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The king's Choice

Matilda was angry and restless, "I know my son, I just feel he's unnecessarily interested in that idiot. She must leave this castle with her mother!".     Gwen was kneeling beside her trying to calm her lady down, "My lady, don't forget you are the king's mother and apart from that, your influence and power is unmatchable among the women in this kingdom. Nothing will happen that you don't like".     Matilda felt like crying and throwing tantrums but she had to maintain her composure in front of her hand maid, Gwen, "But things are already getting out of my control! I need to play a major card that will bring Tyler back under my grasp".      "Why don't you get a woman for him", Gwen suggested.      Matilda looked lost in thought before she finally smirked. She had thought of something, "Gwen, you have to keep an eye on that lowly new kitchen servant. You should always stay around the guest palace. I wonder why Tyler hasn't moved her to the servant quarters but nevermind. Just do as I say and make sure you report every of her movements to me and I'll take care of the rest".      Gwen looked shocked and confused, "I do not dare question you my lady but if I'm there all the time who would take care of you?"      "Just do as I say and then call Yvonne for me", Matilda said.      Gwen frowned but she still bowed reluctantly, she wasn't happy that Matilda was going to replace her.     "I don't know what you're thinking but I am not replacing you, idiot. You're just the only one I trust for this job and you'll have to hurry up and find something except you want to keep watching her. When you find something interesting, you'll return to my palace", Matilda said with an evil grin and then she stood up. She had to start the next move immediately. She immediately went to meet Tyler in his court room.      She entered gracefully and as she entered, everyone bowed except Tyler.      "Is anything wrong?", He asked knowing fully well that his mother had come to give him another head ache.      "Nothing, I would like to request that this meeting end as I'd want to have a word with you and it's urgent", Matilda said confidently but silently hoping her son wouldn't embarrass her. Honestly, she didn't know what was wrong with her son!.       "Ok", Tyler replied calmly and ordered them to all leave except Thomas. Matilda frowned and turned to Thomas.      "Tyler, the matter is between us", she asked while eyeing Thomas.      "Rest assured, Thomas is my loyal servant", Tyler replied calmly but deep down he was laughing, enjoying the sight of his mother like that. He was purposely driving her to the edge.     Matilda was trying to keep herself from exploding out of anger so deeply inhaled to calm herself down.     "Ok, you promised me you'll meet Duke Gregory's daughter, you have to meet her tomorrow. Duke Gregory's holding a soiree tomorrow", Matilda said calmly though she was raging inside.       Tyler pretended to think about it for a while, he was wondering the kind of deal his mother made with him. "Ok".      Matilda was careful not to show any triumphant expression rather she remained indifferent. She wanted her son to be scared and curious as to what she was thinking. "I'll also want to speak to the wives of your late father in the castle".      Tyler's expression turned from shock to surprise to worry and then he chuckled. Matilda didn't care about him chuckling, she remained indifferent but then inwardly smiled after seeing Tyler's expression when she said it. Since he became king, she had never seen him loosing composure after hearing someone speak.      "Why? if I may ask", Tyler asked.       Thomas was shocked too but as usual his face remained expressionless.     

Ezetu_Beulah_9079 · Fantasy
Not enough ratings
20 Chs

FROSTLAKE

Wailings were heard from a compound in the kingdom of Frostlake. Almost all the average women of the kingdom and low class family were heading towards that direction as word quickly flew about the demise of Mr. Donovan Moore. He was a popular woodcarver in the village of Jimal and his fame quickly grew that he started getting customers from all over Frostlake not because he was the best woodcarver but because of his friendly nature.

       Pauline, his wife was wailing uncontrollably. Her friends and family tried consoling her. Her elder sister, Kathryn quickly took Janielle, her daughter away to the next village still in Frostlake.

                        *.   *.   *

       "Jani, warm the porridge and give it to Zoe", Kathryn shouted from her room. It was a year now since her father died. Her mom decided to leave her with Kathryn because she knew she couldn't afford the kind of education Janielle needed. Janielle grew up to be a beautiful girl and her lively and lovely character like her late dad.

      Janielle quickly warmed the porridge for her cousin, Zoe. Zoe had never liked her since she came into the house. At first, Zoe had been so nice to but Janielle soon realized that it was as a result of the fresh death of her father and when Zoe found out she was going to be staying longer, she started hating her. Not that Janielle had done anything to her. Janielle couldn't care less though, she knew she'd be leaving them very soon.

       Janielle reached her room and dropped the tray of food on the floor to knock at the door.

      "Who's that?", Came Zoe's pretty voice. She sounded ok, this made Janielle think Zoe was faking this illness to escape her lessons with Miss Peterson.

       "It's Jani, Aunt said I should get you porridge"

      "Just leave it there and get out", Zoe said with a hostile voice.

      As Janielle was about to drop it down, she heard her aunt's voice, "Zoe open this room immediately for Jani to give you your food! What is wrong with you?". Kathryn was seriously disgusted with her daughter's attitude. This made it worse for Zoe, thinking her mother liked Janielle more. Zoe sluggishly opened the door for Janielle to hand the tray to her directly.

      "And make sure you finish it", Kathryn said and watched Zoe slam the door at her.

      She sighed deeply, "don't mind her, I don't what the hell is wrong with her nowadays, she'll get over it", Kathryn said, "and you'll soon start lessons with Miss Peterson too, so get ready". Kathryn said and retired back to her room.

      Janielle quickly ran to her room, shut the door and started squeaking out if excitement! She couldn't believe she's have the privilege to be taught by Miss Peterson. Her aunt married a Duke and so they were comfortable and they also had connections with the king. Miss Peterson was the royal governess and Kathryn was able to secure her for Janielle too.

                       *    *.    *

      Meanwhile, Zoe was so furious when she heard the news, it didn't take long before she picked up her pen and wrote a letter to her friend next door, Camilla who was her best friend.

            "Hey Camilla, I need you to

       Help me with something. It's

       About that witch in my house.

     Mom wants her to start having

     Lessons with me, we need to do

      Something".

       She quickly gave it to the butler to give it to Camilla.

      Camilla received the letter and sighed, "when is Zoe going to stop all this bullshit". She tore the letter and continued reading the textbook her governess assigned her to read.

                   *.   *.   *

     At the castle, Miss Peterson received a letter from the royal butler.

     "What's it about?", She asked nervously. For the royal butler to hand a letter only meant it was from the king or the king's mother.

     Thomas, the butler bowed halfway, "I don't know ma'am. If you will excuse me", he said and left with long strides. He was a tall and handsome man of about 30 something years who started serving the royal family when the new king, king Tyler started his reign. Tyler's dad, Late King Jones died rather too early and since he was the first son, he had to ascend the throne at age 26. The other queens did all they could to have their sons there but Tyler's mom was not someone to be rivalled with especially when she stayed all her life in the palace. Her mother was a palace maid and so she was given birth to in the castle by a maid.

                    *.    *.    *

     Miss Peterson was filled with tension as she went to a corner, behind a pillar to open the letter. When she read it, she frowned deeply. Her pretty skin was marred with lines on her forehead. "How could he!", She cursed silently. The king gave her another student that wasn't a prince or a princess! Didn't he get her status? She was a royal governess. Just because the Duke was his cousin didn't mean anything. She was so furious but she knew better than to go back on the king's word.