The Forgotten Queen

The King, Crown Prince and Priest

Murmuring filled the hall. The council members talked amongst themselves, waiting for their royal Highness and holy Priest to attend the meeting.

"I see no point of being in this meeting..." a man said, rolling his green-brown eyes. He leaned on the desk with his elbow, placing his chin on his hand as he used his free hand to play with one of his curly brunette hair.

The young man hummed lazily, leaning back against his seat beside the bored man. His arms folded across his chest as he gazed down at the primary members of the council. He sighed, and his dark gray eyes glanced over his friend, then ran his fingers through his sandy blonde hair.

"Want to grab a drink?" he asked.

His friend sat up and glanced at him with a grin. "Where do you have in mind?"

"Boys club?"

They remained silent, and a devilish grin grew on their face, then chuckled to prove they agreed to the idea.

A knock snapped both men's attention, and silence absorbed the hall as everyone stood. The doors opened, and the King strolled in.

His golden-brown blonde hair brushed back neatly. A slight grin with dark eyes sparkled in delight as he approached his seat. And walking beside him was the Priest, jet-black hair slicked back with an emotionless expression.

Everyone prideful sang their praise to their King.

Once the King took his seat, everyone followed and took their seats. Silence remained in the hall as they waited to hear from their King.

"Can you imagine yourself on that throne?" the man asked in a whisper. His green-brown eyes stayed on the King as he leaned toward his friend.

"I don't need to imagine... That is my throne," the Crown Prince said.

"First and foremost, I have received word about the Guardian," the King said.

"No wonder he is happy..." the Crown Prince muttered under his breath. He narrowed his gaze down at his father, sat straight, and listened carefully.

"The Guardian has begun her journey to the Black Mist and is the Shadow forest," the King said.

Murmuring rumbled within the hall.

"King Vincent is obsessed with the Guardian of Aurora Kingdom," the Crown Prince's friend said with a scoff. "And she will be your wife if she is brought to Veritas..." he smirked.

"I don't know what you are talking about," the Crown Prince said.

"Aeson, you are the only noble to not have an engagement at this age. You are the Crown Prince, and many ladies are dying to be the future Queen. But the King's obsession with the Guardian is clear that he wants you to marry her."

Aeson rolled his eyes, knowing this was the truth. The Queen, his mother, wanted him to be engaged to some of her allies' daughters. She hoped to keep the peace and strength between her and them.

However, his father, the King, had other plans. Ever since news of the new Guardian's arrival, Aeson had never heard his father about anything other than capturing the Guardian.

And the problem for Aeson as Crown Prince was that the Church of Light supported the King's decision. The Chuch hoped that the union between the Guardian and Crown Prince would produce a God-like heir to the throne.

Aeson returned, arguing against the union between him and the foreigner. Sadly, his mother was convinced but still had the ideal bride for her son.

Now, Aeson had the freedom to do as he please until the race to capture the Guardian was over.

"How about you, Randall? Are you engaged?" Aeson asked, turning his gaze to his friend.

The young Lord sneered with a side smirk, then turned his gaze back to King Vincent. "We need to send a team to capture the Guardian. This is our chance," King Vincent said.

Some members huffed and sighed, giving each other side glances. They were tired of the King's obsession with the Guardian because of the costs.

The kingdom's expenses had been spent on the war with the Amun. The five years of war had caused debts that put the battle on 'hold.'

King Vincent noticed the unease developing amongst the nobles in the council. His gleeful expression faded, and he leaned back against his throne. "If you have something to say, speak now!" he said.

Everyone kept their mouths shut, and they dropped their heads. The holy Priest took it as an opportunity and rose from his seat. He turned to the King and bowed. "This is going to be a difficult mission and needs special care. So, you need skilled warriors to adventure into the woods filled with monsters," the Priest said.

Murmuring and humming filled the hall once more as the council lifted their heads in agreement with the Priest. The Priest smirked while maintaining an emotionless expression.

"Also, we need someone trustworthy to know will carry out this mission with respect and honor," the Priest said, glancing over to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince and Priest's eyes met. Aeson glared into the Priest's while the Priest gazed in his eyes with a bit of mischief before turning his gaze back to the King.

"Don't you think it is time for the Crown Prince to show his talents as the future heir? This would be the perfect mission for him and the nation's future."

King Vincent glanced up at his son. Aeson flinched under his father's rugged gaze.

Aeson knew his father thought of him as weak and inadvisable. Despite him being the Crown Prince, his only child-his father saw little of him. And the Priest knew the friction between father and son.

But Aeson never understood why the Priest pokes the bear, then wants Aeson to marry the Guardian.

"You have a point, Priest. The Crown Prince will take this mission," King Vincent said.

Suddenly, the council became loud with two opposite sides, and one side was concerned. One side trusted the Priest's advice in sending the Crown Prince, while the other did not want to risk the safety of the Crown Prince. As the middle guys, their concern was on the kingdom's finances, and they are trying to resolve that matter first.

