King Cyrus paced around his throne in great anger. His Queens stood by the side with their heads bowed and on the other side, the Princes also had their heads bowed. The air was thick with tension as they waited for the King to speak.
Her Majesty, Queen Catherine, strong and powerful was the first Queen and mother to Ferdinand, the first Prince. She looked every inch the ruler of the castle. Her platinum blonde hair, as vibrant as they were in her youth, was combed back and held atop her head with a golden crown. Tiny wrinkles lined the corners of her sharp blue eyes and right now, those eyes were looking down, terrified of the King's anger. There were times she would speak to the King and tame his anger but this time it was different. This time her son and his stepbrothers were the cause of his anger.
The second Queen rolled her eyes, looking bored. She was Queen Annabelle, beautiful, cold and dangerous and the mother to Apollo, the second Prince. She was dressed in a similar way as Queen Catherine. A golden crown sat proudly on her midnight dark hair that was held sideways with diamond clips. Her eyes were a brilliant green and she stole a peak at the King before lowering her eyes again.
The third Queen looked younger than the first and second because King Cyrus married her in his old age, thinking she would be the one to give him an heir. She was Queen Diana, quiet and serene and mother to Stephan the third Prince. She was dressed differently from the other Queens and she wore a silver tiara on her auburn hair. Her eyes were hazel pools and she was absolutely still, her eyes held down.
"Have you all lost your minds?",King Cyrus finally says in a tight voice. His pale blue eyes glared at his sons one after the other, filled with so much anger towards them.
"I will be made a laughing stock in the kingdom",he continues. "Have you no shame? Sleeping with the maids, sneaking in whores, defying my castle, defying me!".
"Tame your anger My Lord",Queen Catherine said softly.
"SILENCE CATHERINE!",King Cyrus thundered at her and she promptly shut her mouth.
"This is all your fault",he glared at his Queens. "You spoiled these boys too much, pampering them, letting them hide behind your skirts. I need sons who will be brave and strong enough to rule this Kingdom. Not bloody loafers".
"My Lord, if I may",Queen Annabelle spoke out.
King Cyrus glared at her for interrupting him. She was the only one bold enough to speak to him without fear and he couldn't do anything about it. There was just something about her that made him overlook her constant defiance.
"What do you have to say Annabelle?",he asked her. Queen Catherine looked up in surprise. The King would let Annabelle speak and shun her instead?
"These are your sons you speak of", Queen Annabelle said, her green eyes staring directly at Cyrus. "Your heirs. Not wild animals. They angered you but they should be forgiven".
"For how long will they continue like this?",King Cyrus said. "Look at them. Grown up men, handsome as the devil, mighty to look upon and yet utterly foolish! They do not even feel remorseful".
Queen Annabelle smiled and turned to her son. "Apollo",she said. "Don't you have something to say to your father?". The smile remained on her face but her eyes were filled with so much rage at her son. She had told him a number of times to stay away from his step brothers and never let them influence him with their worthless attitude but still, he never listened.
Apollo looked up at his father and sighed. If there was one thing he hated, it was apologizing to anyone. Even the King. He had his mother's dark hair and green eyes. Broad shoulders, tall and strong looking.
"I'm sorry father",he said in his smooth deep voice. "I'm sorry for defying you. Forgive me.
King Cyrus waited. This was the time for his other sons to join in the apology. A full minute passed and they didn't utter a word. King Cyrus grew furious and yelled at them.
"Get out of my sight!".
The Princes walked out of the throne room, leaving Cyrus and his Queens alone.
"My Lord if you can just calm..."
"Not another word from you Catherine", King Cyrus shuts her up again and Queen Annabelle smiled smugly.
"Leave! All of you!".
