169 The Challenge

CHAPTER 169

"Father!" Prince Owen protested.

"As you wish my King," Cullen replied calmly, looking dutiful.

"I have teachers for that and I am good myself."

"True, but that has changed. I need you to be the best you can be. Cullen, I can trust that you would teach him with utmost diligence?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I promise to teach the Prince all I know."

"Perfect then," he said and turned to Prince Owen. "As for matters of state, it would be handled strictly by Gerald, starting from tomorrow."

"But father, I object to this arrangement. I do not see the need for all these changes, seeing as I have the right teachers for these."

"Until when are you going to learn that everything I do, I do for your own good?" King Bayard said in anger, rising up from his chair and slamming his hand on the table with a strong force.

Owen flinched a bit, while Cullen sat there strong and unmoved by any of their outbursts.

"Who made a mess that is causing Lords and Ministers to fly into my throne room every hour of the day and giving me a headache?"

Prince Owen couldn't refute his words and had his eyes down. Indeed he had caused a huge mistake and as I that wasn't enough, he challenged his sister and she won.

"Or have you forgotten how your mouth ran in front of Cyrena? She did what you couldn't do. Who do you think the people and Ministers are on their side? That is why I need Cullen to teach you everything he knows and fine-tune you into a worthy Crown Prince, as well as Gerald."

His hand formed into a fist as he impaled the table under the force of his punch and wrath. No one spoke again, everywhere became silent. Right now Bayard exuded a strong aura that seemed to make the air dense.

He inhaled sharply and released his breath slowly this time. What was he going to do with this son of his? After a minute of silence, he continued speaking.

"You must gain your honour back, solve dispute wisely, and learn to take advice. Try and win back the people's heart and favour as well as the Ministers. You are lucky that your mother still has people supporting her and would want to ensure you sit on the throne."

'If you had controlled yourself father, we wouldn't be in this mess since it is because of your infidelity that I have to suffer now.' Prince Owen thought.

"By birthright, it is mine. I am the rightful heir to the throne, father."

"And it can change. You never thought about that before going up against your stepmother."

"She is not my stepmother, you never even married her," Prince Owen slightly raised his voice at his father. 

"Besides, I didn't go up against her. I only told her daughter that matters of state aren't places for women."

"And how did that turn out for you? She proved you wrong and to be better than you in handling such matters." King Bayard said as a matter of fact.

Cullen decided to stay silent and not get involved in the father and son banter.

He wondered why King Bayard still bothered himself to argue with his son when he was clearly at fault and did not cherish what everyone did for him.

'It is going to be troublesome dealing with this Prince.'

"Right," Owen replied more calmly than all his rash words some minutes ago.

King Bayard rubbed his temple with his fingers, trying to ease his stress away. "Owen, my decision is final. I would hear no more of this."

"Fine, but on one condition."

"Do you think you are in a position to bargain for anything? What kind of a son did I give birth to?"

\u003cAuthor: One of a kind, King Bayard.\u003e

\u003cKing Bayard: Why did you choose to torment me with such reckless, stupid son?\u003e

\u003cAuthor: I don't know. He takes after you.\u003e

"I just do not think he is qualified enough to be my teacher. I can defeat him," Prince Owen said, pointing at Cullen.

0_0…..

Cullen couldn't believe his ears. What was Prince Owen saying? 'Like heck, you are qualified to be my student either, not to speak of winning a match against me.' Cullen said inwardly.

"Fine, Prince Owen. Since you think I am not qualified and you can defeat me, only a match would solve this crisis."

"What are you suggesting?"

"I am suggesting what it means. We would have a match, your highness. If you win, I would accept you as my teacher instead and if I win, you would accept his Majesty's order."

"Okay, I accept the challenge. Tomorrow at noon," Prince Owe stretched his hand at Cullen as he spoke.

Cullen got up and shook the Prince's hand. "A deal it is. Tomorrow at noon."

Satisfied by the outcome, King Bayard grinned at the pair before pronouncing his verdict. "And I would pick out the weapons to be used for the match and what your match would be on."

"What would be the challenge?" Prince Owen asked.

"You would know what the test would be based on tomorrow at noon," King Bayard replied. "Now, you may leave and go prepare for tomorrows fight."

"Yes, father."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

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LADY ERWINA'S CHAMBERS

In the big chambers of Lady Erwina, three people are seen sitting and talking about something. There were two ladies and a man. The look on the older ladies face, showed great displeasure as the man spoke.

The younger lady, on the other hand, sat quietly as she watched the elderly ones banter it out.

"Lord Ferdinand, this was an easy task for you to do, how come you let Bayard trick you into letting it go?" Lady Erwina said with a frown causing her stunning face to wrinkle a bit.

"Oh, Erwina, you speak as though you do not know the King," Lord Ferdinand replied her. His brows were drawn together as a frown marred his handsome face.

"I do father, but it still doesn't change a thing. Bayard found a way to evade this. You were my last card. You know I can never go show my face to him and request such, it would be too obvious, father."

By now she had forgotten her elegance and shifted out, towards the edge of the chair she sat on. She was desperate. She didn't want to fail. This was a golden opportunity.

"I cannot miss such an opportunity."

"More will come, Erwina."

"Do you just expect me to sit down and watch as that woman's son take over the throne when Bayard finally pass away? No, father. I won't do that. He would never allow us to see the break of the new day once he is king."

"Erwina compose yourself. Where are your elegance and grace? Look at your daughter, she is taking the whole situation well," Lord Ferdinand said, his gaze shifting to his granddaughter by his side.

"Is she? She worked out herself to put her brother to shame, so how can I fail her now and let this chance pass us by? I promised her to use this to our advantage, father. I cannot let this matter go down like that and allow Bayard to do as he please."

She stood up at her last statement, her voice a little bit loud and authoritative. Her eyes burned with hatred and anger at the thought of losing a chance to deal with Owen.

"No one is letting anyone do as he pleases. I never said I had given up."

At the mention of Lord Ferdinand not giving up, Lady Erwina's lips curved into a side smile. That was what she was talking about.

"I would let Bayard think we have dropped the issue and bring it up a second time. This time, with more force and backing of the people."

That is more like it, father. Now that we are on the same page. What do you intend on doing to cause the people to side with you?"

"Not everyone knows about My Brandon being the thief and the prince behind the unsuccessful attack."

"Excellent. To make it perfect, spread rumours about the situation to the people. And let everyone know that Cyrena was the saviour that vindicated Mr Greg from severe punishment. Pay people to incite the news and not let the rumour rests. Let them ask for a suitable punishment to remove Owen from Crown Prince."

"No, mother. We should not let them ask for their Prince to be punished. It would point all fingers at us and we cannot afford for the people to think this is a conspiracy against the throne," a small voice said from the side.

Both heads turned in the direction the voice came from. It was none other than Princess Cyrena.

"That is true," Lady Erwina said after some thoughts on it. "Spoken well, daughter. That is a nice plan."