Song of Crowns

Episode 14: Monitor

Evos and I went to the innermost section of the room full of monitors and machines. I called it the monitor room in my head because it wasn’t really introduced to me by the engineers. I don’t think they really have a name for it, either.

Evos wanted me to see what he was explaining earlier. And in that section of the room, I get a glimpse of what he warned me about.

The medic tents are monitored by cameras that are being telecasted here in the innermost section of the monitor room. The tents have quarantine sections in them and there are patients in each section with a total of 13 showing major symptoms of nuclear radiation. Most of them are exhibiting hair loss and others are showing skin discoloration or new skin pigments that I never saw in my life.

“Why am I knowing about this just now?” I ask Evos, but really, I was just blaming myself for not knowing.

Evos shrugged in his seat. We are both seated in front of the monitors. “I just found out about it too during the reception. I knew then that I had to tell you because it’s causing problems now, but…”

“But?” I ask, turning to him. The monitor room is heavily lit with different lights but Evos’ eyes still stay the same as when I was this near to him – dark.

He looked away and focused on the monitors. This time, he’s not trying to get in contact with my eyes anymore. “I wanted to tell you only after I found a solution for you. I wanted to get a clue, a feasible answer, as to how we could reach the other side. Because, to tell you the truth, we are scarce in resources here. The infirmaries and the medics only have what they could get.”

“Why are you being like that, Evos?” I ask, trying in a gentler tone.

He didn't look at me but his face turned confused. “What do you mean?” He asks, typing random things on the monitor.

“You keep doing that. Doing everything by yourself. Wanting to do something first before confiding to anyone about your problem, or anyone’s problem. Is it pride?”

He scoffs. “Pride? Excuse me, Your Majesty, but I was just trying to help. I’m not the one who should be running these things but I wanted to help.”

I lower my sight. I didn’t mean to offend him. “You know I don’t mean it like that, Evos.”

“Then how do you mean it, Adeline?” The way his mouth said my name sends me a pang of pain in my head and my chest. That’s unfair.

“If you don’t want to be honest with me, maybe I shouldn’t give you your Adviser title.” I say, standing and ready to leave.

“Maybe you shouldn’t.” He mutters, angrily.

I felt tears trying to come up my eyes but when I went to the door leading to my exit, they didn't.

---

I don’t try to catch the gaze of Evos during dinner. Dinner was set at the house where we last dined with visitors. They’re trying to make it a tradition to dine with the Alfonzos so I have to bear seeing two people I don’t want to see: Alfonzo and Evos.

Together with us are different candidates for Advisers on Alfonzo’s recommendation. This was the deal for my marriage with Adrian, he will choose half of my team of advisers.

I sit at the end of the table, replacing Alfonzo from his seat before. On my right is my husband, Prince Adrian. Across him and on my left is Alfonzo, my father-in-law and also my Chief Adviser. Next to Adrian is Evos who I don’t dare give my attention to. Across Evos is Alfonzo’s right-hand man, Sir Ramil Aurelio. He has brown hair and distinct Asian features that I got to see once or twice during my visits to Southeast Asia. He tips his head at me as a greeting and I duck mine to reply to his kind gesture. Next to Sir Aurelio is a voluptuous woman with a feathered hat adorned with pearls. She was introduced to me as Lady Eaya Roseworth. She looks about in her 30s but I can be mistaken because she is heavily covered with makeup to even discern her real age. Across Lady Roseworth is a young man that has the same green set of eyes as Adrian but is slightly on the lighter side. He has a scar on his face that lines from his scalp to his neck and trails along the right side of the face. He was introduced to me as Sir Christian Cross and one thing that I could remember clearly as an impression of him was when I mistakenly took him as Adrian earlier. He forgave me for my mistake but I feel horribly embarrassed.

“Your Majesty,” Alfonzo starts, like what he always does when he tries to unnerve me. “I believe you have some news for us.” He says, probably expecting me to say that Adrian and I are expecting.

I gave him a sly smile. “I’ll tell you when we’re ready,” I say, trying to act civil. Adrian takes my hand across the table and gives it a little squeeze of encouragement.

