Prince Derrick limped through the castle corridors, his back aching from the lashes he had just received a while ago.
The memory of the jeers and laughter from the crowd still stung, but he knew he had brought this upon himself.
He had let his temper get the better of him, and now he was paying the price.
Nevertheless Arthur was the real cause of his problem. The reason why he was sent to the stocks.
As he reached his mother's chambers, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead.
He then knocked softly on the door, and a gentle voice bid him enter.
"Come in."
Derrick swiftly but painfully made his way into the room.
Queen Jasmine, resplendent in her silk robes, looked up from her needlework, a mixture of concern and indignation on her face.
"Derrick how are... what in the hell happened to you?"
Queen Jasmine who was warmly welcoming her son as usual, suddenly changed her tone upon seeing her son limping in.
"It's nothing, mother. Relax." Derrick said trying to avoid the issue.
But Queen Jasmine wasn't buying it at all.
"Don't give me that it's fine attitude. Tell me what the hell happened to you, why are you limping? Did you get yourself injured or something?"
Prince Derrick sighed.
"It's all because of Arthur. It's his fault." Derrick answered, still holding a grudge at Arthur.
"And what has that wretched woman's son done to you this time?" Queen Jasmine asked, rising from her seat as she took in the sight of her son's bruised and weary appearance.
Prince Derrick sighed, shamefaced.
"I...I got into a bit of trouble at Prince Arthur's birthday banquet, Mother," he admitted, his eyes dropping to the floor.
"More like a clash." he added.
Queen Jasmine's expression turned stern, her eyes flashing with anger.
"Tell me what happened, Derrick. I need to know the full details."
Derrick hesitated, reluctant to relive the humiliation.
But he knew he had to be honest with his mother, as he couldn't withstand her wrath.
"I saw Claire Wilson flirting with Prince Arthur, and...I lost my temper. I made a scene, and...and I was arrested and whipped."
Queen Jasmine's face softened, and she opened her arms.
"Oh, Derrick, my poor boy. You're too good for that insipid little thing. Come to think of it, isn't she the maiden you mentioned about the last time?"
"Yes mother."
"You see it! I remember telling you that she's not worth your attention, but you wouldn't listen. Have you seen where it has landed you?"
"And that Arthur of a boy is really getting on my nerves. He's just trying to steal everything from you, as usual."
Derrick walked into his mother's arms, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude.
He knew his mother would always have his back, no matter what.
"Don't worry, Mother," he said, his voice muffled against her shoulder.
"I'll be more careful next time."
Queen Jasmine stroked his hair, a sly smile spreading across her face.
"You better be. I don't want this repeating itself again. And as for that wretch of a boy, leave him for me, I know how to handle him."
Prince Derrick pulled away from his mother's arms, his eyes flashing with anger.
"There's no need to stress yourself mother. I will definitely get back at him." he muttered, his voice low and venomous.
"I'll make him pay for humiliating me like this. He's always been testing my patience, always acting like the perfect one, the perfect prince, but I'll show him that I'm not to be trifled with."
Queen Jasmine's expression brightened up.
"Now that's what am talking about. Feel free to take whatever action you have in mind. I am solidly behind you."
"Thanks mother." Derrick replied happily.
Just then, Dehlia, Queen Jasmine's maid, entered the room with a small bowl of soothing ointment and a gentle smile.
"Your Majesty, I brought the ointment as you requested," she said, curtsying before the Queen.
Queen Jasmine immediately took the bowl from Dehlia and gently began to apply the ointment to Prince Derrick's bruised back.
"This will help ease the pain, Derrick," she said softly.
"And remember, revenge is best served cold. You must learn to strike at a time when your enemies lest expected it."
"I understand mother."
As his mother continued to tend to his wounds, Prince Derrick's mind began to whirl with schemes and plans, each one more daring and reckless than the last.
He would show Prince Arthur that he was not to be underestimated, and he would make sure that Claire Wilson know the consequences of her messing with him really are.
If he can't have her, then she should prepare to join the convent, as no man would ever have the liberty of having her for himself. That he would ensure.
...
Queen Jasmine stormed through the castle corridors, her anger and sense of injustice boiling over.
She had just finished tending to her son's injuries, and having sent him back to his chambers, decided to go see the king for what she calls "an unfair treatment" being dished out to her son.
She was determined to give the King a piece of her mind.
She burst into the King's chambers without knocking, her eyes blazing with fury.
But the scene that greeted her made her blood run cold.
The King, her husband, was lying on the bed together with her rival, Queen Cordelia, encompassed in a compromising position, his lips pressed against hers in a passionate kiss.
Queen Jasmine's eyes widened in shock and outrage.
How dare he!
She had been a faithful wife, bearing him not just one son, but six sons.
She had also done her best in serving him as a good Queen should.
But this was how he repaid her?
