Chapter 51 - Destroyed Cities For Her

"You have destroyed Lorata[1] in a single night, do you even know what explanations I had to prepare for the council of ministers?" King Leonardo asked Santiago who was serenely savoring the cup of tea. He was getting infuriated with each passing moment as Santiago was merely replying to him with a smile. 

Leonardo couldn't believe that this man who was now getting on his nerves flipped the whole city in a single night. It wasn't that he misused the powers of the law protection that was enraging him but the reason behind his sudden moment of loss of control. He was furious because he did it for Persephone Marino, the woman who he claimed to hate the most. And the same woman who he had to use in exchange for Lorenzo. 

Glancing up from the teacup, Santiago gazed at the angry King who could announce capital punishment for him anytime if he didn't provide him any justification. 

"Why do you think I was forced to make this decision?" questioned Santiago in a mellow voice. 

King Leonardo scoffed, "Isn't it clear that the Marino princess was taken away by Jeno and you erased the whole city in a single night?"

Santiago shook his head while sighing. "Your Majesty, why must you underestimate yourself? Do you really think I will make such a huge decision for a woman who is nothing to me?" 

King Leonardo narrowed his eyes on him. He wondered what his fox was thinking. Whatever it would be, it couldn't be any good. Still, he said, "Elaborate." 

"The city Lorata has a reputation as the crime capital of the empire. The poorest city with the highest rate of unemployment. Despite the fact that our country is one of the biggest advocates of women's rights and education. The city's reputation is proof of how crime against women and children is neglected there. The Prime minister has ignored the bad stats of the city for as long as he was in power. Now you want Callum to be one of the candidates for the upcoming elections, why not use this so-called crisis as an opportunity?" 

King Leonardo was rendered speechless after he heard Villain's elaboration. Of course, he wanted --no-- needed Callum to fight for the post of Prime Minister, and he was ready to do anything to achieve his goal...but still…

"PM Joseph is going to use this situation against you, Your Majesty. He will convince people that you're becoming a tyrant day by day. And the proponents of democracy will use this opportunity to overthrow Monarchy and bring democracy to the Maisean Empire. The power-hungry Joseph will become God in people's eyes if you let this happen. But if Callum uses this opportunity to end the organized crime in Lorata for once and for all with your help, it will not only help you and him but also the innocent people. Why must people of your empire suffer at the hands of power-hungry politicians?" The questions asked by Santiago shook King Leonardo. He knew that what Villain was saying wasn't wrong but he was just worried that Joseph would be successful in manipulating people for votes. After all, Callum had yet to give him an affirmative reply. 

King Leonardo sighed, "I see, you know what you are doing." He paused for a moment and then said," Andreas said you will be seeing the accommodation of Lady Sabrina Hawthrone. Have you made a list of who will be serving her during her stay in the Palace?" 

The cup in Villain's hand quivered but the King failed to notice that. Composing himself, Santiago said, "I have, Your Majesty. Would you like to see the list?"

King Leonardo waved his hand. "No, I trust you. But…"

"But?" Santiago raised his brow. 

"I will be making another list."King Leonardo grinned devilishly. " We can't let a ridiculously handsome thirty years old and absolutely single to sit on the post of the Prime Minister?" 

"And how would you convince him, Your Majesty?" Santiago inquired. 

Before he could reply, Andreas, King's personal assistant, came running. 

"Apologise, Your Majesty. But it's an emergency," Andreas said, the fear in his eyes evident. 

"What happened?" King Leonardo stood up. There are only a few people who could be counted on hand who could bring fear of such intensity in Andreas's eyes. 

"Her Royal Highness--"

"Is she alright?" Before Andreas could reply, King Leonardo had already run out of the room. Andreas' jaw twitched in disapproval of His Majesty's behavior. 

"What has happened?" Santiago asked after King's sudden retirement. 

"Her Royal Highness has locked herself in her room and is not responding to anyone," Andreas told him. 

Santiago could understand what would have happened. Lady Sabrina must have taken permission from His Majesty to meet the royal princess and the prince. Although the princess was intelligent and smart for her age, still her overprotective nature over her father dominated her reasoning. After all, she was just a five years old kid. 

______

"What's happening?" Persephone asked Giselle. Currently, they were standing with the group of the maids who would be serving Lady Sabrina in Luna Pavilion. It was the residence of the royal princess or this was what she had heard. 

The woman called Lady Sabrina was standing in the front with her personal maids. She and Giselle were standing with their heads down with the other group of the maid. 

Even though Lady Sabrina was smiling with that Colgate smile, she could tell they either the lady was fuming inside or saving her face from the embarrassment. 

"I didn't know your King had kids too?" Persephone threw the question at Giselle nonchalantly. 

[This girl! Did she even know where we are standing]

Giselle had a dire urge to slap this crazy girl for calling King Leonardo her King. More than that, if she was given an opportunity, she would have thrown out that bitch called Lady Sabrina by pulling her hair.

"Gissy?" Persephone whispered again. "Whose murder are you planning?"

"Shut up, crazy woman. Or else I will seriously plan your murder," Giselle whispered through clenched teeth. "And stop calling me Gissy. I have a damn name." 

"What a killjoy!" Persephone muttered. "BTW, you didn't tell me if the King really has kids?"

"Why don't you ask him?" Giselle hissed. 

"Great idea." Persephone started moving but Giselle dragged her back from her collar. 

"Stop being a pain in the ass."

"Huh?" Persephone looked at her in confusion. 

At the same time, the announcement of King's arrival was made. The dull eyes of Lady Sabrina started twinkling again. It was as if spring had returned after a long autumn. She couldn't describe her happiness at all. 

"What's happening here?" King Leonardo asked the Princess's butler. "And how come no one opened the door with the spare keys?"

"Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness declared if anyone entered her room without her permission she would go on hunger strike," The trembling butler said. "And…"

"And?" The king asked. 

"And if His Majesty was informed of this matter, she said that she would…"

"She would?" King Leonardo asked, his thread of patience breaking. 

"She would flee from the Palace and no one would ever be able to find her," the shivering butler said. Who didn't know of the stubborn princess who could make the great King Leonardo dance on her palm? 

"Very well," Leonardo growled.

"You all are fired," King Leonardo said next while looking at the staff of Luna Pavillion. He took a pause and then announced in a loud voice. "Princess Beatrice, your butler, and maids have been fired. You need not worry no one would hinder your hunger strike or whatever you are currently doing." 

Before King Leonardo could say anything, the door to the Princess room opened, and out came a, the cutest little human Persephone had ever seen, red wild curly hair, striking hazel eyes and the attitude that could even put King Leonardo to shame. 

The little princess didn't even spare her father a single glance, with a too genuine smile, she gazed at Lady Sabrina and the latter swore that she felt goosebumps over her skin. 

"Greeting to Her Royal Highness, Princess Beatrice of Maisea Empire," Lady Sabrina forced the greeting out of her mouth. She couldn't believe that she was insulted by such a little human. 

Princess Beatrice returned the greeting as per etiquette with a smile and then looking between her father and Lady Sabrina , she said,"Lady Sabrina, since my father has fired all of my maids and Butler, would you mind 'providing a few of your maids'? You have 'yet' to become my stepmother but see my father has coerced me to 'request' maids from you?"

[So fierce]

Persephone had to grasp Giselle's hand to prevent her from falling. Damn, she is a five years old kid? What do they feed these kids? 

On the other hand, Giselle had tightened her grasp on Persephone's hand as she looked at a certain father-daughter figure. She had to force herself not to cry here. 

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[1] Lorata: A fictional city.. All the cities and the names in the Maisean Empire are fictional along with the empire itself.