Eleven

Eleven- Luke

After the whole situation with the new Lady in the palace, I dont want to mention her name because just remembering her makes me want to strangle her even more. She's a vixen hiding inside a lady. It doesn't help that my grandmother is on her side and I have to suffer by cleaning the stables as a punishment for 'disrespecting and insulting Lady Danielle'. Now shes punishing me by making me do tons of chores and I tried evading all of them by intending to go to every schedule I have today, turns out I only have one thing to do but even that was removed because Grandma said so. No servants are allowed to help nor talk to me. I have to figure things out on my own and 'reflect on my own actions' otherwise, i'll have to keep doing this punishment.

I could pretty much avoid my grandmothers punishment but knowing her personality, she won't stop until she sees result. Plus she used her rank on me, she made sure that every people in the palace knows what I am doing and that no one is to interfere unless they want to be punished for going against a royal decree.

Everyone in the family was of course delighted to witness something so degrading so they've been keeping turns watching me. My father and mother did pay a visit, not to save me of course but just to see if I was doing a wonderful job.

If this gets out in the public and by public, I meant the people outside the palace of course. Every member of the palace are sworn to keep their mouth shut to whatever it is they witness and hear inside the palace. No one dares to go against this rule because the consequence for going against this rule is death or a lifelong imprisonment. Depending on the severity of the situation but mostly, death is what happens to tattle tales.

Once I'm done with all this mess, i'll definitely propose to cut down food for the animals. Who knew they could shit as much as they chew? This is crazy I've been cleaning all hour and the pile just doesn't go down.

Dump after dump, I became more convinced that this animals eat way more than they should.

"Thought you'd be done by now" someone chirps behind me,, infuriating me in the process.

"Well I should be if it wasn't for this animals eating more than they should. I mean who feeds this guys, they all eat like a pig" I complained facing the person who spared time to visit me.

"Well dearest crownprince, while you are away and doing all this things. I've been up all day doing the rest of what was supposed to be your job. I finally got the chance to run away from the maids and here you are complaining when all you have to do is sweep" I put away the shovel that I was carrying and walked towards her to grab the water bottle I have and my towel. She looks at me while i drip in sweat and then she suddenly shakes her head

"What is it now?" I sat to the bunch of hay lying around, since I'm probably looking like shit I might as well just keep going.

"I talked to her before coming here. She seems to be a nice lady. I mean she doesn't really give me the vibe of someone plotting something. Maybe its just a facade but to my years of meeting and bowing heads to different people, I can truly say shes different" Amber whispers, minding the people who might be listening to our conversation. She is always mindful of this things, she feels as if she needs to be very careful with her actions. Her every action to be exact.

"You didn't hear what I heard" I slowly told her "I'm sure she's just hiding her true color, she'll eventually show her true side. You need to be careful and not get too close to her. She may show you kindness but shes reeking with this aura of evil" she smirks at my remark but she knows I meant every word i'm saying. Once I set my mind on someone, its usually hard to change my mind.

"Look, give her a chance. Shes new here and she'll need some protection, I strongly feel that there is more to her. I don't know what but I just feel it. Plus, Little David seems to like her aswell and you know how picky he could be when it comes to people" she points out which is half true. The kid barely likes anybody. If he didn't grew up playing with me, he'd probably hate me too. He is very aloft and he would rather go and read some books than play with all the toys given to him. I sometimes feel like he is more of an adult than I am.

"The kid lacks social skills and you know that, what could he know about real and fake people?" Of course, there is still this fact that he is still young and he could be tricked. People can still manipulate him thats why we are all so protective of him.

"David might be young but he knows which one to trust" Amber looks at me, a serious look, the one she uses when shes trying to reach me with her point. Since we literary have to work with each other all the time and the fact that she knows me better than anyone else and vice versa. We have this secret looks that only the both of us can understand, the one she's giving me right now is the one she always uses to get me to understand. "If the King and Queen keeps on insisting that you get married to her, and the Royal Regent backing Lady Danielle, she can be very useful if we really want to continue with our plans. You can't have her as another one of your enemies. You already have too much of that and now is not the time to gain another one" She sighs knowing that I'm buying the thing shes talking about, I dont really care about getting more haters than followers.

