The rain came as a drizzle at first, then it began to pour. It poured like Santa's reindeer galloping on the roofs of the palace. But the meeting must go on. In the dark, in the day, the beginning of the world or the end of the world... The meeting must go on.
The minister of state affairs whom no one knew to be a gossip or a talker. The old man who had no business with anyone. He stood in front of the queen.
"Your highness", he greeted bowing down. The queen looked extremely beautiful today.
She was on a blue gown that signified how glorious her mood was today. Her face shown brighter with the dress and her slightly gray hair was spectacular. It was packed in a chignon. She looked splendid.
But what in Neptune was today's occasion.
" Yes, go on, Lord Chris", she said still wearing her smile. Lord Chris, the minister of state affairs bowed down again and said, " The economy is getting pretty bad, the pressure groups are planning on a riot requesting for your immediate dethronement... And the masses are so poor that we found twenty five percent of them guilty of one crime or the other", he said and bowed going back to his normal position at the rare.
There was silence at first, before it rose _ murmur. It was so loud that it almost escaped the sacred meeting room . "Silence", the queen said. "So what do we do about this?" She asked as confused as everyone. Then reply came flying.
"Those delinquence deserve death"
"The pressure need to be punished"
"How dare they petition for the dethronement of God's chosen ruler"
"They all need to die!".... .
The crown prince Alexandro shook his head. This was all wrong. If the public were suffering this much that they denied and defiled the first and last most important rule of this great kingdom, Xavier: The queen can do no wrong.
This meant that they were indeed suffering. "I don't think they should be punished", he said.
And for the first time, the court officials and the queen were silent wanting to hear what the crown prince Alexandro of Xavier was about to say.
"Your majesty, the falling snow of Xavier", he greeted and continued. "We do not need to proceed with killing or punishing them", he said.
"And what makes you, prince Alexandro say that?" She asked wanting to know.
"If we decide to punish them or do nothing about it, it might be a strong disaster, your highness ", he said.
"And what is that?"
"The riot might escalate into a war between royalty and the masses, strikes and the once peaceful young people engage in immoral things", he said and some people agreed.
"It will also lead to a serious case of brain drain ", said the minister of state affairs, Chris. The queen smiled all the more and combed her hair with her hands. The minister of defense came out and bowed down.
"Your majesty, this is a serious issue that has risen. Why don't I suggest police action", he said. "What do you mean by police action, minister of defense?" The crown prince Alexandro asked angrily.
" I know you, your highness is aware of what I mean. You don't tell me that you have forgot all that you were taught", he said keeping a neutral yet devilish face.
You thriving bastard...
A true crown prince would have him beheaded immediately, but wait, he was powerless. So powerless that his voice was not heard during court meetings.
"I know that, minster of war. Your poor sense of reasoning must have made you not to understand what I truly meant", he said and scowled at him.
"I'm sorry for being so meaningless, your highness ", he said gritting his teeth.
"Whatever do you mean, your highness?" He asked still keeping a neutral face. "I meant what you intend on doing? What is your aim if I'm to ask ", he said.
" Your majesty", he ignored the crown prince Alexandro and faced the queen. It didn't look noticeable but only few officials knew this. "The pressure groups need to be tamed and we need to quell these fire they seem to be arousing", he said.
The minister of defense suddenly smiled. " Through police action. And the so called youths that have derailed and decided to become delinquencies will face the music and as a lesson to others, I suggest we kill them and throw their bodies for the vultures ", he said. He bowed down and went to his position.
The queen seemed very pleased with the suggestion and asked for any other suggestions. "Your majesty, what about the issue of brain drain. I forgot to say the increase in population yet lack of manpower ".
It was the quiet and meek minister. The minister who minded his own business and never engaged in gossips. It was no other person than the minister of war, Chris.
The minister of defense stepped out once more and bowed. "Your highness, about manpower, why don't we get foreigners from Komodo empire. They are very good at work", he said and the other ministers agreed.
