5 Five

Five -Erika

Another day with nothing but royal businesses and decision making. One of the royal advisors told me that my father is going to attend some burial and take care of some business outside the palace so I have no other choice but to oversee the courts businesses.

A newly tailored suit and shined shoes were place on one of my racks, and it was no surprise that my personal assistant, Drey, comes in with his tab full of tasks I need to do.

Ordering and dealing with the countries needs is never the difficult part. Following and leading the nation was. To some of our subjects, i'm just a little troublemaker, the black sheep of the family. Someone who would eventually fail its kingdom and cause thousands of trouble.

My late older brother Mark, he is the Crownprince material. Always the goody two shoes. He was the reliable one, while our youngest brother Matthew is the favorite of all. I was the black sheep of the family and I actually didn't mind it before. Mark was always there to assure me that everything is going to be okay, he was my shield to everything. He was the only one who actually likes and tolerates my antics. He was a good brother to all of us. Though right now, I still have my sister that likes me so much, still, it was different when Mark was alive. Now all I keep doing is kiss some high ranking officials ass just for them to agree on my terms. Even my own parents doesn't trust me.

If it wasn't for the fear of losing the crown, they wouldn't dare put me in the throne. Its the law between royals. If the current King and Queen decides that no son or daughter of theirs can rule the country, the council will delegate the crown to the next eligible family. Our family has been ruling this nation for centuries, they never gave up the throne to anyone else and they wont start now. Not when we protect years of secrets and skeletons we all wished never existed.

"Your Highness, Lord Aries is ready for you" Drey starts then he scrolls to his tab before speaking again in his most calm and yet deep voice "Then you'll have to attend a meeting with the courts council members, this meeting is about the funding for the orphanage Lord Clement suggested weeks ago. The King approved his plans and today you and the council members are going to decide whether you'll approve the funding or discuss a better way to get the funding" Drey explains in details.

My father liked Lord Clements idea about building a new orphanage near the castle where an abandoned land was losing it value. My father hates the idea of not being able to use all his resources so when the idea about putting a new orphanage to the abandoned land popped out, he didn't think twice and said yes to the idea. Despite my mothers political reasoning, my father didn't think things through. My mother was not on the same page as my father, she didn't like the idea of putting up a new orphanage and make it another reason to gather more money for the officials.

You see, using the wasteland and making it into something useful attracts a lot of dirty minded officials. They might use the orphanage as a leverage for earning illegal money. We still have some council members who would think and do crazy things just to earn more, not for the Kingdom of course, but for their own benefits. Mother was adamant with the idea but my father assured her that he'll make use that no one touches nor uses the orphanage as some sort of piggybank. My Father would probably approve of the funding nevertheless, he likes the idea and when my father likes something, no one can really go against him.

"His Majesty loves Lord Clements idea. I might just decide whether the amount they are asking is good or bad. Money may not be an issue now but that doesn't mean we must spend it thoughtlessly." Drey smiles to my answer, meaning that I said the right words for the moment.

"You are learning your majesty" Drey commends me and its my turn to release a smile.

"Dealing with some close minded people everyday makes me a wise man." Drey grins at my remark. I dressed up and made myself look extra clean for the day. I don't want another council member commenting on how I look inappropriate.

"Lets go meet Lord Aries, shall we?" Satisfied with how I cleaned up, Drey escorted me to where Lord Aries was waiting for me and if my guess is right, he is waiting for me in the library. He likes to read and would rather go there than join a bunch of meetings with the council members. He despises them as much as I do.

Lord Aries is one of the council members who actually supports me since the very beginning. Even before I was crowned as the next heir, he always had this spot for me. He is the type of person who would rather listen to me first than ignore me, he never once judged me nor reprimand me. He was just there, watching and listening to my talks. He is one of my fathers loyal subject and they are both good friends. I can't count the number of times he saved my father and me from the wrath of the fellow council. He'd always use his knowledge as his leverage against the other members and when he speaks, everyone acknowledges.

