4 Princes

XXXV

Adam
Council was something my father taught me much about but I had little practice in. It was a group of men that I needed at my side, that I trusted. It renewed at every King's death, to ensure that no council grew too corrupt, that no council tried to rise up against the King.

If a council was good, the new King would often take into account keeping some or all. I did not trust many, if not, then any, of the men my father kept around.

"What else, your majesty?"

"Thank him for his service with my father, but that he is relieved of his duties. Signed, King Leon."

That was for Duke Babar, my father's right-hand man. A crooked man. I hated him with a fiery passion that burned so deeply I could hardly keep the flames down. He looked down on the dames and the other Knights, something neither parties should have to endure.

Somehow, Rook ended up with the best of the Knights, with Sir Seth Mondown. That man was more loyal and noble than any Knight before. Rook was like that though, charismatic and captivating person. The type of man you met and just knew you'd do anything for.

The opposite of me, really. I tried to be friendly, outgoing, but it wasn't quite my... style.

My Knight, Phillipe, looked up at me with shocked eyes. "You don't mean," he trailed off.

I nodded once. "Sir Phillipe Knaves, will you do your duty to your King and to your Kingdom and be the new Duke, taking on all tasks with battles I cannot lead and help me to command a victorious life filled with loyalty and honor? To take men under your wing, and to respect every life given and taken under your control."

The last part was new. I disliked Babar's lack of respect for men, alive and dead. Hopefully, Phillipe would be much better than him. While Rook had the best Knight, Phillips was a close second. And he was strong.

His mouth gawked open for a moment before he stood straight. "Yes, of course, I do, my King," he got down onto one knee and let his head hang.

"I hereby grant you the title Duke of Fairisles, the highest position a non royal-born dame can rise up to."

Phillipe was only a year younger than me, but he was already married with a child. He grew up beside me, as a friend. There was always the chance he would be Duke, but Babar had been Duke for so long, as he was grandfather's Duke as well. It was merely a custom to keep Babar at this point.

I would break traditions. This was not the first, nor the last.

"On my council, I want Sir Seth Mondown, as Acting Observer." He was already doing it for Jack, and for Rook. He was good at spying, he would make a great spy for my council.

Nobody knew who the Acting Observer was, save for the King and his Duke. Sometimes the Duke was the Acting Observer, AO for shot. It was common for AOs often held multiple titles. In this, Seth Mondown would be my AO and my brother's Knight.

"Will that not anger Prince Rook? Will Sir Seth accept that title?" Phillipe asked.

I shrugged. "Rook will never know and Seth cannot tell me no," I argued. "I want Elaina as my advisor, I will give her land so she becomes a noble, she somehow kept Rook in place, and that will help me in the long run. Also, it secures her safety since his passing."

"That's a woman," Phillipe shot back.

Belle cleared her throat and Phillipe shot fearful eyes towards her. "No offense, Your majesty."

"I will anger many men, but there are not many men I fear to anger. Doc Dottie will be my head Doctor of Medicine. Another female, but she has helped my father, and me, and you," I shot him a smirk with my eyebrows raised, "far more than any man."