002. Cutting the bloodline.

"I have gathered you all today to make an official announcement." The King's voice boomed inside the Great Hall.

The members of the royal council sat according to their rightful places, whilst the princes and the princesses took their seats close to the throne, where the King and his Chancellors are sitting. Even the Commander of the Order of the Peace and the Commander of the Knights of the Round Table were present.

"As you all heard, I do not plan to choose an heir to the throne, however," the King paused, quickly cutting off the violent reactions that are starting to arise around him. "However," he repeated, motioning for his personal aide to perform his task.

Ludwig ordered the Royal Guards to hand over the copy of the documents that the King prepared for today's council meeting. He had made sure to make a written copy of the meeting today, so no one would dare send a complaint again.

"Without touching the Fleurian capital, I have divided the rest of the Kingdom into five Dukedoms and registered their new names along with the Lords that will rule those territories." And he went on with his announcement today. Relaying the information they needed regarding the newly established Dukedoms.

"The west territory, now the Norealis Dukedom, will be given to the 3rd Prince, Prince Amaryllis. The south territory, now the Souden Dukedom, will be given to the 2nd Prince, Prince Chrysanthemum. The east territory, now the Rosenna Dukedom, will be given to the 2nd Princess, Princess Azalea. The northwest territory, now the Borrium Dukedom, will be given to the 1st. Prince, Prince Oleander. And the northeast territory, now the Nieve Dukedom, will be given to the 1st Princess, Princess Belladonna. And all of them will be granted the title of Duke, the highest title next to the royal family." Chancellor Von Reich announced.

The King showed a satisfied smile throughout the announcement, contrary to that, were the exasperated reactions of the nobles. All were surprised and speechless. Because the King's announcement had caught them off guard, the room fell in a trance of silence.

The first one to recover was Count Wilmington, the representative of the Noble Faction.

"But Your Majesty, what of Princess Hyacinth, the third princess? Her name was not mentioned."

The King snickered then allowed the Chancellor to answer the Count Wilmington's query.

"Princess Hyacinth Lacerine, the third royal princess, will stay with His Majesty the King in the Fleurian capital until she is married."

And the complaints that they were expecting swarmed the Great Hall. They were sure enough that the King was plotting something ominous.

"Your Majesty! Will the Kingdom not fall without a future ruler?" This time, it was the first prince, Prince Oleander, who stood up and voiced his concern.

"My dear son, it will not. The Kingdom will prosper even without a King. This is why I divided the territories and gifted it to my children, because as a father, I believe that all of my children will become just rulers, like the previous Kings."

But everything still fell amiss. The air in the Great Hall felt alarming. It was clear that the King was hiding something from them, but they could not think of anything plausible to support their claims.

Alas. The council meeting ended without any of their questions getting answered. Prince Oleander and Princess Belladonna marched out of the Great Hall as soon as the King permitted everyone to leave.

Out of the six royal children, the first prince and the first princess both showed great skills and wise judgements befitting for a ruler. And that allowed them to receive the nobilities favors. Throughout their life, the two were always showered with compliments and carried great expectations that one of them will surely become the King's successor.

That's why great anguish flooded their heads and a dark emotion filled their hearts when they heard the King's announcement today. Prince Oleander ordered his personal aide, Jameston, to gather the nobles in his sitting room that's supporting him from behind, while Princess Belladonna took a ride outside accompanied only by her personal knight, Sir Kristan.

Everyone who knew about the fierce competition going on between the two since they were young were aware of the future war that's boiling right before them.

Back on the Great Hall, the other princes and princess already head back to the Amethyst Palace to prepare their things. The King had allowed them to visit their new land and future home whenever they wanted.

"Father... Are your decisions final?" Hyacinth asked as she approached the King.

The King towered in front of his youngest daughter. He was looking down at her, smiling warmly at her worried face.

Hyacinth's pale blue hair fluttered as she clung on her father's muscled arm. "I worry about you, father. We both know how competitive my eldest siblings are. They might come after you because of your decision."

