Doves and Lovelies

Plan B

(POV: Edgar)

"We agreed before that if you gained eighty percent of the population's approval, I would remove the wall. Unfortunately, I am withdrawing my agreement, as I must consider my subjects. According to your proposal, you only gained forty percent of the approval needed, but then you claimed that with more time, you would have succeeded in the keeping of your promise."

"If I may, sir?" I began and then waited for my father's nod before continuing. "The forty percent comprises the lower tiers, mostly Opals and Sapphires. The higher tiers, Emeralds, Rubies, and Diamonds were not open to the plan at all. I believe with enough time; I could convince them."

"And that is one reason I declined your proposal. Even if you had fulfilled your end of the promise, the twenty percent would have rebelled, and it would throw our country back into chaos. What kind of king would I be if I allowed that to happen?"

Captain Bookerman cleared his throat and inputted, "Your majesty, I don't mean to be bold, but I have a suggestion."

"Go ahead."

"If the prince were to perform a miraculous feat, perhaps the citizens would agree to his proposal."

My father nodded, stroking his chin. He watched me for a moment and then said, "I just thought of an ingenious plan. Originally, I had planned to say no, but I have a strategy for you to take because of the Captain's suggestion. If you succeed, I will forget our previous conversation."

"I will do anything if it means that I'm allowed a chance, sir."

"Hm, you say that now, but I believe that this will be impossible to complete."

I bowed to my father. "I will make it work, sir. Please."

"If, and I mean if, you succeed, then we may remove the wall. But, only for the Desirables."

I raised my head and gazed into my father's eyes, waiting for him to continue after he went silent.

"If you can peacefully come to terms with the Dove's army and have them surrender to us, I will arrange for the wall to be torn down. The Grays and the Unwanted will be given food, and it will also improve their living situation. If they agree to these terms, we will place the army under arrest for treason."

"Will you have them executed, father?"

I addressed him directly rather than a slip of the tongue. Even though I was his son, I was his subject and heir, as it required me to respect my father as a king first. Sometimes I felt as though I lived an out-of-body experience. I questioned who I was and if this was all that life had for me. I wanted my relationship with my father to be that of a parent and child rather than a king and subject. I never once felt any love emanating from him, yet our father protected and loved my half-sister, Elaine, who was only fourteen. On my darkest days, I wished that she did not exist, but I never hated her. I loved her, for Elaine Megan Wilhelm was a pure being. If she had been born a boy, I would have most likely been assassinated during my childhood. Elaine had come into this world when I was only twelve, and when I held her in my arms, I vowed to protect her from harm. I refused to lose another family member to the malicious Queen, and if she had to kill her blood to gain the throne, I did not doubt that my stepmother would not hesitate if given a chance.

My father observed me as I drowned in my thoughts, waiting for him to answer my question. Instead, he sighed.

"Edgar," the king said, "I think it's time we talk about you marrying."

Disturbed over the change of topics, I felt as though I had swallowed my tongue once I started sputtering, "But I... I mean your—father! How do I—Wait, what?"