By frolicking with that...that...she couldn't even bring herself to say the words.
Her anger and jealousy boiled over, and she turned on her heel, storming out of the King's chambers, making a beeline for Prince Arthur's chambers.
She burst in without knocking, her face twisted with rage.
Prince Arthur, sitting at his desk, looked up in surprise, but Queen Jasmine barely registered his presence.
"You!" she spat, her voice venomous.
"You're the reason for my son being treated so unfairly today! You're the one who's always been favored, who's always got everything handed to him on a silver platen! Making you feel smugged right?
"Well, let me tell you, Prince Arthur, I'm not going to stand for it anymore!"
Prince Arthur's eyes widened in alarm as Queen Jasmine advanced on him, her hands waving wildly in the air.
Being the one who's always favored?
Since when?
For all he could remember, he had always been the one who has been treated so unfairly amongst all his brothers.
"Mother, please, calm down," he said, rising from his seat.
But Queen Jasmine was beyond reason. She was consumed by her own anger and jealousy, and she was determined to take it out on Prince Arthur.
Smack!
Queen Jasmine's slap echoed through the room, leaving Prince Arthur stunned.
Princess Crystabel, who happened to witness everything upon entering into her brother's chambers immediately enraged.
"How dare you!" Princess Crystabel exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger as she rushed to her brother's side.
She stood face to face with Queen Jasmine, as if challenging her authority.
"You have no right to hit him! You stand here complaining about how unfairly your son was being treated today. But the truth is, if you had kept your own son in check, he wouldn't have been punished in the first place!"
Queen Jasmine's face turned red with rage.
"How dare you speak to me like that, you insolent child!" she spat.
"You don't know anything about what's going on, and you should be grateful that I'm not taking it out on you!"
Princess Crystabel stood her ground, her voice rising. "
I'm not afraid of you, Queen Jasmine, and I'm not going to let you bully my brother. Prince Derrick and his brothers has been bullying Arthur for years, and it's only now that he's finally been punished for his misbehavior. You're just angry because you're all used to getting your way, and you're not used to your precious son being held accountable!"
Queen Jasmine's eyes narrowed, and she took a step forward, her hand raised to strike Princess Crystabel.
But before she could, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, holding her back.
"Enough, Mother," a deep voice said, as Prince Erics held his mother in place.
"You've done enough damage for one day. Leave Crystabel and Arthur alone."
Queen Jasmine struggled against her son's grip, her face twisted with rage.
"Are you also going to support them?" she asks.
Prince Erics says nothing.
This only made Queen Jasmine angry the more.
"Erics I command you to let go of me!"
But Prince Erics held firm, his expression stern. "No, Mother. You're not going to intimidate anyone else today. It's time you calmed down and remembered your place. Have you even thought how father would react upon hearing this kind of news?"
"And do I look like I care?!"
"But you should. We all know how hot-tempered father could be when he's angry." Erics retorted back.
The room was tense with anger and resentment, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved conflicts.
Queen Jasmine's chest heaved with rage, but she knew she was no match for her son's strength and determination.
She allowed herself to be pulled away, her eyes shooting daggers at Princess Crystabel and Prince Arthur as she was pulled out.
Princess Crystabel gently took Prince Arthur's face in her hands, examining the red mark on his cheek where Queen Jasmine had slapped him.
"Are you okay, Arthur?" she asked softly, her eyes filled with concern.
Prince Arthur gave her a small smile, trying to reassure her.
"I'm fine, Crystal. It's actually nothing to worry about."
Princess Crystabel's expression turned stern.
"You shouldn't have to get used to being treated like this, Arthur. You're a prince, and you deserve to be treated with respect. Queen Jasmine has no right to speak or to you like that, let alone hit you."
Prince Arthur shrugged, trying to brush it off.
"It's not the first time, Crystal. And it definitely won't be the last. I'm used to it."
Princess Crystabel's eyes welled up with tears, but she held them back, not wanting to upset her brother further.
"Well, you're not alone, Arthur. I'm here for you, always. Now, go take a nice hot bath and relax. You've had a long day."
Prince Arthur nodded, giving her a small smile before heading to his washroom to freshen up.
As soon as he was gone, Princess Crystabel's expression turned sad. She walked over to the table where she had placed the gift she had prepared for Prince Arthur's birthday, a small, intricately carved wooden box.
She had planned to give it to him earlier, but with everything that had happened, she had forgotten.
She picked up the box, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings.
She had made it herself, spending hours sanding and polishing the wood to get it just right. She hoped Arthur would like it.
With a sigh, she placed the gift back on the table, deciding to give it to him later when he was feeling better.
She turned to leave, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of her brother, but he was still in the washroom.
As she walked out of the room, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
The tension in the castle was palpable, and she knew it was only a matter of time before things boiled over.
She just hoped that her brother would be okay in the meantime.