Dragon Prince

Chapter 28: Refusal

They were both at the moment, too shocked to say anything. The king seeing that they had nothing to say yet, sighed as he stood up from his chair and looked out the window. His hands clasped behind his back as he stared at the full, pale moon that illuminated his face. Making him as pale as a marble statue.

"You see, repairing the walls would take far more effort and money than it's worth. As I've already stated, I was already previously informed by another sorcerer regarding the matter and after much deliberation, the fixing of a single wall would cost far too much. As you've stated, we would need to find a capable sorcerers far from our kingdom and not just any sorcerers, but strong ones. And their rates for fixing a single wall are quite pricey enough."

"Not to mention the panic that it would ensue when people would see that there are sorcerers fixing the wall, but one of my top concerns would be what would other kingdoms would think as well. We have been dubbed as one of the safest kingdoms known in Stelera. Residents of our kingdom trust the wall, but also I'd like to think that the entirety of Stelera itself trusts our walls. And for us to show them it can be weakened or is already weak, is to say that its kingdom is weak, and in extension its...king."

He paused for a moment and the way he uttered his next words chilled the cousins both to their bones.

"And we can't have that now, don't we?"

He clapped both his hands and prior to the cold emotions of his words, he had once again donned a happy, yet forceful tone his voice.

"So, if that is all you'd both have to say, I guess we have settled this little request of yours. Isn't that right?"

Truly her uncle wasn't someone to underestimate. She could plead and beg all she wants but as he had said before. A kings words are absolute. It is still his final say in the matter and the only thing they could do was ask for him to consider.

This was truly the part that she hated the most in her time spent in nobility. It was all about power and greed.

She directed her gaze to her cousin and saw the frustration in his eyes. Suddenly, he stood up from his chair with his hands clenched at his sides. She knew that they were clenched not only because he was enraged, but because he was also afraid.

"Father, please. Does your outer appearance and money matter more than safety of your people? If this wall breaks it will absolutely be chaos!"

The king chuckled once more. Devoid of any real mirth. It almost seemed like a father chuckling over the helpless tantrums of a young boy.

"My dearest son, as if there is any monster that would dare test the walls when it is known far and wide, by both monsters and man alike, that it is impenetrable. Besides, if you really want me to and take your complaints seriously, why not stop hiding behind your poor cousin and face me yourself."

His face still smiling as he slowly walked over to Ethros and stood in front of him. He then lifted both his arms and spoke with chilling words.

"If you were truly a man, then strike me. Or raise an uprising against me. Though that would take far more effort. This would be the easier and faster approach. Strike me right now, Ethros. It's the only way for you to be able to have your way completely without any argument. For you to be king."

Ervea stood from her chair immediately, shocked beyond words to the scene that unfolded in front of her as she attempted to stop the King from threatening his own son.

"My King, please-"

But before she could say another word, King Erenth cut her off immediately. His smile falling from his face in a split second as he addressed her momentarily.

"Ervea, I would appreciate for you not to interject on a talk between men."

She froze as she suddenly felt a heavy feeling on her chest as though she couldn't breathe. This was a feeling she hasn't felt in years. Not since she ran away from her parents. Her parents, particularly her father who was the younger brother to the king, would do this to her often.

It hurt her to remember that her cousin suffered from this as well, as he is now rooted in his spot as the king now once again donned his smiling mask. Clasping his shoulder, he leaned slightly forward and spoke.

"You see Ethros, don't forget these words as it is sound advice coming from your father. The one who holds the most power gets to do whatever they want. And unless you actually have the balls to attain that power, you have no say in anything whilst I am still king. Understood?"

He gave his sons shoulder a quick yet tight squeeze before letting go.

"Saying those words makes me remember what I had to do be king. Though it's a story I've already told you both a lot of times when you were children but because of this 'meeting', I feel like you've both forgotten. Do you both remember the story of how I was only a second child? And that you both had another uncle that's a few years older than me?"

He laughed in a chilling tone as he told them the story he used tell to them all the time when they were children.

"What was his name again? Ah, yes! My older brother Eliros. It's been years since I said his name. Funny enough since I remember how I killed him more than his name. He had such a hilariously shocked expression as I drove that sword into his chest. I remember making your father watch too, Ervea. Just to make sure he wouldn't get any ideas. That didn't stop him from trying over the years, but it's such a pity that he has more use alive than dead. I would've killed him on the first try if he wasn't such a smart man."

He smiled towards Ervea which made her body shake all over in fear.

"Ah, but brothers will be brothers, am I right?"

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Authors note:

Yeah, Ethros/Terlans Dad is messed up. He practically conditioned his son at an early age to fear him and make him feel helpless. To make him believe that his words and actions are 'absolute' and theres nothing you can do to fight back against it. Erveas dad did this to her as well. Poor Bebes.