"Just don't get so close to her Amber. She might bring you danger and you know how I feel about that" After Mark's death, I took it upon myself to be responsible for Amber and David's safety . I don't like the idea of getting both of them in trouble, I swore after my brothers grave that I'll make sure that they are always safe. As long as I'm in line to the throne I can protect them and little David as he grows older to ascend the throne.

Yes, that's my plan all this time. I didn't want to have my own wife and son because I want little David to ascend. He deserves the throne more than I do and that didn't go well with the council. They know that I plan to give the throne to David someday and they are all against it. For now, they think that I've already moved on and decided to stop my mindless dream but I've been gathering strength of my own to someday fight them back when the time is right.

This is why, Amber is too worried that instead of gathering allies, I'm causing to more enemies instead. I only accepted the thought of having a family of my own when Amber made me realize that I have to accept or the council might think that I'm revolting again. We still don't know the reason why they are so against David becoming my heir someday but one thing is for sure. They are all hiding something.

"You need to start fixing yourself Luke, you might be getting too hard headed. You need to open your eyes and see opportunities." Amber sighs again then she pats her skirt "I should get going, just think about what I told you. I really have a good feeling about her and I'm not changing my mind. If she decides to come to me, I won't think twice" she warns then smiles "I honestly would rather have her to my side than your little Isabelle, she is too rowdy and calls for too much attention. She's very hostile towards me and David just hates her to the guts. Up until now, I still don't understand what she did towards my son that made him hate her so much." Amber giggles then looks at me. "Make sure to clean up nicely after this punishment. You stink" She covers her nose as if to make a point then she moves away from me.

"Go before I put you between my arms and my armpit" I warned, raising my arm and walking slowly towards her to prove that I'm willing too follow through if she stayed any longer. She ran away of course and she almost showed the real side of her if she just didn't gain composure and realize that someone could've been watching. She waves good bye then went on her way.

Just like me, Amber has been faking everything that she's doing. She smiles, bows, laughs to anyone that sees her, she's a lady worthy to be followed but everything was just a facade to achieve what she needs to have for the sake of little David. She fears that a day might come where the council might decide to get rid of her and David. Of course, they are protected by the whole royal family, but like what I said before, the council can easily change orders and cause a revolt if necessary.

After a few more hours of torturous cleaning, I was finally told to clean up myself and present my self to the royal regent. Of course, she's want to see if I did learn something out of this punishment. She often does this back when I was a teenager. When I was starting to show my rebellious side, she would give me tons of things to do so that I'd be distracted and learn something useful than become someone's headache. But there are still times that I would disobey and still she would always find a way to make me regret my actions. Back in the day, I always feel like she's unto me, like she always had her eyes on me, but later on I realize that she only wants to straighten me up. I followed all her orders, showed everyone that I'm learning, turned my back on acting arrogant, and eventually, showed the Royal Regent that I can be responsible.

The tension from todays work was lifted the moment I entered the hot bath prepared by the servants. I can finally feel my body relaxing after a whole day of hard labor. I'll have to talk with grandmother fast so that I could come back and rest early because I'm betting that I'll be sleeping like a baby tonight.

I didn't bother wearing anything formal nor did I bother drying my hair since I'll be going straight to bed after my little talk with grandma. Since its nighttime every royal should be on their separate places and some of the servants are probably back to their own spaces, so I didn't have to look good for someone.

I took a night stroll while I was on my way to the Royal Regents place. Even with all the trouble floating around the palace there are still some thing you can admire about this place. Night time is one of them and so far its the best.

As I was approaching the royal regents place, I could hear the chatters of the servants who stayed outside the regents chamber. It is customary that someone should be available during the night in any case that the regent needs something. Though it applies to everyone, I already ask the Queen to exclude mine since I don't particularly need anyone during the night and if I do need someone, I could just call them through the bells. Of course it took a lot of discussions and explaining but eventually they all agreed. The council wasn't happy about it but they couldn't do anything because the whole servants and ladies serving the inner palace and the royals, falls under the supervision of the Queen and the Inner Court. The Inner court consisting my mother, the crownprincess and my fathers concubines. He only had two and the other one died already so theres only three royals who are ruling the inner court so it wasn't so hard making them agree to my request. The council didn't like it because it lessened their chances of gathering data from me and maybe, attempting to kill me.

