The Wicked Crown

Chapter 8: Assessment

This story had been on-hold for a long time. A gentle reminder from the author to please re-read the story to familiarize yourself with the details before reading this update. Thank you!

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Chapter 8: Assessment

The second prince wants to be the king.

Kung narinig ko ito noong nasa village pa ako, iisipin kong nababaliw ang sino mang nagsabi nito. Prince Keegan is known to be vile, wicked, and selfish. Hindi iaasa ng mga tao ang buong kaharian sa kanya.

Pero kung ito ang hangarin niya at isa ako sa mga nagt-trabaho para sa kanya, ito ang magiging hangarin ko.

Kasalukuyan kong hinihintay si Hera sa isa sa mga kwarto sa Wicket Hall. Ngayong araw opisyal na magsisimula ang training ko bilang  isang sentry. I need a lot of polishing to do. My skill is as good as a rickety steel door covered in rust.

Pinagmasdan ko ang kwarto kung nasaan ako. Makikita ito sa underground ng Wicket Hall, the official residence of the second prince. Ilan lang ang pintong makikita sa madilim na corridor at isa ang kwartong ito sa likod ng makakapal na bakal na pinto.

There's nothing inside the room except for the cold stone wall and smooth stone floor. It's a gigantic empty room that can fit a hundred people inside. Hindi na ako magtataka na may ganitong klase ng estraktura sa loob ng palasyo. The Nightcourt basically consumes one third of the entire city of Epolla.

Ang mga nakita ko nitong mga nakaraang araw sa palasyo— the main castle building, the maze garden and courtyards, the dungeon— there  were nothing but scratch on the surface. Kung magtatagal ako sa lugar na ito, kailangan kong pag-aralan ang pasikot-sikot ng palasyo before I find myself lost in its nasty corners.

Bumukas ang bakal na pinto at pumasok si Hera. Pinagmasdan niya ang ayos ko. Suot ko ang isang itim na uniform tulad ng sa kanya— a comfortable fitted pants and black jacket-like top kung saan malaya akong nakakalagaw. There are also small pockets and compartments where one can sneak small weapons. Hera's long hair was in an a top knot while my short hair remained grazing my shoulders.

"You look prepared for a physical training," puna niya bago lumapit sa'kin.

"Kaya tayo nandito, hindi ba?" My voice echoed inside the empty room.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo sabay halukipkip ng mga braso. "May alam ka na ba sa mga kaya mong gawin for you to aim for a physical  training?"

I couldn't help the glare that shoot from my eyes. Then what are we doing here?

Hera placed one of her palms against the stone wall and exerted a small amount of force to push it. May kumalas mula sa batong pader at unti-unti itong gumalaw, revealing what seems to be a dim narrow corridor behind the wall.

Naglaho ang pag-aalinlangan ko dahil sa pagkabigla. Agad kong sinundan si Hera papasok sa makitid na corridor, into a hidden room inside the large empty training room.

A long glass table was occupying most of the space in the rectangular room where a gigantic map of the kingdom was spread beneath the  glass. Ilang silya ang nakapalibot sa mahabang mesa. Attached to the walls were the floor-to-ceiling shelves that housed hundreds of books  and paper scrolls. Some of the scrolls were spread open on the table where I can see the writings, tags, and pins of places I wasn't even familiar of.

Hera watched me marvel at the room's find details. "We call this the strategy room," she mentioned. "The other rooms are mainly to keep weapons."

She motioned for me to sit in one of the armed chair surrounding the table.