blasphemy!” while others muttered, “But he knew of the venom… how could he know?”

Suddenly, a stout woman pushed her way through the crowd. Lady Maribelle, Frederick’s aunt and Delilah’s elder sister, known for her sharp tongue and unyielding temper, stepped forward with heavy strides. Her face was flushed with fury.  

“You dare accuse the crown prince of such cruelty?” she bellowed. Without hesitation, she raised her hand and struck Lucien across the face, the sound of the slap echoing through the chamber. Gasps erupted—some in shock, others in approval.  

Lucien did not flinch. He straightened, his cheek red but his eyes steady. “I speak only the truth, my lady,” he said calmly, his words slicing through the murmurs.  

Delilah’s heart sank. She turned to her son, her voice trembling but heavy with desperation. “Frederick… tell me. Is it true? Did you strike Sophia when she begged for help?”  

The hall fell silent. All eyes turned to the prince. Frederick’s jaw tightened, his hands trembling slightly. 

He looked first at his mother, then at Rhea, his betrothed, whose eyes pleaded silently for honesty. His gaze swept over the crowd—nobles, servants, guards—all waiting, all judging.  

The king’s voice broke the silence, deep and commanding. “Frederick, speak the truth. You know the penalty for a crown prince who lies before his people. It is not a burden lightly borne.”  

The words hung heavy in the air. Everyone knew the law: a lie from the heir was treason against the crown itself.  

Frederick’s throat tightened. He glanced at his father, whose stern gaze pierced him, then back at Rhea, whose hands trembled at her sides. 

His mother’s eyes glistened with tears, and the crowd leaned forward, breathless.  

Finally, Frederick spoke, his voice low but firm. “No… it is not true. I did not strike her.”  

A wave of murmurs swept through the hall; some sighs of relief, others whispers of doubt. 

The governor’s face darkened, suspicion etched into every line.

A small smile hardly visible appeared on Lior's lips. “Good, lie your way to destruction.” He thought as excitement filled his heart.

Meanwhile the crowd’s reactions rippled like fire through dry grass. Some nobles nodded, unwilling to believe ill of their crown prince. 

Others exchanged uneasy glances, whispering, “But why would the servant risk death to lie?”  

Lady Maribelle folded her arms, glaring at Lucien with triumph, “ See? Who would take your words over the crown prince's words?”

But Lior remained calm.

Even though everyone felt relief Delilah’s face betrayed a flicker of unease, because she always knew when her son was lying, and this might be one of those times.

The king remained silent, his eyes fixed on Frederick, as though weighing the truth behind his son’s words.  

The hall was chaos filled, so they didn't realize that Sophia, the governor's daughter was standing at the doorway, clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing as she prepared to speak.  

“I think I can clear this up,” her firm voice tore through the chaotic crowd as she took majestic steps into the hall.

The hall fell silent like a graveyard and only the sound of Sophia's heels clashing against the tile floor could be heard as everyone's eyes were fixed on her with anticipation…