The Challenger

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 3

"Well?" Kin Elias' voice boomed as soon as the doors closed on Ky. Astrid's mouth opened slightly before slamming shut. How dare he.

"Well?" She repeated incredulously while watching him smoothly step down from his throne, his large cape billowing behind him.

"I understand this is your first day but the court has been adjourned, my dear. I thought I made that clear." Astrid bristled at his demeaning tone, gritting her teeth before beginning again. "You expect me to accept that you undermined my decision, father? You promised Counselor Vera that I was to make the decision."

A smug grin appeared on his face as he stepped closer to where she stood helplessly before him. "Need I remind you that I am, in fact, still the king of Melodee?" "Even more of a reason to keep your promises." Astrid's tone was hard as she stepped closer, watching the fire dance in her father's eyes.

They had never been close, clearly differing in many instances but after her mother's death, she had stopped being his daughter but instead a citizen of his court. He was her commander, not her parent and so she treated him like such.

"Come with me." The man suddenly said as he silently turned from her, leading Astrid out of the courtroom with a clear sense of urgency. "Where are we headed?" Her father didn't answer her as they walked through the long hall that was filled with the paintings she had passed not too long ago.

King Elias took a sudden, sharp right into a private hallway that led to his office. Astrid was usually never allowed inside so she didn't know what to expect. She watched as he murmured a word into the golden arched door and a button extracted on the wall beside it. Pressing his thumb gently onto the button, the door let out a hiss before Elias led her inside.

"Sit." His tone was clipped as he snapped his fingers and a chair was summoned beside her. "I am not here to be reprimanded," Astrid answered before sitting down, "My disapproval was warranted."

"No," Her father sat down at the ornate desk in front of her, "No it was not." "You were specifically asked-" "Astrid, I took an oath to serve this kingdom until I choose to abdicate this throne to an heir and I meant it. I make these decisions for the good of the people."

"Oh really, you always have their best interests in mind? You've never decided something to specifically benefit yourself? You've never-" "Enough! Don't you dare question my integrity." His voice was thunderous, leaving Astrid speechless. The only sound she could hear was the thud of her own heart, rapidly beating inside her chest.

"I know your secret. Never forget that." Astrid spoke quietly, leaning forward in her seat. "You dare threaten me?" The king's face had turned a light shade of red and his mouth was drawn together in disgust. "Father, I'm not here to play games with you, I'm simply not interested. But if I must defend myself, you know I will. You know the daughter you raised."

"You're also considered to be my heir." His own tone was threatening now. "Isn't resilience and unwavering courage prioritized in a good ruler?" Her voice was smug in her own ears.

"So is integrity and an attempt at amicability." "I don't think those are things you've prided yourself on over the years you've sat in that court," Astrid laughed sadly to herself, looking away from his burning gaze, "Just one court meeting could tell me that."

King Elias was silent for a moment before leaning forward towards Astrid. "Astrid, your nerve is outstanding. Not only did you show up to court late, but you openly disrespected me in front of my inferiors. Do you know how that looks?"

"I was standing up for myself." Her voice rose to match his own. "You were deliberately stepping out of line in order to disobey me and disregard my wishes. I run this castle whether you accept it or not, Astrid." "I am perfectly aware that you're my king." "Then start acting like it." Her father snapped.

They were silently staring at each other now, each wearing a look of disgust and anger: everything they've felt for each other for the past few years finally beginning to spill over.

"Your efforts to become queen someday are obvious. You want it more than I ever did, perhaps even more than your grandfather. Yet you lack the proper leadership qualities, which concerns me greatly."

"I would have to disagree." "Of course you would." It was suddenly more difficult to breathe. Astrid rarely doubted her abilities, especially when it came to ruling her people, but there was something about his choice of words that made her nervous. Was she truly lacking specific qualities?

Suddenly Astrid felt like crying. This had been her whole life; something she'd waited for since she'd first interacted with the fae of Melodee. "What are these so-called qualities that I lack?" "Well, take today for instance." Her father adjusted a golden pocket watch on his desk.

"You see, the counselors must remain scared of me, or else I lose control. Without fear, I am nothing but a male on an imaginary throne. Inflicting fear is something you must practice if you're interested in ruling successfully." His offhanded tone made her skin crawl. 

Astrid ran her sweaty palms against her pants. 

"Foolish was never a quality I associated with you, father. A tyrant, yes. Insensitive, yes. But foolish?" Astrid laughed, "You might have just changed my mind today, though."

"Careful with how you use that word tyrant, girl. I've been very lenient with you." "And yet here we are. I'm sitting here listening to you explain how you dangle fear in front of our people like they're some type of animals." Astrid spit out, the word leaving a bad taste in her mouth.

"Listen to me now," Her father looked almost feral, "I watched you debate Vintra like she had some kind of say in our court. Like you both were of equal stature. I don't have to do that because I invoke fear and dominance. Where is your damned backbone?"

"Our counselors will never be able to present any viable options to truly help the people because they tremble in front of you like leaves. You might as well not even have representatives!"

"My counselors." King Elias mumbled. "What?" "They are my counselors. Not yours. And if I don't want them to have a say in legal issues, well then they won't." "But they deserve to represent the people. And-and the people deserve them."

"The people deserve only what I offer to them and only what they can take themselves. Representation is not needed here." "You're a damned fool," Astrid muttered, shooting out of her seat. She couldn't believe what he was saying. As Astrid aged, she had grown up knowing her father was unkind but this was even worse.

 "Where are you going?" King Elias' voices rumbled deeply.

"I'm leaving." "You don't leave until I dismiss you." "Pardon me?" "I said," King Elias stepped out of his chair smoothly before opening the door to his office, "You do not leave until I dismiss you." His arm directed her towards the door and with a huff of breath, she let herself out.

But her father had some final words. "And take those pants off. Tonight is important for both of us." "I told you I would not be participating tonight." "If you want to be the future Queen of Melodee you do."

And then the door slammed shut behind her, leaving Astrid to find her way back to her quarter alone.