Regicide

3. Heads

I get a good night's sleep. It's the first I've had in a while. I feel like I've learned a lot of information today, in a way.

Maybe I just learned about my father. Maybe he has come to his senses. Maybe he does finally realize that I'm the only hope for saving Cove. Maybe.

I need some fresh air. I don't always stay in the castle. Unlike my father, I don't want to be in solitary confinement and shut myself out from the world.

The next morning I get dressed in my blue silk dress. In the hidden documents, I also see what the great leaders in the past wore. I realize that I'm going to be the first royal to wear something that isn't puffy or covered in jewels and more layers of cloth. I just go simple. My dress isn't puffy or bedazzled, it reaches until my ankle and it's just plain blue.

The reason I'm dressed like this (and everyday) is because today, I'm going out to Cove. It's not the first time but it feels like it. And I'm nervous. Because whenever I go to the town, I see something different.

For example, I once saw two men fighting over alcohol. That's right. The only solution to get the last cup of alcohol, was to fight over it. It wasn't even a bar fight. It was in an alley behind the bar. I was just walking around town, and I came across the back of the tavern.
"Let's take this outside!" I kept hearing from the inside.

They went in the back and I couldn't help myself but stare from the crowd. Only until the blood spilled. That's when I left.

My other visits to Cove were not pleasant, but I'd rather not list them. I don't want to describe them anymore.

So why am I going to that dreadful town? I'm not going to Cove. I'm going to the coves. The kingdom lives near the water. And beside the kingdom, are coves. Many coves. Some come in different shape and sizes, and others may lead to caves. That's why the kingdom was named Cove. It's so peaceful. That's what I meant by fresh air.

I tell Rose and she let the guards know. I reach the tall opened doors and begin walking to the village under the shadows that cover the land.

Minutes later, I reach the center of town. They call it 'The Punish Center', because my father executes people here almost every other week. Not too often, but people still have to be careful about what they do in Cove. Or what they say about the king. I remember in the Hidden Documents there was no record of executions in the past. If people committed a crime, they would have a fair trial, and decide the punishment. I guess this was something new he installed when I was born.

My father would execute people for the littlest things. Or he'd just accuse you of something you didn't do. He'd either make the guards chop the poor victim's head off with the guillotine or hang them. Both options are public though. Where he hangs them is called "The Hanging Platform." I used to call the guillotine "The Chopper" since I didn't know what it was called. I was too young to know this anyway...

I hear about the executions. I never want to be part of the audience. Still sticking with solitary confinement, he doesn't often come to the executions. Just like his fake smiles, it's rare to see him come to these horrific events. It's mostly the Guards that do the victim choosing and executions.

I should say murdering instead.

I heard that he once executed a group of people because he thought they were discussing about rebelling against the king. He didn't have any evidence to prove it. If my father gets you and he accuses you of something you didn't even do, it's "off with your heads!" Which is, apparently, my father's favorite line to say. I guess he likes the look of blood more than heads hanging.

Of course, I want to change that. I don't want my father to chop innocent people's heads off! Or hang them! But there's nothing I can do. The children of the King/Queen have no power whatsoever until the leaders pass away. If the child has already turned the age 18 and has been fully informed on how to rule the kingdom, they are practically able to become a leader any day now. But since my father has a long way to go from death, my only option is to play the waiting game.

I dart my eyes away from The Hanging Platform and the Chopper next to it. I glance at the sharp blade though. It's been rusted in dry blood from all those years of useless executions.
As I reach the shore I realize that residents have given me stares. Some people are nice and genuine to me because I've done nothing wrong to them. But most of them hate me as well. Only because I'm the daughter of their horrible King.

I take off my brown sandals and feel the warm sand under my feet. I let the breeze flow through my dark hair. I walk closer to one of my favorite coves. I reach to the other side of the short tunnel that leads to a very small cave area. I guess it's not really a cove. I sit near the small pond surrounded in different shades of colored flowers.
My father hides in the castle, I hide out here.

Before I know it, I'm drifting off and start sleeping on the cool sand, facing the sunlight that can only reach the entrance of the cove.

I probably slept for a few hours because now it seems midday. I decide to return back to the castle. I've had my peace treatment. And yet, I thought I was already well-rested.

I have to go back the exact way I came from. I don't mind, it's not too far. But as I reach The Punish Center, I see people gathering around. This is my only way back to the castle. I have to go through, but I don't want to. Because when I walk closer to the Center, I see my father on a pedestal. He's out of the castle. This is one of his rare outings.

My father speaks. "The following crimes in which you committed are murder and partaking in a rebellion. I find you–"

"B-But y-your majesty, I have done no such thing!" The man's hands are tied behind his back and his head is placed on the guillotine. He's kneeling and is desperately trying to escape the blade that is high above his head. The crowd is waiting for death to finish him. I guess they like the look of blood, too.

"I have done none of those crimes that you–" the innocent man tries but fails to get out.

My father continues. "I find you  guilty of these crimes. The punishment is death!"

I don't want to look at this, but I can't help myself but glue my eyes at the scene. I can't move. I'm scared for the man. I want to flee, but the crowd is blocking my path.

"OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" He orders.

The blade comes down. As the man's head falls in the basket, I see the bloody-rusted blade covered in a new shade of blood.

For the first time in my entire life, I've just seen my father kill an innocent man.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Please Vote and Comment!
Thank You For Reading! :)