The chatters died down as soon as the servants saw me approaching, they all bowed like how they were trained and the head servant went in front of my grandmothers door to inform her of my arrival. When grandma answered they opened the door and let me come in.

The royal regent, grandmother, even at this age would stand out because of her confidence and fair ruling. Her beauty back in the day and even until now is admired by many and her kindest heart could make anyone else heart melt. She became both the pillar and the light for this kingdom. Now she stands like she never aged and she fights like she is part of the royal soldiers. Looking at her now, even with all the punishments she made me do while I was growing up, I still admire her.

Aside from Mark, she is one of the few people who believes in me. She would always fight for me and would always defend me. There was even a time that everyone thought she favored me more than my siblings, but that wasn't true. We all know that because grandma treats us all fair and square.

"Come sit child" grandmother smiles as I approached her, she offers the couch that was place at the center or her villa. If I remember correctly this couch was made from the old tree we used to have in the garden. I don't exactly remember what kind tree it was but when it was showing signs of dying, grandpa ordered the gardeners to chop it down not knowing that grandma actually liked that tree. So when things got messy, things like grandma not talking to him for how many days, grandma not attending any of the royal festivities, grandma just being a lady whining for losing something so precious to her. Grandpa finally snaps and decided to order one of the best carpenter in town to make that chopped tree into a fine elegant furniture. Turned out its the best quality of wood and up until now, grandma is still making use of it. Even with the thousands of furniture being sent to us as a gift. She rather have this and nothing else place inside her villa.

I sat on the couch and soon after the servants came in to serve us some tea and biscuits. Not like i'll be eating any but a tea would be great if grandma is going to interrogate me all through out this evening.

The servants excused themselves and tha'ts when grandma started talking again.

"So how was today? Did you learn anything?" Grandma stares at me waiting for an answer.

"Well, I learned that every animal in the stables are healthy and have this small disturbing habit of releasing too much while eating too much. I'm honestly so close to proposing that we cut off all food supplies for this animals but I'm pretty sure dad would just say no because he loves his horses so much" Grandma rolled her eyes and you would be amaze how good she is at doing those. She is the Royal Regent and here she is rolling her eyes like a teenager. "Seriously though, you need to stop putting me into this kind of punishments. Someone might eventually see me doing all this crazy things and spread it to the public, ending my whole image and authority, ending my whole life" Maybe I exaggerated in my life part but I was just giving a point.

"You didn't learn anything. You wasted so much time shoveling tons of animal poop but you didn't learn anything. You were only looking at the task at hand but you weren't reflecting on the job that you are doing" Grandma sighs, looking defeated. "I've always had high hopes for you Luke and I know that you'll do amazing things once you become the ruler of this nation. But for a man to be developed he has to go through so many process, so many failures and tons of downfalls. I made you do all those things so that you'd realize this fact. Instead you focused your mind on the task at hand and whine about unnecessary things. And so what, if there are people who'd see you cleaning the stables. I would even like it if the people could see you as someone who could do those things than someone who thinks of himself incapable of doing those because he is a prince" She stands up then walks towards the other side of the room where the painting of our whole family was nailed to the wall.

"The only reason why the servants are not allowed to talk outside of this castle is because Royals tend to do more mistakes than good deeds. Our mistakes, mistakes of generation before us, and even the mistakes we are about to make, outshines the things we do in good. So in order to prevent that, the Kings of this nation decided to stop any form of threat to the throne and shutting all of the subjects mouth that comes in and out of this palace. Freedom of speech is so overrated, that is why" Grandma faces me again after looking to our family picture for quite sometime "That is why I wanted you to at least learn something useful during your reign, during your experience. The point of sending you to clean all those filthy things in the stables is for you to realize that is everyday inside the palace, people serving and guarding this place are always cleaning up the messes you all make. Just like those animals who kept on feeding and pooping, exactly how the Royals act everyday. We feed on the beliefs, trusts, good words of the people but we keep shedding dirty works, showing more outrageous outcomes than putting up a good result. Just like how the servants who takes care of the animals, there are also people who risks their lives everyday just to protect the precious royal families name" Grandma grunts.

