Kingdoms

Chapter 4: The Seoulless

The Land of the Seoulless was an interesting place made up of interesting people. First was the one and only queen, Helen, the most beautiful of all the land and ruled all by herself. Next to her, was her twin brother, Harry, who turned down his role as a ruler and became an honorable knight instead. However, due to an injury from a previous war, he'd retired from his knightship. With a role of a knight as well, Lance was a loyal knight to the Queen.

Further with the generations, there was Prince Mike. An excitable prince, very eager to get the throne, he can be pretty stupid at times but knew enough to not mess up big time. Next in line are Justin and Yuna, good cousins and responsible for the most part. Bryan serves as their knight and Sean is their estranged relative; often aloof and alone with his thoughts.

As great as Seoulless seemed, it kept a facade within some of the royals. Despite looking like a close-knit group, there were some tension present between Yuna and Mike.

Growing up, Mike was destined to be ruler someday and everyone knew it. It was quite obvious as well that Mike was looking forward to that day and no one challenged that idea.

Behind his back however, Yuna hid in jealousy. She wanted the power. She wanted to rule. She wanted to be a dictator of her own land. And Mike just got in her way.

She idly stood behind as he enjoyed his privileges. Oh how nice it would feel to be at his place. Well it's not gonna be his for long anyway. Deviously, Angela began to plot.

She recruited Bryan for the act. When Mike would be practicing his sword skills with Bryan, Angela would attack Mike from the back with a small dagger. It would be played off as an "accident" as she would claim that she had tripped while delivering said weapon to Bryan.

Yet like the good boy that he was, Bryan wouldn't allow such scene to occur. During that act, Bryan accidentally on purpose moved Mike to the right as he "stumbled" far enough to avoid the dagger. The clueless Mike finally got into his head what had happened.

"ANGELA! ARE YOU STUPID?!" He scolded Yuna with fire in his eyes.

"Oh my god, Mike. I'm so so so sorry!" Angela tried to play the incident off but you could still slightly hear the insincerity of her tone. In his mind, Bryan just rolled his eyes.

With a mad Mike and a disappointed Yuna, the two were separated for now as Mike was left with Bryan.

"Thanks, Bryan. I'd probably be dead if it wasn't for you. I owe you my life." He gratefully said to his knight.

"You have nothing to thank me for. Angela planned this out and tried to use me to help hurt or possibly kill you. She REALLY wants to be a dictator and believed that the fastest way to getting there was to get rid of you." Bryan blabbed to Mike.

After Bryan said that, Mike finally put things together based on his relationship with Yuna. He understood why he noticed the sly glares she gave directly towards him. He now knew why her eyes shined so much at the sight of people bowing to her. He now knew why he always had an odd feeling about her. Power hungry, huh? I did not expect that from Angela. Well, she can't get away with this freely. He pondered for ways that he could get his revenge.

Right before Bryan could exit the grounds to his chambers, Mike stopped him. "Hey Bryan, can you do me one more favor?"

"What is it, my prince you prick?"

"Can you help me get my revenge on Angela? I don't really know if I can trust anyone else other than you and Angela can't get away with this without punishment." Mike was determined.

"Whatever you wish, my lord." He obeyed, though he had something else planned.

From there, a plan was set to have Mike settle things with Yuna. Both Yuna and Mike were individually deceived into thinking that they could be alone with the other and they could get their way of revenge.

With the plan, the two would be alone in the training room. Weapons around everywhere and they had the perfect chance to attacked the other. It was too good to be true, they both suspected, and it was. Unbeknownst to them, Bryan warned Helen and Harry prior to the scheme and they waited in the room to surprise the vengeful teens.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here. Why are you two here at this time? And what's with those mad and shocked faces I see?" Helen taunted knowingly at the two.

"Um...we're here to practice. Yeah, Angela wanted help with her sword skills and she asked me to do so." Mike tried to save himself as Yuna hurriedly agreed with the excuse.

"Hmm that's funny since someone warned us that the both of you were trying to get to each other for power. To even think about killing or hurting your family?! You guys are sick and neither of you have right to rule as of now." Helen was disturbed and told them off.

Bryan... Yuna and Mike were furious at the boy and started already planning their revenge, but they were distracted by Harry. "You two are a danger and threat to the throne therefore we have decided that it's best for both of you to leave the castle. You no longer have the right to succeed in power. Sorry, Angela, but you can't be a dictator and sorry, Mike, that you were pushed to this."

"You have until tomorrow morning to pack your bags and leave. You are no longer allowed here or else you'll be arrested and possibly executed." Helen finished off sadly.

Yuna burst into tears and Mike was near doing so. Everything...everything I've done was all for nothing. Yuna cried out. Why?? Why must this happen to me?? WHY? Mike was ready to die.

The castle, the title, the luxury. That was all they've known throughout their whole lives. Now, they had nothing. They were lost. They were left down in the streets. Beggars. Peasants. Dirty and poor, they no longer had anything that they used to have.

With a castle left feeling empty, Helen had another problem. The Land of the Seoulless was actually soulless. There was no other person to succeed her after her rule. However, a certain someone popped into her head.

"Bryan, do you want to be the next ruler? I can't think of anyone better for the role. You're loyal, you're smart, and you fit the look of the ruler of Seoulless."

"Thanks for the offer, my Queen. But nah, I'd rather stay as a knight and fight. It's freeing and I wouldn't be so constricted with that title." Bryan causally declined. Power was not in his interests and would rather stay fighting others.

She understood and was left conflicted.  Lance? No he wouldn't be fit to rule. Not Harry because he's handicapped and doesn't want to do it. Maybe... Helen's thoughts were cut off at the sight of a familiar Korean.

Sean was just aimlessly wandering and speaking to himself around the castle grounds. He greeted Helen with a grumble and briskly left until he was halted.

"Wait, Sean! How would you like to be ruler after I finish my time?" Helen suggested.

"Sure, I guess." He answered coolly and Helen was ecstatic.

"BLESS! Thanks Sean!"

With that, Helen's issues were resolved and skipped happily to her throne. The castle was at peace thanks to the lack of inside fighting and issues. And the throne was safe and secure with a designated new ruler. The Land of the Seoulless was coming back to life after a few obstacles.