Inside the king''s study.


    "Sebastian, you will have to learn to give in to the people''s demands sometimes. You can make an enemy out of everyone," Queen Magret said.


    Prince Sebastian looked at his mother. "Is this about taking a wife from Avalo?" He asked. He very well that his mother was in support of him taking another wife. Especially since she believes this will make the Princess desperate to birth an heir to the throne.


    "Yes, I believe it will be a win-win situation,'''' Queen magret said.


    " what if she never allows me to touch her after this, do you want me to remain like this for the rest of my life?" He asked.


    "No, I am a woman, so I know that she will eventually give in to have a little say,"  Queen Magret said.


    "So you are saying that, if father had not died back then and become king, you would have been happy for him to marry another wife?" Prince Sebastian asked.


    " what? Our case was different," the Queen said.


    "How?" Prince Sebastian raised his brows.


    "Your father and I decided to get married because we loved each other. But you just randomly picked her," Queen Magret said.


    "So? What if I say I like her from the moment we meet and I have been working hard to make her feel the same," Prince Sebastian asked.


    Queen Magret paused and looked at her son. She refused to believe that her son was in love with the princess. To her, he did not just want the people to have any control over him. Or he was hiding something from her. "I do not believe that?" He said.


    "Why? Do you also think that I am not humanly capable of loving? Have I only been a tool for your revenge?" Prince Sebastian asked. His voice was cold and one could tell that he was offered by his mother''s words.


    "How can you say that? Your mum is only concerned. You will not be so strong once the curse is broken. You need to have a little support. This is why she wants you to give in a little," prince Ericsson said when he saw that the mother and saw were about to get into a fight.


    "Then I will remain cursed," prince Sebastian reply


    "What?" Queen Magret and prince Ericsson said at the same time. They had not expected this reply from him.


    "How can you say that? I have been working tirelessly over the years looking for a woman with a pure heart for you to marry on other to break the curse. The gods have finally heard my prayer and you want to throw it away. Never," the Queen stated.


    "Then forget about me giving in and marrying another wife," Prince Sebastian said.


    "How can you say this? If you do not marry another wife the number of enemies you have will increase. When you lose your power, you and that wife of yours make die. So..." The Quern raised her brows.


    "Then I can remain curse and protect her. As long as we do not have children it will be fine," prince Sebastian argued.


    "You do not want to have children just do that you can remain curse and protect her? How can you sacrifice so much? Even if you love her does not feel the same," Queen Magret could not believe her ears.


    "So? Why are you sounding as though I am going something bad? Whose fault is it that I am this way?" Prince Sebastian snapped.


    "What? Are you blaming me? You knew I had no choice. I did all this to protect you?" Queen Magret said.


    "Do not tell me that Mother? You had a choice. As of that time you could have chosen to leave Avalo," prince Sebastian replied.


    "So you blamed me?" Queen magret asked. Her eyes were sad. If one looked closely it will be easy to tell that she was about to cry but what did that have to do with anything.


    "I do not blame you," the prince''s voice becomes more gentle. He knew that the woman did whatever she thought was best back then and he could never bring himself to blame her for that.


    "So why are you bringing this up. A lot of sacrifices have been made in other for you to seat on the throne. Why would you throw it way?" The Queen''s voice was sounding pitiful.


    "What sacrifice? Everything you did, you did it to take revenge for your late husband. And now I am making decisions to take care of my wife why are you against it?" He raised his brows.


    Queen Magret looked at him unable to answer his question. Indeed had done everything to take revenge for her husband, but why was she bothered that her son cared too much about the Princess.


    "I think there is a misunderstanding. Your mother is not against your decision to protect your wife. She just wants you to balance everything.  After all, apart from being a husband, you are soon to be king. You also have to think of the people," prince Ericsson tried to smooth things once more. To be honest, did not understand why the mother and son were arguing so much.