Drey opens the door leading to the library and there sat a man whose sleeves are rolled up his arms, his glasses hung low to his face and his hand holding a piece of book. He was seated at one of the study tables and the light thats coming from the open windows highlight his old features. Lord Aries never had a chance to find the love of his life, he focused all his attention to reading that he missed out his chance for love. My father used to say that back when they were still young. Instead of playing with the young Lords or the so called mingling, Lord Aries chooses not to engage in those political connection instead he would rather gather knowledge so he could win any kind of argument in the future and he did just that. He is still our number one advisor inside the palace and he is still as brilliant as he was during his childhood.

"Reading another book Lord Aries?" I speak softly just to avoid causing him into shock. Lord Aries looks to me then he drops the book he was holding.

"Not really your majesty. I was simply, looking for something" He smiles.

"How's the search looking out for you then?"

"It's revitalizing" He grins. He grabs his coat then walks toward me. "Shall we?"

"Drey, prepare the car" I smiled to Lord Aries while Drey bows in my command. He types something on his tab then proceeds to escorting us to the front yard.

For today, Lord Aries will accompany me to one of the dams we are working on, since I was the one who proposed about this dam, I too have to oversee it. Since Lord Aries is my royal advisor, he has to accompany me and see how much of the dam has been made.

That dam that I proposed was for the safety of villagers down the mountain, the mountains are starting to erode and the danger of causing lives is growing. Before it happens I proposed the idea of putting a barrier between the waters and the people. Lord Aries made some adjustments and when the King saw how much it could help the public, he agreed to my plans.

"Do you think this would work? We haven't tested it yet and we haven't experience a huge calamity yet?" I asked Lord Aries as we sat inside the car with Drey in front talking to someone who would either want to talk to me or ask my schedule.

"If you doubt your own work and proposal, then who would believe in them?" Lord Aries answers back. He never likes answering with just a yes or no. He always have something to tell. "My prince, the moment you stood up and claim your brothers unfinished work, I already knew that the kingdom is in safe hands. For someone to stand up in times of great trial, that's courage. That is why, I know that to whatever you put your mind into, it'll be successful" Lord Aries assures me and after that talk, the day just went on. Me being meticulous and bored at the same time.

I was being productive all throughout the day until someone decided that today was a better day to cause a huge commotion inside the palace. While I was doing my responsibilities, the royal guards showed up and tells me to get back to the palace immediately. They literally drag me away and back to the palace. Later on Drey told me that another threat was sent for me and my sister, who was also outside putting a show for the sake of the royal family.

She was scheduled to show up to some event today and someone might have thought that its an easy pass to target my sister and me while we are outside. Everyone in the whole Kingdom knows how my Father get serious when it comes to threats with regard to the family. Someone tried to betray him once and with Marks death, everything just went into order. No matter how serious or false the threat was, the protocol was to take us away immediately and bring us back to palace where we are safe and guarded.

"Where's my sister?" I asked Drey after entering my room.

"She is safe and also guarded inside her room. Once the Chief confirms that all is clear, you are all free to go out" he tells me while he taps something on his tab. As my secretary, his job during this time of circumstances is to stay with me and make sure that everything runs smoothly. He needs to adjust and call some people for my schedule. He also needs to make sure that every part of my family is accounted for. The royal secretaries are the ones that communicates during this times, this is to make sure that no one can reach us even through our phones. That is why they need to stay with us.

"And your parents are back with a bunch of people. Though the chief didn't say anything about being cleared to roam around, your grandmother just went out and greeted the guests" Dreys tone changed. I look at the clock and saw that it was pass his working hours. Drey also happens to be a good friend of mine. Our deal was, I'd agree of him becoming my assistant if he promises me that he'd still be my friend. But the council didn't like the idea of a prince having a good friend so what we did was during working hours he'd be professional and address me the way I should be address but right after that, he'd go back to being my sometimes very demanding friend.

