chapter 36

Dr. Marco became confused. Moving to the left and right.

"Sorry my queen, sorry my princess. They killed my wife for this reason". He said. The princess turned to looked at him. He looked away.

The traitor's plots against the king during his lifetime was in utmost secret. In convenient and with great caution, those traitors dug the king's grave.

Ms. Edith, one of the king's most trusted servant was placed in the position to give the poison or all her children shall be murdered in cold blood.

It took months before the poison finally killed the king on his sickbed. The princess was just hearing of this. She had no evidence against them.

It was just mere words and claims which the doctor refused to say for the second time. He said his wife and son was killed and another threatened before he stopped treating the king of the poison.

"Eleanor looked at me". Queen Margaret placed her hands on her cheeks, making her to look into her eyes.

"Your father, my husband, our king was an aged man. Let's think of him as a old man who died of old age". She said this because the chains of the person's involved in the killing was long. Eleanor was not well ground to face it now.

"when your grieved subsided. You can let them pay for their sins. I shall be there whenever you need me".

She kissed her forehead and they left.

***

Duke William glide to the throne hall and mount on the throne after the king was buried.

None could be crowned king until the late king was led to rest. Some nobles bowed to him others who bluntly refused. He wished to execute them… but he gave them a period of grace till after the king's mourning period is over. Twenty one days was set aside to mourned the late king.

When general Frederick learnt about these things. He was crippled in his spirit. The one thing that came through his mind was to saved the princess from the Duke's hands.

"My princess, you must leave the palace at once or you shall be death before you have the time to defend yourself" he told Eleanor. "Almost half of the kingdom have risen against you. To most they have been bought and others threatened. Let us leave at once that you may live to fight another day".

The princess was blank. Her pale skin broke the general's heart. Her eyes were sore and swollen. She was too weak to respond, too devastated to comprehend. Confusion was etched all over, her wit was overshadowed by her pains.

Princess Eleanor was too attached to her father, the king and his sudden demise thrust her with madness. She became vulnerable and in need of a protector.

Beatrice and Kate promised the general that they would gathered the little they could for their lady.

The general was grateful that they still had some trusted servants left. They gave him hope. Hope to prepare a carriage for their departure.

The news of the Duke becoming self crowned king went with the breeze. Every person that walked on the sand of Golden Hill knew the Duke was now their king.

Francis ran to the palace to find out for himself and to commiserate with his friend, princess Eleanor. When he heard she was around, he was already on his way to eastern part of their kingdom. His grand father, the Duke or king William sent him on an errand to one of the villages which he spent days there.

On his way to the throne hall, he thought he saw a ghost.

She was in white silky dress. Her hands lay lifeless by her sides as she shamble along the hall. He pulled her into his warm embrace.

Eleanor stood like a statue. Her hands were too heavy to be lifted up. Let alone wrapped around him.

He released her immediately because she was married. He didn't forget that.

Not in a hurry. His relationship with her was just sprouting when the king uprooted it by marrying her off to the prince of Mistletoe.

Francis had gone to meet with his grandfather and queen Charlene, and to apologized for disappointing them with the task he was assigned to.

But they seemed happy. They said Eleanor was now out of the picture and their second plans would take place. He didn't know the second plans. Until now that the king was dead and the Duke took over the throne as king.

Princess Eleanor couldn't held back her tears. She let it fall like a heavy rain without a sound. The water kept dripping down her cheeks. She was completely drained.

When he saw her estate he freed his gripped and ran off without uttering a word.

He went straight to the throne hall. Duke Williams was seated in his majestic. The robe of the former king trailed to his legs. The crown and ring of late king Ephraim was now his to rule.

To Francis surprised, queen Charlene and queen Daniella took their places beside the self made king Williams.

He was not so surprised for queen Charlene. She was his accomplice but for queen Daniella. He was shocked. She was a snail in running water. Hide and killed was her knew name.

Queen Margaret was missing. His eyes kept showing him things his heart could never have imagined and his mouth could have been forbidden to utter.

The nobles were feasting over their new found powers and promotions. The wine was served in golden cups. All the tableware were golden.

Minister Mammon was already fitted into the office of a duke . He was extravagantly dressed in blue and purple robe. Minister Bridge Young too was there, he lowered his gazed when he saw Francis trying hard to digest these reality.

Other nobles too except minister Clifford, general Frederick and a few others.

Some how Francis felt grateful that the general was not part of them. He wondered where he might be.

General Frederick went back to the princess chambers to informed them that the carriages was ready. Beatrice and Kate took what they gathered for the princess to it. Dresses and food and fruits. Water and all they could to sustained them till tomorrow knows when.

