Advice for the King

“I know what you’re going to say and the answer is still no,” the king said as he sat in his throne. 

Before the king sitting at a large wooden table with food and drinks were several of his advisors.

Amin, one of the advisors, shrugged. “You’re asking us for advice and I’m giving it to you. You don’t have to take it. But you do have to at least listen.”

Another royal advisor nodded. “As upsetting as you find yesterday’s incident to be, it does prove what we have been discussing for a while now—”

“Five years to be precise,” Amin said.

“—the royal family’s lack of communication to the peasants.”

Here we go again, the king thought. Ever since Naomi had snuck out of the palace to go to the festival, he had been getting nothing but criticism on his decisions. “My daughter disobeyed me and went outside the palace walls and upon discovery, almost got hurt. How does any of that prove your point?”

Amin sipped his glass of water and sat it back down lightly. “Simple. First, from what the princess said, no one had anything good to say about you lately. Second, the moment the people realized she was the princess, they bombarded her with pleas, questions, and demanded an open court. Third, they were so desperate for answers, they almost trampled her to death.

“In the brief time Princess Naomi was amongst the people, she realized what you have failed to realize for years: unless you do something to gain your people’s trust now, your reign and Princess Victoria’s future reign will not be successful.”

The king looked at his other advisors.

One looked away, another coughed, the rest nodded their heads.

“He may have a point your highness,” one advisor said.

“…And what do you suggest I do?”

“Allow the princesses to walk among the people, learn about their needs and wants, and let them offer help where its needed. Make the court open again and let the peasants make their cases and requests before you, and they’ll learn to trust you again.”

“Victoria cannot leave the castle. She isn’t well. I’ve had to attend to her so I cannot afford time for an open court.”

“So you’ve told us for five years now,” Amin muttered as he picked up his fork.

The king glared at him. “What are you saying?”

Amin stabbed the untouched stake on his plate, leaving the fork stuck to it. “I’m saying whatever family issues you’re dealing with, you can’t afford to ignore this dilemma. If you’re so intent on keeping Princess Victoria inside the palace, fine. But at least let Princess Naomi go out. Perhaps she could act as your spokesman, a messenger, and be a voice the people need to hear.”

“But the people almost trampled on her!”

“Only because they didn’t get to see her in years, and we all know whose to blame for that.” 

The king set his jaw. “I keep my children within the palace grounds for their protection.”

Amin waved his hand. “Get her some armed guards and she’ll be fine. Besides, she’s almost eighteen, and after that stunt, I wouldn’t be surprised if she escaped the palace again. Might as well give her what she wants with some more protection for her.”

One advisor cleared his throat. “As blunt as Amin is…I second his suggestion.”

“Hear, hear,” another said.

One advisor sat with his arms folded. “Princess Naomi is naïve, young, and reckless…” He sighed. “But, she’s better than nothing. It is my humble opinion that you heed Harrold your majesty. Your throne and the throne of your eldest daughter are at risk as we speak.”

The rest of the advisors voiced agreement.

The king rubbed his forehead. “Letting her go out there is like sending a lamb to the slaughter.”

“No, keeping both princesses inside your palace walls until you die will be sending two lambs to the slaughter,” Amin said.

The king glared at him. A deep, dark part of him wanted to execute Amin for making things more difficult, and because he suspected him of betrayal. But he doubted killing them would improve his approval ratings.

The last thing he wanted to do was to let her go out there. In truth, it wasn’t just the possibility that she could be hurt that bothered him. It was what she would say to everyone else about what she knew about Victoria and the rest of their family. What would Naomi say if someone asked her why Victoria never came outside like her? What would she say if someone asked her what was going on inside the palace? What if they asked how she had gotten her burns and, by some miracle, she remembered what had actually happened. She had already said too much the first time they had let her go outside after the accident. Albeit, what she had said did not warrant dragging her back home, which, he admitted, cemented the very truth they were trying to hide: that something was amiss with Victoria and perhaps with the whole royal family.

Upon reflection, his actions to protect his children may have indeed looked suspicious to an outsider. He hadn’t cared at the time.

But Harrold was right. Naomi was right. Their people’s distrust of them would be their downfall if he didn’t do anything about it. Maybe if he was extra cautious about their secrets...He sighed. “Very well. I’ll send for my most trusted guards to protect her as she travels. As for the court…I’ll consider opening it for the peasants.” He rose from his seat. “You’re all dismissed.”

“Good,” Amin said. He stood up and stretched. “This should be interesting.”

The king glared at him. This should be disastrous.