Chapter 2: Lycan Royal Court of the East Kingdom

PRINCE ULYSSES’S POV

I walked out of the king's chambers and the main castle holding the damn edict. The guards silently followed me as we headed to the army barracks. Upon entry, Armand Voss, my second in command, and Lowe Kurt, Faolan’s son, and the war captain, received me.

“My prince.” They both bowed.

I handed Armand the edict and walked to my office which was set in the middle of the barracks.

“What is that?” I heard Lowe ask.

Armand opened the document and in the next instance, he was cursing out loud. He pulled Lowe into the building and they followed me, hot on my heels. Once we were in the office, Armand closed the door. “My prince, what the hell is this?”

Lowe grabbed the edit and then after a few seconds, took a step back in shock. “Why?” he whispered.

“Why the f*ck do you think?” Armand said, his eyes ablaze.

“Why did you accept it? Do you know how boorish Prince Kloud Godric is?” Lowe muttered, looking at me.

“Of course, he does,” Armand interjected. “Prince Ulysses, why did you accept it?”

I sighed and sat down on the chair behind my desk, “What choice do I have? And to make matters worse that damn woman spoke up and objected. I had no choice.”

Armand stepped forward. “Could this be the reason your brother is sending you away?”

“But this is not your fault. What did my father say?” Lowe inquired.

“His assertive voice demanded I accept the edict,” I stated.

“Why is this happening?” Lowe placed the edict on my desk, walked to the chair across from me, and sat down.

“I expected to be sent on more missions to catch rogue Lycan and rebels, but to be married off was the last thing on my mind,” I said, shaking my head.

“This is bad,” Armand stated. “Is this the only information that you have?”

I nodded. “The marriage is in a month. We need to start the preparation.”

“There must be another way,” Lowe said, his voice strained with worry.

“This time I am screwed,” I whispered more to myself than Armand and Lowe.

***

The next day, the council members called for a meeting. My brother, King Astaroth, had refused at first. They insisted on waiting for him in the court and I was called in from the barracks. Armand and Lowe accompanied me to the court. I could see how Lowe looked at his father in anger.

I bowed to the fifteen court officials and walked to stand by the right side of Astaroth’s seat. I ignored Faolan and the intake of his breath in disbelief reached my ears. The three of us bowed to the king. “Greetings, your majesty.”

Prince Boris, my younger brother, joined, and lastly, Queen Marama strolled in and gracefully sat at her seat.

Astaroth raised his hand in acknowledgment. “Now that you are all here, why did the court officials summon me?”

“Your majesty,” Minister of War and Defence, Mikain, said, “we heard the news of Prince Ulysses' marriage to the prince of the West. All the ministers of the court agree with me. We object to the marriage contract.”

“We object to the marriage contract,” they all boomed in unison.

“Prince Ulysses, are you rebelling against brother?” Prince Boris asked, turning to look at me.

I remained silent as Faolan interjected, “The prince already accepted the edict. Why are the court officials adamant that he does not want to be married?”

I heard Lowe cursing behind me and Armand shushed him.

“I accept the edict,” I affirmed with a sharp nod.

King Astaroth smiled. “You see, I never forced him. He accepted it on his own.” His voice held a threatening tone, but Mikain didn’t notice as he continued.

“Your majesty, Prince Ulysses is the pride and joy of the East Kingdom. Why would we accept to marry him off to a playboy arrogant prince? We can find something else to agree to the unity of Lucia without having to sacrifice him. We implore you to withdraw the edict.”

“We implore you to withdraw the edict,” the court officials boomed.

“Enough!” King Astaroth stood in anger and released his Lycan power. All the ministers in the court fell to their knees. “I will not be questioned when I want to unite the kingdom and give Lucia peace. Minister Mikain, who put you up to this?”

“Your majesty, I am only speaking what the court official agreed on. Our prince is too valuable to be sacrificed,” he insisted.

King Astaroth did not expect that. He raised his hand and growled. The sound was so loud the court walls shook.

“Listen to me, this decision is final. Anyone who dares to challenge it challenges me,” he stated and stood in waiting.

There was pin-drop silence in the court.

“I challenge it,” Queen Marama said.