I do understand what she is trying to say, but how can she expect me to realize this kind of thoughts by just cleaning the stables? She could have just told me directly and I would have listened. There are days that I just don't get how people are thinking this days. Is it too hard to just speak you mind and tell us directly what you need or what you want to hear? Why does everything have to be a riddle?

"Grandma, you could have told me that this is what you want from me to learn, I thought you were just punishing me because of some lady" I plainly answered back because I have the impression that all this punishment was for me to regret my actions toward Lady Danielle and not because Grandma wanted me to learn the importance of speech, whatsoever.

I may have sounded immature but I was just being honest. I maybe wise but there are some things that you also need to tell me directly, I'm no genius that could figure everything out.

"Danielle is not just some lady. She is soon to become your wife so you should start respecting her from now on" Grandma suddenly smiles "Plus she's very lovely and more appropriate than that lady you used to fantasized" of course she's referring to Lady Isabelle now.

"Ahm, news flash grandma, I never fantasized Isabelle. She's a one time thing but even so, I'd rather have her than that lady you all want so much. I still don't understand what she has on the royal family that she's making such a huge effect on everyone. Especially you... wait" then everything my grandmother said awhile ago made a sudden a sense. Danielle's mother used to work as the head servant for the royal regent. She must have figured something and told her daughter about it and now Danielle is using that against my family, maybe this is the big secret "This is why you wanted me to learn all the things you just said awhile ago. Did she discover something that could potentially hurt us all? Is she threatening you as well" I can feel my whole body shaking from this another realization "Grandma if this lady is causing trouble for you and father then maybe I can help, all you need to do is tell me what she knows so that I could help you guys get rid of her" Though I maybe a little bit powerless right now, I can still do something to stop Danielle from ruining our family. All they need to do is trust me.

"Luke, you are mistaken. I don't know what rumor you've heard about Danielle but she is nothing like what you are thinking. She's not threatening anyone, she doesn't even have that kind of power. She's actually the opposite of whatever it is you are thinking about her. Danielle could become one of the greatest allies and you need to open your eyes. You might be blinded by things untrue" Grandma explains but I was pretty convince now that Danielle is a dangerous human being. If my family wont trust me to take care of this problem, then I might just need to do something in silence. "Child, you have to see her for her true self and not by just what you heard. Give her a chance to prove her innocence and stop accusing her of lies and groundless information. I'm pretty sure someone is trying to ruin her and that is why she is here within the palace walls and under my protection and the royal families. If you keep on doubting her then you are also doubting me and the royal king and queen" Grandma adds then she walks towards me to face me. Eye to eye, she studies my next reaction but I wasn't doing any. Even after her explanation I'm still convince that something is not right, even if Grandma already told me that I'm waging war on a different territory, I didn't care.

"I know what I heard and I know what I'm supposed to do. Even if you, mom and dad would push me into marrying that vixen, I will not do it. I'll make her suffer first before she could even get a chance of getting me to be her husband. I don't know what she has against our family but if you wouldn't tell me then i'll find another way" Grandma wanted to say something else but she didn't get the chance to do so because a servant suddenly came in with a worried look on her face.

The servant bows her head before saying "Please excuse my action your majesties, I was told to get this to you immediately by the request of the Prime Minister" she hands two envelope for both me and grandma then she bows again to excuse herself.

"We are not done with this conversation child. You are being guided with wrong thoughts about Danielle and I will do everything to change those thought. She is not what you think she is" Grandma grunts again but she turns her back on me, ending any kind of conversation. At this point I was more curious at what was so urgent that the Prime Minister has to send a private letter to the Royal Regent at this very hour. As far as I know, Grandma hates the Prime Minister or rather she hates the way he is thinking.

"What does the Prime Minister want with you at this hour grandmother?" I curiously asked

"Its nothing for you to think about, your job right now is to think of what I just told you. Go back to your quarters now and rest" Grandmother excuses me and walks inside her chamber and then as if the servants were all listening, they opened the door and bowed their heads waiting for me to come out.

I wanted to know more about what the Prime minister wanted from grandmother but with her dismissive, even if I stay here all night and wait for her to come out and tell me, it would be very impossible. She didn't tell me anything else about Danielle so she would definitely tell me anything about the Prime minister. Speak about trust issues within the family right.

