FIVE

Standing in front of her makes Fallon trembles in fear for her life, one of their most trusted was just killed by her without knowing so also she could lose her life if she's not careful of this person in front of her, everyone might have belittled her as the weakest but she's sure the most cunning and dangerous of all she could never have thought of her plan all along. The maid with her move forward holding an embroider handkerchief she faced the guard with them and put the hankie over his nose, he struggled with her but she seems stronger than she looks and soon she overpower him dropping him dead on the floor.

Fallon eyes widen in horror at the maid and what she just did, no maid in the palace is allowed to have this much strength let alone such skill but this maid in front of her doesn't seems ordinary she's like a secret weapon unknown to many

"You can't kill me I did everything you order me to do" she said in a panic and tried moving away from them so she won't suffer the same fate

"Who says am going to kill you, I just want you to see how I deal with betrayals and useless fellows" she said in a smirk and ask her maid to retreat back

"I don't understand, the plan was to inflict the Prince with a deadly illness not implicate Queen Amanda"

"Who says I want to inflict the Crown prince? You think it's that easy to kill him, Claire always have his back and trying to harm him now it like exposing myself"

"But why did you lie to me?" Fallon asked angrily and the other maid move forward with a warning, frightened she keep quiet and stare at her

She walk to meet her and hold her hands rubbing them against hers, Fallon wanted to withdraw her hands but for the fear of her life she hesitated

"You can't blame me, I don't can't trust you since you work for Claire and besides the plan work out well so why the anger?" she said and release her hands

"So you are planning to eliminate both Princess Ashley and her mother out of the palace?" Fallon asked more gently this time

She gave a little laugh and place her hand on her shoulder walking round her in circle she pat her shoulders as she move before stopping behind her

"I never plan to send them off I only ignite it, Claire is the one who execute it blinded by pride she will be happy destructing the royal families not knowing she's clearing the way for me" she smiled and cross her hands behind her back taking a step at once

"So you are using her to bring down everyone in the royal palace? But don't you think she will be after you also"

"Why are you so impatient? If you stay with me till the end you will witness how I defeat everyone and take over the Kingdom" she assured and Fallon stood dumbfounded for a moment

"I can't imagine how much more sly you can get"

"How dare you talk to my Queen like that!" the maid shriek in fury and made to attack but her master stop her before she could attack

"S...S...She…is she really a maid?" she asked amidst her fear

"Fallon, poking in things that aren't your business might get you kill be careful" she warned

"I already help you this time not forget our deal later"

"Of course I won't but…there is still one more thing you must do for me" she said and Fallon look confusedly at her

"We should get rid of the first daughter too"

"The Rogaths are the most powerful family in the Kingdom plus they have military support and affluent, preying their heir is like courting death"

"Not if we make her surrender herself first" Fallon look amazed at her intelligence

"But how do we do that?"

"of course we won't do it by ourselves Princess Claire will help us after knowing the first princess is responsible for her being exposed of sleeping with a man" she explained and Fallon opened her mouth in astonishment

She nodded her head in understanding and turn to leave to carry out her assignment but then stop and turn back to face her "what of the third princess? She's the most potential opponent after Claire, why aren't you going after her?"

With a sigh she answer her question "she still of use, a good tool for my plan her grudges with the princess is needed" Fallon nodded again and walk away.

The maid came in front and gaze at Fallon watching her leave before saying anything at all

"I don't trust her" she begin

"neither do I but I need as much tools as I can gather I just lost two tools and can't afford to lose another useful one so keep your anger in check" she instructed and she slowly nodded her head

"What about her request?"

"Killing a mere maid is not something difficult but she's not just anyone's maid if Claire finds out I kill her maid it will be troublesome" she breathed out having a deep thought

"But then I don't want to lose her now so I better find a way to kill the maid before it's too late" she said sounding like it's a bother

"You go to the prison while I take care of other business" she said and they both parted ways immediately.

