COVETOUS DESIRES

"To King Tristan Gibon. The great Alpha and king of Horndragon.

Accept my humble greetings. It is to my pleasure and happiness to live again and know that the time for the kingdom of Horndragon to choose their crown princess, the one who would rule after the king has come. I have received the ash you sent which is the make of the sacred blessings wholeheartedly from your daughter Princess Gabriella and I'm pleased with it.

I await the response of the council members. I learned that the decision for the date of the masquerade would be made today. Kindly let your humble servant know when the date is set, so that I can bestow the blessings on the one who the Kingdom chooses according to the law of Horndragon which was sealed by the moon goddess and the people of Horndragon.

Letter from Whitehead the Priest." Gabriella inhaled deeply after reading the last sentence.

The king took the scroll from her, looking at the stamp and seeing the mark of the priest, he nodded.

"Good."

"Thank you, Father," Gabriella responded.

"This will be a good time for our kingdom. I'm sure..." The queen said and Elizabeth agreed.

"This is great news, my King. I can't wait for the date to be officially announced. I'm so eager for this." Alexia's excited voice only provoked Gabriella. Why wouldn't she be excited when she had conspired with her daughter to take the crown from her? Now, that reminded her of something.

"Father, I have one more thing to report." Gabriella requested which in turn wiped the smile on Alexia's face, her eyes gleamed with eagerness to find out what Gabriella was about to spill.

The Queen, Elizabeth and the King brought their ears attentively to Gabriella.

"I believe your second daughter is about to tread on the wrong part of this kingdom." Gabriella's face remained calm but looking at Alexia, it was quite the opposite. Her fist was already clenching.

"What are you trying to say, Gabriella?" The king demanded.

Gabriella smiled inwardly, "Father, I will answer your question with what I'm about to say."

"Your Majesty she..."

"Alexia allow her to speak." Catalina cut Alexia off.

Gabriella's lips parted, her rage concealed with a smile on her face. She began speaking stating her facts.

"It is clearly stated in the Oracle book of law which is guiding this kingdom that when a crown prince or princess would be made in this kingdom, it must be given to the first child of the king's family and as approved by the people.

This law cannot be altered unless the prince or princess committed treason. That is only when the king has the right to choose another person to be made the crown prince or princess under the guidance of the people and the chief priest."

"My King, I believe your daughter is about to accuse my daughter again." Alexia interrupted.

"Alexia, allow the princess to finish her statement. I believe she has something to say." Elizabeth interrupted trying to grab the point Gabriella was trying to make.

Alexia knew the point that would be indirectly imparted if Gabriella was allowed to speak. It will surely be against her and Vanessa. She needed to say something that would stop Gabriella from winning the fight. "Queen mother, I'm only trying to say that her long statement doesn't..."

"Son, it's only right that you allow Gabriella to finish what she was saying."

"Go on, Gabriella." The king ordered.

"Thank you, Father" Gabriella said, took a glance at Alexia and saw the darkness that was portrayed in her eyes. She smiled mischievously and continued.

"This decision of choosing a crown princess against the Oracle law of Horndragon has been defied by you, Father. It's not to boost my goodness but to speak the truth, I accepted and respected your decision even as I and everyone know I have not committed any treason and I have not seen this palace record any.

Since you have chosen Vanessa to be made the crown princess, I don't object to it. But your daughter has brought the bad air that only a brave princess will try to alter the traditions of this kingdom by aiming to take blessings from the priest before the date of the Masquerade ball.

On my way back from giving the priest the ash for the ritual which I did without demanding any blessing, I happened to meet your daughter Vanessa and she boldly told me that she was going to take the Crown Princess's blessings from the priest.

Isn't it only right that she waits until the masquerade ball when the crown blessings should be bestowed on her by the priest in front of the people of Horndragon? If not we all know the calamity it will cause in this kingdom." Now she turned to Alexia and asked.

"Can you, Lady Alexia kindly explain to us here in front of everyone why your daughter wants to take a personal blessing from the priest without waiting for the masquerade ball when she knows that if she does that, it will cause a huge calamity in the kingdom?"

Alexia's pretentious smile returned to her lips the moment she heard the long reason of Gabriella, she replied, "My king, if that's all she got against me and my daughter I think that's not enough reason to go against us. To let you know Gabriella, the king approved of it. I hope I'm speaking the truth, your Majesty?"

"Yes, you're right, Alexia." The King nodded which had Queen Catalina and Elizabeth's brow rise as their gaze pierced at the King.

"This is not right, your Majesty!" Queen Catalina beamed.

"Son, why did you let Vanessa do that since you know what the consequences will be on the people?" Anger drew the old woman to her feet.

"Mother, since I've chosen her to be made the crown princess, I don't need to wait until the date of the Masquerade ball is set before I let the priest bestow the blessings on her.

Those Oracle laws were made by a werewolf and can only be destroyed by I the new Alpha king of this werewolf kingdom. This law of the Oracle was the law made by Hiden, an omega who rose to be an alpha years ago. We all know how it affected our kingdom when this same law made by King Hiden affected our kingdom in the reign of the 6th king, King Logan Owen. He made the wrong decision by following the law of the Oracle and gave the throne to the rightful heir.

He never knew his son who he made the crown prince was weak and too kindhearted which led to us at that time being captured as slaves in the kingdom of Demonda. I'm not going to risk the lives of this kingdom by giving the crown to someone who I know is too kind-hearted. This kingdom needs someone who is strong-willed. One with a cold heart."

Gabriella's lips curved up a bit in anger at the King's words, she had known right from the time he noticed some changes in the king that he would alter these traditions but she had used it to set a plan to soil her attack on the king's decision.

"If that is so father, I have no right to question your decision. I should have known better than to provoke you, Your Majesty." Gabriella lowered her head and with a folded arm, she stretched her hand towards the King in apology.

"I have accepted your apology."

"Thank you, Father."

"Your Majesty, what is going on? If the council members learn what you did, you know the consequences it will have in our kingdom." The queen was at it again.

"Son, I said I will not approve of this!" Elizabeth yelled.

A raise of the hand by the king forced the two women to their seats, their bodies stiffened, radiating tension and anger as they strained to engage further.

"It's my decision and it's final!" The King's final declaration vibrated.

A hush fell in the room as everyone remained silent, seething in their own anger.

After a long moment of deafening silence, the king brought up a question that made all shift in their seats.