But the princess was no where to be found. The general sent Beatrice to queen Margaret's chambers to find out if the princess was there.

Meanwhile Francis in the throne hall was now in full awareness of what was going on around him. His heart had come to accept the reality.

"Grandfather, how is it in your place to sit on the throne of Golden Hill uncrowned?"

"How dared you speak such of your king!"

" You are not my king and will never be". Francis walked closer to the throne. "You are nothing but a mixed pair of saint and monster. Now the veil of your evil deeds is shaded to revealed the true you.

A dark Duke. This was all your plans. You bundled me into becoming a knight when I wanted to learned a trade. You forced me to make friends with the princess for your own selfish interests".

" I would advise you to speak to me with respect. I did this for you"

" No! You did this for your greed".

" Silence!...". the Duke screamed. He gave out his cup to the knight by his side.

" All I was looking out for was your own good. I brought you out of the dungeon to give you life".

" My father knew who you were. He fought you and you killed him. You killed your own son. So he was right about you all along and no one ever believed him. It's now clear to me. Everything you have been feeding us with were lies".

Duke Williams stood up and descended the stairs to him. The knights drew close too. Donald, one of the late king Ephraim trusted knights who betrayed the crown was first to move.

Francis was too brave to be intimidated. He allow his hands reconciled with the handle of the sword sheathed on his waist.

He parted his legs slightly and took his ground ready for any mishap. Duke Williams encircled his grandson and then stood before him.

"I like your spirit. You are brave and wise"

He snapped his hands in the air and the knights returned to their place.

" I have worked so hard to attained this glory. All this fight I fought for you. To give you a better life. I shall leave it for you when I'm gone. Come sit with us…child. Take your rightful place".

He extended his hands to the other nobles. They lifted their cups in the air.

"Sit with us and I shall make you the commander of the knights". He turned to his nobles again.

"All hail the general commander Francis Houston Williams Houston".

They cheers their cups and made some happy sounds which was noise to the hearing of Francis.

"you can't made me nothing because you are nothing but the Duke I knew you for. And as it stands you have demoted yourself from that Duke to a prisoner who shall take his place in the dungeon".

This words got Duke Williams really upset. His little smiles died off. He had a dark grimace looking at Francis.

"Depart from my presence this minute or I shall forget that you are my grandson… My blood". He clenched his teeth.

Francis crossed the distance between them. He was not the grandson that could be easily threatened after discovering the truth. The nobles and queens were amazed at his guts. Queen Charlene knew her nephew but she didn't know he was this brave.

"You ceased to be my grandfather the moment I walked through that door and saw you seated on that throne. You see that princess you wanted me to be close to for your own advantage. I shall protect her with my life. From you".

Duke Williams laughed. His nobles and queens laughed too. The throne hall had a different aura. Different from when king Ephraim was still alive. It was the aura of lust and betrayal.

"She is married". He said in a sonorous voice. "I sent you to make her fall in love with you but you turned it the other way round. You went and fall in love with her. But how can you still love a married woman. That is madness son".

Then his grimace stiffen. His hands folded into fists. He knew his grandson too well. He might have succeeded in controlling him when he was a child. But not now, not again. He is stubborn just as he is loyal.

"if her husband sees you any where near her. He shall skinned you alive". Duke Williams mocked Francis.

Francis eyes was buried in his. His veins was protruding, they needed space to explode. His hands was stretching by his sides. Ready to ripped his grandfather's head off.

"Golden Hill have an enemy who wants to take over her kingdom badly. Instead of you to come together.." He moved away from Duke Williams and pointed his fingers at each and every one of them present.

"You.." he pointed at queen Daniella, then queen Charlene. "You..." minister Mammon "you.." minister Bridge Young and at all of them. Five ministers.

" We are supposed to mourned our late king while preparing to defend our dear kingdom against the Black Dust Empire. You all want to tear it apart. To gladly invite the enemy to take over and make us slaves".

His tone was high and commanding. He spoke to them what came into his head and none dared to counter.

He picked his glare to queen Charlene and queen Daniella. Duchess Elizabeth his stepped grandmother just joined them in the throne hall.

"You wished for this to happened to your husband that you may turned to my grandfather's concubines".

" I won't have you speak to my queens in such manner" Duke Williams yelled from behind

"Your queens...?" Duchess Elizabeth asked

Queen Charlene and queen Daniella's eyes met. They shifted it to the duchess who was staring daggers into their eyes in turns. Queen Charlene really thought she was dead. That was what duke Williams told her.

