The Infernal : The Rise Of A King (K.TH)

Ch 12: The King's Council

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''The city is going to fall in ruin if this continues.''

''Oh please, what can some petty city folks do? We'll send the royal army to get rid of them and it will ease the others down. A warning I give it.'' 

Each and every day the poor start to rebel more against the crown. We need to give them satisfaction in order to calm their minds, but no one is listening. 

I averted my gaze toward the king, his mind was clearly elsewhere. He sat at the head of the table, it's been quite a while since he joined the small council meetings. Yet he didn't look interested at all. His shoulders hung sluggishly while his head rested in his palm.

''Your grace, If I may.'' We locked eyes the cold stare he always wore didn't faze me anymore.

''You may Lord Corlett.'' I gracefully bowed before standing up. The other men in the room gathered their attention on me. None of them like me, that is no secret. None except for Lord Mores. We have been acquainted for several years. The lord of the seas people call him.

''There is uproar rising in the west regarding the Infernal outbreak. Intell has had it that more and more Infernals start to rebel together. I think it's for the better to look out for our people. The shortage of food and high taxes needs to be looked upon if we want to reduce our problems.''

''Nonsense, we can't afford such a thing. The crown is in debt, the high taxes are needed. The farmers should just work harder to overcome the food shortage.''

Like always Lord Karran had to interrupt me. He held responsibility for all the finances of the crown. 

''We'll find a way to solve that.'' The king spoke nodding his add allowing me to continue. 

''We also need to address the matter regarding the alliance with King Sagan.'' This was able to trigger something within the King as his jaw tightened. King Sagan is the king of the south. The young prince Taehyung was to be wed to his oldest daughter Aria. The alliance would grow us stronger and it would help with the debt we hold. But his daughter is dead and the prince has fled. We can no longer look away from this. 

''The alliance would help us a great deal regarding strength and wealth, your grace.'' To that I got a fist slammed onto the table. Everybody wavered, shocked by the impact but I expected it. I held my ground. 

''My son fled and his daughter died at sea. What would you possibly have me do?'' I cleared my throat remaining strong eye contact even though his eyes shot me a death glare. The prince his disappearance is something that would get the king railed up within seconds. 

''Forgive my rudeness, your grace. Many are questioning the inheritance of the crown. Not only the King of the South many other high lords as well. You have only one son, we are not sure if he is still aliv-''

''Speak clearly.'' His words were steady and serious. I could sense the coating of torment as he spoke. My next words could be my downfall, but the king knows me well. The reason I stayed on the council for over years of being disliked. This is because I always tell the king what he needs to hear, not what he wants.

'''The realm needs a new queen. Take a new wife, bare a new prince who will secure the safety of the crown.''

''I'm not taking another wife.'' Surprise enough he seemed rather defeated than angry. After the queen died the king hasn't even once taken another wife. To this day we don't know why. It didn't seem because he loved his wife dearly. When she died it didn't seem to faze him and quickly whores started to warm his bed every night. 

Our deceased queen was a blessing to us all. A kind and caring heart, the realm loved her....and so did I.

''You must. King Sagan has a sister, a strong well-trained maiden. She helps out with the battle plans and owns a seat at his council table. King Sagan has been blessed with two daughters and plans on marrying them off to other families. His sister was promised the claim to the crown as next in line. If your grace would to wed King Sagan's sister. Not only will you be able to bring a new successor into the world, but you will also have a future claim to the Southern realm.''

The gods are on our side as it is a fact that King Sagan doesn't hold a grudge against us. Princess Aria died at sea due to poison, one of the sailors was accused and killed for it. King Sagan doesn't hold us accountable, we can use this friendship and strengthen our alliance. 

''Everyone, leave.'' I bowed as the others quietly left, but before I could take my leave a guard held me back.

''Not you.''

''Your grace.'' Once more I bowed before returning to my seat.

''I swore I would never wed again, let alone bring another child into this world.'' 

''It's a deep responsibility the wearer of the crown has to carry.'' He remained silent but luckily enough it seemed he knew it all too well. 

''Does she seek a husband?''

''I have heard rumors that they are indeed looking for a suitor regarding Lady Zhan.''

''Very well, if she will have me...We shall proceed with that plan.'' a tug of relief nipped at my heart.

''I'll send word to my nephew Seokjin.'' He is the Duke of the South therefore he can help us greatly with this alliance.

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The King

Take a new wife?

Her face kept on flashing before me. The one that deceived me the former queen. She was a beauty, kind and caring. Ask everyone in the realm about her all they will do is spit about the fact they adore her. 

Perhaps the funniest part would be that she didn't come from a high status. She was just a mere seamstress, but I had to go and fall head over heels for her. She placed a spell on me.

I fought for our love, my parents were against it but I made her my queen. The years were prosperous, and everyone accepted her. The people loved her, there was no debt, no food shortage, and no rebellion. Everything was peaceful then she gave birth to my son. 

I have always been strict with him. I wanted him to become a strong and real man but she always treated him like a flower. Delicate and careful. It made him lazy, lack strength, and being soft. 

Boys his age would be dying to swing a sword and learn about their kingdom but all he wanted was to read books and help his mother out in the flower gardens. 

As he grew older she started to distance herself from me. Like I had no place beside the two of them, I questioned myself each day why and I tried to make it work but she held her ground. Nothing changed. Until that night...when the truth came out when she revealed the spell she placed on me. The night she died...

Leaving me alone with that little creature. 

I should have just killed him when he was still a baby. 

I closed off my heart, a new queen? Love? I don't need any of that especially not for the good of the realm. People are spiteful and hateful. They don't love me they only ever loved her, so why should I care? 

They truly know nothing.

But Minjae...I despise her most of all. Shaking up my heart, and clouding my mind. That child....resembles her too much. An orphan that was raised inside these castle walls, how was it that she looked so much like her? 

Perhaps she didn't, perhaps it was just the traces of how the queen had raised her, reflected how she was as a person and it reminded me of her. 

Taehyung my son...I had to kill you a long time ago. Looking back at the years I admit that...I still had a soft spot for him. I declared him as my heir....him. I will not let him sit on the throne. A creature like him....shouldn't sit on the throne.