Greedy Tom

The ministers  calmly listened to what the vice counselor had said. After hearing his point, they nodded in acceptance. 

"Yes! Yes" they chorused.

"If the king will take my advice, that'll be all",  the vice councilor concluded, taking his seat.

"Prime minister," the king called when he saw his hands up, indicating he had something to say.

"My king, in my own knowledge; I think you have the power to appoint  anyone you feel is capable of handling the position," the prime minister spoke, triggering murmurs in the throne room.

"My king," one of the ministers indicated with his hands up, and the king permitted him to speak. 

 "With all due respect your highness; a king can't be appointed by the abundance of the heart. You've  been a great ruler for 35 years now, it won't be nice for your subjects to start pointing fingers at your good name, saying you gave them a bad king. 

Thus, in  conclusion; I'll say you should invite the high priest to consult the higher powers ," a minister narrated. 

From the atmosphere, you could tell that everyone supported him.

The king stared at them in silence, he didn't utter a word for a while. "Okay If that's the case, this meeting will have to be adjourned," he spoke, breaking the dorky atmosphere.

"You all may leave, return tomorrow by noon. This meeting is hereby terminated," the king spoke, with a stern voice.

"Long live the king, love live the king, long live his majesty," the all stood up and recited. They all dismissed themselves, exiting the throne room.

**

   Tom discussed with his friends as he was setting up his net for the day's job

 "I'll be going  to the square tonight," Tom informed his friends, obviously excited 

"You've got money, as for me, I have no money to gamble," one of the men voiced, shaking his head negatively.

"Dad!". 

They all turned to the direction of the loud voice behind them. 

"Your daughter  is here," one of them informed.

"What's she doing here?," Tom muttered, his brows arched.

"Dad,  I want to speak to you," Lashonda mouthed, standing a few meters away from her father. 

"Will you get out of this place! What the hell do you want to speak to me about?," Tom yelled, praying she listens and leaves. 

"Lashonda, are you blind? Can't you see I'm busy?," he added, and yet she didn't move an inch.

"Dad I won't take much of your time; all I want is our own part of the money," Lashonda blurted, seeing he wasn't ready to cooperate with her.

"What stupid money?," he snarled 

"Dad, don't be selfish. Aren't we nice enough to let you have 70% of the money? Even if we're the ones doing most of the work. 

All you do is to get fishes out of the water, and now you also want to deny us our own part of the money. Isn't that greed?". 

Lashonda knowingly stood meters away from her father, so it will be easier for her to run away when he gets mad.

"Are you stupid?" her father yelled, infuriated. He threw a stone at her, but she was quick to dodge. 

"Dad I just came to inform you that we won't send any of those fishes to the castle, not even one, you must provide our own share of the money first!," Lashonda went on.

"Are you threatening me?," he asked, snorting.

"Anyhow, you want to take it, that's your business, but I'm not joking when I say not even one fish," she added.

Tom knew how possible it was for her to do something like that, she was very disrespectful and fearless. 

He only regretted not killing her, when she was born.

**

  Meanwhile, Peggy sat outside the wooden house; jobless, playing with two stones. She had done her chores  last night, thinking she'll be busy today. She didn't expect that her dad will act this way.

"Peggy". 

She heard her name and hurriedly raised her cheerful eyes towards the person. Her soft gaze suddenly turned to a displeased one.

"Michael. Why are you here?," she confusedly asked.

"What's the meaning of that? Am I not supposed to be getting my money today?," Michael rudely questioned.

"Yes, but it's so early, the sun is barely risen." 

"What rubbish! You promised today, so what ever time I choose to come, is none of your business. Can I have my money?".

His  stern words rendered Peggy speechless. She wasn't even sure if  her father  was going to give Lashonda anything, thus she couldn't promise him yet.

"Peggy!," Michael growled.

"Michael, can you just be patient, we'll  pay you. Me and my sister, we are trying to gather things together, we'll  pay you I promise," Peggy managed to speak.

"Hahahahha..." he laughed scornfully and glared afterwards, showing his anger 

"I can see why the villagers never borrow money to you or your sister; you guys will never pay back," Michael snide.

"Give the stones, I guess that's the collateral," he requested, stretching his hand forward.