I walked out of the room and went back to my own place grabbing my phone on the night stand and intending to call Drey but when his line got busy, I threw my phone to the bed. Where could he possible be right now?

I can feel my body trembling from anger. I hate that I don't have any idea to whats happening within the minds of my parents and now my grandmother. They all seem to push me so much and I'm starting to feel like they are offering me as sacrificial pawn to appease Danielle. Or maybe that is really the case, but even so, they can still tell me if it is the real reason for all this mess. I can help them find out things that could turn the situation around but instead of putting their faith on me they would rather send me off.

All the days hard-work was for nothing, a waste of time if i'm being honest. It was a good work out though, a tiring job but a distractive one as well. If only grandma was clear of what she really wants then things would have been easier.

"What are you really up to?" I whispered more to myself because there no one else in here than me. Danielle is making me more curious as to what she's here for. I haven't known her long and I already hate her after seeing her once. She's really something and she is really starting to rile me up. Amber was even convincing me to make her my ally, I mean, I don't understand anymore what she has because everyone seems to like her so much. I really have to find out what she's up to and what she has on us that shes making such a huge impact on everyone she encounters.

"Yes, Of course" I stood up and again grabbed my phone to type a message for Drey. Thats right. I have decided, starting tomorrow things will change. If I have to find out what she's up to, I have to make her closer to me. That way it will be easy to watch her every move. But with her being such a genius, she might suspect my actions.

I'll just have to pretend that I'm the one that's wrong and that I would love to start over again with her. This can only work if everyone believes that I have a change of heart about her. Danielle can keep acting the way she wants to, but i'll do it even better. Acting is part of my name since I was born, no one will know what I'm about to do to make that Lady disappear. My plans are always a success anyways.

After sending the message to Drey about what I'm planning to do, after a few seconds my phone starts ringing.

"So now you call me back?" I could hear Drey's chuckle from the background and a very subtle moan from a lady. "What happened to bros before hoes?" I added just to let him know that I know what he is up to right now.

"Stop it, what's with your message? What happened?" He asks in an obvious hurry.

"We'll have to do a much subtle approach from now on. They wouldn't tell me anything so I'll have to go in and find out about it myself" Knowing Drey he wouldn't settle for just finding out little details, he'd eventually ask me what's my entire plan. He is just like me that's why we always think alike from time to time.

"What's the 'it'? That's what I'm curious about" he pushes.

"Well the "it" is what i'm going to find out. Its probably the dirt Danielle has on my family that's why they are all riled up and would do everything just to appease her" I explained slowly. I didn't bother speaking in hush tones since I'm pretty positive that my room is one of the safest place to talk to inside the palace. I make sure that everyday, Drey gets to check every corner of my room for any sign of someone listening or spying on me.

"So your first step of doing that is to give her a bouquet of flower and buy her new things?" Drey confirms and yes I did order him to bring flowers and whatever gift suitable for that lady tomorrow morning, as a sign of my fake apology of course.

"Well, I have to show everyone that I'm willing to entertain the thought of marrying her and being civilized with her at some point. We have to play the make believe game again. This can only work if everyone thinks that I did have a change of heart" I explained. Of course Drey knows this but as meticulous as he is, he only wants to hear things clearly from me.

"Alright then, if that's your plan. We'll continue this talk tomorrow though. If I keep my lady outside waiting I might not be able to get any tonight and you know how I work when i'm deprived of my needs" I rolled my eyes knowing too well what he means.

"Go do your dirty work but make sure to come early tomorrow morning. I want that flowers and gifts to be the first thing she sees when she wakes up. Understood?" I could hear him opening something from the background so I'm assuming that he step out for a bit to talk to me because I could now hear the lady moaning before, chuckling, obviously waiting to be savored by Drey. And that's just disgusting and unsettling in my mind. I hanged up first before he could even say anything else. He knows his job and since he'll be having his fill tonight, getting up early for work shouldn't be so hard on him now.

Tomorrow marks the first day of my devious plan, things must start perfectly for it to end flawlessly. Danielle never see this one coming.

"I'm going to tie you like a knot and make you cling to me more than anyone else. You'll lose this game and I'll make sure of it"