Soon King Cyrus was left alone and he collapsed on his throne. He was tired. It was the demon blood in him that kept his aging in check. Years ago he had gone to the old gods, to plead with them for a son. Now he had three and he regretted his decisions. His three sons were unworthy of his throne. They brought shame to him and the Kingdom. How could the crowned Princes of Duville be labeled as idiots who ran after women just to lost themselves between their thighs? It was just unacceptable. An atrocity. His sons were supposed to take after him, his bravery, strength and dominance. Instead they were wretched simpletons and worst of it all, he hadn't seen a single sign of any of them being a demon. Why would the old gods give him these kind of sons? And to think that he would have to choose an heir from the three. What where the plans of the old gods?
He was in deep thoughts when the three wise men entered the throne room and bowed to him.
"Greetings Your Majesty",Gaius said and straightened up. King Cyrus glared at them and turned away. Gaius looked towards his fellow wise men and receiving a nod from them, he turned back to King Cyrus.
"We are here for an important matter Your Majesty",he said.
"For the love of the gods, what do you want?",King Cyrus asked.
"The Princes of Duville are of age Your Majesty",Elias said next. "It is time to choose an heir".
That's impossible right now",King Cyrus said and scratched his beards. His sons were not ready to be Kings. He feared what would become of the Kingdom when he passed away.
"Why, if I may ask Your Majesty, is it impossible?",Gaius asked, looking down at his feet.
"Ferdinand and his brothers were born on the same day",King Cyrus said. "That makes all of them equal to get the throne. It will be a difficult choice".
"And that is why we're here",Darius said and moved forward. "To help you chose a successor".
King Cyrus stared at the three old men before him with contempt. He hated the lot of them. If he had his way, he would eliminate them all. But being a King had certain advantages and disadvantages. He wasn't ready to choose an heir. He wanted to rule the Kingdom for as long as he could. And these old men were in his way.
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"Lady Annabelle",Queen Catherine called the minute they were out of the King's presence. She was seething with rage at how the King treated her in the presence of the others and she needed to vent out her anger.
Queen Annabelle sneered at her as she turned gracefully. Her son, Apollo stopped beside her and turned also.
"Be gone boy",Queen Catherine said to him in annoyance. "I want to have a word with your mother".
"Apollo goes nowhere",Queen Annabelle said and held back her son from leaving. "And you have no right to talk to the future King in that manner".
Queen Catherine scoffed. "Future King? Don't have such hopes Lady Annabelle. It's up to the King to decide who succeeds him and what better choice than my Ferdinand?".
Queen Annabelle laughed humorously, her green eyes alight with mirth and mischief.
"You always aim too high Lady Catherine",she said. And then took a step closer to Queen Catherine.
"You really think the King would choose your son?",she asked scornfully. "Oh please, everyone could see how he treated you a while ago. He thinks nothing of you".
Queen Catherine tightened her fist but said nothing.
"And as for Lady Diana",Queen Annabelle continued and shrugged. "She's too timid to look upon the King. He doesn't even notice her. There's no way her son can get the crown. So that leaves my Apollo, rightful heir to the throne".
Queen Catherine glared at her for a long while before she schooled her expression. She took a deep breath and smiled and this caused Queen Annabelle to frown a little, confused at the sudden smile.
"Until the King chooses an heir",she said. "Your son is just as useless as a peasant with royal bloodline. Don't be so expectant Lady Annabelle, you might lose everything that is within your grasp".
"Is that a threat?",Queen Annabelle asked, stung from the insults Catherine threw at her and her son.
"Of course not Lady Annabelle", Catherine said with a vicious smile. "It's a warning. And it's time you know your place. You're beneath me and will always be".
After hitting her target, Queen Catherine brushed passed her and walked on down the long passage, heading to her chambers.
Queen Annabelle seethed with rage and snapped at her son.
"How many times have I told you never to mingle with those brats?",she asked.
Apollo glared at his mother. "I'm not a child mother",he said, his eyes flashing with anger. "You can't keep controlling my every move. I'm twenty two, an adult. And it's time you treat me as one".
Queen Annabelle glared at him and turned away.
"To your chambers",she said. "Right now".
Apollo turned and stomped away in anger. Queen Annabelle watched him leave and then headed to her chambers.
"Catherine thinks she's so smart", she said to herself. "We'll see just how smart she is".