"No!," Peggy twitched; hiding the stones behind her back.

Michael stood there, gazing at her with furrowed brows.

"Michael I know we agreed on today, but you coming here by this time isn't fair " Peggy voiced, hiding the stones behind her back. 

"I'll be busy all throughout the day, this is the only chance I have to come around. Besides when you came to me, for me to help your dying sister, did you  give me time?," Michael fired.  "The stones," came his gruff voice, while Peggy stared with wide eyes.

"Aren't you a wicked person?" 

Michael heard  the voice behind him and quickly turned around.

"Loud mouth," he cursed, staring at Lashonda.

"Do you even have a clock in your home? No you don't," Lashonda asked and responded. "If you had one, you won't be out by this time of the morning, asking for money".  

"Lashonda you must have some guts. You owe me and you're speaking to me in that manner, I'll show no mercy this time. The stones!."

"Shut your trap and take your money," Lashonda blunted, handing him the money, while Peggy gawped.

Michael was taking aback by her sudden action. He stopped, continuously staring at the coins, before finally taking it. He counted it while glaring at Lashonda occasionally.

"Okay, now get out of my  house," Lashonda spat, immediately he was done counting.

Seeing that the money was complete, Michael  stocked the coins into his pocket, then turned around to leave. 

"You call this thing a house," he dropped a snide comment, before walking away. 

"Lashy. Where did you get the money?," Peggy asked, running up to her sister immediately after Michael left.

"Dad gave it to me, after so many  arguments," Lashonda said, feeling victorious.

"What will I do without you?," Peggy asked,  with  teary eyes.

"Nothing...," Lashonda responded, going to take a seat.

"But you won't have spoken to Michael that way. What if your episodes come up again? You know he's the only  one that can treat you on credit".

"Sis are you  praying that my episodes comes up again?," Lashonda asked, with a faux expression of anger

"No. But you know it's the fact, we have no money to place you on medication, and you're  not taking the right dishes," Peggy explained, making Lashonda go speechless.

"My heart may be weak, but I'm strong.  I won't  allow the episodes, not now, not now we have no money to feed, talk more of medications. My heart knows that," Lashonda spoke, lifting her hand and placing it on her  heart.

"That's my brave sister," Peggy praised.

"Now let's get to work, we have limited time," Lashonda said, standing up on her feet, Peggy nodded smiling.

**

Logan was strolling in his manor, towards his chamber, with his butler beside him. 

 "This was what  we tried to tell you last night, but you were too tired to listen," the butler sounded polite as he blamed it on Logan.

"Do I have any free day on my schedule?," Logan asked, ignoring what the butler just said, as he continued walking.

"Yes my lord, Friday," the butler responded.

"That's tomorrow?," he questioned. "Go tell Leo to prepare the soldiers, we're going hunting". 

The butler bowed immediately and hurried away.

"Logan" He turned around when he heard his name from behind. He found Princess Seraphina standing there, smiling at him.

"Hello Seraphina," he said with a blank expression on his face.

"Gavin told me what happened, I'm so sorry".

"Seraphina there's nothing to be sorry about "

"You never share your feelings with anyone; that's one thing I hate about you," Seraphina said, hitting his arm playfully.

"I'm okay, believe me ," Logan said with his eyes lost in the sky.

"Whatever, I'm just happy that dad didn't end up choosing Xander in your absence".

"If I'm  present do you think I'll be chosen?," Logan scornfully asked.

"Yes, because you're more competent, you have what it takes to be king," Seraphina replied sincerely. 

His cold blue eyes swept through her body, before looking forward.

"You're wearing your crown today, I thought you don't like them," Logan changed the topic.

"Yeah, it was mom's idea. A suitor will be coming tomorrow, so according to her I have to start glowing from today," Saraphina said, rolling her eyes.

"A suitor," Logan muttered.

"Yes, will you be busy tomorrow?".

"Yes, I'll be going hunting, it's been a while,"Logan replied.

"Really? I'm coming with you," Seraphina enthusiastically said, clapping both hands excitedly.

"But you just said you have a suitor?," Logan lips pursed as he spoke. 

"Who cares, I'll tell mom to ask him to come some other day" Seraphina replied.

Logan stared at her, and shook his head in disbelief of how childish she was.