The only thing
1411 Words
"Fine," Tashina declared.
"If you all think that I shouldn't rule the kingdom on my own, then I won't," she said.
"Sis, what are you doing?" Prince Lane whispered to her.
He couldn't understand what his sister was saying. Why was she declaring she won't rule the kingdom?! Why was she accepting defeat so easily?
Then Prince Lane saw the look on his sister's face and something told him he should sit back and watch what she was about to say.
Tashina could see Queen Sania smirking, thinking she has won and a smirk of hers came onto her lips as she declared loud and clear for everyone in the room to hear.
"I won't rule on my own, instead, I will rule beside my betrothed, Master Kelv Kiulle"
A dire hush fell onto the courtroom and it was a graveyard for about some seconds. Nobody said a word as they all tried to comprehend the statement the Princess had said until a shocked voice crashed the silence down into pieces.
"What?!!" Queen Sania stood up from her throne and exclaimed.
Everyone turned their heads to figure out why the Queen was so shocked by the news.
"It is as you heard, Your Majesty" the Princess smiled.
"B-but you aren't betrothed! What I mean is there is no plan of you getting married anytime soon so what you're saying isn't true!" Queen Sania tried to compose herself but she failed miserably.
She knew that if Tashina decided to get married, she would lose everything in an instant because then the Council would be in favor of Tashina to rule the kingdom.
She brought the Council here so that Tashina could give up the throne. She never in her wildest dreams imagined that Tashina would suddenly agree to get married just to keep the throne.
She had to stop this! No! Tashina can not win this!
"What do you mean, Your Majesty? You are the one who introduced Master Kelv to me as my prospective groom, or have you forgotten already?" Tashina tilted her head and asked with an innocent smile.
She loved to see Queen Sania squirm in discomfort.
"Y-yes I did but-"
"But what, Mother? You just said you did" Tashina interrupted.
"You refused, remember? You said that you don't want to get married, yes, you said that so how can he be your betrothed?" Queen Sania was in denial.
"Oh, Your Majesty. As a female, you should have known that I was merely saying so to play hard to get. I didn't want to show interest right from the start so I could make him sweat a bit," Tashina looked down with a shy smile.
"You should know that," Tashina waved.
"But the truth is, we are deeply in love and with your blessings, we would like to get married as soon as possible" Tashina said.
"Get married? But how? When nobody knew of this?" Queen Sania bellowed.
"What do you mean nobody knew, Your Majesty?" Tashina put her hand on her heart to exaggerate her shock.
She was enjoying this a lot.
"Dear King, didn't you know of my feelings for Master Kelv?" Tashina batted her eyelashes at King Luther.
"Well, I noticed the way he looked at you" King Luther shrugged.
"You see, Your Majesty. Even the King knows" Tashina taunted.
"What about you, Crown Prince? Do you want to tell me that you didn't know if my relationship with Master Kelv?" Tashina looked down at her brother and winked at him to get the code.
Prince Lane caught up immediately and nodded his head.
"Of course, I did. Anyone with two functioning eyes would know that" Prince Lane concurred.
"I hope that is enough for you to know that I am in love with my darling Master Kelv?" Tashina smiled innocently to Queen Sania who was fuming with unkempt rage.
"Chiefs, I suspect this is only an act for her to get the throne. I do not believe what she says!" Queen Sania declared.
The Chiefs looked at each other and a silent communication seemed to be going on in their head as they weighed the situation.
"Crown Princess, how long have you known this Master Kelv?" Chief North asked.
"For as long as my heart had been stolen by him," Tashina said dramatically.
Prince Lane was about to burst into laughter but he quickly suppressed it into a cough when his sister stepped on his leg for him to be quiet.
"And ever since, the both of you have discussed a union between the families?" Chief East asked.
"Of course, Chief East, we had even built a mansion in our heads for our love was that strong" Tashina muttered and Prince Lane coughed again.
"Princess, we aren't saying that we doubt your relationship but as the Council of the prestigious South-Mairak kingdom, we must confirm this" Chief West said.
"Of course, I understand" Tashina nodded.
"A marriage isn't just between the couple but rather it is a union between the families and elders too and if you are proposing a marriage for a husband and the future King of the vampires, then we must assess him and deem him worthy before the wedding plans can be brought up" Chief South explained.
"Of course, my dear Chiefs, I truly understand what you mean and I have no objections" Tashina nodded.
"Fine. Guards! Summon Master Kelv Kiulle to the courtroom immediately" Chief West ordered and two guards bowed their heads before they left the room.
"But, with all due respect, Tashina isn't saying the truth. This is just a charade for her to get what she wants! Why can't you see that?!" Queen Sania raved.
"Why don't you leave that for us to decide, Queen Sania?" Chief West grunted.
"One might think that you don't want me to ascend the throne, Your Majesty, with the way you are so adamant on proving I am lying" Tashina smirked.
Queen Sania huffed and looked away.
Everyone waited for the arrival of Master Kelv in the courtroom in silence.
Tashina was sitting down and humming a light tune under her breath as she smiled each time she saw Queen Sania's sour face.
She couldn't hide her joy inside as she was amused by Queen Sania's tantrums.
Queen Sania thought that by bringing the Council, she would be able to take her down and make her give up the throne.
She was so caught up in her joy of temporary victory that she didn't see this move of Tashina's coming.
Tashina was very smart about the move she played because this was the only way she could get the throne without any hurdles.
The law was that no sole individual could rule the kingdom and by Tashina getting married to Master Kelv, she would adhere to that law and at the same time, get the throne.
Even though she didn't like the idea of bringing in someone else into her plan, she felt like this was the only way.
For now, she would stall Queen Sania with her news of getting married while she looked for evidence to prove Queen Sania's crimes against the kingdom.
She would make Queen Sania so caught up in her upcoming wedding that the Queen will let her guard down a little so it would be the perfect time to attack.
Then she would kill two birds with one stone, take down her stepmother and get the throne as Queen.
She just had to wait for the right moment to strike and it must be before the wedding took place.
Tashina thought of Xavier and how she would tell him this new plan of hers, she couldn't even imagine his reaction to it.
He would definitely be against it, but she had no time to think of his approval because she was at a dead-end.
The options were to either jump off the cliff or take the dark and narrow path back.
And this point, Tashina chose the latter.
Tashina turned her gaze to Queen Sania who was flipping in her chair as her eyes looked around the room nervously.
A smile came onto Tashina's lips.
Then something that made her smile widened came in.
"Announcing the presence of Master Kelv in the courtroom!!" A voice announced just at the same time, the doors were opened.
Master Kelv stepped into the room and Tashina's smile widened.
That was her trump card.
- Writer
