Skip to main content

A Kingdom for A Prince (Part 23)


I stared at my royal father, looking hesitant and not meeting me in the eye.

"Tell them!!" Shawna screamed as she landed a hard whack behind his head with her switch, causing my mother and my sister to whimper. "Tell them what exactly did your family do to this country, to my family, to many other families who didn't follow your iron fists, huh?! TELL THEM!!!"

Shawna landed a few more blows onto him before my royal father finally spoke, "I'm... I'm sorry, son... They're... They're right... I have done things... Your grandfather had done things... But it was for the good of the country..."

"Good for the country my ass," Alex snorted. "Is eliminating an entire village just because they couldn't afford your taxes 'good for the country'? Take a good look and see what 'good' your family did for the country!"

So saying, he tossed a huge bunch of newspaper clippings towards my face. As I looked down at the headlines, there it was:

MASS GENOCIDE IN HELMSWAY COMMUNITY

FAMILY OF FOUR MASS SUICIDE DUE TO DEBTS

FORECLOSURE OF SHOPHOUSES IN WEST DISTRICTS DUE TO TAXES

EIGHT KILLED IN BANK ROBBERY - ONE A FATHER OF THREE, MILLIONS IN TAX DEBT

"No..." I could only breathed out.

I rose my head high and stared at Alex straight in the eye, accepting what I saw. "So. Just because my family were monsters, that makes me a monster? I love your logic, it's such nonsense. I would never murder a soul. Wha---"

Chad interrupted. "As so proven earlier. That poor guard."

Honestly, I was lost. Completely. So much was running through my head. Why did my father do that? What side am I even on anymore?...

"Your family has done nothing but cause harm to this country," Alex said. "We're just simply taking back what should be ours and make things right. That poor guard? His family opposed your father's choice to marry your mother because your mother is the daughter of Duchess Anastrovka."

"Duchess Anastrovka?" Chad gasped. "You mean the Russian duchess who's rumoured to have murdered her way up to the top of the ranks and secure her royal rank?"

"Not a rumour anymore. Like mother, like daughter. Your mother was one of the candidates to marry your father, but she didn't stand a chance against the other candidates who are higher rank than her, so she followed her mother's footsteps and sabotaged her competitors, causing the death of some of them. And when the guard's family tries to bring proof, your grandfather thinks her ruthlessness was a perfect match for his son and had them executed to shut them up."

"Is... Is it true, Mother?" I whispered. My royal mother didn't reply, but the lack of regret on her face as she looked at me told me enough.

I glared at both of them. "Just let me go please... I'm not going to be as horrible as they were. You have to remember, I was raised with a different family, different parents. Full of kindness, respect, trust, as mercy. I'm not going to murder someone. I'm nothing like my parents, and if you seem to think I do, then that's just pretty sad. You killed many to try to take the throne. Pathetic. How you come here and insult the way they rule when you do just the same. Funny. Very funny. Stupid hypocrites."

"We only kill those who deserve it," Shawna said. "Compared to the kill count your family had done, ours seem pretty miniscule. Call it however you want. Hypocrite or whatever. It's not gonna be any different than what you're about to do."

"What are you talking about...?" I glared at them.

"We're gonna cut you some slack. Like she said, we only kill those who deserve it. We're not that dumb to include you. We know you've been raised better than these monsters. So we will give you a choice. You can walk out of here, home free with your boyfriend, and go back to your old life with your foster parents, or you can join us and be a Drake, but you will still give up your right to rule to Shawna, OR you can join your precious family over there and die by sunrise tomorrow. Your choice."

I hesitated, looking at my royal family (especially my sobbing sister) that I have finally been able to reunite with after so many years apart, and at Chad whom I finally realized my feelings for. I was at a loss. What should I do...?
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Wish Come True (A Short Story)

I woke up with a start when I found myself in a very unfamiliar place. The bed I was lying on was grand—an English-quilting blanket and 2 soft pillows with flowery laces. The whole place was fit for a king! Suddenly the door opened and there stood my dream prince: Katsuya Kimura! I gasped in astonishment for he was actually a cartoon character. I did not know that he really exist. “Wake up, dear,” he said and pulled off the blanket and handed it to a woman who looked like the maid. “You will be late for work.” “Work?” I asked. “Yes! Work! Have you forgotten your own comic workhouse, baby dear?” Comic workhouse?! I…I have became a cartoonist? That was my wildest dreams! Being a cartoonist! I undressed and changed into my beige T-shirt and black trousers at once and hurriedly finished my breakfast. Katsuya drove me to the workhouse. My, my, was it big! I’ve never seen a bigger place than this! Katsuya kissed me and said, “See you at four, OK, baby?” I blushed scarlet. I always wan...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hans and Hilda

Once upon a time there was an old miller who had two children who were twins. The boy-twin was named Hans, and he was very greedy. The girl-twin was named Hilda, and she was very lazy. Hans and Hilda had no mother, because she died whilst giving birth to their third sibling, named Engel, who had been sent away to live wtih the gypsies. Hans and Hilda were never allowed out of the mill, even when the miller went away to the market. One day, Hans was especially greedy and Hilda was especially lazy, and the old miller wept with anger as he locked them in the cellar, to teach them to be good. "Let us try to escape and live with the gypsies," said Hans, and Hilda agreed. While they were looking for a way out, a Big Brown Rat came out from behind the log pile. "I will help you escape and show you the way to the gypsies' campl," said the Big Brown Rat, "if you bring me all your father's grain." So Hans and Hilda waited until their father let them out, ...
2 comments
Read more

I've Learned...

Written by Andy Rooney, a man who had the gift of saying so much with so few words. Rooney used to be on 60 Minutes TV show. I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person. I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows. I've learned .... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day. I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world. I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right. I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child. I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in any other way. I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with. I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand. I...
Post a Comment
Read more