I CAN DO ALL THINGS chapter twelve

It was on a Tuesday, sunny and bright which of course meant good luck, Celine walked around the palace in search of that prince and observing the activities the people in the palace did. She finally saw the moron of a prince who was making it hard for her to accomplish her mission and take her little sister. He was sword fighting with one of the soldiers. The soldiers looked tough especially the one he was fighting with. She saw the young soldier that had spoken to her earlier, she admired him for sometime before shouting the prince's name. "Your highness, I'll come over!", She said and crown prince Alexandro looked at her and rolled his eyes. This lady again . Celine came and watched as he fought with the soldier, he , the soldier of course lost. Celine guessed the soldier wanted to lose so as not to incur the anger of the crown prince.

Very funny. She thought and said to him." Let's sword fight". He looked at her and frowned, he didn't sword fight with women." I don't battle with women, their petty", he said truthfully but the men laughed. She blazed up trying to defend herself. If there was nothing she could do in this world not sword fighting or fist fighting. Her days as a gangster taught her a lot of things. "Women can do that", she said defending herself. The soldiers laughed. The crown prince Alexandro said nothing at first, he just examined his sword. She walked to him and pushed him with her hands.

Talk you moron.

He seemed surprised and so did the men, his face then returned to it's former expression _ void.

" I tried fighting but they always get injured and go running to their mothers". Mellitus rolled his eyes and only Celine seemed to notice . "Maybe because their full cat like nature has not surfaced", she said keeping her hands in a claw like form. Indeed, if she had claws, she would have destroyed his handsome face. Crown prince Alexandro scoffed the woman before him and made to leave, she just hated people who underrated women. She looked at the soldiers and called on Mellitus. "Yes, lady Celine". His face was clear and innocent but held secrets that the human ear couldn't stand hearing. "When next is he having practice?", She asked and he went quiet. "Tomorrow at this exact place", he said and she patted his cheeks. "Thanks err..."

"Mellitus, lady Celine. The name's Mellitus". Celine smiled. "Right, Mellitus". And she walked away to go have lunch. At least that was one of the fun things in the palace, eat anyhow you like.

***

Lady Gwen sat with the queen having tea, the day looked bright and happy so it was definitely the best time to see the queen. "Your majesty is beautiful as ever today, she'd soon make people rate me ugly". The queen blushed and said,"Don't ever care if anyone rates you ugly, you are the crown prince's own". Lady Gwen laughed heartily. The queen who's only goal was to be number one had wanted this marriage because of the things she'd profit from lady Gwen family, but all together, she was nice and loving. The perfect "princess" for her son.

"What brings you here, child?" Asked the queen. Lady Gwen sighed and made a face full of pity and said,"The crown prince Alexandro doesn't see me as his wife to be , instead he's openly flirting around with that lady Celine". It was the queen turn to sigh this time. "I'll talk to him, he doesn't listen anymore. How can he...". She let her voice trail when the maid announced the entry of one of her officials. The queen looked at lady Gwen and nodded. "Excuse us", she said and lady Gwen stood, bowed and left .

Court official Luke sat opposite the queen. "What is it?", She asked and Luke frowned. ""There is an uprising protest against us increasing the tax of civil servants", he said and the queen thought for a moment. "Let's keep it neutral for now. Reduce the tax by three percent, then I'm the next month take six percent from them telling them that the imported medical dues have increased. Then by seven percent, subsidy would be removed on oil importation"

The Court official Luke nodded. This queen was a genius . He stood and bowed to her .

"Live long, your highness", he said and left. "I would", she said smiling.

Now to talk sense into her son...

* **

The crown prince Alexandro lay on his bed still thinking of what she'd said about the future and the present . His future was all lined for him and he still didn't know what could happen, he would only then be king when his dearest mother, the queen died. He sighed. A country with great military strength but suffered severe internal and external crisis. What a truthful irony. He closed his eyes to sleep and saw that face he had been bumping to lately. "Lady Celine", he whispered and fell into oblivion.

***

Celine waited for the crown prince to come and start his training, she was going to pester him not until he had agreed to a sword fight. She waited until he came. He was on a different uniform today and had applied extra gel on his hair that made it shiny black. He looked like prince charming coming to slay the dragon, just that he had no princess in mind. He was all sour grape. He, crown prince Alexandro looked surprised to see her. "You're here", he said and she smiled. "I want to sword fight". He sighed and started fighting, it was with Mellitus. He looked at Celine and she wished him luck . Crown prince Alexandro looked surprised then smirked. They began fighting . The crown prince had dealt with him greatly that he was on the floor rolling in pains.

Is he angry that I wished Mellitus luck or just plain jealous? Ha, look at that green face.

She, Celine rushed over to Mellitus. "You're okay?", She asked and he nodded. She looked at this blackened soul. No sympathy,all pride.

"Can I sword fight now?" She asked and he sighed. Suddenly and not expecting it, he tossed her a sword, she caught it with her left hand and he smirked. "Cute", he said mockingly . "Did I ever tell you about the peacock, so gracious and proud, until it's feathers were plucked for fabric designs and flesh for meat. Your highness, pride goes before a fall", she said and looking at her eyes she meant it. Crown prince Alexandro laughed. "You won't fight with me" . Someone came. "Him", he said and smiled at her. Celine looked at this soldier and cringed his face was scared and seemed to have suffered so many surgeries. "Meet, Elf . Went to war for ten years and counting. He fights with women". Looking at the man, it was not a lie. But, she wasn't going to give up easily, she wasn't going to be made a laughingstock. "Bring it on", she said and they started. She kicked and fell, slashed and dodged until he held her by the neck sword placed across her neck. "Bravo", the crown prince said. "Look", Celine said. A sword was pointing at his back so close to piercing his skin. Everyone was shocked. The prince maintained his serene expression. "For a soldier who went to war ten years and counting, you were beat easily", she said knowing he would strike her. He lunged for her, but she was quick , she summersaulted and slashed his shoulders. That set the crown prince's expression different. He wasn't just surprised but amazed.

When everyone had left, she was with him. "You were good". She smiled confidently. "Thank you, coming from you, I feel like a princess now . Didn't I tell you I can do all things?". He nodded.

"I'll leave first", he said and was stopped when she said," My proposal is still open. I can help you". "I don't need help now, when I need it, I'll be calling on you", he said and left. Today was really great though the sun wasn't as bright as the other day...