Francis gave them a scornful smirk and walked back to Duke Williams. He crouched to his grandfather's ear and whispered into it.

"Enjoy while it last!".

He left to Princess Eleanor's chambers. There he met queen Margaret seated on the armchair looking disturbed. General Frederick was pacing around. Beatrice and Kate leaned against the wall with two other maids he believed was queen Margaret maids.

Francis had never come this far into her chambers. He was always stopped at the main entrance but today none was there to halt him for questioning just to pushed him aside to wait for the princess. It was strange to him.

"What is going on here?"

They turned to looked at him. No answered came. His eyes scanned the large exquisite chamber for the princess.

"Where is the princess?

" We have been looking for her all over the palace but we don't seem to know where she is. Sir Francis". Kate answered.

"I saw her on my way here". This got general Frederick and the rest of them curious. They looked up to him. He raised his brow to know that they paid attention to him for the first time since he entered the bed chamber.

"I saw her on the walkway when I was going to the throne hall... Have... Have you check the king's chambers?".

" No". Beatrice responded immediately.

Francis suspected that must be where she was headed.

A guard knocked. It was Luke, princess Eleanor's guard who replaced the late Damian.

"My general I have not seen them".

"Them?" Francis repeated

"the princess and Ken, sir Francis" . Luke responded

"I shall go to the king's chambers" queen Margaret said and left.

When she got there. She checked the bed chamber, the liquor room and study which was now deserted but she was not there. Queen Margaret left her last look in the bedchamber she feared it might be occupied by the Duke in no time.

She walked to the king's garden. There she sighted the princess. She was seated on the grave of her late father and with a sword in her hands.

"This is not a regular sword". Queen Margaret said subtly and peek through. She wanted to go to her but Ken blocked her way.

He didn't want anyone to disturbed her. "My queen". He turned and bowed to queen Margaret. She patted his shoulder and squeezed slightly as he bowed to her.

Ken then rise and turned to look at the princess. "My princess!" He called out to Eleanor.

Princess Eleanor stood up. She just stared at them motionless. She walked out. They followed her.

When the queen saw that she was heading to the throne hall. She went to informed the others.

Princess Eleanor went to meet with the self made king who was walking in the midst of the nobles. In what she saw, it seems like he was giving them rules on how their new government shall be run.

She was holding the ancient sword behind her back. Slow but steady she made her way up to him. He flinched on sighting her but immediately stood firm.

" Williams Houston" she forgot all about the royalty terms and called on the Duke by his names.

"How dared you?". He walked to her. The nobles gave her a mocking stare. Most especially minister Mammon.

She saw queen Charlene priding her shoulders to give her a victory smile. And then queen Daniella who looked at her pitifully. Eleanor hated that. She wanted to be acknowledged and not pitied.

Princess Eleanor didn't know this other woman with them who was also wearing a queen's crown.

" She must be the traitor's wife". She reasoned. "So! does it mean he was having an affair with my father's wives that they would still maintained their places in his feigned regime"

She looked at the Duke's head. That has obstructed her movement and blocked her gaze. He was wearing her father's crown. Her father just died and he is here wanting to possesses the throne.

"You don't deserved to be accorded any title. How could you mount the throne of the late king who had an heir to rule".

"I forgive you. You are only a child and a girl. I am the second in command in this kingdom. No other person can succeed the throne if not I. Your late father died without an heir." He walked to the sides of his accomplice . "Who else in Golden Hill can succeed the throne". He said out loud with hands in the air.

" you!" He pointed at Eleanor and laughed and others with him.

"You are a girl and married. Little girl you should returned to your husband's kingdom". He laughed again.

"It is carved on the tablets of our kingdom that females can also rule. Before a Duke can be crown a king. It means the former king never had a child. Any gender, both male and female.

And or the child of the late king chooses to willingly give out the ruler ship to first, either the Duke or any other worthy person of his or her choosing. Knowing your evil nature. I can never leave my kingdom and people in your hands to rule".

The Duke crossed their distance. "like I say before and I'm still going to remind you again. You are married and should be in your husband's kingdom warming his bed".

Princess Eleanor stood her ground. She swung her sword at him and he dodged. She held the sword with both hands and tiptoed towards the Duke who was moving backward and with caution.

"Whether I am married or not. I still have the right to the throne and to choose whom I wish. I did not make those up.

I was born to read and to know that it is the traditions and customs of our people, of our kingdom that a female child is also an heir whether she is married or not she still have an equal right to the throne.

Williams Houston you should know the law better than I or does your grey hairs makes you folly?".