Chapter 4 Being a slave....

I noticed that Charles was still in shock, but I need to cover it up before it goes further,

"Thank you, Your Majesty, I worked as a bodyguard for a minister back then, I learned many of the court's rules from him"

I covered up with a story but have to see if they believe it or not,

"Hmm... no doubt you are so courteous, it's good to have a knowledgeable and brave man with us."

I bowed my head,

"Thank you, your highness"

"Charles you were right about him, take him along and show his work," ordered the king to his son,

Charles was happy to see his father pleased by him. He grabbed my hand and took me along,

"We'll take our leave, my king"

We went to the backyard and he asked what work can I do, before he could assign me any work, I took the initiative to speak up.

" I would like to be a driver cum bodyguard, which I used to be before, but I don't want a salary, you can give me food and that's enough"

My statement surprised him but I am not allowed to store money,

"That's weird, you are different, I many men who demand more wages, but you.... impressive"

I smirked at him and he left me in the backyard,

There were many cars in the parking lot and I think there are many people who live here in this palace, other than the three people I just met.

***********

It was going smoothly, I was assigned the work of cleaning the cars, and whenever King Thomas or his eldest son Charles wanted to go out, I had to follow them, I was fed well and it was going well and peaceful for me.

A year passed and King Thomas passed away from his health issues and Charles had to take the throne.

He was good, I don't know anything about his family, my job was to play with the cars, I mean cleaning them and eating the food provided,

Charles barely left the palace so I was no longer a driver,

Another year passed away, I was bored of this life, It was so simple, no fights, no wars, no thrill in my life, I was dying to go back to my battlefield,

I think God listened to what I was thinking just now.

One night Charles came to me and ordered me to go out with him,

" Where do you want to go King Charles?" I inquired, he looked so tensed,

" I need a friend, don't call me that, let's go somewhere far away from here just for some time"

I started driving and went to a far place near the mountains, he took out the bottles of high-quality wine and sat, asking me to drink alone,

"No, Your Highness, I need to drive back, You can have your drink I'll just accompany you by sitting here"

I say beside him, he insists,

"Just one for me" I don't know if I am a good drinker or not, because I have never drunk,

With a lot of hesitation, I took a glass and drank only one, he drank almost a full bottle, I never knew that he trusted me that much, he didn't even doubt if I could do something to him.

He looked upset, so I tried comforting him,

"If you consider me as a friend, you can share your issues maybe I can help you"

He sighed and started,

"My problem is not something that you can solve, but I would love it if you could listen, I want to vent it out"

"Hmm... I will go on"

" I am a useless king, a useless brother they killed my father, and now they want my sister and the throne... how can I fight them? They are very strong" he hung his head in disappointment. I was never interested in any of their political issues but he looked dejected, so I can't help but ask him,

" Who...? "

" My cousin Jameson and other relatives who are supporting him"

He sighed in grief

"I am fine with their involvement in my throne, but he is targeting my sister to obtain my throne, she is just eighteen and I can't see her getting married to a monster"

"Why would you marry her to him if you don't like him?" I queried,

" I don't have any other way to save my kingdom, he is the king of the neighborhood kingdom and wanted to seize my kingdom through this marriage treaty, If I refuse to marry my sister to him, he will come to me by other ways, and I don't want my people, to die in vain"

He was a very good king, but not a brave one, I wish I could help him but I have two more years of exile to get back my power,

he spoke out again,

"Tomorrow is her birthday and I was supposed to call all the bachelors and the best Princes all around the world, for her to choose the groom ceremony, it's a rule set by my grandfather that all the girls of our family must have this ceremony, they could choose anyone as their husband and the family have to accept it, but...." he stopped talking and took out another bottle of wine, and drank it directly swallowing it into his mouth, I can feel his desperation.

"Stop it, Charles, you have had enough," I pulled the bottle from him but he pushed me back

" Let me..... I need strength to do something,"

"What...? What do you want to do?" I inquired as I could feel he was up to something.

" I cheated on her, I told her that I sent invitations but I didn't, I don't know how to face her tomorrow" he started sobbing

"I betrayed her, I am a bad brother, she won't forgive me, she will resent me...hate me for the rest of her life" I patted his back consoling,

"You can't change someone's fate, she was fated to do that, Now you have to concentrate on your throne, and think positively"

He was weeping and crying,

"No, I am a traitor I spoiled her life..."

it was getting on my nerves, he went on repeating the same lines and I had no other option but to help him sleep, just one hit and he collapsed on my shoulders,

I took him to the car and we drove back, his servants took him in. I went back to the backyard and slept in my place, my mind was in a daze.

"Is it that hard to maintain the throne...? " I wondered,

"But why didn't I know about it...Am I not good enough to be a king yet?"

********

The next morning, my head was throbbing, just for one peg, I don't know how Charles was doing after drinking two bottles.....

I cleaned the cars and was sitting on the branch of a huge tree in the backyard, my favorite place in the whole palace. As I noticed so many cars were flooded in fighting for parking and showing attitudes toward each other.

By their temperament, I thought they were those relatives and so-called princes, Charles was talking about.

Now that they were from the Royal families, it was better for me not to grab any attention.

I was able to hear the sounds of loud music coming from the main hall, maybe the ceremony started.

I lay on the branch, covering my head with my forearms, That music was so loud, disturbing me, but frankly, I couldn't get my peaceful sleep as a slave.

It suddenly stopped and I realized it was only half a day,

"is it over already...!!" I exclaimed,

but I saw a beautiful girl in a pale pink ball gown running out of the main hall, she was so beautiful but, to me, she looked familiar, I never saw anyone from Charles's family, maybe she was one of them.