Witch

Ch. 5: A Cunning Man

The member of the Privy Council and members of the Royal Council, Governors, Dukes and Duchesses, Special Advisor, Asthon and others that mattered in the kingdom were present at the throne hall as they patiently wait for their king.

I wonder what had prevented my master from coming to attend such an urgent meeting; for they were gathered here, threatened by King Kunomi II, king of Serion, who had created allies with the king of Zimfari, King Omero III against my master. They probably were as well filled with fear and anxiousness that if he had not done anything about it, King Kunomi might invade their kingdom and m******e them all.

Suddenly, the large double doors are pushed open as if an uninvited party had tried to barge in, as everyone became frightened by it. It turned out to be my master that they had expected to see.

They all rise from their seats to bow and acknowledge their king's presence as he walked to his throne with his shoulders high in pride.

“Long live, His Royal Majesty, King Reonor IV!” They chorused.

This is all he had desired all his early days to hear, ‘His Royal Majesty, King Reonor IV’, even if he had to have blood in his hands to able to hear these words.

With a crown on his head, as he is seated on his throne, a proud smile appeared on his face; for his smile never changes, he still has that smile whenever his cunningness had come to a success.

“Your Majesty, King Kunomi II still insist meeting with you... at the battlefield,” one of members of the Privy Council said.

“Your Majesty, we are all gathered here to receive an order of what shall be done; for we have received information from one of our loyal spies that King Kunomi II has allied with the king of Zimfari, King Omero III to instruct the General of the Zimfarian army to release half of their soldiers.”

“Your Majesty, I suggest that we began preparing for battle.”

“Your Majesty, what shall we do?” He asked anxiously.

The atmosphere of the throne hall was like that of intensed music being played for every single one of them to dance. However, my master still had his despicable smile on his face, as he sighed in satisfaction.

“We shall do... nothing,” he replied.

All were both astonished and horrified, and of course, filled with confusion at that moment by the order, as they began to whisper among themselves.

“Your Majesty, I had just mentioned that King Kunomi II is about to invade our kingdom.”

“The only thing we shall do is protect my subjects in the kingdom until the battle between Zimfari and Serion is over.” Reonor replied.

“Your Majesty, they are allies and–”

“It is decided,” he replied, starting to raise his voice.

All had no reason to argue with their king but to come to a compromise.

“As His Royal Majesty wishes,” one said bowing as the others followed.

“Long live, His Royal Majesty, King Reonor IV!” they chorused once again.

•••

“Do not be worried about little things, Asthon.” Reonor said.

“I insist, Your Majesty.” Asthon replied.

I presume I am not the only one who is a little eager to have knowledge of what Reonor had done to bring hatred between two allies. If only he could use his wisdom for good things.

“Fine, I sent spies to the kingdom of Zimfari as well; to steal gold and plant them in Serion. I also made a rumor in Zimfari about their missing gold, which eventually got to the king like wild fire.

Of course he went on with the accusation that King Kunomi had stolen from him.”

Asthon raised both of his eyebrows in astonishment; for his king had done all of this alone, without seeking advice from him or any of other council members.

“Wow!” he exclaimed.

“Well, that is not all.”

“Your Majesty, it is not?”

“King Kunomi denied stealing from his ally and foolishly claimed that it is his gold.”

“That is preposterous. However, anyway, I must say that you are such a cunning man, Your Majesty.”

“... Thank you.”

“But what if they find out, Your Majesty?”

“One of the kings might even die in the battlefield, so none shall ever find out.”

Asthon appears to be very aware of who his king is. However, he is still shocked to see how cruel his king can be. This should probably remind him of Princess Irus; for he shall even be more determined to have her, before his king even think of choosing her to be his queen.

“Very well, Your Majesty. I should begin taking my leave now; for I have things to attend to.” Asthon said.

“Of course.” Reonor replied.

Asthon rises from his seat and took his leave with a focused expression on his face. The one that is both angry and determined to do something.

•••

Irus climbed a ladder once again, searching for books that are to her understanding. However, the books were still of foreign languages. Perhaps they could be all of Tanghour's records; for they were written mostly by council members, who carries the aura of tradition.

She thought of what she shall do to able to read the history of Tanghour; to have knowledge of how the past queens behaved. She searched to the extent that she became desperate about being queen.

While she searched the bookshelves, Asthon spies on her once again, as he hides behind a bookshelf. He shook his head; for he must have realized how childish he becomes when ever he sees her.

He rested his back against the bookshelf and sighed, probably in disappointment in himself. He ran his fingers through his hair scratching his hair; for he probably battles with the fact that his love for this maiden is like that of obsession, and this maiden belongs to his king as one of his candidates for marriage.

For numerous reasons, it prevents him from continuing to desire to have the one that has caught his eyes; and for these reasons, he must have been disgusted by his greed, realizing how clingy he had also become.