1 CHAPTER ONE: Bloody thirst for power
Robert
I stared at the huge gate of Elltoria's palace, wondering how to get in. I almost gave up when an idea hopped into my mind.
I went to the back gate where only the maids and servants have access to. I opened the drainage basin cover and hopped in. I'm sure the drainage leads somewhere.
I kept walking around, turned out the drainage tube has many tunnels and if I'm not smart, I'll get lost.
I got to a dead end and turned to follow another tunnel where it lead to a place that has another cover on the roof of the tunnel. Luckily there's just a ladder beside it. I climbed the ladder and checked through the holes of the cover to know if there's anyone around. I didn't notice anybody so I gently opened it as it made a squeaky sound.
I realised I was in a store filled with grains and I smiled when I realised I'm inside the palace. I sneaked around until I made it to the palace kitchen, I hid somewhere perfectly and I saw servants going to and fro in the kitchen, I heard them talking about the King's food and I smirked as I stared at the poisonberry in my hand. Poisonberry is a deadly nightshade that can be take life if taken in excess.
I watched the maid making the King's breakfast and I prayed for her to leave. Another maid called her and she left the King's breakfast unattended. I hurriedly came out of my hiding place and I mixed excess Poison berry in the King's tea and I went back to my hiding place, I snuck back out of the palace the same way I came and went to the gate for a proper entry.
"I need to see the king, it's urgent! His life is in danger" I wailed and the guards made me enter and took me to where the king is. He was about to gulp the tea and i yelled.
"Stop!" I yelled and he shook and gently dropped the tea. " I'm sorry your majesty, that tea has been poisoned" I said and he stood up angrily.
"What!" He roared.
"I heard two women talking about it this morning and I heard their plan of poisoning your tea" I said feigning innocence.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Yes my Lord" I said.
"Bring forth the maid that made this food" he yelled at the guards and they brought the woman.
"How dare you try to kill me?" He asked and the woman bowed.
"I can never do that your majesty" the woman said in fear.
"Then drink this!" He ordered as he pointed to the drink.
"I dare not drink from your cup your majesty" she said
"If you are innocent, drink this right now!" He said sternly and the Lady hurriedly drank the tea, after a while the lady started feeling pain in her abdomen, she fell and died on the spot .
"To become important in this kingdom, I'll do anything, I'll kill anybody to become somebody" I thought.
The king shook his head sadly.
"Why would she try to kill me?" He asked no one in particular as everyone bowed. He faced me.
"Thank you for saving my life" he thanked me, a palace guard came towards us and said.
"I hail you my king" he said to the king and faced me. "A man requests your presence, he said your wife is in labour" he said and I panicked.
"Go bring her to the palace!" The king ordered and faced a guard.
"Go call the physician!" He said and I rushed home to bring my wife, I wonder what the king has for me, I just hope it's worth the stress.
I took my wife to the palace and the physician took her in as I paced outside for her safe delivery.
"What's wrong mister?" I heard a child say and I faced him, it's the three year old Prince Terence.
"Nothing my prince" I said and he went away. Even this young boy that knows nothing is a noble, I'm in my thirties yet no achievement. This kingdom has been nothing but an unfavorable place for me and I hope that changes today. I can't be a wretched blacksmith anymore.
The physician came out after a while with a baby.
"Congratulations, your wife had a baby girl" he said and I jumped up happily, the king and the queen congratulated me.
"You can all go inside to see the mother" he said and gave me my baby and I studied my baby. "She's such a pretty girl, blonde hair and a fair skin, don't worry my child. I'll make sure you become an important person in Elltoria kingdom" I thought.
"Let's go see her mother" the king urged me and I saw my wife, she smiled faintly and I sat beside her.
"Congratulations! What do you want to name your child?" The king asked
"Samantha... Samantha Dankworth " I said and my daughter smiled and pulled my beard with her tiny hand and everyone laughed.
"Summon the council, I want to reward the Dankworth family" he told a guard and faced me. "You will be rewarded for saving my life".
After few hours, the council gathered in the palace, the king sat on his throne and Queen Henriette sat beside him with her son.
"Thanks for honouring me" Theodore said.
"The Dankworth family has done something great for the royal family and they will be rewarded. Bring the girl Robert" he said and I gave him my child.
"This child shall be the future Queen of Elltoria kingdom, she will be married to my son Terence when she clocks 22 and bear him children,the very future of Elltoria" he said and people nodded and clapped in agreement.
"Robert shall be given a new home and another workshop" he said and my heart went sour. I thought he would make me a noble, I which he can give me a title in the kingdom. So I can only be a noble when my child clocks 22. Such an ungrateful man, I should have let him die if I had known I'd only get rewarded in 22years time.
I gave a fake smile and we were directed to the new house, it's a nice house but I wish he had given us a quarter in the palace, I've always dreamt of living in the palace and I'll make sure my dream comes true.
My lifestyle has advanced a little, I'm now forging irons for nobles, I'm making weapons for warriors to use in wars. But I want to be a noble, a person of a high status in the kingdom, I want to be respected and get to dine with the king. I want other women to respect my wife and my child and I'll make sure I achieve my aim even if it's to become a king of Elltoria.
