2 Chapter 2: The Throne

It was a miracle. The 66-year old king had somehow managed to procreate once more. And it would be his 11th kid, and hopefully his first son.

Because the first ten of his offspring all happened to be female, unworthy successors to the throne and the pressure to produce an heir weighed heavily on the king. And while his other wives had given up, her seventh wife, a 22-year-old court lady managed to bear a child for him.

And in the third month of the 948th year, his 11th child was born.

"Where is he? Where is my son?", asked the King in excitement as he made his way to the birthing chamber of his seventh wife. He entered and his wife was in tears, holding a baby in her arms.

"LEAVE US!!", he shouted. And immediately, all the bed maidens left the room.

"Forgive me, your highness.", she apologized while nursing the newly-born, 11th daughter of the king.

They both knew that this was the last chance for an heir to the throne. And if word got out that the King failed once more to produce a male successor, all the noble houses would fight tooth and nail to place one of their own on the throne.

"How many servants saw this child?", asked the King.

"The bed maidens, and my personal aid, your highness."

The King nodded, stood up, and went to the head of the guards that were standing outside the chambers. He whispered something to them.

The guards nodded and left immediately as the King went back to his newborn.

"She is beautiful, more beautiful than the rest.", he said as he held the baby in his arms.

"I would like to raise her personally, your highness. If you'd let me."

"She will be raised here in the castle. If you wish to watch over her, I will give you a place just beside the inner keep", said the King.

There was obvious confusion on the mother's face since only a prince was allowed to be raised inside the castle. She was about to ask when suddenly, shouts came from the outside as the King rocked the baby in his arms.

"Your highness, what have you done?", asked his wife as the baby began to cry.

"Sshhhh... Do not cry. A prince should not waste his tears on his people.", said the King.

"Please your highness, she is just a child.", begged the young mother to the old King.

His wife was still unable to stand, as the King slowly walked out of the birthing chambers. He looked back at his exhausted wife, desperately crawling on the floor towards him.

"You have given me a son, Lalisa. That is the truth I have decided on. That is the truth the kingdom will know. If you wish to keep your life, you would accept this truth as well. For anyone who says otherwise will be sentenced to death."

"Yes... Your highness. As long as she... ... he is safe."

"Thank you. I shall make sure that you have a place in the inner keep, and that your family receives gold and honor."

With tears in her eyes, Lalisa could not do anything but bow her head and close her eyes before replying.

"As you wish, your highness."

Nine years later...

"Prince Lee, your mother is calling for you.", said Yoona, the prince's handmaiden.

"STAY YOUR GROUND AND FINISH YOUR STRIKES, CHILD!!!", shouted Shindong, the prince's personal guard and trainer.

"94... 95... 96... 97... 98... 99... 500... I am grateful for your tutelage!", said Lisa after finishing her 500 forward slashes with the dull iron sword. Lisa bowed and thanked Shindong before following Yoona inside the house.

"What did my mother call me for, Miss Yoona?", asked Lisa as they walked to Lady Lalisa's sitting room.

Yoona took Lisa's practice sword, straightened Lisa's back, and told Lisa to walk with a dignified step as a prince should.

Lisa nodded and followed along. She watched as Yoona opened the blinds, and bowed to her mother.

"Prince Lee has arrived, my lady.", said Yoona.

"Thank you, Yoona. You may leave us. Lee, approach and sit with me, my son.", replied Lalisa.

Lisa thanked Yoona and waited for the blinds to close.

Once they did, she let out a deep breath, relaxed her posture, and ran to her mother, giving her a hug and a kiss.

"How was training today, Lisa?", asked Lalisa to her daughter.

"Tiring but I'm getting the hang of it. Real swords are really heavy, momma."

Lisa sat in front of Lalisa and watched her mother prepare tea for both of them. She paid very close attention since it was something that she was trying to learn in secret. Her mother noticed but said nothing about the matter.

"I called you today to discuss your father.", said Lalisa after pouring a cup. Lisa reached for it and her mother slapped her hand.

Lisa pouted while rubbing her hand as her mother rinsed their cup with the first tea, and poured it over the teapot.

Lalisa waited another minute before pouring a second cup and offered it to her daughter

.

"Your father has fallen sick once more. And at his age, the healers are no longer hopeful. He is a warrior and a strong man, but neither money nor magic could defeat old age.", said Lalisa while lighting some incense.

Lisa kept quiet and drank her tea.

"We would have to rush your studies, and prepare you to meet with the public."

Lisa felt excited but she did not show it. The truth is she couldn't care less about her father, the King, who insisted that she live her life as a boy. But the idea of finally going outside the castle walls made her smile.

