Even After Death

Chapter 8

“Your Royal Highness, Prince Henri!”

All the people inside the court simultaneously gasped as soon as they saw the broad figure of the Crown Prince standing at the entrance.

Katarina, who was still kneeling, took a glance at Henri. He wore a black suit while his moon blade was attached to his side.

“What are you doing here, my son?” Queen Sora asked the Prince with a widened gaze. “Do not bother yourself. We can take care of this.”

Prince Henri looked at his mother and uttered, “Should I repeat myself? I am ordering you to return the royal document to the Princess.”

“B- but Your Highness. It’s official; Katarina Frances has been stripped of her title,” Chief Minister Alejandres stammered. “She is no longer the Crown Princess of the nation.”

Henri, who looked very displeased with the Chief Minister’s remarks, walked toward them as he asked, “Who gave you the right to do such a thing?” His voice was threatening.

“I- It is against the Royal Law for a Queen candidate to have a scar on her face,” the Chief Minister responded in an uneasy tone. “We are just maintaining the law.”

“Katarina Frances is appointed by my father, the late King of this kingdom. Are you trying to go against his decree?” Henri narrowed his eyes as he ridiculed the Chief Minister.

“No. I do not mean to do that, Your Highness. We are just upholding the royal law. It is the tradition.”

“The Royal Law varies on whoever sits on the throne,” countered Henri. “A King’s word is the Royal Law, and going against it is treason.”

“But Henri, you cannot twist the Royal Law just like that!” It was Queen Sora who answered at that time. She was clenching her fist so tight.

While listening to the commotion, Katarina closed her eyes and prayed to the heavens that Henri would fail in whatever game he was playing. She was oblivious to what was running inside his head. The Prince did not care about her in her previous life, so the situation at that time was beyond her common sense.

The court was again filled with silence as the ministers could do nothing but watch and wait for Henri’s subsequent words.

And then suddenly, to everyone’s terror and surprise, Henri pulled his moon blade and said, “I am tired of this. Should I just decapitate all of you as a punishment for your disloyalty?” He then smirked, giving cold shivers down everyone’s spine.

Henri was known to be a serious man. It was not his temperament to give false promises and threats.

On the other hand, Katarina was trembling with worry. She thought she could finally run away from the palace. But that life seemed to have another plan for her.

“Henri! What are you doing? I am your mother! How dare you draw your sword in front of me?” Queen Sora angrily screamed at Henri.

But the old Queen met the sharp gazes of Henri as he answered her, “Even a Queen has no power over the King’s ruling.”

Upon hearing the Prince’s remarks, Queen Sora suddenly fainted with frustration.

“Your Majesty, the Queen!” the ministers screamed in unison upon seeing the Queen fall to the ground.

They thought Henri would give up the act and attend to his mother. But, to their astonishment, the Prince did not move even an inch from his spot as he asked the ministers, “Who should I decapitate first?”

Katarina’s heart began throbbing heavily. It was not how she remembered him in the past. Yes, he was cruel, but he was gentle regarding his mother.

Realizing Henri’s threat was real, the ministers knelt individually as they pleaded, “Spare us, Your Highness!”

At that time, Henri started walking toward them and paused close to Katarina, who was still kneeling on the floor. The moon blade was still in his hand, preparing to draw it on anyone who would dare go against him.

“Your Highness, spare us!”

Henri stared at them with his usual stony countenance. “Give back the royal document to Katarina,” he let out.

Katarina grasped her chest as she looked up to peek at Henri. To her surprise, the Prince was already staring at her.

Her guts trembled upon meeting his distant gazes.

Still shaking to his core, the Chief Minister handed the royal document to Henri. The older man went back from kneeling after the Prince accepted it.

Suddenly, a group of knights led by Andres entered the court.

Henri then ordered one of them. “Bring the Queen to the royal physician.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Henri shifted his attention to the kneeling ministers and threatened them, “Once you repeat this act without my knowledge, I will not hesitate to kill all of you.”

The ministers answered, “Have mercy on us, Your Highness!” Their voices were still shaking.

The Prince then turned his back and dropped the royal document in front of Katarina. “As for you, Princess, all your servants will receive severe punishment for every wound you inflict on yourself.”

Katarina looked at Henri with a stunned expression, but it was too late for her as the Prince was already on his back.

The Prince uttered his last words before going away, “I want no more disturbances like this until the enthronement.”

When Henri finally disappeared from everyone’s sight, Chief Minister Alejandres muttered, “This is going to be a cruel dynasty.”

***

“What is happening?” Katarina whispered to herself upon arriving at her chamber.

After returning to the past, the Henri she knew from then and now was still the same except for one thing — the present Henri wanted her to be the Queen for some unknown reason.

“What game is he trying to pull?” she asked while intently staring at her reflection in front of the mirror.

She was so lost in her thoughts when suddenly she noticed the laceration on her face.

“What is it? Why is it getting smaller? It is supposed not to heal, for it was from the moon blade?” she mumbled as she touched it.