Chapter 22

"Wipe that stupid smile off your face"

The Prince's smile froze. His ears twitched. Did he hear wrong?

"You think you can fool me, Prince Ron?" Zedekiel continued, his voice low enough for only Ron to hear. "I am the King of this Kingdom. My people might fall for your dirty tricks but I won't. I won't let you succeed in whatever you're planning so you better stay in line. I'm watching you"

Ron was stunned. All this while, he thought the King had finally noticed him. It turned out that he was suspecting him of something. The Prince's appetite was now non existent. The King had ruined it all for him.

Ron wondered just what the Ashenmores did to make the King hate them so much. It couldn't be mood swings as Prince Ludiciel had said. No. It had to be something greater and he was determined to find out.

With that in mind, Ron faced the king with an even brighter smile. "It's a joyous occasion, Your Majesty. How can I not smile?"

He then turned his attention to his food and continued to eat as he chatted with the Queen Mother.

The King was stunned. Prince Ron...wasn't even...scared.

Not one bit.

********

"Ah I love this song" the Queen mother said as she and Prince Ron glided on the dance floor.

After eating, as Ron had promised, he saved the very first dance for her.

"My husband and I could dance to this song for hours"

Ron smiled, thinking, what beautiful love they must have shared. "What was he like?" he asked, curious.

The Queen mother's eyes went moist as she recalled a barrage of sweet memories. "Stubborn. Very stubborn but, he had a good heart. He was kind and he put love above everything else. If you commit a huge crime because you love someone, he could pretend as if it never happened. The elders called him a fool but it was the greatest thing I loved about him". She sighed. "A huge sucker for romance and he was the worst poet in the world"

Ron chuckled then glanced at Zedekiel who was sitting and watching his subjects dance. The action didn't go unnoticed by the Queen mother.

"Sounds like a great King" he said. "Don't worry mother. I can write amazing poems. I'll write and recite one so good that all you can think about is me"

The Queen mother couldn't help but laugh. "Really?"

He puffed out his chest and stood ramrod straight. "Of course! This Prince is multi talented. I can do lots of things"

She nodded. "Alright. I'll be expecting your poem"

Ron smiled then glanced at the King again. "Mother, your son is quite different though"

She sighed and gazed at Zedekiel who was now glaring at Ron. The Prince shuddered and focused on dancing. If looks could kill, he would have been buried six feet under.

"Zedekiel changed after he lost his father and only elder brother. He became detached, angry and cold. I'm sorry if he has said or done anything hurtful to you. He just can't let go of the past"

Ron nodded thoughtfully. That thoroughly explained the King's behavior. But then, he hates Ashenmores too. He gasped. Could it be that an Ashenmore killed his father and brother?! He felt his scalp go numb at the possibility.

The Queen mother didn't know what Ron was thinking but it couldn't be anything good based on his expression. She hurried to avert his thinking by deliberately missing a step.

"Mother!" Ron exclaimed, steadying her. His heart trembled vigorously. He felt a sudden chill at the back of his neck. There was only one person who could make him feel that way.

The King.

Ron wanted to cry. This Queen mother. She nearly fell. Didn't she know that Zedekiel would cut him to pieces if anything happened to her? Ron didn't want to die by his beloved's hands! His beloved who didn't even know of his undying love.

"Mother, are you okay?" he asked, checking to see if she was fine.

"I'm alright Ron dear. My back just hurts a bit"

"Enough dancing. You should rest now. Come, I'll take you back"

The Queen mother thought, what a darling son. So caring. She wished he could be her daughter in law and stay with her for a very long time.

Ron walked her back to her seat and also sat down to make sure she was really okay. All the while, the King kept staring daggers at him but he thickened his skin and pretended not to notice.

The Prince's gaze swept through the crowd and he noticed that the couples dancing weren't just male and female but also that of the same sex. He turned to the Queen mother. "It's legal here? Same sex marriage?"

The Queen mother smiled and nodded. "Of course. If they're in love, how dare we interfere? Love is the greatest and most beautiful kind of emotion there is Ron dear. You shouldn't be ashamed to show it"

She thought; you can even go ahead and love my son. I don't mind.

Ron subconsciously glanced at Zedekiel then the couples below. He felt this Kingdom was truly the best. Zedekiel's father must have been the greatest King ever! Being with his beloved here is okay. He doesn't have to worry about anyone finding out. Except his sister...

And that is if his beloved will accept him anyway.

Soon, the dance ended and it was time for the talent show. Ron's excitement came back in full force.

Ah, how he would dazzle everyone and blow away their minds!

Princess Rose, who was in a bad mood, perked up. The King had refused to dance with her. In fact, apart from rejecting her dance proposal, he hadn't uttered a single word to her. He didn't compliment her looks nor her dress which she had painstakingly worn to please him.

But it didn't matter now. The talent show is her place to shine. She would sing of her love for him and move his heart. That way, he would fall in love with her. She couldn't wait.

The siblings both had the intention of capturing the cold King's heart.