The King's chambers

Queen Kiara sat in her spacious room in the palace with her two children, Prince Frederick and Prince Victor. She was still the beautiful, young queen the king had married at the young age of eighteen regardless of how much her two boys had grown.

Her long dark hair cascaded down her shoulders and her beautiful green eyes were her most attractive features and what had drawn King Rutherford's interest to her.

"I do not wish to participate in this competition and I have no interest at all in becoming the crown prince but that doesn't mean that I do not see just how perfect my brother is for the role so I am more than willing to step aside and support my brother to become the crown prince." Prince Victor, Queen Kiara's youngest son said to his older brother, Prince Frederick. 

The Queen smiled sweetly at her son, happy that they were both in support of each other.

"Mother," Prince Frederick began confidently as he took his mother's hands in his, "I am so happy that father has decided to provide us with this opportunity. I am so happy that I finally get a chance to take revenge on everyone that had hurt you and tried to take your place." He vowed to the Queen whose smile was still unwavering.

"I am so proud of you two," Queen Kiara whispered softly to both her sons, "I am just as glad as the both of you that you're going to become the crown prince because I am going to do everything within my power to ensure that you become the next king. I know Queen Marina and Prince Nolan will not see us as a competition because they are so confident in themselves and their pride is exactly what will keep them blinded for us until you overtake that pompous son of hers and become the crown prince." She added confidently.

"We will stand together as a family and not back down until we achieve our goal. All these years of watching her try to control me, of sucking up to her and listening to her every whim, watching her try to take the king away from me," Queen Kiara gritted her teeth in anger at the mere thought of the woman that had turned her into a figure head in the palace.

"I will make her pay for everything and make her watch as I take control of everything she has ever held dear to her when my son becomes the crown prince." 

"Trust me mother, I won't fail you. Prince Nolan is not going to win this time and he is the only rival I will have because I am certain the other princes are no match for me and Prince Arthur has absolutely nothing at all to make us worry about him so I am very certain of my victory." Prince Federick assured his already confident mother.

Just like that, the once quiet home of king Rutherford became a tensed one of silent battles because the princes had begun to plot against one another and the house was divided under the Queens, except for Prince Arthur who had no one on his side and was standing alone.

The next day, King Rutherford called for a meeting with all his children. All the princes and the princess were expected to be present 

One after the other, the princes began to arrive. As expected, Prince Nolan, looking as sharp and responsible as always was the first to arrive, followed by Prince Federick and Prince Victor who had some feminine features like their mother that made them look handsome but not as handsome as Prince Nolan. They both paid their respects to the king and Prince Nolan since he was the first born son and from the first Queen, before they took their seats.

Prince Nolan brothers arrived next and they escorted their sister princess Anya who didn't necessarily have to be at the meeting but was present because their father insisted she attend. She looked lovely in her light blue dress and her beauty was almost ethereal.

Her gentle and loving appearance made King Rutherford take a liking to his daughter from the moment she was born and since then, she had been his closest child. When all his sons acted accordingly and were always trying to impress him, Princess Anya was so free around her father.

She always sat next to him and the meeting was no different, while all the princes maintained a reasonable distance, Princess Anya was seated right next to her father and he had her hand in his, occasionally smiling at her, something he rarely did to his sons.

Everyone was present, except for Prince Arthur.

King Rutherford was about to ask about him when the door opened and Prince Arthur walked in. Everyone turned to look at him, his presence exuding a strong and powerful aura that drew everyone's attention to him.

Dressed in his royal outfit, there was no denying the fact that Prince Arthur was extremely handsome and his physique was very impressive as his taunt muscles flexed underneath his clothes and his broad shoulders gave him an intimidating look.

Prince Nolan secretly hissed at the sight of him. He hated Prince Arthur more than anyone else and if anything, he felt he was trying to steal the attention that should be his. Prince Arthur always came late; it wasn't something new anymore but Prince Nolan, for some reason, felt it was something he did intentionally to try and make himself seen, a trait Prince Nolan hated because to him, no one else deserved to be seen except for himself.

"You shouldn't make coming late a habit Arthur, keeping the king waiting doesn't speak well of our upbringing and your low birth shouldn't be an excuse for this bad behavior." Prince Nolan intentionally took a jab at Prince Arthur while pretending to be reprimanding his junior brother for doing something bad.

Prince Owen, Prince Lucas and Prince Williams snickered, secretly mocking Prince Arthur.

"Speaking of bad behaviors, I am sure you know quite well how difficult it is to get rid of those Prince Nolan, especially since you have some yourself." Prince Arthur shot back at him with a smirk.