Armand gasped while Lowe cursed. Faolan shook his head and turned to stare at me. His eyes clearly said, ‘You better intervene now’.

“Why?” Prince Boris questioned Queen Marama.

“Are you saying as your queen, I don't have a say?” she seethed.

At that moment, Princess Rae burst into the court in tears, falling to her knees in front of the King.

“Greetings, your majesty. Please don't allow Uncle Ulysses to be married to that bad prince. I heard bad things about him in college. Please, Papa,” she pleaded, holding her hands together in front of her.

“Rise, Princess Rae,” Queen Marama commanded.

“Saved by the princess,” Armand whispered.

“The court is no place for a princess,” King Astaroth scolded her.

She stood up and then stomped her feet. “Papa, you are wrong. I will graduate in five years and join the court officials.”

“Your majesty.” Queen Marama stood and bowed. “We implore you to withdraw the edict.”

The court officials, Princess Rae, Armand, and Lowe followed suit and boomed, “We implore you to withdraw the edict.”

King Astaroth turned to me, his eyes burning with fury. I knew that Queen Marama was the one behind all the objections. She had played her cards well but I was loyal to my brother. I swallowed my pride and ego and moved forward.

“Your majesty, I accepted the edict. I agree to the marriage contract. This is my duty to the East Kingdom and I will not fail you.” I bowed.

The gasp and uproar from the room was deafening.

“He agreed,” King Astaroth gestured around the room. “I will not withdraw the edict. You are all looking at it without understanding that my brother values the kingdom more than any of you.”

Since I become the General of the army, winning missions that the East monarch demanded of me, I noticed that my brother become more suspicious and unhappy with me. I had a sworn duty to the monarch and King Astaroth. To make matters worse, Queen Marama openly showed her favoritism toward me, and over the years, this made the relationship between me and the King distant.

I once heard him say that he felt Queen Marama was too interested in my affairs and since then I preferred to be away from the castle. Agreeing to the edict was a way to win back the Kings favor, show my loyalty to him and the kingdom, and, of course, disperse the rumors about Queen Maramas’ interest. She had shamelessly pushed the council members to question the edict and dragged her daughter, my niece, Prince Rae, along with it.

“You are all dismissed.” King Astaroth waved his hand and the court officials got up from their knees and left.

Armand and Lowe remained by my side looking shocked and disappointed. Faolan remained mute while Prince Rae’s eyes flashed at the King and then she turned and left in a tantrum.

He chuckled and shook his head. Turning to Queen Marama, she stood defiantly. “Astaroth, actions have consequences. You made this bed today. Be ready to lie in it,” she stated calmly. “Please excuse me, your majesty.”

She turned around before he could utter a word and left.

I saw how King Astaroth's hands clenched into a fist and his nose flared angrily. He stood up and walked out of the chambers and we all bowed until he left.

My shoulders sagged and I released the breath I was holding.

“You did the right thing,” Faolan spoke up

.

I ignored him and started to walk away. “The right thing?” Lowe scoffed angrily.

“Let it be, Lowe.” I snapped, turning round, and beckoned him to follow me.

“Are you ignoring me, my Prince?” The anger in Faolan's voice was evident.

“Yes,” I answered calmly. I waited for him to respond but he stared at me in shock and then took a step back.

“You should have advised King Astaroth not to accept the edict.” Lowe's sad voice rose.

“If he stays in the kingdom, things between the Queen and the King will worsen. He will be blamed and yet he is innocent. I only accepted this solution as the best for him.” Faolan defended himself.

“What about a far-away mission? He could have gone to the border and remained there for years. But you are marrying him off to a cold, arrogant playboy instead?” Lowe angrily stated.

“We are all loyal to the king,” Prince Boris's voice interjected. “Congratulations, Ulysses, on your marriage.”

I stared at him and laughed. “Oh my dear Prince Boris, you never do change.”

I watched as Faolan’s eyes widened and Boris's jaw dropped.

“You see, Faolan, the monarch left me no choice and has pushed me to my death. What do I have to lose if I finally speak my mind?” I titled my head, a fake smile plastered on my face.

“Nothing, my prince.” Armand chuckled while Lowe raised his thumbs.

“If you'll excuse me, I am off to prepare for my upcoming marriage.”