“Your Highness, Prince Adrian, may I ask?” Lady Roseworth heads on and starts the discussion. “What are your plans as the Prince? Surely you have some programs in mind as you start your job.” She proudly forks in her mouth a cut of fish meat. The fish she has looked seasoned enough, same as how her face is so caked in makeup.

Adrian shows her a seductive smile and I feel a tinge of jealousy but I don’t show it. “I do, actually. I have discussed it with the Queen and she accepted this one project I have in mind.”

Alfonzo seems to not know about it as he leans closer with a curious look on his face. “Do tell.”

Adrian straightens himself to prepare a speech. He probably prepared for this and I’m so proud of him. “Well, the Queen told me about some issues about the people we have. With over an estimated count of twelve thousand people in this dome, there could be issues to how we can organize ourselves. So to combat disarray, I proposed to have a stratification process program.”

“You plan to isolate the people here?” I hear Evos cut in. I feel irritated by the sound of his voice.

“No no.” Adrian starts his defense mode. “I knew you would feel uncomfortable with the idea so I smoothened it over with the Queen. She told me she’ll agree to this only if it serves as a temporary fix. As soon as the people here have stabilized, we can think of a way to organize them without doing such a thing.”

“I don’t know about that, Adrian…” I see Evos lean closer to Adrian so that no one could hear them. No luck though because I can hear him clearly. “That idea might cause problems with the people.”

“It’s just temporary. We will explain it to them.” Adrian assures him.

“If I may add,” Sir Aurelio says, drinking a punch from his glass. We can’t afford to have liquor now since there are no wines or rum stashed anywhere here. The only thing that could satisfy our sweet tooth is juice. “I believe this will only cause mayhem internally. There can be discrimination that could ensue once this is done.”

Adrian tries to not look at me for help and keeps his stance stern. He doesn’t want to disappoint me. “I know that, Sir Aurelio. I have talked to the Queen about it and she discussed that possibility with me. That’s why the stratification process will not be by wealth like what I think you all are thinking about.”

“Then how will that be successful if it’s not by wealth?” Alfonzo adds. He seems to be cautious with how his son is performing. “The easiest way to group people is by who has the money and who doesn’t.”

“That’s the problem, Father.” Adrian turns to him, barely touching his food. “The apocalypse happened and I doubt no more than the number of fingers I have in my right hand had money stashed with them when they escaped the flood. I’m not going to do this to find an easy way out.”

Alfonzo leaned back to his chair, seemingly defeated and surprised by how well his son is doing. “Alright, give us some details.”

Adrian turns to me and gives me this happy look. I nod at him with excitement. “The stratification process will be done by skill. My brother here, Evos, is a skilled engineer. He is already leading a group of engineers, working on the systems of HiveBerg as we speak.” The advisers nod their heads in content. “My father is a politician. He graduated with a law degree so I believe his skills could deem him as a lawyer or he can teach those who do not have skills yet to be a lawyer.” I hold Adrian’s hand and let Adrian turn to me while he grins. “The same goes for the medics. They can be the doctors or the health personnel of HiveBerg. We can build a hospital for them where they can work without building tents. We just need to outsource from the crowd several professionals be it for desk work or labor work. You name it. Then we just need to label them. This way, when the kids here grow up, they would know where to associate themselves with.”

Sir Cross speaks up. The first time he spoke the entire conversation. “We only have twelve thousand people. You can’t expect to have a larger pool of contestants in your stratification process program. Do you have any idea or plan as to how many groups are you planning to group? Or are you going through this by what… by your emotions?”

I felt an uncomfortable lump rise in my throat. This man did not come here to play. He does not intend to gain any favors from the royal family. I don’t even know how he was recruited by Alfonzo. I looked at Alfonzo and saw him shoot Sir Cross a glare. I believe he does not expect this attitude from him.

Adrian who was so happy to share his program details now seemed unsure. He did not think that through, although that’s not his fault. His idea was in the proposal stage, and it’s bound to have some loopholes.

“Don’t worry,” I say, giving Adrian an encouraging look. “I have something to deal with that.”

- End –