Legacy || Book 1

( 1 ) King's Crumble

Axel Ludovic

The King had died.

My Father passed away, poison was his ultimate downfall. My Father had won battles, ruled a Kingdom for twenty-five years and had killed many of his enemies. Yet, poison was his downfall.

I was meant to take the crown at the age of twenty-three, due to my Father's passing, I would now take the crown at the mere age of nineteen. The only catch is, I must find a Queen to take their place beside me to rule the Kingdom of Amore.

Farther's will compelled me to do so. I had to choose a Queen, one that was of the lower ranks, Farther's will forbid me to choose a Queen that was ranked any higher than a five.

The kingdom of Amore was and always will be based upon a hierarchy.

Kings and Queens were ranked at a ten.

Noblemen, the rich and privileged were ranked at a nine.

Warriors, soldiers were ranked at an eight.

Priests, advisors, scholars and chefs were ranked at a seven.

Those that worked in entertainment, that worked for the mines and upkeep of the Kingdom ranked at a six.

At the rank of five there were the those that worked normal, everyday jobs that paid fair wages.

Those who earned a minimum wage were ranked at a four.

Those that were hired by the rich and the King and Queen were hired as housekeepers and maids were ranked as a three.

Pesants that had no job were ranked as a two.

Finally, servants that were not paid for their work then ranked as a one.

The ranking system kept everyone in their place. Certain area's of the Kingdom were off limits to those that ranked lower than a five. Everyone could tell your rank from the colours you wore. Red and gold was for royalty. Black was for warriors. Blue was for those that worked normal jobs. Yellow was for peasants that had no job. Other colours in-between, only occasionally differing. It was hard to move up in the ranking system, the system mainly depended on which rank you were born into.

I didn't know how Father expected the new Queen of Amore was to be one that ranked lower than a five. Anyone ranked lower than a five hadn't even seen the whole Kingdom, how were they expected to rule it?

I shook my head at my Father's ill-humour and tainted thinking. This was a sick joke he was playing on me, I am sure of it.

No one had expected my Father to die, the King, especially not my Mother. She held her head high, never shedding any tears over his death, I knew that was only because Father forbid tears. He believed that tears tainted the castle. That somehow the salty substance that came from sadness would cause the castle to fall. No one had expected the King to crumble but, all King's crumbled sooner or later.

A knock sounded at the door, I raised my head looking at the mahogany doors with golden handles. "What?" I grumbled.

The door opened to reveal a messenger of the castle. They bowed before speaking. "The Queen sent me to inform you that you must leave now and return with the new Queen of Amore."

I nodded. "Inform the driver that we will be departing in ten minutes." The messenger bowed again before exiting my room. How did Father expect me to find a Queen in a night? How did he expect that this woman, that I would choose only in a mere few hours would be able to live up to my Mothers legacy?

How was I supposed to live up to my Father's legacy?

I groaned standing up from my bed. I walked over to the bathroom, the mirrors covered two whole walls, my reflection showed nothing but annoyance and sleeplessness. I hadn't slept since he died, exactly one week ago. My blood red suit made my skin seem pale, my dark hair contrasting my skin and my crystal blue eyes, that were bloodshot from no rest. Heavy bags were prominent underneath my eyes. I looked a mess and I was expected to find a Queen.