Chapter 8: The Queen’s Gambit
The Kafara palace was filled with celebration and relief. Word had spread fast—Benjamin Williams, now eighteen and the formidable leader of Kafara's army, had returned victorious from the war in the south. His name was on every tongue, spoken with awe and admiration. He was no longer the boy who fought to prove himself; he had become the champion of the kingdom.
But as the court rejoiced, Benjamin remained indifferent to the accolades. To him, the battlefield was his true calling, not the politics of succession or the crown. As he entered the throne room, still wearing his battle-worn armor, King Alexander greeted him with pride.
"My son," Alexander said, his voice full of emotion. "You’ve brought honor to our kingdom once again. Kafara stands stronger because of your leadership."
Benjamin nodded, his face expressionless. "The army fought well. The southern rebellion is no more."
The king smiled and gestured for Benjamin to sit, but Benjamin remained standing, his attention wandering. He had little interest in the ceremony or the praise. His mind was already on the next challenge, the next conflict.
“Sit, my boy,” Alexander urged. “Today, you’ve earned a rest.”
Before Benjamin could respond, a soft but sharp voice interrupted. “It seems our hero has returned.”
Queen Evelina stepped into the room, her gown flowing behind her, her belly noticeably round. She was several months pregnant, the court abuzz with the news that the queen was expecting a boy—a potential new prince.
Benjamin barely acknowledged her presence, his eyes glancing at her only briefly. He had no quarrel with Evelina, at least not personally. To him, her schemes and ambitions were irrelevant. He did not care for the throne, nor did he see his half-sibling as a threat.
"Your Majesty," Benjamin said flatly, nodding out of respect but nothing more.
Evelina's eyes glittered with something darker—satisfaction, perhaps, or the subtle sting of knowing she held little sway over the crown prince. But she composed herself quickly.
“I hear the people are singing songs of your victories, Benjamin,” she said, her tone almost sweet. “You’ve become quite the legend.”
Benjamin shrugged, unmoved. “I do what’s necessary.”
Evelina’s smile faltered for a moment before she continued, “And soon, Kafara will welcome another prince or princess. The kingdom will grow stronger still.”
Benjamin didn’t react, though he caught the subtle implication in her words. A new prince. Another heir. A child she no doubt hoped would secure her power.
But Benjamin’s mind was elsewhere. The weight of the crown, the court’s intrigue, and Evelina’s ambitions didn’t concern him. His focus remained on Kafara’s borders, its enemies, and the soldiers who trusted him with their lives.
King Alexander, sensing the tension, quickly shifted the conversation. “Benjamin, there is talk of another conflict brewing. Arkadia is growing restless. I may need to send you north sooner than expected.”
Benjamin’s eyes lit up slightly at this, the only sign of interest he had shown all evening. “Arkadia?” he asked, his voice gaining a hint of energy. “Are they preparing for war?”
Alexander nodded. “It’s still uncertain, but we must be ready. And when the time comes, I will rely on you to lead our forces once more.”
“Good,” Benjamin replied, his voice firm. “I’ll make sure Kafara is ready.”
As the evening wore on, the conversation drifted back to the victory in the south, and while King Alexander and the court praised Benjamin, Evelina remained silent, watching him with calculating eyes. She knew Benjamin didn’t care for the crown, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t an obstacle. His popularity among the people and the army was undeniable. She needed her child to be the future of Kafara, and for that to happen, Benjamin would need to be sidelined.
---
Later that night, as Benjamin stood on the balcony of his chambers, overlooking the moonlit kingdom, he heard a knock at the door.
“Come in,” he said, expecting one of the servants.
Instead, it was his father.
Alexander walked in, his face more serious now, stripped of the kingly demeanor he held in public. “Benjamin, I know you care little for the court’s games. You’ve always been more focused on protecting the kingdom.”
Benjamin nodded, unsure where this was going.
“Evelina is expecting a boy,” Alexander said quietly. “The court will eventually look to him. They’ll start to see him as a potential successor.”
“I don’t care,” Benjamin replied bluntly. “Let them name whoever they want.”
Alexander sighed. “You may not care, but others will. Evelina will push for her son to be the crown prince. She’s already begun to build alliances in the court.”
“I’m not interested in ruling,” Benjamin said, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “Let her have the court. Let her son be king. My place is with the army, not the throne.”
Alexander looked at his son with a mixture of pride and concern. “The throne is your birthright, Benjamin. Whether you want it or not, it’s yours.”
Benjamin turned to face his father, his expression calm. “Then let them fight over it. I’ll defend Kafara, whether I wear a crown or not.”
Alexander’s shoulders slumped slightly. He knew his son was right, but the complications of succession weighed heavily on him. He feared what might happen if Benjamin refused to claim the throne.
---
As the days passed, the court remained unaware of the tension brewing beneath the surface. Evelina’s pregnancy progressed, and Benjamin continued to prepare for the inevitable conflict with Arkadia. His focus was entirely on war, while Evelina plotted her own path to power.
But even though Benjamin cared little for the throne, the kingdom’s future was already shifting. The whispers in the palace grew louder, the court split between those loyal to Benjamin and those eager for a new, younger prince to challenge the crown.
And as the threat of war loomed on the horizon, the greatest battle for Kafara’s future was not on the battlefield, but within the walls of the royal palace.
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End of Chapter 8: The Queen’s Gambit
