Her Majesty

“Your majesty, the prince of Ahedonia has been in the dungeon for two days now with no food or water given to him just as you instructed ” jasmine said to the Queen, Eugene. “You sound like I am to care about this information Jasmine, why is that ?” Eugene asked Jasmine. Jasmine is the head of the Queen’s private maidens in the palace, she had been assigned to her ever since she was 13 years old. Jasmine was ten years older than Queen Eugene and that was her first assignment as a staff in the palace and soon enough, it became a permanent position. “Three days is said to be the maximum. He would die after three days without food or water given to him your majesty” jasmine said “Then let’s watch him die there” Eugene said These words shook Jasmine up till her spine. It reflected in her actions as she paused a little when her majesty said it and fell behind by a few steps. “Okay your majesty” jasmine said with her voice shaking as she took her bow before leaving the Queen’s presence . As she took few steps back and away from the queen, she was called back by the sound of Her Majesty’s voice. “On the other note, that is too peaceful a death for such a person” Eugene said “ Go ahead and feed the prince, I have something better planned for him” Eugene said as she walked quickly into the council room. Eugene had become a product of pain, regrets and anger, it radiated and was projected on anyone and anything. It burned through her veins and you could see all the pain in her eyes reflecting like a mirror. Eugene had used rage to cover up her deep sadness she had felt over the last years, this rage and pain guided her every step. Eugene walked into the council meeting and just as she did the whole council members stood up in recognition of Her Majesty’s presence. The council room was on the second floor of the castle. This was to ensure the royal family chambers were off limits to council members during the meetings and other events that make use of the council room like certain court trials. The door to the council room was made with wrought iron and bronze while coated and plated with pure gold. The knob of the door was made with pure crystal clear diamonds. The kingdom of Arandia was very wealthy as they possessed the greatest raw materials of all times, Gold and diamonds which were mined right within their kingdom. The raw materials were their greatest exports during the time of King Arthur up until Queen Eugene took over the ruling of the kingdom of Arandia. The walls of the council room was black as tho they have been carved in coal. This gave the room a dark outlook and it was important for the council room’s chandelier to be completely lit up before meetings can be held in them. The room had the Arandia’s flag hanging at all four sections of the room and one placed at the middle of the table. The round council table had 12 small seats and one heavily decorated seat at a point for Her majesty to sit on. The kingdom of Arandia is divided into six regions, and there are two representatives from each region making up a total of 12 members of the council. Each of the members are referred to as Lords of every region. It was obtained by a political post and the six regions have to cast votes to determine who will represent their interest in the council for the next 5 years. This can only be overruled in cases of serious misconduct and cases of death of the lord in that region. A prime minister is also appointed by the king or queen during their reign and they serve as next in command to the king as long as he or she lives. The decision of the position of prime minister is decided upon by the king or queen. This decision must be supported by at least half of the council members for it to be valid, it was a general rule. As Queen Eugene stepped inside the council hall, total silence was heard in the hall. You could hear a pin drop as it was as silent as a vacuum. Only the sounds of her heels hitting the ground could be heard. The tension and fear that surrounded the atmosphere was palpable. She took her sit gracefully at the seat adorned with thongs and knives at their edges, that was her design preference. “Council members, welcome to our bi-monthly meeting” Eugene said. “Is there any pressing issue? What is new in the regions? “Talk to me” Eugene said with a giggle as she looked slightly drunk. She always appeared so. This made them fear her more as they had no idea when she was kidding and when she was ready to have heads served on spikes. “Let’s not waste each others time and stay longer than we need to” she added. Queen Eugene was about to close the meeting when someone decided to break through the shackles of fear and speak up. Franklin, a Lord who was seated four persons to the right away from the queen identified himself as having something to say. He was a middle aged man, to estimate he was in his late fifties as a few strands of his beards were turning grey. He wore a blue robe with white waist belt which was knotted to the left hand side. Lord Franklin was a representative of the 2nd region and he spoke up on the table. “The prince of Ahedonia remains locked up for the past three days. I suggest we should deliberate on the matter first before discussing other affairs of the kingdom” Lord Franklin said. There was brief silence in the council hall as they had all known that it would be brought up in the council meeting. The news of Prince Richard’s detention spread round the kingdom rapidly like wild fire. They all turned to her majesty, waiting for her to speak. They all wondered what her move would be on this matter. “Lord Franklin, Lord Franklin” Eugene said out loud dragging the name out of her mouth with emphasis. She played with the dagger she always carried around always in her pocket, she had began to draw vertical lines on the carved wood surface. The dagger gave her a sense of security and safety and most of all the way she played with it scared the s**t out of those who watched abs she loved it. “Perhaps you would like to join him Lord Franklin? You seem to have put on a little weight of late, I suggest a few days in the dungeon might do more than those therapeutic tea I heard your wife has been giving you” Eugene said. Everyone on the table held their laughter, this was not a time to laugh at jokes a fellow lord was being torn apart for asking the same question they were all scared to ask. “This goes to you all on this table, you all have a place on this table for one reason only, to report and guide the various regions. I do not see how the dungeon becomes the shared responsibility of you all” Eugene said. “Your Majesty” Lord Franklin said as he bowed down to her “We do not fear in vain your majesty, you hold the heir to another dynasty like a commoner locked in your dungeon. The king of Ahedonia would not stay silent for long. We fear our people might not survive another attack especially from the people of Ahedonia. “I did not see you on the battle field Lord Franklin. Not the first or the second war, you always get to hide behind the rest of us who fight for our people” Eugene said. “The prince will remain locked up for as long as I say so, and that is the end of it” Eugene said as she slammed her hands in the table and stormed out the council room having two guards follow her. “ I told you she would not listen lord Franklin, she is so hot headed, nothing like King Arthur” lord Sheffield said as they walked out the palace. “She needed someone to talk to her, what she is doing is insanely dangerous” lord Franklin said. “Although we know that danger is not a word her majesty considers” Lord Franklin added. “The last time the Ahedonia’s attacked her whole family was wiped out” lord Sheffield said. “That is still not a certain fact lord Sheffield, do not say things you can not defend. The Ahedonia’s denied the accusations 5 years ago” lord Franklin said. “Why does she act like she doesn’t care what happens if they attack to avenge the imprisonment of the crown prince?” Lord Franklin asked. “She believes she is holding him for trespassing on her mines which she has every right to” lord Sheffield said “If it was any commoner her actions will not raise an eyebrow as it is right and just to hold a trespasser captive. But due to his status as the prince of Ahedonia, it begs the question of mercy” Lord Franklin said. “A warning and a treaty should surface in this situation” Lord Sheffield said. “Perhaps it would have but the ego of the king of Ahedonia is known across all kingdoms, he would not plead with Queen Eugene for any treaty but rather take his son out this kingdom using force” Lord Franklin said. “ I hope her majesty’s actions does not go ahead to e*****e us all” Lord Franklin added. They departed into the various houses shaken with fear but at the same time being unable to speak about their fears to anyone but themselves. It was forbidden to speak about council matters outside the palace to prevent an uproar of panic in the kingdom. Danger was coming, it was in the air and the air doesn’t stand still.