IV. The Impact of Her

~ Twenty-Six ~

"I assume that the terrified look on your face is a yes," James remarked.

"I thought you already took care of them," I said as I turned to James, horrified.

"I never specifically stated how I took care of them, didn't I?" James smirked as he put his hands behind his back. "I wanted to have a bit of fun with them. And besides, it is only fitting that you decide their fates."

My eyes widened, which caused a smug grin on James' face. "Have you lost your sanity, James?!" I asked, furious. "Why are you putting such a responsibility on my shoulders??"

"Robert," James chuckled as he approached me. He then put a hand on my shoulder and continued, "If there is one thing that you need to learn about being king is how to make decisions. And there are choices that you don't like but you have to do it." He briefly tapped my shoulder and left the room with his guards.

The torturer looked at me as well before he followed them.

I took a step closer towards the hanged pirates. They were covered with whip marks and deprived of nourishment. To see them in this situation was not satisfying. Granted, their leader almost took my life. But I didn't anticipate that James would do something like this.

The pirate leader coughed and raised his head to breath. Right when he saw me, he chuckled. He rested his head on the wall and mocked me, "Are you satisfied now, Your Highness?"

I sighed as I shook my head. "Unfortunately, no. I was not expecting this sort of outcome for you and your comrades," I replied bluntly.

"Would you have preferred a quick death for us, then?" the leader asked.

"If it will save you from the agony of torture, yes," I said. "Unless you would rather have the slower, much more painful way to die."

The leader snorted before another cough. "You monarchs, you always assume that you know what is best for your people," he said. "But in reality, you just sit on your thrones and take everything for yourselves."

"What makes you think that all of us are what you say we are?" I asked.

"Have you ever wondered why we became pirates?"

I froze. I wasn't expecting that kind of question.

The pirate leader smirked. "Of course, you didn't. That is to be expected from a future ruler such as yourself," he remarked. He continued, "All you ever want to do is to prove yourself worthy of the crown. Am I correct?"

I turned away, ashamed. The pirate leader was correct. His reply stung more than the scar that he left on my chest. I couldn't argue against him because he was right.

As heirs to our own kingdoms, that was all we were taught to do. We were told, time and time again, to prove our worth as future rulers. But I never thought that it had an effect on other people.

Specifically, those who weren't in the nobility.

The pirate leader proceeded, "We weren't always pirates, if you must know. We never raided ships to begin with. But after what your kingdom did to us, being pirates is the only thing that we know we can do. It is what we had to do."

My eyes widened as I met his gaze.

"We were once fishermen from the kingdom of Middle Earth. Life was simple. And even though it was a struggle sometimes, we were thankful," the pirate leader started his explanation. "But when the previous king died, everything changed. His queen campaigned for modernism. And when she discovered a more advanced, quicker way to do the fishing, she ordered us to stop.

"But we didn't know any other livelihood. And she didn't even try to help us. The other kingdoms turned a blind eye to us. That was until your grandmother secretly helped us.

"She took possession of the small northern island of your kingdom. She bestowed it to us behind your grandfather's back. She even put a protective shield around the perimeter, to keep us hidden. However, when she left, your grandfather did everything to destroy any remnants of her glory. And your father gave false promises until he ignored us completely," the pirate leader finished.

I didn't know that they went through so much. They could even be an entire population and they were neglected.

"It may be too late for me to ask this," I said as I tried to look him in the eye, "But if I were to ask what you want, what would it be?"

The pirate leader coughed. "What we always ask for: a land of our own where we can live in peace."

For a moment, I stood quiet. "I will have the guards return you to your cells. Give me time to fix everything," I replied.

"I will not expect anything from you, boy," the pirate leader answered after a chuckle. "Seeing that you are James' offspring, I don't see you as any different from him."

I tamed my rage when I received such a comparison. I then answered, "I am not my father. And I understand why you won't believe anything that I say. But rest assured, you and your men are under my protection."

The pirate leader shrugged and bowed his head once more.

I then left the room and instructed the guards to assist the pirates back to their prison cells. I also warned them that punishment would be given to those who treated the prisoners unlawfully.

The pirates had suffered enough. And It was time to correct the wrongdoings of my bloodline.

~*~*~*~

As I entered James' study, he was in the middle of a discussion with Gonzalo.

James sat in his chair whilst he pointed down on a scroll.

Gonzalo, on the other hand, stood behind him as he gave his full attention.

When I approached them, both of them looked up in my direction.

"Oh, Robert, you have returned," James smiled as I stopped before them. "I trust that you already have your verdict for your prisoners," he continued as he laid back on his chair. His fingertips touched each other. A wicked grin grew on his face.

I turned to Gonzalo who carried a blank expression on his face. But his eyes spoke differently.

"May I speak with you alone?" I asked James as I looked back at him.

James nodded. But Gonzalo didn't move. I arched my brow at him but he wasn't fazed. Instead of leaving, we merely returned each other's stares. And no one wanted to give up.

James cleared his throat, probably to break the tension between Gonzalo and I. "Gonzalo," he called to get Gonzalo's attention, "Leave us."

Gonzalo hesitated before he bowed. He then gave me a side glare as he walked past me.

"Well, what is it now?" James asked as the doors closed.

I stepped closer towards James' table. "May I ask about the boundaries of rulership as a prince?" I asked.

James' brows furrowed. "Boundaries of rulership?"

"As I recall, you bestowed different lands to Elizabeth and I as your children, am I correct?" I asked another as I leaned on his desk.

James grew even more baffled. "Why the sudden interest in this topic?"

"I will answer your question if you answer mine."

James then stood from his chair. "Yes, that is true," he replied. He approached me and asked, "Why are you bringing this up out of nowhere?"

I then enquired, "Because I am curious about the small portion of island in our northern borders."