Queen Madison paced around her room waiting for her daughter to come she has been restless since the incident that took place today, although she wasn't sure what the truth is but her daughter has for sure gone overboard, Queen Amanda is afterall a legal wife and legitimate member of the royal family and soiling her name right in front of everyone there at the party is too much. Knowing the kind of family the Queen is from she can't help but worry about her daughter who keeps acting reckless

Claire entered the room alone with Sarah staying behind her, Queen Madison quickly drag her by the hand and pull her to the inner part of the room, she close the door and drag her to sit

"You sick child" she said and hit her lightly "I warned you about this same reckless behavior but you refuse to listen and do such thing at your sister's wedding" she reprimand

"What are you saying mother? Your son was almost killed today what if they succeeded in their plan?' she asked a bit upset, If even she's a soft woman but her son's life was almost taken

"I know you did everything to protect me and your brother, I know you are doing it for us but…" she said and sat down subconsciously looking apprehensive "you are also putting your brother and me in great danger and enmity with other member of the royal family"

"Calm down mother and stop being worried about trivial things, nobody can touch you in this kingdom" she assured and also sat down with her to soothe her anxiety

"That's where you are wrong Claire, having such power and respect creates hatred from people everyone will always be looking for your downfall and a moment of shame for you"

"mother be rest assured I Princess Claire will never fall into the enemy's trap I will rather crush my opponent till they no longer have the will to live" she said but Queen Madison shook her head in disapproval

"I don't want you to crush anyone please just live in peace with them" she pleaded once again

"That's not possible mother, if I decide to live with the peace with them do you think they would do the same? No" she said answering her own question "none of them is happy with the fact that you are the only one who gave birth to a son and will do anything to have the throne, so you see mother am doing this to protect you and my brother" she explained

"Is that why you increased security at my abode again?" Prince Caleb asked entering the scene, Claire turn to him with a big frown on her face

"Why are there no guards with you?" she asked standing to meet him

"I asked them to stay back because am feeling suffocated by them, just few days ago truck of guards were sent to protect me and now another truck of guards were sent to keep me in, what exactly are you doing?' he seethed

"Am protecting you, your highness" she said almost in a yell and pick up her phone to make a call

"I don't need your protection" he yelled

"you shouldn't have been the crown prince of Aither then" she scream back "today an attempt was made on your life and as the heir apparent you need to be more watched so such incident won't repeat itself again" she said her voice lower this time, the guards came rushing in and quickly bow down their heads to pay respect to the three royals in the room

"But I don't want to be watch all my life, am the crown prince now, can't I have a bit of freedom?" he asked sounding devastated

"you are the Crown Prince of Aither your Highness" she said and move closer to him placing her hand gently on his left shoulder "any little freedom could be dangerous" she said and Prince Caleb look down feeling overpowered by her words she asked the guard to see him to his room and waited till he was gone.

"Take care of my mother I have something to take care of" she told the personal maid and left with Sarah.

Prince Caleb sat in the terrace of his little palace with about fifteen guards watching him and six attendants he look around and everywhere seems lifeless to him, ever since he was crowned it has always been one lesson or another about official courts and government not even a moment of rest or a break to enjoy what he likes. The guards who has been standing still for hours suddenly move breaking his staring into space he look around to see what caused the sudden uproar from them, he stood up from his seat with few of the guards following closely behind him looking down he saw the two princesses trying to gain their way in.

After the day's incident Mitchel felt it is only right to go visit the Prince since he was the one almost poisoned not wanting to go alone she drag Emma along with her to visit him in his quarters but getting there they were refused entrance to him feeling insulted by the guards sending her back she decide not to leave unless she sees the Prince and raised her voice loudly attracting the other guards attention

"What's going on there?" Prince Caleb asked directing his question more to the Princesses rather than the security

"The two princesses are just about to leave your highness" he replied and ask the guard to quickly escort them out

"stop!" he ordered "let them in" the head security look at him hesitating but when he saw the determined look on the Prince's face he told the guard to open up for them to come in

"Little brother I've missed you so much" Mitchel said and pull his two ears playfully but hard he let out an 'ouch' and the guards came rushing to them immediately surrounding the Princesses like some assassins

"Stop George, leave us alone for some minutes" he told his head security

"I can't do that my Prince, her highness Claire has asked me to watch you every…"

"you work for me not her" he cut in but again George tried to protest "you will leave me no choice than to punish you for betraying your master" he threatened and only then was he given a little space as the guard stood ten feet away

"Whoa, look at you use your authority" Mitchel said and smile taking her seat

"I ought to tell you to sit before you do so" he said in a frown and Mitchel grin the more

"Little brother, are you trying to exercise your superior over me now?" she asked jokingly and Caleb gave a bitter smile

"That's what I've been taught to do all my life" he said and the smile disappeared leaving the bitterness

"are you okay?" she asked lowly with concerned in her eyes, staring right at her Caleb could feel the love and concern he always long for, before he could stop himself he wrap his arms around Mitchel and burst into tears

"What are you doing? A Prince shouldn't be seen crying" he ignore her words and held more unto her for comfort seeing he needed the affection she return the hug and pat his hair slowly to calm him down.

