FIFTEEN

The quarters of Prince Benson, lot of maidens surrounded him with wines, piece of cakes and other snacks as he choose playfully whose hand to take from, the maidens all giggle at the playful act and stretch their hands further wanting him to take theirs, finally he choose a light complexion whose chest seems to be revealing everything supposedly hidden, he pull her to himself letting his head rest on her chest while the maiden giggle more louder and the others look on enviously

"Your highness" she called in a seducing voice and wrap her hand round his head pulling them closer to her bosom, in response the Prince hug them tightly feeling the warmness on his cheek

"good silver!" he remarked "you have such a big b**b" he said raising his head to have a fill of them in his hands, he squeeze them happily and the maiden look more happier than he is, she giggled more and push in for more touch

"Aren't you ashamed to be doing this here?" the Princess's voice interrupted the little enjoyment he was having

"You sluts!" she cursed

"Get out of here now" she ordered with fire in her eyeballs

The maiden hurried out in tremble and the whole place was soon left with only the couple and their personal servants waiting at a corner away from them.

"Have you lost your mind Benson? Now you do this inside the palace, what if the King finds out about your nonsensical attitude, do you think you will still be considered to rule after him?" she yell at him

"Oh shut up Sonja" he snapped at her tired of hearing the same thing over and over again.

"Can't I have a day of enjoyment in this house? Every day you choke me with your naggings, am tired"

"Well I wouldn't nag everyday if you do the right thing a sensible Prince ought to do"

Benson look at her heated and slap her face, she stare back at him with a hateful look, a punch on her left hand

"You are crazy" she insulted again

"Izabella is right, you are not worthy of your position as the first son, Prince Anthony is much better than you Dork!" she said and leave angrily from there.

Prince Benson watch her leave without a care, he turn to his male servant, understanding him, the door is immediately open and the maidens from before rush in like swarms of bees taking their position

"Dear fairy" he said to the maiden he has chosen earlier

"Why don't you come visit my room later tonight" he said and the maiden squeal in joy, the others felt their jaws dropped as they know they won't have a time with the prince any time from now.

Princess Sonja walk along the path to the palace garden for some fresh air and clear mind, she look miserable inside as she reminisce what just happened minutes ago, she felt tears threatening to fall from her eyes and quickly brush them off. Her maiden wanted to console her but gave up knowing it's hopeless

"Lily" she called and she hurry to her side

"Yes?"

"What should I do now? Should I just give up on being Queen?" she wanted to know

"Oh no Princess, you can't give up now, if you do Izabella is going to step down on you real bad"

"Sonja!" she corrected and she nodded

"I think I choose the wrong guy to marry, I mean ever since I got married to him I never had a minute of happiness with him" she turn to Lily to express herself

"He hits me at every slight provocation, he sleeps around with lowly women right in front of me, he has no regard for as his wife" she yelled the last part getting furious now as she reveal her pain

"Anytime he makes love to me. It's always painful and merciless I never enjoy any of it talk less of becoming pregnant and giving his majesty a grandson" she said frustrated

Lily quickly pull her into a comforting hug and let her cry on her shoulders, they remained in that position for long until she calm down and could go back

"You have to keep trying your best Sonja and I will always support you" she said and Sonja nodded at her

"Thanks Lily, you are my best friend ever" she said and they both hug briefly before they went back to the house.

The cool evening breeze blows friendly on Claire as she enjoys the beautiful scented flowers just below Prince Michael's quarters, this was the first place she discover when she survey the palace and it has become a place of comfort and rest for her since her arrival but this particular it got interrupted by the sound of two women having a hearty discussion, she had felt upset seeing there are companies in the garden but then listening to their discussion she couldn't help but feel elated hearing about the misery of one of the princesses

If she had her plan played well, this particular princess will be the first person to be eliminated together with her thoughtless husband.