"Do not smile. Your father is ill, and the queen is plotting to take the throne from you. It is not the time to be happy... my son."

There was pain and guilt in Lalisa's voice as she finished her sentence

"Momma, I'm your daughter, not your son.", said Lisa quietly in reply.

Lalisa covered Lisa's mouth and held a finger to her own, meaning to tell her to stay silent. She spoke in a whisper after.

"I've told you many times that you cannot trust anyone, and we have to be more careful now, my sweet Lisa. The moment someone finds out about your secret, it would mean our death. Our whole family, our servants, and everyone we came into contact with. Remember that."

Lisa nodded and her mother ushered her forward and held her in a tight embrace.

"I am sorry, Lisa. But this will be the last time I will call you that. When I let go, you will be Lee, the one and only son of the King, heir to the throne."

Lisa nodded as she held her mother tight. "I understand. So, please... Do not let go, momma. I want to be Lisa for as long as I could.", she replied as she tried her best not to cry.

Three years later...

"Prince Lee?", said Yoona from behind the curtain of the bath. "You've been in the water for too long. Is there something wrong?"

"Miss Yoona, if you could please call my mother for me.", replied Lisa with a tremble in her weak voice.

"The lady of the house stepped out, my prince. If there is anything you need, I would be happy to help.", said Yoona, worry in her voice. The prince had been in the bath for an hour now, and he didn't sound okay.

Lisa panicked. There was blood in the water. Her head, stomach, and back were aching so much. And it wasn't because of the combat training she did earlier. She kept feeling worse, and she was slowly feeling dizzy.

"Miss Yoona. Do you trust me with your life?", asked Lisa to her personal handmaiden.

"Of course, my prince. My life is yours.", replied Yoona.

"And I am placing mine in yours, Miss Yoona. Please. I really need help.", as Lisa said that, she covered her exposed breast with her arms. She was waist-deep in the warm water when Yoona entered with her head bowed.

The second Yoona raised her head, she covered her mouth, and nearly fell backward. She took a step back at the sight of a naked girl in the middle of the Prince's bathing pool. Yet when the girl spoke, it was Prince Lee's voice.

"I have read about this, but the pain was severely understated in my studies. I don't know what to do, and it hurts so much.", said Lisa as she tried her best to approach Yoona, and leave the waist-deep water.

"My prince... this means that... ... you're a woman now.", said Yoona before fetching some drying cloth, and quickly jumping into the water to cover Lisa, and help her out.

Five years later...

"THE KING HAS PASSED AWAY!" ... ... "TRIBE OF KOBOLDS FOUND ON THE SOUTHERN DESERT!" ... ... "THE KING HAS PASSED AWAY!" ... ... "TRIBE OF KOBOLDS FOUND ON THE SOUTHERN DESERT!" ... ... "THE KING HAS PASSED AWAY!", shouted the town herald as the citizens bowed down, raised their hands to the sky and cried. Not because of the kobolds of course.

The passing of the king was no surprise to anyone for he had been ill for a long time. Shamans and healers from all across the continent tried their herbs and magic to extend whatever life the kind had, but death was inescapable for everyone.

And while the people outside the castle mourned and cried, those inside were busy with their politics. Just an hour after the royal funeral was over, an assembly was called between the district heads, leaders of the noble houses, and advisers to the late king.

"Because the heir apparent, Prince Lee of House Snow, is not yet of age, the Royal Court has chosen Queen Sayeon to succeed the throne, until the time that the Prince can take his seat."

"There was a loud debate following the proclamation. And the hall was immediately divided to those who sided with the queen regent, and those who didn't know better.

Lisa, who was seated at the front of her siblings, was the youngest in the Throne Room. Her own mother, nor anyone else from her house was not allowed inside. She looked across the floor, her 10 sisters all looked at her with envy, all of them wishing they were born as a man.

She noticed the head of the military, her personal trainer, General Shindong, trying to calm the noisy crowd.

"Lee, my son... I shall take on this task until you are ready to rule.", said the queen out loud. Her voice was almost a shout yet it was still elegant. There was an authority in the way she conveyed her words.

"I am not your son.", thought Lisa as she bowed before the queen three times, and thanked her for taking the throne on her behalf.

She said what she was told to say. Properly memorized but she was not paying attention to her own words but instead looking around at all the old men which comprised the Royal Court.

A bunch of businessmen, nobles, magicians, scholars, and warriors. All of which were not on her side.

She was alone here, and she had to survive for three more years before he could take her place on the throne.

"Three years? How hard could that be?"