Chapter 20: coward

" Diana " the queen called and Diana just give her cold shoulders. She is not in the mood to talk about her manners. She just want to get what she wants from her father and go back to her room.
" Helen, leave us alone for now" the king said and queen Helen's face turned grim. She can't believe Hector is actually asking her to leave them alone. She really don't know when she becomes a barrier to their conversations.
She give Diana a sinister look and the king a glare before walking away furiously with her maids trying to catch up with her.
" So what was that all about?" King Hector asked strictly and Diana flinch at her father's cold voice.
She gulp down very hard and shift her buttocks in the chair before looking her father in the eyes.
" I don't know what you are talking about father!" Diana said acting dumb and king Hector raised his brows at her and Diana look at him with poppy eyes.
He really don't like it when she acts dumb. He wants her to face her fears and admit her wits and not running from them.
" I expect you to face your fears and admit your wits and not running from them by acting dumb or ignorant. A good leader must face his or her fears and admit all his wits and not running from them like a coward!" King Hector lecture her and Diana became remorseful. She thought she can escape that question by acting dumb but a true leader must have to answer all the questions of his subjects and not running away from them like a coward.
" Only a coward will escape her mistake and ignore her subjects questions by acting dumb and a dumb person can never be a ruler. The people won't want someone who is weak to be their ruler. They want someone that is strong enough to face the fears that comes and look for a solution to it so that her province can be in peace." King Hector voice sounds through the entire hall and Diana can feel every bit of his words on her skin and in her chest.
Her father's words almost turned her pale with her tiny lip presses together. She took his words into consideration and see herself as a little coward. If she is to rule the kingdom today will she run from their questions and complaints? No, that will only make her a coward.
She felt her eyes welling up but then she remember she is in the presence of the king of Alvanor. She needs to be strong and not show her weakness before him before she receives another lecture that will make her forget her goal for the night.
She bite her bottom lip and held the tears back with her eyes burning. She dare not blink because if she does,all her effort will be a waste. The tears she is holding back will force themselves out and then she will have to receive some nagging and lectures from her father.
King Hector saw how hard she is trying to hold back her tears. He was glad his words got into her and she took them into consideration.
Diana felt her throat becoming dry and she immediately filled her cup with water and gulp it all down in a go before sighing lightly with her chest rising and falling rhythmically. King Hector observe her for a while and then conclude in his mind that she still has a lot of things to learn apart from being a princess.
" You did a little job by holding back your emotions but you still have alot to learn apart from being a princess" king Hector said with a straight face and Diana nod her head and gulping hard at the same time. Sometimes she wonder how her father got his terrifying presence from. His voice can send the spirit of the ghosts wandering around back to their Graves and his presence alone can make nation bow at his feet. She guess this is where she gets here rare aura from. From her father.
"So what was that all about?" King Hector asked again and Diana shuddered. Did she actually think the king is going to let that slip easily? No she is wrong. By now she should have know her father very well. She should have known how he handles things.
" I was just mad. I'm mad at all of them including mother. That's what it's all about" Diana said with a straight face and one could tell she is truly angry at all of them. She just want to put them in their place and that is all. She can't just sit there and watch Sarah and her husband Claudius talk ill of her. She has no tolerance for people like them.
" You have to keep your temper in check and know when to unleash it. Talking back and insulting Claudius and Sarah won't get you out of the mess you are in right now. Just focus on yourself and think of how you can clear you name and get yourself out of this before your birthday" king Hector tells her with a firm and calm voice and Diana looked at his face. She wonder what she will do without her father.
" Thank you Father" she said bowing her head slightly and king Hector just nod his head.
" Father can i ask you something?" Diana request and king Hector raised his brow before giving her a nod to continue.
Diana breathe in and out and try to calm her racing heart before she speaks. She really want to calm down first before she says anything to avoid any sign of weakness.
" Where is Irene kept and what is her fate?" Diana asked with her eardrum side open and her eyes glistering under the lamps. She just want to hear a positive response from her father and she really can't wait to hear it.