"Father!" Both Alexander and Arthur bowed before king Philip, their father who was sipping a glass of red wine.
Queen Ysabell, mother of Arthur was sitting beside him, feeding him the wine.
Not long after, Alexander's mother, Queen Kachina walked in elegantly. Even though she's in her forties, she still looked so radiant and beautiful.
Ysabell glared at her but she ignored her and sat down on the left side of the king after greeting him.
"Oh my great son is here." Ysabell boasted, eyeing Kachina. She didn't mind her as always and out a smile on instead.
"Arthur, Alexander. Why do I owe this sudden visit? Did you both get into a fight again? Hey you, Alex did you disobey your brother again?" King Philip waited for an answer, squinting his eyebrows.
"Not so father. We came to sort out something." Arthur replied. Philip Chuckled and gulped down the remaining wine in the glass
"You can leave" He waved his hand at the maid who was serving him wine. She bowed and left hastily. You dare not be clumsy in front of the Almighty Philip.
He faced his two sons and smiled lightly. "Since when did you two become sorting partners?"
"Father I...."
Queen Ysabell interrupted Alexander before he couldn speak. "Hey Steph son, you shouldn't be disrespectful, I'm sure your oh so good mother taught you a handful of morals. And if not I won't hesitate to teach you an iceberg of it here. Your elder brother should be the one to talk first and not you" She said, rolling her eyes at him.
Alexander tightened his fists. He didn't like the way she was insulting his mother. But what can he do, since his father loves and cherish her more. She's always in charge and sometimes, Kachina always feel like an outcast.
"I'm... I'm sorry." Alexander slowly apologized. He doesn't want to cause any trouble.
"You had better be, speak Arthur." King Philip gestured at him and he cleared his throat.
"Father, Xander is in love with one of my sex slaves." He said.
Kachina's eyes widened. Has her son gone insane, why would he fall in love with Arthur's sex slave ? Is he blind or something. This is trouble.
"Xander I'm sure you know the sex slaves are nothing but your brother's. You don't have the right to have any of them talk less of falling in love with them. "
"But father....."
"You misbehaved so many times and that's why your powers are locked and now you're in love with your brother's property. How covetous "!
"Oh father, you don't have tone harsh on him. We should have a tough combat and anyone will get the girl." Arthur suggested.
"Darling, Arthur has brought up a Fantastic idea. Both of them should right and anyone who wins gets the girl. I'm very certain that my son would would win. He's a mighty warrior. He isn't a bastard and neither is he a weakling like Xander." Kachina mentioned, with a sly giggle.
Queen Kachina who was fuming already, stood up in anger. "Ysabell, you have no right to insult my son. He isn't a weakling and he isn't a bastard. Take a good look at him, he's tall, longhaired, and handsome just like his father." She defended her son...
Ysabell stood up and moved closer to Kachina. "I'm not talking about resemblance here, my insolent elder wife. Arthur is strong he can fight battles and bkink of an eye. How many battles have your so won. Why are you mute, answer me!" She sighed in satisfaction when she got no answer from Queen Kachina.
"It's better you keep shout next time while I'm talking." She said and sat down, resting on Philips shoulder.
Tears started to gather in kachina's eyes and likewise Alex. First her son's power got locked and now she's being insulted. She just pray that one day, she'll get her dignity back.
She angrily walked out and went to her chamber. She sat angrily onjer bed and rubbed her forehead.
"I can't take this. I just can't. Alexander you have to find another girl to love cause I won't allow you marry that slave of a girl !"
*
*
"Father I agree to the fight." Arthur said with a nod.
"Likewise I father ." Alexander also said, looking at his brother who had a smirk dancing on his lips.
'I am going to win this combat, I shall have Marisa no matter what.' Arthur thought.
'My love for Marisa will win.' Alexander thought too.
King Philip beckoned on the royal messenger. He was told to send messages to every neighboring countries, so they could witness the fight between his two sons.
"If you win, Alexander, you'll get your powers back and if not you'll forever be powerless and your brother's bid you shall abide by. And if Arthur wins, he gets the girl and also more power. And if not I shall question his ability and he'll stop being my favourite son. So you better know what's good for you." Philip concluded, facing Arthur.
Queen Ysabell smiled and hugged Philips shoulder. "My dear, Arthur would definitely win. I trust him."
💮💮💮💮Flowerbud Kingdom.
"Princess! Princess!" Mary , Anastasia's personal maid ran in. Her shoulders dropped when she saw Anastasia reading a romance novel.
Anastasia is the first daughter of king Frederick, he rules Flowerbud Kingdom, the second in rank to Veeral Dynasty. He's also powerful but not as powerful as Philip. They are best of friends too.
"What's the problem, Mary?" She asked, with her eyes still fixed to the novel.
Mary sighed and sat on the bed beside Anastasia. She glanced at the book she was reading and gasped.
"That book has 1000 pages and you're on the 700th, really? You just started two days ago. Did you even sleep?" Mary asked, touching her forehead.
Nevertheless, Anastasia continued reading the novel aloud.
"I held him and kissed his lips, his soft pink lips. I kissed it solemnly . He grabbed my waist and hungrily returned the kiss, slowly loosening the straps of my green broidered gown...."
Anastasia paused for a while and was about to speak when Mary interrupted her. "Princess Tasia, your next birthday will clock the fifteenth year you've been crushing on Prince Alexander. You started liking him when you saw him at that ball party just when you were five years old. Are you sure he'll even love you back?"
Tasia faced her and covered the book she was reading.
"Why are you saying this all of a sudden?" She asked.
"This is the twentieth book you've read in the last fourteen years and each of them has at least 1000 pages, aren't you tired. You're doing this all because of Prince Alex right?" Mary continued.
Tasia smiled a bit and looked down. "Yes I do love him. I love Prince Alexander so much. He's my dream, my world."
"And have you heard this?"
"What's that?"
"Prince Alexander is in love with another lady. His brother's sex slave to be precise." Mary said.
The book fell off Tasia's hand as tears flowed down her cheeks.
"This can't be. That... isn't true.." She stuttered.
"Well it is. Crown Prince Arthur loves the same lady as Prince Alex, so a fight is coming up in the next seven days. Anyone who wins gets the girl. So what if Prince Alex does?"
Anastasia looked up as her lips were shaking, she was trying to talk but couldn't. She finally found her voice and spoke out.
"I will go to the mountains, to the hills, pray to the heavens that Alexander doesn't win. He won't. If it's to go to Goddess Anika, I would go. I would do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn't win. Alexander is only mine.i love him!"
Mary chuckled and shook her head. "Are you sure I heard you well? To travel to the palace where Goddess Anika stays, you will spend four days on foot , without food nor water for your prayers to be answered."
"And so what? Goddess Anika is the goddess of prayers, I'm sure she would help me. Prince Alex is only mine and no one else!"