Cost of the Crown (UNREVISED VERSION)

Minsk

Eric left the north without telling anyone. He went back to his kingdom again and when he arrived in the castle, his sister was there sitting on his throne.

"Oh hi there, brother dear!" Sarah smiled.

"Your reign is always over when I'm here, so give back the crown." Eric demanded.

"Aww... How sad... You always leave your people... And for what?" Sarah smirked. "For that boyfriend of yours?!"

"One is you insult my ability to rule, two is you mock me in front of my subjects... But never insult Hans!" Eric yelled at her.

"Oh, so defensive, brother!" Sarah mocked.

Eric took the crown from his sister's head. "It's mine and you need to kill me first to have it."

"You know I can, right?" Sarah smiled as she stood up from the throne.

"Yes, I am aware that you can, but as if I'd give this responsibility to you... You only wish to spoil yourself using the rights this circlet would endow... Especially that mother and father are no longer here." Eric told her in a monotonous tone.

In the east, Cassandra was in the castle getting ready for the meeting with the court about her coronation. She was indeed one step away into ruling the most hostile kingdoms ever to exist.

"Lady Cassandra, the court is ready to see you." The maid called her.

"I'll be there in a bit." Cassandra replied with a confident smile.

She took her fiance's crown with her to the court. As she walked through the halls, she felt so good. Though she felt a little remorse for what she did to her love. She loved him, but not more than the crown.

When she arrived in the court, they started the meeting and the first thing that they talked about was the death of the king.

"I am so sad for the death of my fiance, especially that I learn that his adviser was the killer." Cassandra said, trying to conceal her crocodile tears.

"First question is, did the king leave a letter? He can foretell, we all know, so it is only natural for him to leave a letter." A man from the court speculated.

"I don't know... I have not checked the room." Cassandra avoided their gazes as she rubbed her right arm.

"Second question... Who do you all propose be the royal adviser after the punishment of Lady Clara?" Another asked from the court.

"We have not seen anyone as remarkable as Lady Clara... She has been the most notable adviser to ever assist the royal family." A woman from the representatives replied.

"Third, when can I bid my fiance farewell as he wanders off to his haven?" Cassandra asked.

"By the ninth sundown..." the same man from the court replied.

"Lady Cassandra, please take your seat and we shall formally start our meeting." The same representative asked of the lady.

Cassandra took the queen's chair in front of the pedestal where the adviser sits. She sighs then she looks up to the empty adviser's chair.

"The schedule shall be our first topic." The head representative looks to her left to see the nod of approval given by the court counsel. "The burial of the king shall be on the ninth sundown, following tradition that has been followed by royals preceding him."

"And for the next to rule?" Cassandra asks.

"We shall see if there is a letter..." The counsel replied.