"Jain, do you find her story pitiful?" she asked her maid who is cutting an orange

"Well… I don't think am allowed to comment…"

"Just answer my question, am your master now" she said irritably

"Yes I do find her pitiful" she answered

"I see you don't talk much, who was your master before now?" she wanted to know

"actually I don't work in the palace, I work in the seamstress shop but then Prince Michael ordered me to work for him and ask me to be your maid when you got here" she explained and place the peeled orange in a covered flat plate.

"Wait" she said getting up from her relaxing position "Prince Michael sent you to me?"

"Well he ask me to work for you, yes" she confirmed

"That's interesting, so do you report about me to him? What have you told him so far?"

Jain gave a laugh before she answer her question which infuriate Claire

"Am no spy my lady, I guess he just wanted you safe since all maids in the palace are all under Eris's Orders"

Claire wanted to rebuke her on the laughter but then hearing her mention Eris she wanted to know more "that rude maid?"

"She's no rude maid my lady, she's more respected in this place than the Queen herself" she informed, her voice sounding discreetly

"I want to know more about her having more respect than the queen of a kingdom"

"First I think you might want to know her history with Prince Michael your fiancé" she said and Claire stare curious with a serious look than ever.

~

A common story of a lucky maid gaining the Prince's love and also falling in love with him in turn, at first Eris came to the palace as a slave sold to the royal family and faced a lot of bullying in the hands of other who sees her as the lowest being in the whole of the Kingdom, well everyone except Prince Michael who was against the unfair treatment and even the fact that she was sold.

At first it was just a pitiful feeling towards the unlucky lady who life has hit harder than she could cope but then getting closer to her in order to protect her from the bullies they ended getting more closer than intending and Prince Michael found himself in love with her so much that he wanted her for a wife something that caused a big rift between the prince and his father the king.

The two fought towards all odds and stayed together in their love, even though all were against their love which they refer to as an abomination Prince Michael nevertheless took her in to his abode and lived with her as loving couple.

After a long time he manage to remove the tag of slavery from her neck and also grant her a befitting position in the palace making her rise above all the maids and guards in the palace round about.

Then on one of the days, things changed dramatically that nobody couldn't predict the change, Eris was seen coming out of the King's room early in the morning which arouse the Queen's fury and cause a great fight between the royal couples, things became more complicated and in a twinkle of an eye, Eris was made the King's special Aide, a position that was never there.

Although she is the King's Aide she had much access to everything in the palace and whenever she does anything the King let her get away with it, the story with her warming the King's bed every now and then continues and Prince Michael who couldn't contain any of it any longer confronted his once lover but got so heartbroken and hated both his first love and father for the betrayal

~

Well jealousy they said could make a lady lose her sanity and end up causing more damage than intended and this is what Princess Claire intended to seize in getting the three princesses out of her way to the crown.

No matter how close they wish to be or already are, she could see a visual jealousy written all over them, one has a bad relationship with her spouse and felt she could find her happiness and reward for endurance once she's made queen.

The other pompous one is so smart and knows her way all round, she will be the most difficult rival to tackle but then a simple distraction will be enough for her to lose focus.

While the last of them seems not so relevant but then a little mistake might end her game so she must keep a closer look and watch to see if she would be an ally or rival

Claire stare out of the window from her room and smile satisfied at her visit being a great success, the only reason she hasn't married Prince Michael the second the unpleasant gossip spread round the kingdoms was because of this, immediately the problem she had thought of not only the possible solution but a great step to fulfilling her most desired, ruling over a kingdom.

Since she was born a woman it wasn't an easy thing for that desire to be fulfill but then she had work hard to make sure to always be in a higher position that even the men in power will succumb to her wills. Right from childhood she thought herself well and get to the position of the most respected Princess in her Kingdom and also ensure an heir was born of her mother and not any of the multiple Queens in the palace.

Of course she knew she can't just come over to Silver Kingdom and take over without obstacles and this short visit is to identify who and what the hindrances might be and also to plan things out.

"Soon enough I will take over this palace" she breathed out with great determination.