A soft gush of warm breath brushed against her thin, rosy lips. Truthfully, Hyacinth was worried about her father. King Basil II was already in his mid-60s. Despite his muscled physical appearance, the joints on his body were getting weaker as he ages.

And if a possible feud between them breaks out, then the King might get a heart attack or worst fall on a stroke. Her anxiousness burst on her head, dragging a couple of dark thoughts to flood her mind. And it made her shiver.

She bit her molars when her father tapped her quivering hand. "Do not fret, my child. I have offered your siblings a lot of things. And as we speak, they might've received another set of gifts I sent to each of their rooms."

But it only made her worry. Hyacinth was fully aware of her siblings personalities. The more you grant them gifts, the more they will think that the other person is mocking them. And now that their King father had deprived the two eldest of the throne they had desired, the anger seeping through them will continue to boil.

▬▬▬

Her calloused fingers brushed the lips of her ceramic teacup. Hyacinth had been staring outside the huge window of her chambers as soon as she heads back to her room.

The third and youngest princess was always the one who worries over their family. She knew about their duties as a royal, but maybe this sense of melancholic emotion was because she inherited her mother's gentle heart and anxious mind.

The political responsibilities and throne looked too great above her that she did not desire it. She had always kept a clear mind of what she wanted. And she only wanted good things for their people. So instead of joining her other siblings with their competition, she had decided to stray away from them.

Hyacinth took her lessons and trainings separately. She even offers help to anyone regardless of their status and opens charitable programs for the common people. She thought that by doing those things, her siblings won't become too wary of her. Which was the first right decision she made. No one has looked at her as their enemy. They only see her as a royal decoration that adds to their popularity and appeal to the people.

Since then, Hyacinth has been called as the White Princess, another way of the people calling her an angel. Which wasn't wrong anyway. Hyacinth looked the most beautiful and angelic out of her five siblings. She has a wavy, pale blue hair that resembles the softness of the clouds covering the sky. Her pair of blue eyes that looked deep and dazzling as the sea, a common trait of the royal family. The outer corner of her eyes was naturally framed downward, that adds an innocent feel to her features. And a pair of rosy cheeks and thin lips.

Her frame may look thin and frail, but the princess's body was fully aware of physical labor. It was because she had been secretly helping out in the stables and in the kitchen during her spare times when she was young. Aside from that, she had experienced harsh training (in secret) with the former Head Commander of the Royal Knights, the late Sir Charles.

"Your Highness. You called?" Sir Angelico kneeled beside her.

Sir Angelico de'Kwon was a commoner knight. He once saved Hyacinth's life from a kidnapper who almost took her one time when she was out doing charity works. Because of his display of competent ability, Hyacinth quickly proclaimed him as her personal knight. Or maybe it was because he was a commoner. And commoner knights don't get a generous chance to serve someone.

Hyacinth exhaled softly through her parted lips before she spoke, her attention still outside of her window.

"I want to know brother Oleander and sister Belladonna's stance regarding the announcement earlier. And if you catch extra information about my other siblings, that would be great. Call Lucrezia when you leave. You are dismissed."

Sir Angelico acknowledged the princess' orders before leaving her.

The sun was almost setting that the clear blue sky just awhile ago was being tinted with an orange hue. The door cracked opened again, and she heard familiar footsteps approaching her.

"What should I do? I do not wish to witness a war between my siblings." Her head turned to Lucrezia.

Her wrinkled faced wrinkled even more when a gentle smile graced her lips. She was her nanny, her caretaker ever since she was born. And the only person, other than her father, that she can express her thoughts freely.

"Your Highness. Let this day pass for now. You can think of a countermeasure once your anxiousness subsided," her gentle voice rocked her to a still of calmness.

Hyacinth heaved a sigh as she nods her head.

Before anything bad happens, she has to do what she can to dissuade them both from fighting each other.