After the pool incident, Celine and the crown prince Alexandro hadn't spoken . She wondered what was wrong with him or simply that he didn't want to see her.
She sat watching the soldiers practice. She was in no mood to practice and they seemed to notice. Celine decided to walk around the palace. After all, she hadn't seen everywhere in the palace.
***
"Any response from the crown prince Logan?" The queen asked and the minister of foreign affairs who was Leonardo. He came forward and bowed.
"The crown prince Logan of Segovia says he would get a surveyor to check the bridge". Murmurs filled the room.
"As expected. He's as sharp as his father", the queen said. "Did you tell him we have done that already?" He nodded and stepped back in, to his former position.
"We built the bridge ourselves as a means of dialogue. Now, just a renovation, his bawling about it", the queen said.
The crown prince Alexandro thought for a while. The bridge had no fault and they were taxing non civil servants. "You know, the crown prince of Segovia has eyes and ears everywhere. Someone in our mist must have leaked information ". It was the minister of defense.
The minister of defense, the idiot who strengthened his military to abuse and deny the rights of youths. He was the big fish in the palace.
Still lost in thoughts, the crown prince Alexandro didn't know they were staring at him. "Alexandro, do you know anything?" His mother asked.
He, the crown prince looked at his mother surprised. "Know what?" He asked. Thatbwas when he noticed the council. Their eyes were all fixed on him as if he were some culprit.
"The prince Logan ", she said and for a moment, he was lost.
"No... No. I haven't spoken or seen him since the last eighteen years ", he said and the queen nodded in assurance.
" Very true", she said.
The minister of foreign affairs stepped out once more and bowed. "We can tell him it needs renovation rather than repair. He couldn't possibly say no to renovation", he said and the queen smiled.
"But, if he disagrees... He might just be asking for war. The bridge was a means of dialogue and refusing means trouble". It was the big fish that spoke this time.
The minister of war laughed. "I am ready when you are". He was a general. The warlord that brought victory to Xavier years ago. Though old, his strong military could tell of his greatness.
" If another war breaks out, your highness. It would cause us much. And rebuilding, you know what happened..."
"Nothing is going to happen. Segovia after all was once part of Xavier. They lack manpower ", the treasurer said cutting the crown prince Alexandro off.
The Court burst out laughing. They forgot that although they kacked manpower, they had skills and connection. They, Segovia was the most connected kingdom with lesser enemies. Unlike Xavier whose enemies surrounded them.
The only thing that saved and has been saving that kingdom was the military. If not...
The Court ended and they all left except the queen and the crown prince Alexandro.
"Tell me, you're seriously going to do that. Tax non civil servants, tell the crown prince Logan that the bridge needs renovation which might result in war?" This woman who was his mother was something else.
The crown prince Alexandro remembered when he still had a father. The queen was less ambitious. Although till today, he didn't really know what caused the war, his mother suddenly became too ambitious and over zealous. An ego that in any moment might destroy her... But, he wondered why she was still alive.
It is said "pride goes before a fall". But he never for once saw her fall. She was getting higher and higher , but still didn't feel lonely.
"It has already been done", she said and left.
The crown prince Alexandro screamed hitting the wall with his fist until he bled.
***
Celine was walking towards the courtroom and saw the queen. She curtsied. "Your majesty", she greeted. The queen stopped for a while and looked at her. "The Court just dismissed, what are you doing here?" The queen asked.
"Hothing, your highness", she answered looking at her shoes and drawing invisible patterns on them.
The queen scoffed and walked away. What the hell was wrong with this family. They were all insane.
Everyone is everyone's enemy... Everyone is everyone's nightmare.
Celine shuddered. This palace was starting to freak her out. Just then the crown prince Alexandro walked out if the room, his hands bloody.
Were they playing bury the hatchet on someone's head or something .
"Your highness", she called and he looked down at her. That intimidated her. The dangerously serene facial expression and the height. She was more of hobbit than a dwarf in his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" We're this people suddenly trying to restrain her right to movement. If they were she would have developed wings to fly away.
"Nothing. I just missed you that's all", she said. What she meant was that she wanted to be quick with this mission and go away. It looked like he wasn't in a good mood and knew at once it was the court meeting.
"How was the court today?" She asked and he walked past her. " Not hearing your opinions again? That's sad. My request is still open", she said and he stopped. He didn't turn to face her.
" And as I said I don't think I need your help. What makes you think that I need your help?" He asked , his back still turned.
" The fact that you think you don't need my help is nice. Very strong for a man like you. But, you do", she said and walked closer to him.
"You need my help. It's not something to think about ", she said and he turned to her.
" I told you, lady Celine, everyone is everyone's enemy. We might be in good terms, but any wrong move_" he scoffed. "_ Your head must go in for it". He sounded serious, his eyes were shinning with rage, she shivered a little but didn't move back.
She moved towards him and held his bloody hands. "I wouldn't. Let me see your hands, you're badly injured ", she said looking at it. He pulled his hands away.
The crown prince Alexandro turned and walked away ...