"Guests? who?" instead of pointing out his change of attitude with me, I was more curious to who are the people that came with my parents and why they are even here?

"Don't know yet. They haven't said anything about the new guests. You know this chicks are fast to reply when your booty calling them but when its time for some much needed information, they're too slow" He exasperated, typing something more on his tab.

"You need to stop asking girls about this kind of things, they might spill something and cause us trouble" I warned. I've always known how Drey attracts young lady maids and sometimes they can be troublesome. Drey is not the kind of guy that gets seriously attached, his the kind that collects then moves on. I know because I was once like that, we would go and mess them up then forget about them the next day. But when Mark died and I was crowned Prince, I swore that i'll have to change and be the kind of Prince my brother would want me to be. As for Drey, well he did do less but he is still the same.

"Don't worry, I have them on a tight leash. If they want to enjoy all of me, they have to keep their mouth shut" I know what's on your mind, what a dick right? "Oh" He exclaims then goes to my side to show me what made him exclaimed "I think the people your parents brought in, one of them is that lady your grandmother wants you to marry" The image sent to Drey was my parents together with my grandmother and a lady whom I never met before.

I mean, the Palace and the Kingdom maybe big but i'm pretty sure that I've encountered a lot of our people. I never once seen her, not even during my university days. Is she somehow from another nation? Perhaps the west? I heard that we are actually accommodating some leaders from the west now and we are supposed to meet tomorrow. But if that's the case and the lady grandma wanted me to marry was this one, then does it mean that this is some political treaty again.

"Find out who this girl is" I return his tab back and went to grab my computer "Make sure that Lady Isabelle doesn't find out" Drey nods understanding my command.

Isabelle is someone that I was sworn to marry. Before I ascended to the throne she was coincidently someone I used to date. I did like her and maybe we did have a good chemistry but she and I didn't last long. Things got so real and that put me off. Well that happened until the council thought that it would be a good idea to pair me up with her and make her the next Crownprincess. I mean she is the prime ministers daughter and we had history so why not her right? To everyone, she's the perfect candidate, good thing that my Grandmother doesn't think so. Since she's the oldest royal member in the family, her words count and if you know my grandmother, the Royal Regent, you wouldn't dare go against her words.

Now that I think about it, Grandmother never liked Isabelle. The Royal Regent is the kindest of all the royal family members, shes kind and close to all the servants thats why everyone loves her. Her kind personality gave her tons of connection and it was no secret that shes the reason why most of the council still supports our bloodline. But even with her kindest heart, she never once paid attention to Isabelle.

When she suggested to the council that we should postpone my marriage and wait for the right time she reasoned that Lady Isabelle wasn't ready as well as that we still have our current Crownprincess.

She believes that the Royal family does not need another publicity stunt since its been doing fine and the Crownprincess is doing her part even without her late husband and with her young prince. You see, before my brother passed away, he was able to get married and live a life with a wife beside her. That wife is Lady Amber, my childhood bestfriend and daughter of Lord Sybulus who is also one of the council members and my fathers close friend.

When Mark died, Amber was already four months pregnant. When she told everyone that she was pregnant everyone was so happy but at the same time we were all shocked by the news since Mark is almost always gone. But nevertheless, Mark was happy and everyone seems to be more excited for the new member of the family. Sadly Mark never got the chance to meet little David. Lady Amber remained in her post and everyone in the royal family has her back, so until I find myself a wife, someone approved by the Royal Regent and my parents, she remains as the Crownprincess of this nation.

If theres any chance for Isabelle to ascend, it would be really slim and she has to gain a lot of support, not just from the council but also the Royals. Though she thinks that she has me but in all honestly, I don't really care about her that much. She and I may have some history but that doesn't mean she has some leverage and could become my wife. I honestly don't imagine myself getting married. I still have Lady Amber to help me and we have good relations so I don't particularly need anyone right now.