Their argument annoyed King Vincent. He jumped onto his feet and left the room without saying a word.

The entire council jumped, bowing to their King as he stormed out. Once he was gone, they awkwardly glanced before glancing over at the Priest. The Priest calmly stood, brushed the creases off his jacket, and silently gazed at the council.

"And this ends today's meeting," the Priest said before walking away.

The council continued to argue amongst themselves.

"Okay, today turned out to be entertaining," Randall said, grinning ear to ear. "So, the Prince in shining armor would be k********g his Princess!"

"I don't have time for this," Aeson said, standing up and storming off.

A confused Randall watched Aeson walking away. He thought about following Aeson but shrugged his shoulders and leaned back to watch the council argue. "This is more entertaining than watching Aeson getting yelled at by the King," he said.

Randall's prediction was right on the spot.

Aeson stormed to his father's study, finding the Priest was in the room. Aeson glared at the Priest, who looked back at him with a smirk and leaned back against the chair. King Vincent furrowed his thick brows and stared at Aeson in confusion.

"Where are your manners, boy?" King Vincent asked angrily.

Aeson snapped his attention away from the holy Priest and quickly bowed to his father. "May the--"

"Cut the crap. What brings you here?"

Aeson took a deep breath and kept bowing to the King as he took his seat. "I wish to discuss the mission to Shadow forest," Aeson said in a frim tone. "I do not see any reason to go into those woods. As Crown Prince--"

"As Crown Prince?" King Vincent interrupted him again. "Big talk for a boy," he said.

Aeson became silent, clenching his fists beside him as he kept bowing.

"By your age, I fought my brothers for the throne. I showed no weakness and thrived for excellence. What about you?"

"You have no siblings, never went to the battles, nor showed any interests in matters of this court. And now you want to talk about your crown?" King Vincent said, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head in disappointment. He opened one of the drawers of his desk, then slapped some documents on the desk, causing Aeson to flinch. "Over the past years as 'Crown Prince' was gambling, drinking, and taking comfort with wh***s. Never held a sword since the age of fifteen nor played any mind to your studies."

Silence loomed over the room. Aeson's clenched fists turned red, and his fingernails dug through his palms. He felt his father's judging and disappointment in him.

"Now, I had no say in your education, but mother does. So, it is her problem as she raises a 'King,' and I examine you to see if you are fit to rule... For this mission, I am going to give you two options..."

The Priest lifted an eyebrow, wondering what the King had in mind. The King leaned towards his desk and sighed. "You don't go to Shadow forest, and your title as Crown Prince is gone."

Aeson's eyes widened in shock, and his body began to shake. He felt his body covered in a cold sweat, gulping nervously.

He does not want his title taken away, but how could the King do this? As his father said, no one else was available for the throne. Also, the council would be against it and needs to go through the church.

But the church was under the very Priest that sat in this room.

"... Go through with the mission and return with the Guardian, then you will be King." King Vincent said with a sly smirk. "You have a choice, and do not think I will not replace you. I am still in good health, and my seed is strong."

Aeson did not want to go to Shadow forest, afraid of what awaited him there. But if he goes, then if he returns, he would not only keep his title as Crown Prince but be King.

He needs guidance in this matter.

He needed to talk with the Queen---

"I need an answer now!"

King Vincent interrupted his train of thought, and he froze on the spot. "You are too much of a mama's boy. It is time for you to grow a pair and decide!"

Aeson gulped again and cleared his throat. "... Would the Queen accept your request to have another heir?" Aeson asked nervously. He thanked the god of light that he did not stammer under his breath.

"Who said it would be her to carry the heir?" his father asked.

Aeson loved his mother, and he did not want her to lose her throne. He did not wish to embarrass her.

He sighed, "I accept the mission... I will be going to Shadow forest and return with the Guardian."

King Vincent chuckled and clapped his hands once. "And that was not hard... You may leave," he said.

Aeson nods before rushing out of the study. His whole body shook in rage, forgetting the fear he had for his father. He did not want his father to win, and he did not want his mother harmed in this.

All this was because of the Guardian. Once Aeson got his hands on her, he vowed to make her suffer for his father. If she never existed, that humiliation in the study would not have happened.

Once the study doors closed behind Aeson, the holy Priest turned his gaze to the King. "Was that wise?" he asked.

"Something had to push him," King Vincent said, rolling his eyes.

"So, if he fails or dies..."

"Then war would be over," King Vincent grinned at the Priest. "I will be counting on you, Pluto..."

The holy Priest, Pluto, gave the King a side smile and a slight nod as he rubbed his fingertips while he thought about King Vincent's plan. Pluto knew this would not go smoothly, as the first attempt ruined the attack plan.

"Why must we struggle to be gods?" he asked himself.