Defending Left-Handed

Chapter 18

Fear took over Slithen’s eyes. She looked at Liriel. “How can you be so sure? I have never heard that a left handed had been killed for 5 years.”

Liriel could not believe Slithen. He shook his head in disappointment. “It always happens, Slithen. Every year an assessment takes place. It is an assessment for those children who have come of age. If you shows sign that your left hand is your dominant hand then you would not be able to return back to your home.”

Slithen dropped the food they bought. She looked at the kids who did not have any idea waall woulp happen.

Liriel picked up the food.

“Where is the assessment held?” She asked.

“Follow them,” Liriel said. The assessment venue was not that far away from them. It was just a walking distance.

Slithen walked towards one the child. “Where you going?” She asked. The title got confused by her still answered.

“To the assessment area!” the kid eventually said. There was a huge smile on their face. They did not know what would eventually happened.

Slithen looked at Liriel. “We will be back, okay?” she said and followed where the line finishes. They were already a lot of children waiting outside the testing area. They were happily talking to each other. Five years ago, when the chaotic declaration happened, they were still a baby. They looked like they were around six to seven years old. They do not have any idea what happened.

She looked at all of the children in line but they were still a children. Why would they do this to them? Killing them?”

They were knights at the end of the line. She removed her straw hat and looked at them. Both knights’ eyes widen and they bowed. They did not expect to see her there.

“What is this! Why are the kids are lining?”

“This is the annual assessment, your highness. We do this every day.”

Slithen covered her mouth. So it’s really real. Id they do this every year, “Then where were the children who passed as dominantly left handed?”

The knights looked at each other. “They were killed, your highness, as per the king’s command.”

Slithen could not help but collapsed from what she heard. How could she had not known about this? She knew she was still a child five years or four years ago but now, she’s already a grown up. The king could have told her and she could have given her insight about the assessment. If she were to decide, she would stop this.

First, her father hid what the slums was and now this? What more did he hide from her?

She could no longer see the right reason of killing the left-handed. Especially the children. They did not do anything bad. If he was too afraid that they would be the ones who would destroy the country because left-handed were prone to be criminals or would revolt then the right way was to give them education, right? Give them a proper and with quality of education so they would not live a miserable life or let them see how good the sovereign was by helping them what they need. With that no one would go against him because they see him as a good and righteous king.

If the king continued to kill every each of them then that would give more reasons for a lot of people to fo against him and his beliefs. That was why every year, there’s a plot against him because he did not stop the killings. Those who got angry at him will just keep piling up. The king needed to wake up.

She looked at Liriel who was standing behind her. “Let us go back to the house and packed our things. We need to go back to the palace,” she said and stood up. She walked faster until she reached the house for just a few seconds.

“What happened?” Tom asked as she saw the princess was in a rush.

“She ordered us to go back to the castle,” he said. Tom looked so confused.

“Then what about the port?”

“I guess that will be reschedule. She told us to immediately pack our things. We should not keep her waiting.

~•~

Slithen was just quiet by the whole ride. She did not utter any single word. She must have been in deep thoughts.

When they arrived at the castle, she immediately looked for her father in the throne room. She did not got to waste her time looking for him since he’s just inside. Liriel and Tom remained outside the palace I case she decided to go back and continue her goal for today in going to the port.

“Oh, Slithen. Why are you home today? I thought you’d be home tomorrow,” the king said while playing chess on his own.

“Your Majesty, what were the things that I have discovered during my stay at the town?”

“What are those, specifically?” the king asked.

“Why did you not tell me about the slums and the annual dominant test? Why did you not ask me about my opinion about those two?”

“So? What are you opinions about those two?”

Slithen clenched her fist and took a deep breath.

“I think we should bring back the people from the slums here. Why would we isolate them? Why would they be punished, too? No one deserves to be isolated.”

The king laughed with her remarked. “Too late, darling. If we would give them the chance to come back here then it will looked like were setting our own death trap. They are going to kill us, Slithen. They needed to be isolated and guarded to prevent them from killing us despite of many attempts. They lucky that they are still under my mercy. They are still alive and I always asked the knights to bring them food.”

“Then what about the annual test? Why are killing those children that are dominantly left handed? They are still a child. They did not do anything.”

“That’s the point. They have not done anything, yet,” he said emphasizing the word yet,” if we will to give them a future then it will be the doomed for us.”

“Your majesty. It is still wrong to kill a person especially a child,” Slithen tried to be calm as possible since she’s talking to the king but she could not stop to sound like she’s yelling.

“This is for your future, Slithen. I am doing this for you. I want you to rule a country without any pest trying to become the nation’s threat. I want you to rule a peace, and clean country. That’s why I am eradicating them now.”

Slithen shook her head. “No, this is still wrong. And I am ashamed that you are doing this for me, your majesty. What’s the use of teaching me my whole life on how to become a queen when you will pass to me a country that you have wounded? I feel like I no longer deserve to rule it,” she said and turned her back against the king.

“Is that what you learned from spending time with him? Hmm?” Slithen stopped on her tracks.

“Is he influencing you to go against me?” he continued.

“Should I punish him? Hmmm.”