The dining room was surrounded by guards as if it was a fortress as the prince was having be his breakfast at a spectacular speed. Anyone who took in the sight knew that he was in a hurry. Wiping his mouth with a napkin, Prince Qin Yifan got up from his seat his guards trailing behind him as he made his way to the conference room at the other side of the palace.
An aura of dominance coated him as he moved, everyone who took sight of him would cower to the side of the hallway and bow their heads, some went as far as getting on their knees.
"Are they all here?" the prince asked his right hand man as they neared the room.
"Yes sire," Han Xulian answered immediately "They arrived almost ten minutes ago."
"Splendid," the prince answered menacingly, Han Xulian visibly shuddered. Even though he had spent fourteen years as the prince's peer and serving his as the right hand man from the age of seven, he still felt intimidated by him.
"Right this way sire," Han Xulian said as the doors were pushed open by the guards. He then led the prince to his designated seat and stood at his right.
As the prince entered the room, all the chatter ceased and the ministers wore serious faces as the bowed deeply upon the arrival.
"Sit!" the Prince commanded as he sat himself in his seat. Only after the prince was settled did the ministers sit down.
"Sire," Minister Zhen Tianming greeted "This issue concerns his majesty the king,"
The whole room went mute at the mention of the king waiting for the prince to have his say.
"Go on," the prince said stiffly, curious on the mention of his father.
"I apologise if I-" Minister Zhen started but was cut off.
"Just say it!" he demanded clenching his jaw. There was one thing he hated and that was wasting his time, Zhen Tianming started something and he was going to finish it.
"T-t-he m-magi-cal b-b-barri-er i-is--" he stuttered.
"If you can't speak, how can you oversee a province!" the prince said in a low and menacing voice, "Now speak or else I'm going to give your province to someody else, there are a lot of men in the kingdom that are capable, now speak and do. not. stutter!"
The whole room was dead and the ministers looked at the prince with a new kind of air. The magic was taking over, and he was not king yet, what would happen if he became king.
Zhen Tianming took a deep breath and began to speak in fear of loosing his position.
"I was saying that the magical barrier shield is getting weaker, and because the king has been bed ridden for so long it's depleting twice as fast. If the next King, is not crowned soon, then the barrier will be broken and our kingdom will be prone to our enemies both from the magical realm and our neighboring kingdom."
"What do I need to do?" the prince asked propping his elbows on the table looking at the each one of the five Ministers.
All of the ministers shuddered from the intense look the prince held.
"You need to choose a queen." Minister Fu Jiu said after a moment of internal deliberation.
"A queen." the prince echoed "I do not want one."
"It is mandatory for you to have a queen if you want to rule as king, besides you will need each other for the conquest." Minister Zhang min added.
"It is done then, a ball will be organized from where I will select a wife. Call maidens from all over the country, I want every single unmarried, unbetrothed and unengaged girl there." the prince announced and the ministers smiled with excitement. They too had unwed daughters and had waited for such an opportunity for a long time.
"Sire," Minister Gu Ming bowed, "Apart from this, there have been violent protests to over throw the monarchy especially in Emerald City."
"Minister Gu," the prince said slowly his mind calculating "We do not have to worry about that, my upcoming wedding will create a big enough distraction to the peasants and most of them will forget their invasion plans. Minister Zhang, send word about the ball."
"Yes sire," Minister Zhang said standing up.
"I did not dismiss you." the prince said, "Sit down minister, Minister Li you haven't said anything yet this meeting was set up upon your insistence. Speak!"
"My prince, I had called for the meeting to inform you of the triple alliance by our three neighboring kingdoms. Our spies have sent some documents as evidence, they are just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike."
"The barrier," minister Zhen mummered almost immediately.
"We should do something and fast," minister Fu said "what do you suggest sire, shall we pledge war first?"
"You lack brain cells, minister Fu, we will not plage war under any circumstances, we will act wisely and decisively. They have not openly attacked us so why should we be quick to retaliate to nothing." At this point the prince was moving round the table at a slow pace. "We need to strengthen our boarders starting from today so that when I go for the conquest we are well protected until my return."
Minister Fu was openly humiliated, his gaze held bitterness and his throat thirsty for revenge when he said the words, "Yes sire,"
From there they all proceeded into making arrangements to protect the kingdom, the next day trips were to be mobilized and maidens alike for the grand ball to be held in two days. Decisions had been made, but only time would tell if they were for the good of the kingdom or the cause of it's downfall.