Chapter One

The king coughed out blood once again as he tried tried to speak to his son who who was beside him.

"Speak no more father. Speak no more until the royal physician gets here", Prince Warren said.

King Elah nodded feebly and closed his eyes. Warren then turned to the attendants present in the room. "Where is the physician??",he shouted, "Go get him!!"

Just when the attendants were about to scurry out of the room, the door was opened from the outside.

Donned in golden regalia, Queen Lysias elegantly pranced into the room. The attendants immediately bowed to her, with their heads touching the floor.

"And why do you yell at the servants little Warren?",came her sweet voice, "they have done nothing wrong. The real criminal is the one who lays like a lifeless log beside you."

Warren's eyes went wide, "Your highness. The king, your husband is sick"

"I am well aware", she said, "everyone in the entire country knows just how sick the king is and everyone also knows why..."

Warren's head snapped to look at the attendants, "what are you still doing here?!"

They all immediately got up and sprinted out of the room.

"My queen, the ears and tongues of the servants are not to be disregarded. We are the royal family and our words are quickly scrutinized by... "Are going to teach me now, Warren?!", the queen snapped.

" I dare not your highness", Warren said almost immediately. The last thing the little prince wanted was to add more fire to the already existing feud between the queen and his mother.

"We are not family", the queen said with a smile. Walking closer to him she continued bitterly, "Just because my husband loves your mother does not mean we are related in any way. Your mother was and always will be the filth from the slums that I took pity on. Not even the silk she wears can change that fact."

"Do you understand me?"

"I_ I do your highness", Warren replied with a shaky voice.

Lysias stepped back and smirked on seeing his intimidated figure. "Did your mother send you here?", she further asked. Warren shook his head negatively.

Lysias scoffed in disbelief, "Did you come here on your own then?" Warren was silent.

"Cunning!" Lysias spat out, disdain evident in her tone, "just like your mother." "You want to be the loving and filial son, don't you?"

His gaze remained fixed on the grey marble floor.

"Look at me Warren!", Lysias snapped, irritated by his quietness. Warren slowly lifted his eyes to meet the Queen's.

Lysias smiled upon seeing the tears in the corner of his eyes "You Will Never Be King" she said slowly and sweetly, not once breaking eye contact with him.

"Everything belongs to elder brother Irvin...." Warren exhaled and said . He looked away "I have no interests in the politics of this country"

"As it should be", the queen said. Just then, a knock is heard on the door.

"Who is there?", Lysias asked.

"Your servant Dothan, your highness. Here to announce the arrival of the physician", Dothan voice booms into the room. On hearing mention of the physician, Queen Lysias scoffs.

"The sins of the king are what shall end him", she added and walked out of the room.

Warren breathes out a lung full of air immediately she walks out. He hears footsteps and turns to Dothan and the King's physician. The old physician politely asked the prince and Dothan to leave the room, which they did.

Once out of the room, Dothan spoke up "Your highness, I know the queen must have said some hurtful words to you. Please do not pay heed to whatever she says".

Warren only closed his eyes. Dothan was his personal attendant, guide, teacher, and the only one who seemed not to look down on himself and his mother in the palace. When he opened them, his gaze was fixed ahead and he muttered out "Lead the way to mother's chambers".

Dothan glanced at the six year old beside him and smiled. He was proud of how well the little prince handled the Queen's drama. He would make a fine ruler....Dothan thought as they got closer and closer to the lady consort's palace.