CHAPTER FOUR
1284 Words
"Are you confident in doing that, big brother?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I swear it with my life. Just trust me."
"Trust? Prove to me first that you are worthy of my trust, big brother."
"How I will prove it, Your Majesty?"
"Well, supposedly, I will be the one who will ask that to you, big brother. But since that you said that you are confident in cleaning up my way, I'll give you a chance to prove your loyalty. In that way, you can earn my trust."
Her Majesty the Queen explained very well. It's true that nobody knows in the palace that she is colluding with the enemies of the king except those who knows about it. And now that her brother is around, he will do what the best for everyone.
"Okay, I will do it, Your Majesty. The year end festival is approaching. During the festival, there will be a fireworks presentation. Each of the royals has a fireworks box. And by the way, in front of everyone, that foolish Crown Prince will explode together with his own box."
The queen's brother explained. Well, it's not hard for him to do what he is planning because he is in arsenal dapartment. As the queen's brother, he will do everything to support his sister. He will do all the dirty works for Her Majesty. Because he know it very well that the highest merit will go to him when they will succeed.
In a meanwhile, after those things from her brother, she smiled. A viscous smile that signify a victory.
ON the other side of the palace. All the minister who are supporting the queen were gathered in their meeting room.
"Your Excellency, what can you say about this matter?" the minister of Personnel asked the prime minister.
"What do you mean, Minister Hong?" Instead of answering him, he asked as well.
"Your Excellency, are you one of us or you already betrayed Her Majesty the Queen---"
But the minister of Personnel was not able to finish what he's trying to say because the Chief of Ministers of the Prime minister angrily tapped the long table.
"How dare you to say that to me, Minister Hong? And besides, I never betrayed anyone. Listen to me, everyone, this meeting will not reach outside this place. Even I will pretend that I didn't hear anything from you people. But never include me to any treacherous act that you are plotting. Because even we are in one group, I will never forgive you if you will try to attempt my life!"
He angrily said as he walked out from that room. Even no one had the gots to say anything until he was completely out of their sight.
"Those people are earning money from the people but they are not doing their job properly. They are just after of what they will gain. Wretches!"
How he cannot say those words against to his fellow ministers if they are including him with a work that he even didn't dream to do. He is just an upright person do who do the right thing that will benefit the majority of all creation.
In a meanwhile, after the Prime Minister was gone. One of the ministers inside the meeting room spoke.
"If my intuitions are correct, we cannot trust him anymore. He is a man of his word but his reaction just now is a proof that we can't rely on him," he says.
"Yes, I agree with you, Minister of Finance. He is the prime minister and our chief. But he is alone while there are few of us. That is why we cannot allow him to grind us all." The minister of Personnel agreed.
Then...
"How about you all in this room? Are you not going to say something too? You are free to say and follow what your heart says but never forget that we are all in the same boat. We are all under Her Majesty the Queen."
He is the minister of Personnel. He is in charge of appointments, merit ratings, promotions, and demotions of officials, as well as granting of honorific titles. In other words, he is the next in row of highest rank among the ministers. And he will do everything in his power to support her Majesty the Queen.
GRAND PALACE
"The year end festival is approaching, Yang. What are you planning to do? Did you train your royal guard enough?" His Majesty the King asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty. They are eager to show to everyone how did they improved after failing to protect my palace last time," His Highness answered.
"That's what I'm telling you, Yang. Let your guard fear you yet they respect you as their master. When you will be the king of our kingdom, select your government officials. The calling of the heavens is drawing near that is why I'm telling you to be wise as always. The road ahead of you will be rough and tough but like you always do, you will find a solution. I'll be watching you, Yang."
Suddenly, he feels that there's something wrong with his grandfather. Because out of nowhere, he is telling him about his succession to the throne. He can still remember, during his younger years, before his father was convicted as traitor, he is very kind to him. But since that accident, he is threating him cruelly. But at that time, the kindness that he show to him way back then returned.
"G-grandfather, why are you telling me this? Are you suffering from an illness that I don't know? Did something happen to you, Grandfather?" he stammers as he says those words.
"It's been long time that I'm suffering from this sickness, Yang. If you can remember, sometimes I'm cruel to you, even I let those ministers stepped on you. But I came this far, I survived from all those illness because the heaven wants me to make sure that you will safely ascend the throne. Forgive your old grandfather, Yang."
"I never hated you, Grandfather. That is why don't say those words to me. I'll tell to the royal pharmacy to do everything in their power to save you from any---"
But the king didn't let his grandchild to finish his word.
"Yang, don't be deceive by anything that your eyes is seeing. Like what I said a while ago, the gate of death is calling me. But I want to fulfill my promise to your father to take care of you. In that way, you can ascend the throne safely.
Don't speak, Yang. Listen to me very well. Because you have to do something before I will leave this world."
His Majesty the King said after a while.
"Your Majesty..."
"There is a woman who was from the bureau of painting. She said that she was with you ten years ago when I put your father in a cage. If you remember, you showed me that painting. I was not able to get what he wanted to tell me that year but as you are, he is really your father. You and him preferred to remain silent than to depend yourselves. So, go and talk to that artist and find a way what does that painting means."
BUT!
What they don't know is, someone is listening to their conversation!
It's true that they have a lead but, will they be able to know the truth if there are spies everywhere?
Her Majesty the Queen planted most of her subordinates in East Palace and Grand Palace. Will the Grand Heir will have a chance to ascend the throne? Will Her Majesty the Queen will allow it?
- Writer
