Chương 13: A Wish

"Vianka." The unfamiliar name played in Lily's head continuously until, "Princess!" The king's voice jolted her out of her reverie.

"Yes, Your Majesty." She raised her head to him.

Just like she had thought, the king had sent for her in less than a week.

In the throne room, the majestic aura, befitting the presence of nobles and the king himself. The throne, crafted intricately from gold, stood atop a raised platform adorned with gold-plated tiny flower sculptures; signifying the flowers of Florania. The ground that she stood on was made with the rarest and finest marbles. The king truly spared no effort in showing off the kingdom's wealth.

Nobles, dressed in elaborate garments adorned with jewels and fine embroidery, stood in attendance, their expressions deferential and at the center of this scene, the king sits upon his throne, his demeanor commanding yet composed. The golden crown encrusted with gems that symbolised his authority and lineage rested on his striking red hair. His cold blue eyes held a steady gaze.

And now, standing before the king and the capital nobles, Lily stood like a little candle shrouded in-between tall dark shadows. Some eyes that glared at her with whatever emotions they felt, some that stared at her with pity, and those who evaluated her value; all stood, watching her every movement.

"Your bravery should be rewarded." The king said, and Lily could barely stop herself from snickering. She had simply ate a poisoned food, saying it like that would make it look like she knew about the poison and ate it on purpose; not like she didn't.

"I only wish for father's safety." She grinned with twinkling eyes, flashing the charm of a beautiful young child in the dress that Queen Hannah had gifted her. Wearing anything less in the presence of this pompous nobles would induce disrespect instead of pity.

"The princess is truly kind."

"As expected of the first princess."

"Whichever family she marries into would surely be blessed."

"How mature."

She skillfully ignored the annoying hushed remarks of the nobles.

"Silence!" The king's shrill voice sent a mini-wave, causing the nobles to go quiet. Though, no ability had manifested in the royal lineage for the past century, the royal family was still capable of instilling fear in the minds of whoever was below them, it was an ability that every member of the family had, except Lily, of course; she never had such power even in her previous life.

"Hence, a wish shall be granted onto you." He added, "Whatever you wish for... except for the throne, of course."

Lily pressed her lips into a thin line as if in contemplation. She knew what she wanted to wish for but now was not the time, no, it was best to take it as early as possible.

"The langsher land at the border of the Eastern region." She spoke in one breath, and the entire throne room fell into silence.

"Ha." Lily sighed, she could already feel the look of disappointment and prejudice. She lowered her head and raised it up again, "I want just that, Your Majesty. Every other thing should be used for the growth of the Kingdom."

"Oh!" The sound of consideration echoed as they nodded their heads in agreement.

"How admirable."

The king's eyes remained on her for a while before he relaxed back and said, "Truly, the princess's words are wise and admirable. Hence, the langsher land shall be bestowed unto you." He stood up, "Dismissed." And left.

Lily stood in place as all the nobles strode out of the throne room immediately after the king. She left only after the last noble left and contrary to her expectation, no one struck a conversation with her; it seemed like the effect of the second queen's nonchalance to her still had its effect.

Walking back to her room, she tried to recollect the memory of the langsher land. The land once belonged to a country-side noble family who once resided at the border of the Eastern region, however, the entire family died from a plague ten years even before Lily was born, and due to certain rumours and how barren the land was, nobody coveted it. However, when she was sixteen, a large graphite mine was discovered in the langsher land, and now, that land was solely hers.

She made an abrupt turn and walked back to the king's palace. The guards at the door let her in and she walked into his lavish study, the king sat on his desk, buried in files.

"Your Majesty."

"The langsher land." He ignored her greeting, tossing the papers at her, "Sign there and you'll officially become the owner the land, however, you shall not obtain the title of the langsher family."

What use is a title of baroness to me?

Lily carefully skimmed through the papers and her eyes caught sight of a rather upturning clause. When did the king have the time to prepare something of this sort?

"Forty percent of whatever is obtained from the land shall belong to the king." She read it out loud and raised her eyes brows in question.

Maybe the king knew of the undiscovered graphite mine, but, that was nigh impossible.

"Why's this, Your Majesty?"

"Didn't you say things should be used for the growth of the Kingdom?" His lip curved up into a wry smile.

"Hmm. I do remember mentioning something like that, but I said, any other thing should be used for the growth of the Kingdom and not this one." She frowned, staring at the upsetting clause.

"Who knows? Maybe that land may actually be a blessed land. It would all belong to you if you gain the throne anyway, so why bother?" He rested on the back rest and tapped his long calloused fingers on the fine wooden desk.

"If, Father. Only if." Lily glared at him.

* ~ *

Silas looked down at the little child whose eyes was brimming with immeasurable madness. He had only met this child a few times in the past and for those few times, she would hide away or shudder in fear. But on that day, when she proudly went against her mother and stared at him fearlessly in the eyes, she finally caught his attention. For even, Perez dared not to look up while in the presence of the king.

He tapped his fingers on the desk as he watched the child peer into the pages of the deed of agreement. Neither him or the her mother, the second queen has provided her with a tutor, so how was she able to read the documents? He couldn't underestimate the southerners; it was too bad that the second queen didn't know what great chess piece she had right in front of her all this while. However, it was an advantage for him, whatever gave her such confidence and genuisity, he wanted it. What great pawn it would be in the hands of a strong wielder.

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