A simple logic
1248 Words
Veronica left her room and went to the King's chambers. She knew that she must play along by pretending to be happy that the king was alive. She was trying to be wise here so she didn’t want her emotions to get hold of her or make her take the wrong decisions.
When she got to the door, she was announced.
When she came in, the king was alone in his room. He was sitting on an executive royal chair in the middle of the room. But there was something she noticed.
Before she came in, the king had been coughing repeatedly but immediately he saw her, he tried to control it.
Why that? What is he trying to hide? Why did he suddenly stop coughing because he saw her? She decided to pretend like she didn't notice it.
“His Royal Majesty. Is this really you, My love?” she said, faking a smile.
The king managed to smile too. “Yes. That’s me. I’m happy to see you.”
“I’m more than happy to see you, Your Majesty.” She bowed and then went close to him and hugged him.
“Please, have a seat,” he said. “Your hand is bleeding.”
“Oh. That’s fine. You don’t need to worry about it, It’s nothing.”
Veronica grabbed a stool and sat very close to the king. Then she brought out her hand and held him by the palm. “You are recovering really quick. I can’t believe it. Your body is no longer as hot as it used to be.”
“Yes. You are right. I am lucky I guess.”
“Yes, you are lucky indeed my love.”
“Indeed.” the king said.
The king looked as though he wasn't satisfied with something. Veronica noticed that there was something he might want to say but he has not said it yet. His conversation was too brief. As someone who she has not seen or heard from in a while, at least he should be more than eager to talk to her than ending his statement with “Indeed." It looks off.
“You have questions?” she asked. She narrowed her gaze at him.
“Not. . . Not really.” He flickered his brows. A king wasn’t supposed to stutter like that simply because he was asked a yes or no question.
“C'mon love. Ask your question.”
“Okay,” he said. “Eh—m, why would you and your son want to kill the first Prince? Even when he had already proved his innocence beyond a reasonable doubt?”
Interesting.
Veronica had expected him to say stuff like that. She knew that the king had always cared about Anon even though she had tried all she could in her power to make the king hate him but it seemed like it wasn’t working according to plan. She had wondered why the King had never shown concern to Nightwinder like he shows interest for Anon.
“How would you know he is innocent?” she asked. “Or he told you that himself?”
He narrowed his gaze at her. “Oh. Let’s not tread on that angle.”
“He killed a Knight, your Majesty. A knight! And you saved him without even weighing the gravity of his crime.”
“Oh please. Spare me that. You know quite well that there is no reason why Anon would kill a knight because he wanted to. It doesn’t make any sense at all.”
“You are defending a criminal, Dracula.”
“I am defending my son, Veronica,” he interrupted. “I am defending my first son, Anon. Just like I would defend Nightwinder or Young if they are accused of a crime they both didn’t commit.” The king's voice was loud as he spoke. Veronica was surprised that the king still had a love for Anon. The love was massive in her opinion. She found out that It wasn’t something she would need to waste her time on anymore— dragging anything with the King concerning Anon. She wanted to argue with the king but it wouldn’t make any sense, she thought.
“I am not sure you would have defended Nightwinder or Young if they were both in trouble like you did for Anon. I doubt that.”
“So. . . so what are you saying, Veronica?” he steadied his gaze at her.
“I'm saying that you have a special love for Anon more than you have for your other two sons,” she blurted. Tears began to roll down her eyes slowly. “You woke up from your sickbed simply because Anon was in trouble, King Dracula. You wouldn’t have ever done this if it were any of my sons.” She sobbed.
“Any of YOUR sons? How could you say that? Have you. . .” he paused. He began to cough again but he controlled it almost immediately. “Have you forgotten so soon that I permitted Nightwinder to be made the Crown Prince after your recommendation? Have you forgotten so soon that Anon was supposed to be crowned instead of Nightwinder? How can you say that I don’t care for my other two sons when I have personally given them almost everything a father could give his son. Please, Veronica. Let us all stop all these things we are doing and look forward to enthroning peace for everyone’s benefit. Huh? Please, I beg you.” he said nervously.
She frowned at him. “Did you just say peace?” she asked.
“Mhh.” He simply nodded. He refused to give her a direct answer.
She jerked up from her seat. “That would never happen.”
The king arched his brows, confused. It was as though he wasn’t expecting to hear what he heard. “Why?” he asked. “Why is everyone saying no? Can’t we just forget the past and move on now?” he asked.
“It is too late to make such request your Majesty,” she said.
He stood up and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Believe me, my wife. There is a lot we can achieve if we all agree to come together as one. I won’t be able to leave much longer anyway, but I want to leave as a happy man even in my grave. I want it in a way that if I remember that everyone is in peace with each other, I will keep on resting well. With peace, the longevity of this kingdom is guaranteed. But if everyone is leaving in chaos and our enemy happens to find that out, then we are doomed. We will be revealing our weaknesses to our enemies for a cup of coffee. This is just a simple logic, Veronica.”
Veronica busted out laughing. She laughed as though she couldn’t control herself.
“What is it?” he asked. “What I said, is it funny to you?” he brought down his hands from her shoulder.
“I can see now where you are coming from.”
“How?”
“You would have told me that Anon asked you to say this to me on his behalf my king. At least it will make you look less stupid when you make such a request.”
“What are you saying Veronica?” he asked. “Anon didn’t ask me to say anything on his behalf. Unfortunately, I made the same request from him.”
“Oh!” she raised a brow. “And what was his answer?” she asked.
“Hmm!” he hummed.
“Yes?”
“He said. . . he said he would not agree to such request. Though he said I should give him time to think. . .”
“Oh please, spare me that part. You already have my answer. I agree with the boy. My answer is simple. NO!” she snarled.
She walked away angrily and slammed the door behind her.
- Writer
