THE ROYAL ENEMY

CHAPTER 1- ALL OR NOTHING

"In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher."  -Dalai Lama

LEO

My heartbeat picked up as I made my way to the royal chamber on my father's demand. My footsteps echoed in the empty halls. Approaching the double brass iron doors, I ran a hand through my dark hair. What does he want? It's probably the same thing as the last time, to tell me off for no damn reason. I might as well get it over with. Twisting the knob, I enter the room.

My father sits on his throne at the end of the room. He was a rather old man who looked young for his age, the only indication of his forty years was the worry lines etched onto his face. He was tall and radiated authority when he spoke.

When I entered the room, his face darkened, his eyes narrowing at me. I immediately knew I was in trouble. Walking towards him, I noticed the twelve pairs of glassy eyes, sitting around the wooden table, quietly watching the scene unfold. The council sat watching silently, amused looks on their faces.  My hands shook at my side as I watched them. Ballasar Joloski sat at the head of the table, his smile the biggest, his happiness at my misfortune the most noticeable.

They've been waiting for this, waiting for the day my dad finally called me in to have a go at me. They've been waiting since the last time. Since the last time I messed up. Well they got what they want. When I'm king, that miserable wretch Ballasar, will be the first to go, for now he could have his fun. 

"Leo..." My father said, lacing my name with pure venom.  

"Yes, sire," I said, trying to suck up a little, bowing my head as a sign of respect.

"I have been informed of your lack of progress, your disobedience and your inappropriate attitude in your lessons, your teachers are fed up of having to put up with you and I can't understand why...." My father started. 

"I..," I tried to defend myself but got cut off.

"You should be more mature at your age; You're seventeen and  the future king, why do you still need to work on your manners and your punctuality?" He said. His dark brown eyes, narrowing at where I stood. 

"I...," I tried to speak again but got cut off. 

"I've had enough, this is your last warning, your last chance Leo," He said. His face was grave and full of regret.

I'm the prince! What is he going to do to me? Is it my fault these stupid teachers can't teach like they're supposed to? And I get blamed for not progressing? Who the hell said I wanted to be taught by those numskulls anyway. They're a waste of my time. Anger was boiling at the pit of my stomach, my face now probably red. 

"I couldn't care less," I said, scoffing. The others watched apprehensively, there greedy eyes soaking up the fight that was brewing between my father and me. Nasty pigs were probably thinking of all the people they would tell. 

Did you here, the prince spoke back to his father? He said.... Blah...Blah... He's not fit to be king...

"Leo...," He started warningly. But this time it wasn't me who tried cutting him off, it was the knock at the door, and it did its job. I breathed a sigh of relief, hoping I would be dismissed while he talked to whoever was at the door. 

"Enter," My father said, sending me a look, clearly trying to tell me we weren't done yet. Yeah yeah, we are far from done. 

The door creaked open, light from outside seeping through the wide open space, but a figure stood at the entrance, blocking the light. The person took another step forward, then another and another, before standing in front of my father.