    The prince already made it clear in the meeting that he was not taking another wife. He already made a good point and most of the lords agreed with the prince''s point. So why was the Queen insisting?


    "Uncle, are you saying the people have the right to choose who I marry and make my Queen?" He raised his brows.


    "Of course not," prince Ericsson said. "A King that can not even choose his wife and Queen is considered a weak King." Prince Ericsson could not stop himself from adding the last part.


    Prince Sebastian turned to look at his mother, after hearing his uncle replied. "What! I am not asking you to marry the lady from the Carrero family. I just wanted you to give in a little. After marrying her you can just abandon her," Queen magret replied.


    "No," the prince replied. He already promised his wife that he will not take another wife and come what may he will break that promise.


    "Uncle, I was thinking of cleaning up your old Quarters so you can move back to the palace, or would you prefer mine," Prince Sebastian changed the topic not wanting to argue with his mother anymore.


    "My old quarter, " prince Ericsson replied. He wanted to stay there because he will have easy access to visit the Queen.


    Prince Sebastian nodded his head. It will take a month to get the place ready," Prince Sebastian replied.


    "It''s fine, I can continue to stay where I am for now," prince Ericsson replied.


    ....


    Since the lords were unable to find out who prince Sébastien''s ''father is, different rumors began to go around.


    Some had it that, Sébastien was the son of king Magan, prince Sébastien''s grandfather.


    Others thought he was the son of prince Ericsson. After all, Prince Ericsson had mentioned something about meeting Queen Magret after leaving the Palace.


    Only a few thought that he was the son of King Roderick but he gave up on his father when he found out about the kind of man he was. Some of these people guess that prince Ericsson did not dare desire the throne because he was scared of the crown prince.


    Others said that it was because he knew that the crown prince was his son. Many more people believe that a special relationship was going on between the prince and the Queen.


    The only certain thing was that prince Sébastien will become the king in two days.


    Among all the rumors about how the late king Roderick had killed his brother with the help of Mason and General Thompson. Rumors about the crown prince taking fancy in lady Vera also started spreading again.


    The new rumors said that the prince had taken a fancy of Lady Vera since five years back, but lady Vera had not given in to the prince and choose to be engaged to prince Craig.


    It was said that, even to date, the prince was still had a soft spot for lady Vera but he rejected marrying her because of his pride.


    "Of course, what kind of a man will the prince be, if he accepts her after she pushed him away five years ago. How can he allow himself to be treated as a replacement for his coward of a brother, " some people have this thought.


    Others felt it was another baseless rumor, after all, if the prince wanted her back then he could have had her. Nobody knew why such rumors will suddenly go around but everybody was interested in what was going on in the royal family.


    Because of this gossips, a few maids from the Palace also told their friends about the kind-hearted princess from Bozoa.


    This brought argument among small groups, some insist that princess Ellen will make a good Queen while others did not support her. No matter how wise and kind the princess of Avalo is she is not a native and so she remains unqualified.


    "ahh! Who are you to talk of qualifications? At the end of the day, the decision will be made by the prince and since he has refused to marry lady Vare, the princess from Bozoa will be the Queen," one lady argued with her friends.


    "say who? The prince already has a soft spot for Lady Vera. It''s only a matter of time before he forgets about his anger," her friend argued.


    This kind of argument went on around the kingdom of Avalo that day after the netting with the prince. By the evening of that day different stories of what happened during the meeting spread.


    Lady Catherine felt her throat dry when she heard her father was still alive but he had stabbed his friend on the back years ago. She felt relieved that the Queen targeting her father had nothing to do with her but what he did in the past.


    This felt like a heavy weight lifted off lady Catherine''s shoulders. Since the princess forgave her, she decided to keep the promise she made to her father and forget about revenge.


    Since the people did not get to find out about Queen magret''s relationship with Prince Edward. They concluded that her actions were all because of prince Ericsson.. This further made the guess about her relationship with prince Ericsson more believable.