Chapter 5 LOVE OR CROWN

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER...

The sky was a blanket of clouds, but the heat of the summer season still hung in the air. The remaining inhabitants of Silla Kingdom, after the attack by the Kasanjes that fateful night, have for the past fifteen years gotten used to an enslaved existence under the people of Kasanje kingdom. Sweat dripped down their temples, soaked their garments as they labored on the field in Silla, under the supervision of the Kasanje guards who held whips, ready to strike who ever stopped working.

An elderly woman falls flat on her face, and immediately the guard closest to her checks if she's still breathing. That's how Sillans have been dying. Starvation, excessive work, or cruel sentence to death for any act of disobedience.

The guard uses the whip on her, once he found out she was still alive. The woman moans in pain but remains in her position. This only makes the guard to keep flogging her, with every stroke harsher than the previous. A younger Sillan lady who has been watching the whole scene with contempt, unable to stand the sight any longer, runs and stops the guard.

"You're going to kill her!" The young lady shouts at him.

"Go back to your work!" The guard ordered.

"Just let her get some rest". She persisted.

"I give the orders here," He threatens her with the whip he held, "Who do you think you are? You're just a slave". He mocks her.

"And you're a mere guard". She retorts angrily.

The guard infuriated, flings his whip at her, she shuts her eyes immediately, expecting the whip to sting her skin. But seconds passed and there was no feel of the whip on her, no pain. She opens her eyes and sees a young handsome man standing in between her and the guard.

The guard on seeing who it was, quickly goes down on his knees, "I'm so sorry my prince, I didn't see you". He stutters.

The Prince touches his arm where the guard had struck him with the whip, "For this, you'll finish this woman's work" he says pointing at the elderly woman who still laid on the ground. "And hers too..." he added, gesturing at the young lady he had saved from the whip.

"No, I can finish mine". The young lady interjects stubbornly.

The Prince nods, and stares at her intently as she helps the elderly woman to her feet. "What's your name?" he asks.

The young lady looks at him with disdain written all over her face, "For the past fifteen years, I have been called a slave." She answers sarcastically, and walks away with the elderly woman by her side.

Princess Alys looks at her reflection on the mirror as she retouches her make up. She always loved to look perfect always. Even though she had just had lunch with the royal family, and wasn't planning on going anywhere, anytime soon. She was that vain, and obsessed with her looks, she always had to look perfect. She was going to be queen someday, and she needed to start looking the part.

Satisfied with what she saw, she gets up and twirls for her husband Prince Davon, the crowned prince of Kasanje kingdom, who was with her in the bedroom. He stares in admiration at his beautiful wife dressed in a long elegant velvet dress that hugs her figure. Out of everything he had, his wife Alys was what made him the proudest, followed by his handsome son she gave birth to for him. She was indeed the most beautiful and perfect woman for him. Marrying her fifteen years ago was the best thing his parents did for him.

"My king, doesn't your mother get tired of complaining about Jamond's absence at the dining?" Princess Alys asks her husband as she resumes her sit by the mirror, staring at her reflection again.

Prince Davon smiles at her. He loved it whenever she called him 'her King'. She was the only one who addressed him as such. At his age, he should be a King already, but he doubts his greedy and selfish Father, had plans of stepping down. "She's still hopeful that Jamond and Father will get along one day". He answers his wife with a scoff.

Princess Alys turns around and looks at her husband, "Speaking of your father," she reduces her voice to a whisper, "it seems we have to increase the dosage of the potion we've been giving him". She says twirling her hair with her fingers.

"I agree with you, it is taking so long and I am getting impatient". Prince Davon replies quickly. With his Father as the Emperor, and occupant on the throne of Estoria, he was the supreme leader, and Davon remains nothing but a Prince.

A knock on the door startles them.

"Who is there?" Prince Davon shouts.

"It is me, the physician".

"I sent for her". Princess Alys confirms.

"Come in". Prince Davon permits.

The physician walks in. "You sent for me my lady".

Princess Alys gets up from where she sat by the mirror and walks to meet the physician where she stood. "We need you to double the dosage of the potion you'll be administering to Emperor Markevius". She said quietly.

The physician looks at them with disbelief, "It will kill him quickly, and that will put me in trouble".

"With him dead, my husband will be the new Emperor" She smiles at her husband, "You've nothing to be afraid of". She assures the physician, and pats her lightly on the back

Prince Davon nods in support, "Just do what you're told". He added.

The physician nods hesitantly, then leaves the room.