CHAPTER TWO

The grand Hall was decorated with beautiful flowers. Red and white flowers hung from the ceiling, white ribbons decorated the tables with golden tablecloth on them. Every one was filled with excitement as they await the bride to be, suddenly there was a loud trumpet sound and the hall grew silent immediately as everyone turned to the door to behold the beautiful bride. She walked in escorted by Karen, her two maids Ida and Evelyn and four guards. King Henry didn't look too pleased with Karen by her side but he tried to conceal it. Her pink flowing dress fitted her perfectly accentuating all her curves, she wore short gloves and her long blonde hair fell in a single braid to her waist, she was a drop dead gorgeous princess with a confident look and posture. Her emerald green eyes radiate beauty and confidence and her lips were the perfect shade of pink. As she walked through the hall towards the King and Queen, all eyes were glued on her, it was hard for anyone to take their eyes off princess Kim. She stopped right in front of her parents throne and bowed they stretched forth their hands to give her their blessings, when they were done, she got up and took her seat beside her mother with her two maids standing beside her while Karen sat beside her father. The bride and her family sat opposite the groom and his family. King Henry stood up to address the guests, he was a tall and stern looking man probably in his late forties with long brown hair that fell to his shoulders with beards framing his face, his square face made him look more stern. He had a serious expression on his face as he spoke which is almost always like that with him. It's hard to tell when he was joking because he always keeps a frown on his face, it made people fear him "thank you all for coming to celebrate the union of our beloved princess Kimberly of Valor to Prince Ben of Arn. This alliance... I mean this Union is blessed." everyone cheered loudly and just as he opened his mouth to speak again he started vomiting blood. The whole place was in turmoil as everyone started panicking. "what's wrong. Henry are you okay?" the Queen said while holding him but he kept vomiting blood. "what's going on, someone do something!" Kim screamed, the guards rushed to his side to hold him but he kept shaking violently and coughing up blood. Karen and Kim also joined in holding him still "someone call a physician" Karen called as some guards hurried out "father please hang on" Kim cried "Henry? Henry? Please don't die" Queen Isabelle began to weep as he gave up the ghost on her laps. "no!" she screamed and began to weep hysterically, Karen just sat stunned and pale like she had just seen a ghost while Kim fell to her knees and sobbed. "I'm here" the physician burst in "where's the king....?" he trailed off as he saw the king dead on the Queen's laps and the Queen's teary eyes, his mouth fell open. The guards came to lift the dead body from the Queen's laps and took him to his chamber with the physician, Queen, princesses and members of the high council following. No one was allowed to enter except the Queen, physician and the princesses. After running all the necessary checkups on the king, the physician gave his diagnosis "your majesty!" he bowed "what is your diagnosis?" Isabelle asked "his majesty the king was poisoned, your highness"

"poisoned?" she asked with shock "not just any poison your highness, the deadliest kind ever, Scorpion venom"

"how is this possible? Who could have done it?" Isabelle asked "could it be the maids?" Karen asked "they cook and serve the food after all"

"but why would they want to poison father? They know they'll be the first suspects." Kim added "Kim's right, they couldn't have done it, someone else is responsible for this, someone who has a lot to gain from the King's death, but who?"

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"My husband, the king is dead..." she paused to collect herself. "it's such a tragedy and it's an even bigger tragedy to discover the cause of his untimely death. Our beloved king, King Henry was poisoned and I have made it a mission to find out who is responsible for it and I vow that when we do find out who is responsible for it, the person will be brought to death in the most gruesome way possible." there was a great uproar and some people began to mourn the loss of their king while some began to argue amongst themselves. "what about the wedding, is princess Kim still marrying prince Ben?" someone called out "yeah and who's gonna rule now, we don't have a prince" someone else called out and more noise came. The Queen raised a hand and it became quiet immediately. "conclusions about whether or not the wedding will still proceed will be announced as soon as we've had a meeting with the King and Queen of Arn. And regarding who is going to rule now, I think we all know the law of our land which states that no Queen should rule after the demise of her husband, it should be the first born heir, if it is a boy, he should be crowned King immediately and if it is a girl, she would rule as crown princess until the council decides that she is ready to be a Queen." there was a loud uproar again and someone cried out "but princess Karen can't rule over us, she barely knows anything about the kingdom not to mention ruling it." someone smirked as the Queen became furious. "who said that?" she looked around and slowly they gave way till her gaze fell on the person who spoke, it was a young man of not more than twenty four years, he looked dirty, unkempt and poor. "you?" she motioned for the guards to get him "bring him here."

"mother...." Karen began but Queen Isabelle cut her off with a raised hand. When the guards brought him they made him kneel before her, she crouched, grabbed his chin and forced him to meet her gaze. "what is your name?" she asked "Ryan, your majesty" he said trembling, his gaze darting around. She released his chin gently "Ryan huh?" she motioned for a guard and he brought her a sword, everyone gasped as she drew the sword, raised it up and tapped it lightly on his shoulders, he looked up confused and she smiled. "I hereby appoint you to be one of princess Kim's personal guard." everybody was shocked and soon they burst into an applause. "long live Queen Isabelle!" they chanted and she smiled. "Thank you your majesty, I promise to serve her highness with full loyalty." he said with gratitude and sincerity"that's okay, you can get up now. Kelvin, get him a uniform." he stood up and followed Kelvin as everyone cheered loudly. The Queen turned to leave followed by the princesses and the guards.