One Chance

Samantha marched angrily out the balcony, followed by Walter, the Prime Minister.

"Where's the king?"

"He's at the room next door, with the queen and their guards."

She walked quickly outside the room, spotted Jake's men in front of one sitting room, and went there immediately.

"I need to speak with the king," she stated, "It's very urgent."

Since the duchess had never asked for something like that before, the guard reported it to Jake and he let her enter.

Rainier and Gwen seemed to be in a private conversation, but Sam called him, "Your Highness, I want to report something."

"Really? What is it?" Rainier replied.

"That jerk Harvey Bennington, he just told me he wanted to support me as a queen and would help to create something to happen to you two, implying that if you two got an accident, I'd be queen. Please arrest him now!!!"

Rainier raised his eyebrows, "Did he really say that?"

"Yes."

"And to you as well. What an idiot. Where is he now?"

"I told him to stay at that balcony, Your Highness."

"Bring him here."

As Walter went to order the guards, Rainier exclaimed, "What a thorn in my life."

Jake went with two other guards and escorted Harvey Bennington into the sitting room.

The business tycoon tried to enter the room calmly, but it was evident that he was nervous.

"I heard something interesting from my cousin," Rainier began. "You just told her that you'd like to support her on the throne, and arrange an accident to happen to me and my wife."

Harvey managed to smile, "The Duchess took it too seriously, Your Highness. I was only joking."

"Were you, really?" Rainier inquired in a good-natured tone, walking right to him.

"I didn't mean it, Your Highness."

"Sam would never lie about something like this. I think it's you who got mad because I ordered you to follow the Equal Trade Law. 2.5% of annual profit cut is too much for you, isn't it?"

Harvey, who was always confident and arrogant, took a step back.

"Of course not, My Lord."

Rainier seized his collar and pulled hard, "Did you poison my wife at that school, Harvey? Paid someone to do it?"

"NO!!! I'd never--"

"Why not, you just told my cousin you'll arrange some accidents to kill us so you can have Sam as a queen!"

"I didn't--"

"Why should I not punish you? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't jail you right now!"

"I'll--I'll do whatever you want, My Lo--"

"You're going to follow The Equal Trade Law loyally, won't you, Harvey?"

Rainier pushed and let him go.

Harvey wheezed and coughed, then took a big gulp of breath.

"One chance. If I have the evidence that you do anything against the law again, I'll punish you as heavily as I could, and take all your assets for the kingdom!"

"Th--thank you, Your--"

"Get out of my sight!!!"

Harvey hurried out of the room.

"Pathetic," Sam exclaimed.

"If we dig, we might find lots of his crime evidence," Gwen said. "I don't like him."

"I've been investigating him since you've been poisoned. If it's really him, we'll find something sooner or later."

"I hope you'll find something, or a lot. So you can give that son of a bitch a lifetime in prison," Sam added angrily.

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In the nearest bathroom, Harvey was gripping the sink as he stared at his own reflection.

Those damn Royal Hansens! One day, he'll really give them what they deserve!

How dare they! How dare they treated him like he's nothing!!!

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Ten minutes later, everyone pulled themselves together and returned to the gala. Before dinner, Rainier delivered a speech about the law.

"I said this before, but I'm going to say this again. Our country already have better GDP than the other countries in our continent. There's even a chance that we'll reach the fourth highest GDP in the world in the near future. However, for me, it's not enough."

"My grandfather said, each person in this kingdom are my children. I want all my children to live well. I wish to reduce the gap between the wealthy, the common people, and people with low income. I created this Equal Trade Law to make it come true."

"I am grateful to Mr. Harvey Bennington, Mr. Julius Torrance, Mr. Alexander Thorpe, Mrs. Hyacinth Nelson and Mr. Harry Whitfield, as the five top earners in this kingdom for your cooperation in supporting 25 small and middle level businesses that have the same niche as yours. May the people of Galsbourg be even more prosperous and the gap of wealth between people be smaller."

He proposed a toast at the end of his speech, "To the Equal Trade Law!"

Everyone who was invited to the gala stood up and raised their glass high, including the five conglomerates, Gwen, Samantha and Walter.

"To the Equal Trade Law!"

Harvey's collar looked a little ruffled, but without staring at him closely, no one would notice it.

The event then continued with some performances from several artists.

At exactly 10 P.M. the royal couple left the gala, and all the guests went home.

*********************************************

Gwen heaved a sigh of relief as she stretched. She was wearing the heirloom's jewelry set of yellow citrines and gold. She always felt anxious wearing those, knowing how expensive they all were. She's glad she could take them off, then.

"Keep your jewels on," Rainier ordered, entering the bedroom and taking off his suit.

She watched him walked closer from the vanity mirror, and she had to take a deep breath for an entirely different reason.

Rainier held her hips and looked at her through the mirror. "You stood up for me against Harvey Bennington. That's really....sweet. Have you fallen for me, Gwen Hamilton?"

She stared right back at him, "Maybe?" she teased.

"Stop playing hard to get with me. We both know it's been over for a while."

"Has it?" she challenged.

He chuckled behind her, one hand went to cup her breast, and the other to her throat. He held on to her throat, without squeezing it.

"You've learnt well, Darling. I didn't know before I met you. Apparently, girls who play hard to get turns me on the most. But you're the only one who does it. Every time I fuck you, I feel so triumphant. One of the reasons I always need you so bad."

He moved to kiss her neck but she stopped him by holding his cheek.

"I'm tired."

"But--"

"I don't want it on this vanity or on the floor. I need the bed."

His eyes widened, before he laughed.

"That's a first," he replied, as he pulled her by the hand to their bed, lifted her from the floor, then throwing her to the bed, as he climbed above her.

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