[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: LOST ONE ~ EPIK HIGH FT KIM JONG WAN]
Almaria softened her gaze; she needed to get the ministers’ hearts and not lose them. She turned to look at Kitanna with a sad face, the corner of her eyes moistened. But it was an act Kitanna was so used to that it even made her curse under her breath. Almaria began,
"Kitanna, I’m sorry you had to hear about this. The king and I tried to protect you from having knowledge of it. I tried my best to fill in every gap so you wouldn’t feel that you had no mother figure. You even suckled on my breast, same with Khelan. I don’t care what anyone says; you will always be my daughter. And Khelan, your older brother." The words had a hint of threat in them which didn’t go unnoticed by Kitanna, but she continued to watch the woman perform while staring at her unblinkingly.
Khelan took this as a hint that it was time for him to step in. He held his mother closely, trying to calm her tears down before he turned to look at the ministers.
"It is sad that because of mere rumors, you have decided to bring a drift between families. A mother is a mother no matter how you put it; I’ll ask for this session to come to an end. And for the ministers to focus on helping Morado prosper better than people from other kingdoms rather than listening to fleeting gossips."
"Look at the kingdom of Avon. Merchants rush there with their first goods; we pick what they reject. Why? Because the kingdom is prospering, and I’m sure it is because the ministers don’t waste their time on irrelevant issues." Khelan’s words came as a surprise to even his mother because she dried her fake tears to be sure it was really Khelan who was talking. It even brought actual tears to her eyes.
"We are not wasting our time on fleeting gossips. Our kingdom can only prosper if the right person sits on the throne. If the rumor is indeed true, then we work in vain." A minister shouted from his position.
This led to another episode of murmuring among the other ministers until the royal secretary rang the bell twice, indicating that decorum should be observed.
The prime minister stepped out to speak again, "If the Morgair can no longer keep the kingdom stable, then we have no choice but to select from the closest lineage, which is the family of the Gozzolini." The elderly man said, moving back to his position.
"You cunning man, why should it be from your wife’s family? If a new king should be appointed, then it should be from the family of Maxentius. They have been helping the royal family with armory." Another minister retorted.
"You scheming old chump! Why will it be from your maternal cousin’s family? We should not forget the first family that discovered the clean spring Morado is using today. Water they say is life. We shouldn’t overpass the family of Onesimus that gave life to Morado."
Another minister attacked this suggestion, and soon the royal court was left in a state of hysteria as everyone suggested for a family or family members to be the next in line for the throne. Kitanna watched the greedy ministers fight themselves over her rightful position. She purposely wanted it to come to this; with the officials now dragging the position, it’ll give her a window of opportunity to step in. Moreover, she wanted to see how Almaria and her son would handle the dire situation.
Almaria held her neck; the stress was getting to her, and she didn’t know what to do or say to the ministers. She just sat there looking at them argue over her son’s position.
The royal secretary rang the bell countless times, but the argument did not stop. The ministers wanted to make sure their own family was picked as the eligible candidate for the throne.
After a few minutes of the unending squabble which finally died down, Khelan addressed the crowd, "It’s sad to know that deep inside you all, you have eyes for the throne. While I, the king, am still alive. I can punish everyone here for treason."
The ministers realized their mistakes and bowed their heads in shame.
"We will close this meeting, as nothing was found against me. I will continue to be k-"
Kitanna didn’t let the word leave Khelan’s lips because the next second she said, "You cannot shove aside the worries of your people like that. It is unlike a fit king to act that way."
Kitanna stood up now, standing almost close to Khelan. Khelan was left speechless; he didn’t have any comeback for the princess; he stepped aside.
"The ministers are wrong to take away the throne from the Morgair. What they should have suggested is that, the investigation continues. And if it’s true that King Khelan is not of my father’s blood then there’s still one Morgair who is alive and healthy standing in front of you all." Kitanna glanced briefly at Nix, who nodded for her to continue.
"Are you suggesting the throne is given to you?" The prime minister asked.
"Do you have a better option? Or did king Dunstan also drop his seed with your wife, since that’s the trend. Forbidden love." Kitanna’s words struck a nerve in Almaria as well as Khelan.
The prime minister stepped back his face coloured red in shame, his tongue tied to his jaw as he was lost of words.
"Princess Kitanna watch your words" Almaria glared daggers at the young girl. And Kitanna gave a small smile as if apologizing.
"I am a pure blood of Morgair. If the throne is being vacant after the investigation then is proper I take over. This should not be up for any debate." After speaking, Kitanna went back to sit. This was the next phase of their plan, to let the ministers know she is eligible to rule.
"We will put that into consideration," the prime minister who had recovered from the comeback finally spoke.
The meeting finally came to an end, as Kitanna was stepping out of the courtroom Almaria said to her, "you have finally decided to make it an open battle?"
Kitanna scoffed gently, "I thought that was what it was all about. You made it an open battle when you crossed the line, it’s only right if I follow the energy." Facing forward Kitanna walked out of the courtroom triumphantly. This was just the beginning of the misery she had planned out for Almaria, for every hurt she made her mother feel then she was ready to triple it. Kitanna said to herself.