Chapter 2 The king's opinion

At the crown Prince's chamber*

Amira could be seen sitting quietly on the bed with her hands folded on her lap.

A tray of food was on the table in front of her but it was left untouched.

The door to the room opened and she didn't even blink, she already knew who it was without seeing the person.

Prince Matteo frowned when he saw the food was still there.

"Amira?" He called and she lifted her head up.

He noticed her red eyes and sighed. He sat beside her and started patting her hair slowly. "Sobbing won't solve anything".

Amira removed his hand from her hair and shifted to the other side, creating a huge distance between.

Matteo stared in shock, wondering why she did that.

"Go away!" She snapped.

Prince Matteo was totally mesmerized by her choice of words. "Mira, what came over you?".

Amira didn't reply, she increased her sobbing.

Matteo scoffed, he stood up and walked out of the room without saying any word.

He had been trying all he could to make her happy, why couldn't she just appreciate his efforts?.

"No!" Amira screamed and everything in the room scattered.

She started breathing heavily.

"Why can't we have a baby" She muttered after calming down. "Goddess Eloise! Show yourself to me and tell me why I can't have a child for prince Matteo!".

*

Prince Matteo couldn't get his mind off how princess Amira had yelled at him, he wasn't expecting her to do such.

He was the one taking the blame for everything, never for once had he blamed her for their misfortune, as a matter of fact he was always doing his best to make her happy but she wasn't appreciating his effort and it was sad.

His walk to the throne room was cut short when he spotted his mother and his elder sister discussing.

From the expression on their faces he could tell whatever they were talking about was something serious. However he decided not to listen to their conversation and continued his walk.

When he got to the entrance of the throne room he sighed.

He walked in and met his father talking with his step mum - The second Queen.

He bowed immediately.

"Why are you here?" King Albert asked. He was seated comfortably on the throne.

"Father, I would like to speak to you but in private" Matteo said, staring majorly at the Queen.

The king stared at her in a way which simplified she should leave.

"With all due respect my king, we aren't done with our conversation, you can't just dismiss me like that. If he has anything to say then he should say it now, I won't leave" She said adamantly.

"I want to have a word with the king!" Matteo raised his voice

"He's my husband!" The Queen snapped.

"And he's my father!".

King Albert didn't say a word, he was just staring at the drama, he would only say something when he's fed up.

"The kingdom comes first before personal stuff. I am requesting to have a word with the king, not as his son but as the crown prince of the kingdom" Matteo stated.

The Queen gave in cause she had nothing else to say.

She glared at him for a moment and then walked out of the throne room.

"Sit" King Albert ordered.

"Thanks your highness" Matteo bowed and sat down.

"You look disturbed. What could be making a prince look so worried?".

"Father, I will be going to see the seer later in the day" He informed.

The king was silent for a while before he finally spoke up. "Get another wife, Matteo. I'm sure she will bear you a child".

Matteo sighed. " It has been two years now, father, but still no child. What could be wrong... He paused to see the king reaction and when he saw the king said or did nothing he continued. "I really want to know , by seeking the help of the ancient seer".

King Albert dipped his hand in his pocket and brought out a letter. He pointed it towards Matteo.

Matteo stood up and walked up to the king to take the letter from him. He took the letter and returned to his seat before opening it.

His hand shook as he read the first line of the letter and fear gripped him immediately.

Matteo finished reading the content of the letter and he slowly squeezed it with his hand. He could feel tears threatening to fall from his eyes but he held it, as a Prince he shouldn't be allowed to cry over petty things.

King Albert looked at him for a while before looking away. "Amira's father said you are cursed and that's the reason you aren't able to impregnate his daughter. He want to end the alliance since there's no children to seal it" He stood up from his seat and walked down to where Matteo was seated.

"I was only seventeen when I fell in love with your mother, I had watched her dance in a festival and it was love at first sight. As the crowned prince I could do anything I wanted to, I got married to your mother, she was sixteen then. We had our first child which was your sister but then I wasn't satisfied with your mum, I realized I was only infatuated by her. I got remarried and no one dared question me, not even my father... All I'm trying to say is that you are the crowned prince, you will become a king someday, you can have as many wives as you wish. You have a reason to get another wife, no one will question you".

Matteo wasn't convinced by his father's words. He knew getting a second wife would so much hurt Amira and he wouldn't do anything to hurt her.

Their marriage was just for the union of the kingdom but after spending time together they became in love with each other, and he had made a promise to her that when he becomes King he wouldn't get married again, he would stick to only her and not get married to several women like most king did. "I don't want to hurt her feelings".

King Albert couldn't help but to laugh at Matteo's words. "Two years ago I forced you to get married to Amira for the benefit of the kingdom. You didn't know her then, you didn't care about her, so what changes? Are you in love with her?".

"Father, we shared a room together for two years and you expect me not to care about her feelings?".

King Albert opened his mouth to say something but he immediately closed it back.

He glanced at the window and when he saw it was sunrise he muttered. "Noon".

"You have somewhere to go?" Matteo asked.

"A royal meeting for the upcoming royal convention".

"A royal convention? But we have a food festival to plan".

"It will happen months after the festival... You can go to see the ancient seer. Do what pleases you, my son" He patted Matteo's shoulder and walked out of the throne room.

Prince Matteo stood up and sighed. "Am I really cursed?" He asked himself.

He stared at the squeezed letter in his hand and sighed.

He stepped out of the throne room and didn't fail to notice how cloudy everywhere had become.

He lifted his gaze up and stared at the sky. "It is going to rain, I will visit the seer later" He muttered.