A day of reckoning

Brock took slow steps toward the mansion where his parents were busy preparing to embark on trip to Iduim kingdom to discuss about his supposed impending marriage to Rose the daughter of the warrior king.

His parent had arranged his engagement to Rose Belmoth without his knowledge indifferent to his thoughts and opinion on the matter. He had only learnt about it a year ago. At first, he thought that it was a joke, a cruel joke at that. He had chuckled at the mention of his engagement to Rose upon his return to the palace for Daniel’s birthday.

I mean which parent takes such life altering decisions on behalf of their son without his knowledge, he thought to himself.

But the stern expression of his father and the solemn look he saw on his mother’s face left his mouth wide agape as the realization dawned on him that this was not a joke.

Although arranged marriage had been widely practiced by the Royal House in time past. The practice had been phased away hundreds of years ago when a girl almost killed herself because she was betrothed to a man whom she hated with passion by her step father who never had her best interest at heart.

This incident caused a great stir in the old Zaza Empire and the news spread like wide fire across the entire kingdom. Whispers of despair by unmarried ladies who feared the same fate as the girl who was saved by a palace guard who happened to be in the village at the time.

“What if the palace guard had not spotted her on time?” asked a young woman to another lady who was standing beside her.

“We will no doubt be looking at a corpse right now” replied another lady who was also standing on the sideline watching the commotion that had erupted.

When the news got to the palace, the king called his council in chiefs and passed a decree that without the consent of the individual involved, no marriage should be arranged or held in absentia. Brock remembered the story so well, as it was recorded in the archives of the royal house.

“Look who is back” Queen Malti exclaimed with a smile on her face.

“We were getting a bit worried as we couldn’t reach you and you weren’t at the hospital. I was told that even your new personal assistant wasn’t at work either” she muttered.

Brock’s interest piqued on hearing his mother’s words. Something was definitely up with the way his mother was acting and the need to suddenly push his wedding plans forward without any warning. The surprise engagement was supposed to be held at the palace this weekend, but seems like his mother wanted to convert it to his wedding Brock thought to himself.

“How interesting that you’re now paying attention to my interests and even my employees. What an attentive mother I have” commented Brock with a sarcastic smile.

This made his mother purse her lips. “Of course I’ve always paid attention to your interests, your likes and dislikes ever since you were a child” retorted Queen Malti, displeased with Brock’s words. Although, what Brock said seemed like a compliment, Queen Multi knew that it meant the opposite.

Brock walked towards the chair at the opposite side of the room. He discarded his coat messaging his forehead with his palms as if he had a headache.

“If you really cared about my likes and interests, you will not be forcing Rose down my throat even when I’ve told you times without number that I have no interest in making her my wife. You wouldn’t be making plans for my engagement and marriage without considering my feelings or asking for my opinions” Brock spat out in annoyance.

In time past, he had followed all his parent’s instructions and had performed his duty both as a son and as crown prince of Zaza. He had put the nation and his family happiness before his own. Not only has he dedicated ten years of his life to military service but also to his princely duties.

This was the only request he had asked of his parent. To allow him choose his own bride and there was no issue with his request or so he thought not until his parents and the elders of Zaza became interested in his love life.

Fred had suggested that he becomes a playboy to throw his parents and the elders of his back and trail until he was able to find the mysterious girl that had captured his soul just by the river back.Brock had discarded the idea as being unrealistic as this will give his parents and the elders more reasons to pressurize him into marrying Rose.

Queen Malti and the King were taken aback by their son’s words. Their expression was passive, shock written all over their faces before masking it. The king looked at his wife who seemed to be in a daze as this was the first time Brock ever spoke to her in such tone. She was finding it hard to digest.

He cleared his throat trying to diffuse the tension that had serenaded the room before turning his gaze to Brock. A look into his cold eyes told him Brock was not backing down on his words and this made him sad.

He hated the situation they found themselves in but a promise made between two kings is not one to be discarded easily without grave consequences he thought.

“Son, it is for the benefit of Zaza” said his father “Rose is a beautiful girl with good characters. She is not a stranger as she was a close acquaintance of…of your late sister Daniella. You know she was very fond of her and wished she would become a part of the family” continued King Ebud.

Since his wife’s approach had been more direct and forceful, he decided to try another approach to get Brock to agree to this marriage as they had already given their promise.

Although now that he thought of it, he knew that it was wrong for them to have made that hasty decision without considering Brock’s feelings. But then, the decision was taken in a spur of the moment in order to solidify the military strength of Zaza as the forces against them were enormous.

His memory took him back to that dreadful period that had plunged their peaceful kingdom into a state of pandemonium because of a tale of treasures that gives the owner the ability to rule over all the kingdoms as the undisputed high king of all lands.

“Our good brother is having a hard time fending off the invaders that had invaded their land and seek to extinguish the flaming light of the great Zaza Empire. Although we have no tie with each other, he is our brother whom we have shared peaceful relations with. We will not allow the greed of a few selfish king who thirst for blood and power succeed in their mission, we stand with them against all enemies” declared Olu Belmoth as he was formally called.

“My king” said one of the elders who had grey hairs and wore regal sash around his waist. “We cannot put our citizen’s lives at risk to meddle in a fight that does not concern us”

“What nonsense are you saying” Olu Belmoth bellowed at the words of the elder.

“My king” said another official that was dressed in grey. “I agree with elder Zeus, we cannot involve ourselves in a fight that will be detrimental to our people when we have no ties whatsoever with them. Please reconsider your decision” protested the high council member.

“Reconsider your decision sire” echoed the voices of the remaining high elders that were present in the court room. On seeing the situation and not wanting an uproar thought a solution to salvage the situation.