Chapter 2: The wizard king
[Mythiopia]
A beautiful woman dressed in gold and silk sat on the window sill looking at the sunset. Her brown hair was tied into a simple bun with a crown adorned on it. Her white dress shone golden when ever the sun rays fell on it.
But there was sadness in her eyes, which she usually hides from others, but now she was alone in her queen's chamber, and the gloom returned.
"Your Majesty. The dinner is ready in the dining hall." A maid said as she bowed to queen Aliza, the one and only beloved wife of wizard king Lawrence.
Aliza took a deep breathe, gently folded a little girl's frock in her hands and carefully put it in her cupboard before going to the dining hall.
"Mother.. I have sent all the invitations for the ball next month. But you have to help me pick a dress for my birthday" A young girl held the queen's arms affectionately as she helped her take a seat.
Aliza smiled at her eldest daughter when the king walked in.
"Greetings Your Majesty" Aliza greeted formally as her husband took seat at the head of the table.
The table wasn't big, and it was only three people sitting there. The servants started serving the food as soon as everyone settled down.
"Father. How about we organize my birthday banquet by the lake? It will be full moon that day." Princess Stella started talking about her plans for her birthday.
"Hmm. Okay. Whatever pleases you." Lawrence nodded and agreed with a smile.
To the outer world he was a powerful and wise king who no one dared to have conflicts with, but at home he was a doting father who satisfied almost every whim of his child.
"Mother. What do you say?" Stella asked her mother, the queen.
"It's your birthday. Do whatever you like." Aliza said with a smile and went back to her eating.
Stella pursed her lips seeing her mother's lack of enthusiasm to participate in the conversation.
"Uhmm.. Father, I will have my first dance with you. Then you and mother can dance before we open the dance floor for everyone." Stella suggested and winked at her father.
Lawrence glanced at his wife before agreeing.
"Mother. What do you say?"
"How dare I have an opinion on something his majesty already approved? The food is getting cold. Start eating."
I short, the queen asked the princess to shut up.
A flash of disappointment passed through the king's eyes but he didn't make any further comments on the topic. The atmosphere became awkward, but it was nothing new to the servants.
It has been like this for many years, since the crown princess disappeared, the relationship between their king and the queen became strained.
Stella soon ran out of topics to talk about.
"Mother, Father. I am done with my dinner. I am going back. Have a good night." Stella bowed elegantly and left the dining hall quickly. A dozen maids followed her behind.
With her maids gone, more than half of the crowd in the room cleared up, leaving only the king, queen and dining room servants.
Aliza took two more bites before standing up.
"Aliza. You haven't eaten anything. I wi.."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. But I am full. I will leave now." Aliza bowed and turned around to leave, but Lawrence quickly got up and held her hand tightly.
"Al, My queen. I will surely find our Isabella. Please trust me. Don't be .."
"Your Majesty. If there is nothing else, then I will take my leave." Aliza shook off Lawrence's hand and left the hall quickly.
Lawrence stood still watching her back, longing evident in his eyes, but he also knew it was all his fault.
Aliza took a shaky breathe when she left the dining hall. The corner of her eyes turned red and she felt like crying.
She didn't want to hurt Lawrence, but she was also angry. She lost her cute chubby daughter because of him. Her youngest daughter Isabella was not even five when she disappeared.
On the other side, Stella ate some more snacks in her room as her maids started heating the water to prepare her bath.
"Carrie.. Do you think Calhoun will come?" Stella asked as she half lay on the bed and looked at her personal maid Carrie, who was arranging her night clothes for her.
"Replying to Princess. Prince Calhoun will need to come. After all the message has been sent to the royal court and it's a great honor for the eldest prince that you specifically mentioned him. Prince will definitely come." The maid replied.
Stella blushed hearing this. She could meet Calhoun on her birthday. No.. Everyone will arrive atleast three days prior to the main day. She will have him by her side for three days.
"But.. He always tries to evade me. What if he refuses?"
"Good that you still have some self-awareness."
Stella pursed her lips and looked at little flying pixie that appeared on the honey jar on the dining table.