"And pay them large some of money? Yeah right, you make me want to actually laugh", the crown prince Alexandro said and the court officials laughed.
"I would love to see the crown prince who never smiled smile. It would be a miracle on my side", he said and laughed.
The crown prince Alexandro shut his eyes and opened them. "You try me, minister of defense, I'm not so crafty but I can make you into a sandwich", he said wanting to stand. " My apologies, your highness, I just wanted to give my opinion", he said and the crown prince thought otherwise, so he sat back down.
Thinking that his thoughtful mother would turn down such offer, she accepted to his own surprise. " That's a great idea, minister of defense, very thoughtful coming from you", she said.
"Thank you, your majesty, it is always a pleasure to serve you", he said and bowed down. He went back to stand in his normal position.
The queen stood suddenly. Her once bright face turned into a frown. " The minister of state affairs said something about a petition to dethrone me _" she paused probably for or to see if her words had any effect on the officials or probably for a background music playing not so far away from the sacred meeting room. But what do she care if music was playing. The meeting room was soundproof .
Slightly annoyed that the pause brought no effect or probably there was no background music, she went on, "_ It would have been much better if the petition was from the masses, but it is from us", she said.
The murmur rose and they began questioning themselves. "Do you mean one of the officials is a Judas?" Asked the minister of foreign affairs.
" You mean that the person sided the late minister of defense?" Asked another official.
Though the selection was done in secret without most officials knowing, a new minister of defense was chosen and was suddenly nicknamed the queen's pet.
"Yes", she said and ordered for a sword. A sword was given to her and she smiled. "We did proper investigation and found out the person", she said. "Right, minister of defense?" She asked.
"Yes, your highness. We did a thorough research and we are not mistaken about the result. After all the both of them are like snakes in green grass", he said.
The minister of defense signalled for the soldiers to drag the person out. They pushed past officials and brought out the person. Everyone gasped.
It was the weak, lowly and meek official. The one who minded his business. The official who never was a party of gossip.
It was the minister of state affairs, Chris.
"Your highness, I am innocent. U know nothing about this accusations", he said tears rolling down his fat cheeks.
"Are you saying that I am mistaken?" She asked because the queen can do no wrong.
It was another offence. " You accuse the queen of being liar. This is another punishment", she said and he was beaten to a pulp. The queen raised the sword and cut his head off.
She dropped the sword and went to her seat. The soldiers carried the body. "Hang his head at the village square", she ordered and the head was taken away to be hung.
" This will serve as a lesson to those who decide to go against their ruler!" She said and dismissed the court.
Mother and son stood. "Why Lord Chris? Because he is useless and calm? Answer!" He shouted at his mother. The woman rolled her eyes.
"It's true. I did my research and found him out. I know many more are hiding and I will get them ", she said wanting to leave.
"You are very bad at lying mother. How can you be so good at scheming but so bad at acting ", he said and she turned to face him. "Whatever do you mean?" She asked.
"We all know he is innocent. You sure need to learn to lie" , he said walking out. "Remember who you were when you were little, you trusted people a lot, and in turn they left you. I was and am the only one you got left and you suddenly don't trust your own mother?" She sounded quite hurt.
" You said it yourself, but, I trust you " he said and she looked at his back because he wasn't facing her. "I trust that you are good scheming evil and lack a lot of wisdom ", he said and left.
***
"It was horrible ", he said to Celine who was looking at a mirror. The crown prince Alexandro had told her all that had happened. She shook her head. "You know, the people are starving and dying", she said and turned to face him dropping the mirror on the dressing table.
"I don't know. Never been to town ", he said and a thought came to her. "Let us go to town so you could for yourself ", she said.
The crown prince Alexandro laughed. "I can't go remember, I'm the prince ", he said and she hit him. "Silly, we dress like paupers and go", she said and he thought for a while then nodded.
"We'd go to town sweetheart, but it's tomorrow", he said and she smiled at him.
They were going to town...