Chapter 21- Last Act

That was seems to be normal court day for others but Subha knew it will not be as. After first meeting at foreign restaurant his uncle met him again more than once in same place and tried to convince him. After the persuasion of his distant uncle, Subha agreed to work along his plan. But he was distressed with his decision and regretted due to he had to betray his best friend with this decision. But he knew there was no way back now. So he hardened his heart and started to prepare to go royal palace.

After preparation, he looked back in the direction of his bedroom which was his heavily pregnant wife sleeping quietly. After was making a sigh he went to the royal court to execute the plan discussed with his distant uncle.

After came to the royal court Subha got a message to meet the king and he went to meet him. As a usual way, king Yasalalakathissa was sitting on his bed at that time leisurely.

"Oh! Subha, I was waiting for for you a long time. Let's do our daily prank this time. It is sometimes we do pranks in the royal court. "

"Yes, your majesty, "Subha said with a concerned look.

"Subha, why are looking like this? Is there anything there to tell me?"

"What? There is nothing your highness "

"No, it seems you have some problem. Tell me."

"Your majesty, why are you so insisting to play pranks? Isn't it good to play pranks always? "

"Subha, you may not know this. In front of my father, everything about my brother was greater compared to me. So I was always neglected in the family. Hence I wanted to find ways to get the attention of others. So I thought to play pranks and seek pranks. At last, it becomes a habit of mine. Truthfully I feel I cannot live without pranks."

"Your majesty, sorry about mentioning that."

"It is okay. Let's change our costumes quickly."

Subha followed order of king with sadly. 'Your majesty this is the last time we exchange our roles 'Subha thought while was changing his costumes. After the exchange both of them left to court separately.        

 Courtiers of court was gathered at court already. Subha came into court slowly and sat on the royal throne with a majestic expression while courtiers sat up from their seats and started to greet him as if looking at the king.

"Thousand blessings for your majesty."

"Thousand blessings for our majesty."

"Long live majesty."

Courtiers were greeting Subha as thinking of him as king and Subha was accepting their blessing by shaking his hand. While that time a laughing sound was started on the court.

"Ha…Ha…Ha…"

"Hoh…Hoh...Hoh."

"Who is going to laugh? "

"Who is laughing in royal court brazenly?"

Courtiers started to find people who laughed in court and found that was the chief royal gatekeeper in the palace, Subha. At that time real Subhas' uncle, the grand secretary was given a sign to Subha and he knew the time was arrived to act. So he,

 "Subha, how dare you act brazenly in the royal court? Who gave you authority to laugh in the royal court?"

"Ha…Ha… Subha, your acting is great. This time you also wanted to play with them. I am happy. Ha…Ha. You all are cheated I am your king. He is Subha."

"How dare you saying you are king? He is our king "grand secretary said while was showing Subha who was sat on the throne.

"Grand secretary, how dare you saying he is king? I am the king "the king who was wearing chief gatekeeper costume said.

"How dare you saying you are king? Do you covet my seat? I gave privilege you to act as me in several days. I think act in several times you got gal to sit in whole time. "

"Your majesty captures this man and behead him." Chief minister said.

"It is my wrong to give freedom act brazenly in court. Guards! Capture this man and behead him immediately. After behead get me this traitors head to me to see" Subha said. At the same time royal guard came to court and apprehended the king who acted as chief gate keeper.

"Hey…this is not true. I'm your king. I'm your real king. Subha why are you working like this?" king Yasalalakathissa said while guards were dragging him outward of court and sometime sound of his shouting was ceased.

"At last it is over "Suba thought while was sighing.

"Your majesty. Don't worry. You are not wrong in here. He is the person who act brazenly while using your highness privilege." Chief minister said.

"Is that so?  "Subha answered and daily court work was started after this. After some time, royal guards came again with dish which placed the head of king.

"Your majesty, this is the head of traitor Subha" guards were presented that to head to Subha and he looked at face of it with attentively. It showed expression mixed with wonder, disbelief, regret and sad. But never saw expression of hate in there and Subha said "Burry the body and head with honor"

"Your majesty, he is a traitor. Why are you saying us to bury him honor?"

"Because, he is the real king "Subha said with concerned manner.

"What?"

"Yes. The person who killed was our king. The person who sitting on throne is Subha." Grand secretary said.

"You?"

"What you? Now deed is done. We can't reverse it. You know how our king was like. Is he done any service to country? How could we let him continue rule more? Why not find him better one to rule instead of that "

"But he was the only decedent who remain from Shakya clan. How could we let him die? How could we find another one to rule country?"

"If we done wrong, it was done by all of us. Don't forget we all agreed to kill him. So we all wrongdoers. Why are you waiting to find someone to place throne? Isn't one in there?" grand secretary said while was showing Subha. After that court was started to discuss and some time they agreed to one decision.

"Thousand blessing of your majesty."

"Long live king Subha"

Courtiers was greeted Subha in one sound while was bowing to him. It was marked end of rule in Sakya clan and start of rule of his.

"Your majesty, your majesty" a guard came into court while was running.

"What is the matter?"

"Your majesty, after hearing news of behead of traitor Subha, his wife was fainted and miscarried. "

"What? Miscarried? What about her?"

"She is okay your majesty. But she is in sad."

"Okay. Okay. This is the karmic retribution. Indeed, karmic retribution." Subha said sadly.

"Your majesty, your majesty"

"What is" Subha said while was coming into present from his memory. He was already at his bedroom and he was sitting on his bed. In front of him was manager of his bedchamber.

"Why are you here?"

"Your majesty, queen is in labor"

"Let's go there "king said while was running to labor-room.

Labor-room well covered and shout of queen who was in labor pain heard from room time to time. Subha walked out of room here and there with worried expression. He heard sound of midwives were moving and giving advises. After some time, shout of queen stopped and cry of baby was resounded through room. A midwife came out from room and said," Your majesty a princess "and handover the little baby to king.

King hold this girl and said "At last it was a princess. Give presents to everyone "while was looking at manager of bedchamber.

"Yes majesty"

"What about queen?"

"Your majesty… your highness was not in good condition. I'm afraid …"

"What? What afraid? "

"Your majesty we may be cannot save your highness." Midwife told tremble expression and king passed her quickly with little baby and saw queen who was at bedridden.

"Your majesty, is that our daughter? She is beautiful" queen said and stopped her breathing.

"It is my karmic retribution. Why is giving to others? Why was happening this? "Subha cried while was sitting mat near to queen's bed no stopping