Princess Emma watch the two all along feeling left behind, she has never gotten this close to the Crown Prince since her sister always hid him away from everyone but now seeing him getting so emotional and sad she couldn't help but feel at lost, Prince Caleb and Princess Claire are the two most respected in the Palace amongst all so why would the Prince be this sad?

After calming down Caleb let go of Mitchel feeling a bit embarrassed he's the Crown Prince and a man shouldn't cry in front of a woman but he has just embarrassed and show his weakness in front of others if his sister know about this he will be in big trouble not only him but the Princesses

"Am sorry to disturb you with my emotions" he apologize keeping a straight face, Mitchel laughed at the serious face and Emma managed to conceal her laugh and smile instead the Prince trying to look serious after crying like a baby in front of them is cute

"You are becoming more like a man, little brother" she said and touch his cheeks, he slap her hands gently away and furrowed his brows

"Am no longer a baby sister, so stop calling me little" he protested and Mitchel chuckles

"Really?" she stood up "but you are still shorter than me so you are still little" she mocked and his frown deepened causing her to have more laughs.

"What's that?" Caleb asked staring at the object in Emma's hands, she look down at what the Prince was looking at and brought it out

"It's an artwork your highness" she said politely unlike Mitchel, the beautiful

"Of course I see it" he said and reach out for the object, Emma handed it over with a smile

"It means beauty and love" she said and Prince Caleb stared more admirably at the work of art

"If your highness love it so much I can give it to you" she said and his eyes lighted out in excitement, he hug it closer to himself and had a big smile on his face.

Still lost in his excitement he didn't realize when Claire got to him until she snatch the item from his hands and smash it on the floor, Prince Caleb's eyes widen in shock and grief seeing his just gotten gift on the floor, he scowl at her and made to grab the item from the floor but Claire strong hand over power his fragile little one and pull him back up

"A prince should never bow his head in front of others" she yell at him

"I want my art back" he yell back

"Sister Claire why are you so harsh on him, he's just a little boy" Mitchel chip in trying to defend him

"Prince Caleb is the heir to the throne of Aither, how dare you address him as a boy? Do you know how great an offense your words is?'

Mitchel chuckle angrily and drag Emma hands leaving the place, if thy stayed any longer she might be accused of treason and banish out of the palace then.

Ordering the guards to escort the Prince back to his inner room Claire stood at the terrace for a moment she pick up the artwork and stare it remembering the words of the first Princess minutes ago

Just as she got to her room an hour ago she found out from her maid that Princess Jewel was the one who report her sleeping with a man and took them to her private room, also she found out that Princess Jewel has a lover outside the palace with enough evidence she went over to meet her and threatened her to leave the palace less she will reveal her secret to the King

"You are finally here to get me too" Princess Jewel said and smile sadly at her, she seems to have been waiting for her to come

"Looks like you already made up your mind" Claire replied not giving a slight care about her sad look

"I already made up my mind to marry the man I love, doing this will only help me to achieve my heart desire" she said and sigh

"Am sorry for what happened I never mean to expose you" she said and Claire scoff in disbelief of her words

Jewel smiled again at her reaction "well maybe a part of me wanted to see you panic in trouble, your domineering attitude annoys and I hate the fact that you are considered the first instead of me"

"It's never my fault you are not capable to attain first, so you held grudges against me because of that"

"you are right sister Claire, you are capable and intelligence but be careful, with your way of interacting with others nobody will want to acquaintance with you and before you know it you will have nobody with you" she advised but Claire sees it more like an insult and got enrage

"You are getting married tomorrow" she affirmed and begin to walk away

"People need people to survive you know, you will always need people beside you Claire" she called out at her disappearing figure.

Claire let out a meaning sigh remembering all her words but before she could think further George rush in panicked

"Your highness bad news" he said breathing heavily

"Queen Amanda poisoned herself" he reveal and the art fell down from her hand at the alarming news.