"What's the case?," Logan slightly turned his head, questioning a soldier beside him.
"It's nothing serious my lord, a prisoner just fainted," the soldier replied and he just nodded his head.
The king silently watched the prisoners who had resumed working again, while he continued sipping from the golden cup.
"You can't just abandon her to die, please she needs help," Peggy cried, carrying her unconscious sister in her arms.
"How come she knows the prisoner?,"the king wondered.
Just when he was about to say something, he felt a loom appear on his throat, as he began choking.
"Father," Logan turned to him with wide eyes, as he continued gagging and struggling for air.
Everyone's attention turned to the king, wondering what went wrong.
"Get the doctor," Logan yelled as the soldiers carried the king out of sight, followed by Logan.
Peggy lifted her sister hurriedly, carrying her away in search of help. Some soldiers followed behind her to ensure that she wasn't taking Lashonda out of the castle.
****
Seraphina who was walking towards the courtyard froze at the sight in front of her. It was a chaotic sight.
"What's going on?," she asked herself.
The news about what happened to the king spread like fire in the harmattan season. It happened just a few hours ago, and everyone was already aware of it.
"Has the king died," they asked themselves.
**
Seraphina and her mother stood in front of the King's chamber, while Logan and Xander were seated.
The whole place was dead silent, the only sound that could be heard was that of Xander's shoe, stamping rhythmically on the floor.
"How's he?" The queen asked the doctor who just walked out of the King's chamber.
"My queen," he bowed. "The king is in a really terrible state?," he sincerely informed.
They all exchanged glances with each before Xander stood on his feet, taking steady steps towards the doctor.
"What's the problem?," Xander asked.
"The king wasn't previously strong, and today. He was..... he was poisoned," the doctor informed.
"Poisoned?," Seraphina half yelled.
"Yes. I'm sure he must have drank or eaten something before he choked," the doctor concluded, then left in a hurry.
Xander's eyes turned to Logan. He scoffed and pushed his cape behind forcefully.
"What did you give father?," Xander blurted.
"Xander, I don't think that should be the question. The question should be what did father have last? And who served him.
What do you mean "What did you give father?" Logan is no servant,"Seraphina chided.
"Seraphina didn't I tell you that women are not allowed to interfere in men's discussions," Xander grunted, glaring at her.
"It's okay son. Do not create a scene. We surely mustn't act without evidence. We have to question the servants first of," queen Zenith voiced with her hands on Xander's shoulders, slightly squeezing it.
"Yes, I will surely search for evidence," Xander groaned, glaring dangerously at Logan.
"What evidence? You all mustn't suspect Logan, it's not possible that he tried to poison father ," Seraphina whined, peeved by the queen's facial expression.
"We surely need to search for evidence, and anyone who's responsible for this shouldn't go unpunished," Logan gruffly spoke, with his elbow on his knees.
"Seraphina dear, inform someone to get the head servant. I must get to the end of this," the queen direly spoke.
"Yes mother," Seraphina spared Logan another glance before walking out.
"The prime minister is here to see the king," a soldier hurried in and informed.
"If it was good news he won't visit the fast," Logan scoffed.
"He should return tomorrow, no one can meet the king yet," Xander sternly said, and the soldier nodded.
"Mother, you can go in first," he said to his mother, who nodded before walking into the chamber.
Leaving Logan and Xander alone.
"You think I do not know what your plans are. You tried to poison your father before he could stop you from becoming the king. But guess what? You just ruined the possibility of you becoming king," Xander cynically said.
"I can sense your pain and stupidity. I didn't struggle for the posting, but since it found me. Who am I to say no?
I just won without fighting,"'Logan spoke with a husky voice, grinning evilly at his brother.
"Logan you can never rule Rafera, as long as I'm alive," Xander seethed.
"I wasn't interested ere, but now I am, and I'll love to see you try to stop me," Logan mouthed winking at him.
That was what Logan was so good at, he surely knows how to annoy the hell out of Xander. When it comes to exchanging fists, Logan was also better.
Xander was thinking of the next word to say to Logan, when Seraphina arrived with the aged woman, a young servant.
Her eyes strained, staring at her brothers, that looked like they were about to kill each other.
"Go get mother," Xander instructed Seraphina.
Seraphina spared them one last glance before walking into the chamber.
In a few seconds Queen Zenith came out, alongside Seraphina.
She had a very serious look on her face while she came out of the room. And if truths were not told, heads will fall.
"Was she the one who served the king?," queen Zenith asked, with her eyes pinned on the young servant.
"Yes my queen. She has been the one serving him for more than a year now," the woman replied and the queen nodded.
"Good. You?," she pointed to the girl, who was already sweating.
She was so scared, she interlocked her both hands as her legs shook uncontrollably. She could only pray that no matter how hard it shook, it should be able to hold her body.
"Who paid you to poison the king?," the queen roughly threw the question at the girl.
"I didn't poison the king," she hurriedly responded, while her body vibrated in fear.
"You better start talking before your fingers start falling," the queen gruffly said, making the girl feel like she was about to pee.
"Your majesty I won't dare. I wasn't the one who prepared the king's wine, all I did was fill his cup
In the presence of everyone," the servant-girl explained, with tears coursing down her cheek.
"Then who served the king?," the queen impatiently asked.
"It was the new servant, she was the one who made the wine and brought it to the courtyard," the servant-girl replied.
"New servant? Why are you just bringing it up now?,"'the queen furiously asked.
"I'm sorry my queen, I didn't mention her because she isn't available at the moment.
Her sister was the prisoner who fainted," the servant explained, falling down on her knees, and the servant girl did the same.
"Prisoner? Her sister is a prisoner and you dare employ her in the castle," the queen barked.
"Forgive me your majesty, but I was ignorant of the fact that her sister was a prisoner."
"If her sister fainted and so what? Go get her," Seraphina yelled.
And the soldier left, going to get Peggy.
The scene replayed in Logan's head, the servant ran out of her post to her sister.
"That was inappropriate," he thought.