The Final Decision
Now secured in the office of Mr. Siege, we sat around the table. Grim silence filled the air after explaining my plan to General Bregus. He sat still; his hands clasped together as he stared at the table. He had begun to protest, but immediately shut his mouth. He did this a few more times before returning to silence. I had him pinned unfortunately. He has firsthand seen how uncompliant Emmanuel has been. With only ten days left now until the banquet, time was of the essence. I am sure it would at least take a few days to track Emmanuel, especially in his state, so the more time we had to track the better.
"I hate when you pin me like this Alliah. You know his Majesty won't agree to this." General Bregus muttered under his breath as he passed a stressed hand through his hair. I swore over the last few days, his hair grew more gray. The black and white peppered hair was slowly starting to fade. I sensed that he would want to retire soon.
"I have another plan for that." I muttered uneasily. Unfortunately, General Bregus was right. I would have to have permission from father about releasing the prisoner. Emmanuel was of priority and rich with information. He wouldn't try his luck with such a plan unless there was a huge guarantee that we wouldn't lose him. That was unless I try my luck and tell him I found a suitor, I might be able to persuade him. He wanted that more than anything. To pull me off the field work and keep me inside the castle walls. I wouldn't lose my privilege of commanding my officers, but I would no longer be allowed to fight in battles.
"Go on, don't leave me in suspense now." General Bregus teased, his eyes practically glowing. I gave a small sigh and before looking at Nicklos. I know I asked him once, and he has every right to turn it down again, especially because it would mean the end to everything I worked hard for.
"What is the one thing that my father wants most?" It came out almost like a whisper. Like a silk sheet sliding off the bed before falling into a small pile on the floor. The air was quiet once again, an ongoing pattern with these discussions. I knew it was because General Bregus understood what I was getting at, I could tell by the long lengthy and angry breath that escaped his mouth. I would play to my father's desires just so I could save the Kingdom. I would put away my selfish pride just to put an end to this on-going battle.
"Would you really throw everything you worked so hard for away? Just like that?" He asked quietly, bitterness saturating his voice. It dripped out like a thick syrup, heavy and thick. If I just glanced over, I bet I would receive one of his famous glares. But I just kept my eyes on Nicklos, watching his golden eyes squint with nervous curiosity. He had no idea that my father was desperate for me to get married.
"With the help of you and Nicklos here, I think I have made a pretty fine mark. I have achieved so much in my lifetime, and honestly the paper work is starting to become a headache. I have been neglecting my duties as a crown Princess to often as well. It is my job to keep the Palace in order and treat my guest with respect. But I have been to wrapped up in all this to properly maintain my title as Princess and as a Knight. Although I have had a lot of fun and I have learned a lot as a Knight, this wasn't something I could do forever. You already knew that General. Although I won't be able to fight on the fields, I can still use my knowledge to make the right calls in the future. So yes, I am willing to throw away everything I have done so far, to save my people. I want to end this quickly, and if it means that I have to get married to do so then I will." I met the General's eyes with the smallest of tears in mine.
His fingers thrummed on the table as we stared each other down, an intense battle of wills. I could see the sadness slowly creeping across his face, but a knowing smile appeared upon his lips. A sad chuckle escaped him, signaling his defeat in trying to talk me out of my decision.
"So that's why you asked me earlier. You had this all figured out already." I reached over and grabbed Nicklos's hand and squeezed.
"Yes. I had already made the decision in my head, but I just didn't know how you would react if I told you it. It seems like it's the perfect opportunity now to use this over his head. I am going to try and barter with him over the crown as well. If I can secure my place on the throne, then I can have control over what the future looks like as well. It has been something I have thought a lot about. I can make my father happy, and the people happy as well." Kill two birds with one stone. Although I don't know how well he will take to me trying to dethrone him. That might be the one thing I will have to fight over.
"If anyone can do it, I know it is you Your Majesty. You have come this far by motivation and sheer will. I don't for see you leaving that office without the throne under your ass." General Bregus chuckled. Slowly he stopped, a tear leaving his face and falling on to the table. "I can't tell you how nice it would be to have a change of leadership. I have been under your father for many years, and even though he has changed since we were younger, he still has committed many sins. I have too for obvious reasons. Things that I have tried to keep from you under his command. I think that after your mother died, he saw how the world viewed him and knew it was already too late for him to change. He put down his sword, and focused so much on you, in hopes that you would be the better leader. Which is why he has always pushed you so hard." He spoke softly, almost choking. The pain in his voice, the tired look that over took him, reminded me that there was a dark closet locked away chalk full of secrets.
Things that they didn't want to tell me. Both my father and the General didn't want me to see them in a negative light. But after what happened to my mother, I couldn't look my father in the same face with the same respect that I had for him once before. He was still my father, I would always see him as such, but the benevolent ruler aspect was long gone out the window.
"General, I will always respect you for who you are. You have done me a great service despite what may have been done in the past. The way I see it, you were following orders and had no other choice. Although what was done, is against the Knight Code, there is no one else to blame but my father. I can't respect him like I once did, but I will never be what he once was. I will sit down with my father tonight and we will discuss what happens next." I let Nicklos's hand go before rising to my feet. I would need to stop wearing my Knight garbs and put on something more dignifying if I were going to be serious with him tonight.
I felt a twang of pain in my heart, realizing that today may be the last day that I would wield a sword. The last day I would stand on the fields of war and defend my honor, my people, and my troops. For the last six years this was all I knew, all I was doing. I have learned so much over the years, made so unexpected friends. I also earned the respect I always yearned for by people other than my own father, but those were the ones I found I cared about the most. Now I was giving it all up, in hopes that this would help resolve all our problems before the clock stopped ticking.
We still weren't sure the extent of how far our enemy wanted to go, but all I did know was that they wanted the Kingdom over turned, and Illia's life taken from us. I wouldn't allow either of those things to happen. I would be no better than my father if I continued to give in to my selfish wants.