"Speaking of Lady Isabelle" Drey speaks up "She was caught causing trouble for Princess Amber the other day" he reports while going to my built in bar and taking two rum glasses and filling it with one of my rum bottles. I used to drink a lot thats why I always have some stock with me, but when I ascended the thrown, I had to lessen my drinking and focus on my duties. There are times though that I just have to have it or else I wont be able to sleep or calm my nerves after a whole tiring day and usually Drey would join me before he gets off work. He hands me one of the glasses before continuing with his report "One of the palace Lady saw Lady Isabelle trying to jeopardize Princess Ambers painting for the auction" I took a heavy sigh after hearing his news.

Right, its that time of the year again. The Annual Auction for the House of Hope. House of hope was build for those elders and children abandoned and put into force slavery by the Nobles. One of Marks advocacy is to save those who were put into forced labor and give homes to those children abandoned because of poverty and calamities. To do that both Mark and Amber proposed House of Hope, a non government organization that runs to specifically help those who were put into such ordeal, help them nurture their strengths and someday send them to work at where they are good at, provided that it is what they like to do.

Of course money is needed to run this system, so to get that money, Princess Amber proposed to auction the things that are no longer needed by the royals but this things could ran out so as another alternative, Princess Amber proposed that every year, she would release her famous paintings to the nobles and the public. Amber has an awesome artistry that nobles would go crazy and give huge amount of money just to have her paintings. In memory of Mark and for Prince Davids future, Princess Amber made sure that all the proceeds will go to the funding and no one else by managing it herself. Up until now, the House of Hope runs because of her paintings and her other artwork.

Isabelle must have thought that if she do something with Ambers painting, things will be ruined and she'll have the leverage. She still doesn't understand that everyone has Princess Ambers back and because of what she's doing, everyone will never be on her side.

"What happened then? Does Amber know by now?" I took a gulped from my glass and felt that familiar sweetness coursing through my throat.

"Of course she knows. She didn't say anything or do anything as of now" Drey answers.

That is so Amber like, she never fires her gun unless its the right time. She'll let you do whatever you want to her but when its her time, she strike you where you'll be hurt the most. Plus, as long as little David is not affected, she wont do anything unnecessary.

"Your grandmother might actually kick her out of this place for good if she finds out again" Drey smirks, its too obvious that he is enjoying the relationship between my ex-girlfriend and grandmother. Their unique hate to each other is quite entertaining so I can't really blame him.

"As long as Isabelle doesn't harm little David, my grandma will not kick her out of the Palace. Not when the Prime Minister is backing up Isabelle" The Prime Minister is still the head of council and going against him might cost us a lot of things. If it wasn't for his families contribution to the kingdom, my father might have already removed him from his post.

Everybody knows how much the King and the Prime Minister doesn't get along, they would always get into heated discussion and if it wasn't for my mothers amazing mediating skills, the whole palace might be at war by now.

Prime Minister Laxaro Orlins, someone who everyone fears because of his families connection and he domineering personality. His family, from generation to generation they've serve the royal family with their utmost loyalty but for the past ten years they've been acting up in accordance to the Prime Ministers command. Since he is the head of the family, no one would go against him. For the past ten years, he is been nothing but a total pain in the ass.

"We both know the Royal Regent would love to beat the sense out of him. Anyways, as long as you guys stay in your thrones, he wouldn't dare do anything either" Drey stands up to get his tab. The ice on my drink clinks showing that my drink is almost done and its getting more unnerving to get stuck here and not knowing what exactly is going on outside. The reports i'm receiving from Drey are not enough to settle my thoughts.

"Am I free and good to go now?" I asked Drey because I'm starting to feel the need to do some boxing.

Drey smirks tapping something on his tab, I was growing impatient by how long he was making me wait for his answer and I was so close to asking him again but then he scoffs. Then he goes to my side to show me what just made him so irritated.

The moment that I saw what was on the screen, it just made me want to punch a living person rather than a bag. This is the true power of being a Royal, they will always have a way to call everyones attention no matter the cost. This is all for publicity and i'm pretty sure everything was a stunt. Just like always.

"What a show"