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Side View: King Rashid of Rienbul
“GET my son and his woman in here this instant! As well as that worthless man’s advisor!”
Curses. This is a disaster.
I knew my son failed to think things through, but he fulfilled his duties without issue, which made me believe he would be all right on his own so long as I gave him an advisor. I was clearly wrong.
I left for duties far from the capital after my son Raheem made Shahrnaz his princess consort and bore him a son. She was meek and considerate, and I suspected she would dedicate herself to supporting Raheem.
I never imagined I’d return to find things like this.
“Search for Shahrnaz and Osman,” I ordered.
“And return them?”
“No. She left because she could no longer bear to be here. I would pity the woman if she were forced to return.”
Nobles who ran from their status once were scorned by society. There was no need to intentionally create a tragedy here.
“I just want you to confirm she’s living somewhere safe. The daughter of a duke will find commoner life difficult. Prepare a small sum to help support her lifestyle as consolation.”
My advisor stepped out, and in came Raheem and the viscount’s daughter, who caused this mess, as well as the two children carrying Raheem’s blood despite being born out of wedlock.
“Father, you must be tired after your long duties away. I have a joyous announcement to give you,” said Raheem, oblivious.
“Captain of the Knights, take the tiara from that woman’s head!” I said. “Bring the treasury’s chamberlain; his head will be removed right here.”
“Father!” Raheem cried.
“What?! What are you doing?! Don’t touch me!” the woman shrieked.
“Your Majesty.” The Captain of the Knights brought the tiara to me after removing it from the woman’s head.
It was, as I thought, a national treasure, a tiara meant to decorate the head of only the queen. It was a gift from me to Shahrnaz.
It was not something that should ever be on this woman’s head.
“I’ve brought the chamberlain,” said a knight. His mouth formed a straight line, and his knees trembled as he led the chamberlain in.
Releasing national treasures from the treasury for use was one of the chamberlain’s duties, meaning the tiara only made it onto that woman’s head because he allowed it despite his duty to protect it.
The law made it clear that failing to administer national treasures appropriately was a crime, regardless of the reason. The chamberlain knew that. That was why his expression was twisted in fear.
“Do you have a defense for your actions?” I demanded.
“…No, Your Majesty. I apologize for failing to carry out the duties you entrusted to me.”
Giving a tiara meant only for the queen to another person was a severe crime, even if Raheem had brandished his authority and forced the chamberlain to open the treasury, even if the chamberlain’s friends or family had been taken hostage. There were no exceptions, as something like this could unfold into an event that could rock the country to its foundation.
“I swear your family will escape the worst of this,” I said. “Out of respect for the fact that, up until now, you have carried out your duties honorably, I shall ensure they receive no less than a certain amount of support.”
“I am grateful for your benevolence, Your Majesty.”
“Do you have any last words for your family?”
“Tell my wife thank you for everything and that I love her. And to please look after the children.”
“As you wish.”
The executioner who came with the chamberlain beheaded him on my order.
“Eeeeeek!”
The woman shrieked at the sight of someone being beheaded right in front of her while the children and Raheem paled.
I picked up the chamberlain’s head after it rolled across the floor and held it out to Raheem. “This is your crime.”
“Mine?” he uttered dumbly.
“Yes, yours. This is what it means to use your authority to have your way. The innocent become the guilty and risk losing everything, up to and including their lives. That is what it means to have power.”
I turned my eyes to the children, and they jumped. I pitied them too much to kill them, but they risked causing war. Perhaps it would be better to keep them close and monitor them rather than send them far away.
Both my fool of a son and this woman were nothing more than masses of greed lusting for power. But they hadn’t committed a crime that justified a death sentence.
I would not be a king if I executed for no reason. I would be a tyrant who would destroy the kingdom.
“Lady Shahrnaz’s family has objected to what has happened,” I said. “Your actions created a rift between us and them. We may be royalty, but we cannot run a country if the nobles refuse to work with us. Royals alone cannot rule a kingdom.”
I had repeatedly told him until I was blue in the face that he needed to treasure his retainers, yet this happened. I’d had my reservations about officially declaring him crown prince, so I hadn’t. That was the right decision.
“I am removing your advisor. And, Raheem, I am removing you from the line of succession for the throne.”
“But Father!”
“Not only did you remove a national treasure from the treasury without the king’s permission, but you also humiliated the princess consort, the daughter of a duke, and even attacked her with accusations of infidelity until she was forced to flee. My decision is appropriate. The guards watched her at all times. She never had time alone. She couldn’t possibly hide an affair. You should know that better than anyone, yet you spread those baseless rumors. I know because I already had it investigated. Shahrnaz was not unfaithful. There is no questioning that Shaghad is your son. He is the successor for the throne.”
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought Prince Shaghad.”
Shaghad came closer, looking uneasy, and I removed a ruby brooch from my chest and pinned it to his. That action sent both Raheem and my retainers reeling. Only that woman and her children didn’t know what was happening.
“Shaghad, this brooch is a national treasure. Our kings have worn it for generations. It is also something to give your dearest beloved.”
“Dearest beloved?”
“The person you love the most.”
By giving him that national treasure, I acknowledged Shaghad as the sole successor to the throne.
But it was a double-edged sword. While it would offer some protection for him, it would also put him in a dangerous position. It was still better than when he had nothing, though.
“Rubies protect their wearer from all dangers and disasters, encourage the growth of an unyielding will, and show the way towards victory in battle,” I said.
I didn’t know what future awaited the two remaining pitiful children. That is not something a king should bother himself with.
“The only successor for the throne of Rienbul is Shaghad,” I declared. “Those two will not be members of the royal family. They are not permitted to take the name Rienbul as their surname.”
“But, Your Majesty, Ismail and Aisha are Raheem’s children,” said the vapid woman, arguing back.
“Which is why I’ll allow them to reside in the royal palace. It would be cruel to separate them from their mother. You may live here as well. I imagine you have nowhere to return to now.”
Apparently, the viscount attempted to disown his daughter out of fear of misdeeds the moment she became pregnant with Raheem’s children, but I wouldn’t allow him.
“The two of you will use the name of your father: Alaban.”
There was no greater humiliation for a woman who truly believed she would become royalty.
“That is all. You are dismissed.”