The princess waved her hand and sent away the maid.
"You know that Calhoun doesn't like you. Then why bother chasing him?" The little pixie asked as she opened the honey jar which was taller than her.
"He just hesitates to express his feelings because he thinks he is not good enough for me. But I can feel that he likes me too"
"Delusional"
Stella glared the pixie. Her father gifted this pixie on her 5th birthday. The pixie was indeed so cute, but it came with a sharp tongue and annoying personality.
"Pixel. What's wrong with liking me? I am powerful and can protect him even if he doesn't have his beast. He can also be the future king consort of .."
"Stop right there Princess." Pixel looked at her first and then checked her left and right and making sure no one had heard her.
"What king consort? You are not the crown princess" Pixel reminded.
Stella rolled her eyes hearing this. "Yet.. Everyone in the royal court asked my father to announce me as the crown princess on my birthday."
Pixel too rolled her eyes. "Back then the royal court also asked your father to not make your sister the crown princess. Did he listen? No.. This time will be the same too."
The princess's frown got deeper and deeper.
"That's because I wasn't here that time. I heard my sister has no magical ability at all. Even if she returns, how can someone with no magic protect the kingdom?"
Pixel looked at her solemnly before answering.
"Princess. Your father is indeed the most powerful wizard ever. But he is sitting on the throne not because he is a good wizard, but because he is a wise leader."
Stella was about to say something but Pixel cut her off again.
"As for Calhoun, trust me, I am telling this for your own good, he doesn't fancy you at all princess. It is better to not get obsessed with him." saying this, pixel disappeared with the honey jar, leaving Stella fuming in anger.
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[Vandrad | The beast kingdom]
"Your highness. You should volunteer to go to the Medis Valley."
"Uncle. There is a Grand ball coming up in Mythiopia. How can I miss that and go to some smelly valley to pick up flowers and shit?" Adrian said lazily as he leisurely lay on a soft white couch watching a few exotic beauties provocatively dance to please him.
THUD..
The music and dance stopped as soon as someone smashed a golden glass on the floor.
"OUT.. Everyone OUT"
"Uncle, What are you doing?" Adrian asked aggrieved. He was having fun, but his old uncle has to spoil it. He wanted to say something but his uncle glared, making his shut up.
Soon all the musicians and dancers cleared the chamber.
A middle-aged man slowly limped towards Adrian. He was not too short, but his hunched back made him look shorter. His left hand was behind his back, while his right hand always carried a pair of rolling dice which he treasured more than his life.
"You keep messing around with those little prostitutes day and night. Do you think your father will you give you the throne if this goes on?" Vakra questioned looking at his irresponsible nephew.
"What else can he do? I am born to the queen. I am the legitimate son"
"Fool. Your father himself was an illegitimate son. Didn't he ascend the throne? The strongest wins."
Adrian's uncle Vakra scolded.
"Uncle. I am the most powerful among all my brothers. My royal father will have no choice but to give me the throne" The prince pointed out arrogantly.
"That is today. What about tomorrow? The third and fourth princes are very young and might achieve a lot in future. And don't forget about the eldest one. He born to the woman your father loves."
"So what? He is still an incomplete piece without his beast. And about the other two, don't worry, I won't let them live long enough to show any of their capabilities."
"Your Highness. You are not seeing the situation. My sister being the queen means nothing to the king. But him not abandoning Calhoun and not choosing a crown prince till now says a lot." Vakra whispered, making Adrian frown.
"What should I do then?"
Vakra smiled hearing this question.
"Forget about that mythiopian princess. What you need is your father's appreciation. Go to the Medis Valley. Kill those little beasts making trouble there and I will take care of everything else."
Adrian nodded but then pursed his lips and frowned.
"But princess Stella seems to like Calhoun a .."
"Who cares about who she likes? The wizard king even defeated those gods in the heaven. Sooner or later he will find his youngest daughter and bring her back. Your target should be the youngest princess Isabella when she returns, not that lovesick eldest girl."
Vakra explained again and again and only then did Adrian confidently agreed. With his strategic uncle by his side, he believed no one could surpass him ever.