Chapter 64 - Big Bang

In a corridor in the palace. Some servants were busy decorating the place for the envisaged banquet. They were cleaning and arranging the whole place.

Julia watched from a corner as every activities was ongoing. She was waiting for the moment they would fix the chandeliers.

The table had been decorated and arranged. She saw a big chair at a far head. That was for no one except the Alpha King.

A servant walked in slowly with two chandeliers.

"Careful with that, will you?" another servant advised him.

"These things were heavier than they look" the servant carrying the chandelier complained. He slowly placed it on the table.

"And they cost more than you" the other servant mocked and laughed.

The servant climbed up on the table. He was about fixing the chandelier right above the King's seat.

"You should shift that back a little bit" the other servants warned.

"This is where I was directed to fix it" he shunned his counterparts.

Julia walked slowly out of her hiding towards them.

"The chandeliers" she said loudly and attracted the servants' attention to herself. "Must be fixed in order" she breathed in deep.

"Of course" the servants on the table replied confidently.

"And I think you have mistaken with that order" Julia professed. She carried the other chandelier and lifted it up for the servant.

"I am sorry. I haven't made any mistake. I brought this one here with my right hand. That one should be right above the king" he explained.

"No. This is the one that should be above the King" Julia argued.

"I am very sure of what I am doing right here" the servant was getting angry gradually.

"And so am I, I think you need to think well about this. Take this one and fix it right above the king. That one should hang right above the heir to the throne" she insisted.

"I will not let you confuse me. I was told to hang this one above the king by the heir himself. He entrusted me to that because of my recommendation" he explained. He was obviously not going to agree with Julia.

She had to scare him.

"I think it is only the heir that you need to speak to" Julia put down the other chandelier and walked away slowly.

She looked back and saw the servant. He was still fixing the one he had in his hand.

"I am going to call the heir down here. Then he will judge who is correct or not" she stopped on the way.

"Yes, that will be good. I am certain of what I am doing" he asserted.

"Do not worry. You will say that to him once he comes" Julia continued walking away. She was expecting the servant to apologize.

She heard nothing from him even when she was close to the exit. The servant was obviously a stubborn one. She had to try another method.

"My Lady" the other servant called her just before she could turn around.

"He will fix the one you wanted him to fix. I apologize on his behalf" he begged.

"Do not apologize to me. He has to apologize to the heir to the throne" Julia pretended and continued walking away.

"Please,I beg you with my life" the stubborn servant pleaded.

Julia turned back to them right away. She stared at both of them with wicked eyes.

"You are doubtful of the position I hold in this palace,isn't it?" she asked angrily.

"Spare my life, my lady" the servant knelt on the table and begged.

"If you want your life spared. You remove that one and fix this" she pointed to the chandelier on the table.

"I appreciate, my Lady" he remained on his kneels.

"Do that right now!" she yelled at him and breathed heavily. She stood there watching him as he removed the chandelier and was fixing the one she wanted.

"Now fix that right above the heir seat. He deserved it" she affirmed.

"The servant shakily turned and did as she had directed him.

" I have done it, my Lady" he came down and knelt before her.

"I will let this your act of disrespect slides but not another one will be condoned" she turned and walked away from him.

She heaved a sigh of relief. That was close to being a failed mission. Now the ball had been set rolling. James' fate would be decided by what he wanted for his father and how he had meticulously planned that.

*************

James stood up to address everybody at the banquet.

Michael wondered what he was going to talk about that made him seemed so excited.

James waved both of his hands at everyone present one after the other with a smile.

"I know you are all eager to know the reason behind this banquet. It is not only the timing that is strange. With the things happening in our kingdom, in the palace and the things that has happened to me. This banquet should be a surprise" he paused and looked around again smiling at everyone.

Michael was already bored. What he wished now was to see him feeling the pangs of his own scheme.

"I am grateful to everyone present despite such short notice. And especially to the Alpha King. He abandoned all his schedules just to see me happy" he paused again. "Thank you Father" he bowed slightly.

Michael deduced that he had nothing to say. There was no way he would, of course. This banquet was fake with a hidden agenda against the king.

"Now, I think we should hold on for some moment while we enjoy the food feast that is already coming our way" he clapped and some maidservants came in with varieties of meal.

Michael breathed deeply. He was very happy. James was obviously happy too but he would surely lose all his emotions in few minutes time.

The table were filled and everyone was served.

"Enjoy your meal" James announced with smiles. He turned around and stared at one of the Alpha King's ward standing close. "What are you waiting for?" he scolded him.

"I don't think there is need for that today, James" the Alpha King smiled.

"It is very much needed, Father" James insisted.

"I tender apologies, My Lord" the ward apologized without moving an inch.

"Stop tendering apologies and do what you are supposed to do" James was becoming more tense with it.

"Yes, My Lord" the ward moved over to the Alpha King's side. He took a spoon and collected an item from each plate in the tray served to toe king.

He tasted it one after the other and nodded.

"You know you are very lucky. You are the real king. You eat everything meant for the king before the king" the Alpha King joked and attempted to start eating.

"Father, you should hold on" James said slowly.

"Son, I can't. I have nothing to worry about" he started eating while everyone went on with their food.

Michael was anxious for the moment James had planned to launch his attack on the king's food. He was pondering in his mind how he would get that done.

"Is something wrong with the food?" Queen Teresa asked Michael suddenly.

Michael had mindlessly left his food and focused on the Alpha King and Queen Teresa had obviously noticed that.

"Huh" he sighed. "The food is delicious in every way possible" he laughed.

"You should speak the truth, do not let anything ruin your moment. If you definitely do not like the food. Let's do something about it" James had definitely been listening to them.

"There is nothing improper with this food, brother" Michael salivated to support his words.

Michael wished James should have said something about the King's food instead of his own.

He was expecting when the Alpha King's food would be poisoned.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang from outside. It happened with force that the chandelier started shaking with soft sounds.

Michael smiled. That was James at work. He had successfully poisoned himself thinking he had poisoned the King.

Michael couldn't hide his happiness. There was a broad smile on his face.

"I need to personally check that" James stood up from his seat and moved towards the door. He claimed he wanted to check what had caused the bang

"I don't think that is anything to worry about" Michael quickly opposed to stop him from going outside. He felt James might missed his food and he didn't want that.

"Are you sure?" James inquired anxiously. "That's one hell of a big bang" he grumbled.

"It is not a hell of a big bang. We are still intact. It only got the chandeliers shaking and I love the soft music that they produced" Michael wanted to make sure he brought back James to his food.

"Okay, I have agreed with you" he walked back to his seat and continued with his food.

Michael tried not to stare at him to avoid suspicion. He made his ear attentive to when the poison would start working.

"Argh!!! No" James groaned and fell off his seat.

Michael heaved a sigh of relief as everyone rush to aid James.