Chapter 5

The time displayed on the clock was about two-thirty a.m. Outside it was a dark moon less night. The entire palace was asleep. The only ones to be awake at this time was the night securities on duty.

Inside the king and queen bedchamber…

The couple were already nestles underneath the thick fur comforter. King Haruka had his eyes closed. He was fast asleep. His light snores were the only source of sound besides the tick-tock of the clock. Beside him his wife lay fully awake. Her soft eyes remained wife open. She was blankly staring at the ceiling. There was no ounce of sleep in her eyes.

For a moment she turned her face and watched her husband sleep with envious gaze. A part of her wondered how this man was able to get such peaceful sleep during such crucial time. Rido wasn't just her son. He was his offspring too. His first born!

It has been few days since they learned about this horrific news. And since that night Juri Kuran has lost her night's sleep. Every day she braces herself to break the news to him, her precious boy. But every time she back away at the last moment in fear.

The doctors suspect his condition is result of some sort of poisoning. Which diluted his seeds and took away his ability to have children. Even though doctor Ruka personally assured her that she will keep on working on finding its cure. But the chances of positive results are relatively low.

Next morning:

"Have you talked to Rido about his condition yet?" it was the first thing King Haruka asked his wife after sitting down for breakfast in their private quarter.

"I don't know what to say to him." The queen responded pouring her husband a cup of tea.

"Juri… Rido is a grown man. He has to understand. If you continue to keep him in the darkness, he will go berserk when I will declare Kaname as the next in line after me."

"No Haruka!" his wife exclaimed borderline shouting. "You cannot do that." And cried out in protest. "Rido is our first-born. It's his birth right to be the king. We can't take that away from him… Besides Kaname has been quite vocal from the beginning regarding his dis-interest on the throne."

"Juri at this point we can no longer rely on who wants what-"

"You will not betray Rido. I won't allow you to do that… is that understood."

King Haruka was able to detect the cold threat underneath those words. He was smart enough to understand what kind of game his wife was playing. So he demanded calmly.

"Rido can only claim the throne if he has an heir to succeed him. So how would you possibly make him have a child?"

The queen quieted down. The expression of her face indicated she was in deep thought. Soon an uncomfortable silence fell between the royal couple; which neither of them dared to break. It was almost like the first to speak will the first to lose the silent war.

"You are so mean Kaname-sama!" a familiar voice drifted into their room.

Haruka and Juri shared a confused look while the voice kept getting louder and louder in the background. They recognized the voice. It belonged to their daughter in law. Why was she screaming at their son?

"Your wife will be one unlucky woman…I pray that you never find yourself a beautiful bride… she will be ugly as cow…"

Juri was the first to get up from her seat and walk towards the window to check the matter out. Her husband followed closely behind. The elderly couple stood by the window and watched as their daughter in law continued to scream at her brother in law like some rioting villager. While he simply kept ignoring her, keeping his focus solely on the book in hand.

"Are you listening!?" she demanded. "…have you heard a single word that I just said?"

"Can you not find anything better to do, other than bothering me? I'm getting tired." Kaname taunted, without even looking up from his book. And that snarky response made the person with him snap and act a little irrationally where he went forwards, snatched the book from his grip and threw it somewhere behind.

Of course Kaname threw her a heated glare but she was way too mad at him to care. The glaring at each continued for a while and went on till the prince gave up with a sigh. Then turned on his heels to retrieve the book and resume back to his reading.

Back in the king's chamber:

"Do they always fight like this?" the king inquired giving his wife the curious look.

"Ever since Yuki got married this girl spend most of her time pestering Kaname." She replied, her eyes still glued on the younger ones in the garden. "That boy sure has a lot of patience... I see him putting up with her tantrums every day."

"I guess that is good in way," King Haruka commented looking outside, again. "…she at least has someone who is there for her directly or indirectly…"

As the king continued to speak the queen had her eyes turn wide when the sudden realization hit her.

"Haruka…" she cut her husband off mid-way. "…why don't we ask Kaname to help?"

The king was caught off guard seeing sudden excitement in his queen's eyes. So he asked, confused.

"What do you mean…Juri?"

…

Kaname knocked and patiently waited outside his father's door – till a deep voice from inside summed him in.

Opening the door Kaname actually stepped into a rather surprising sight. His father wasn't alone. His mother and grand-mother were also there. Even his sister in law was present. She was standing by the corner with a complete clueless face.

"Kaname please take a seat." His father offered.

After a through scan of the room, the young prince did as he told. Then focused his attention on the elders, eyeing them suspiciously. They were up to no good. The fact was reflected on their greedy eyes.

"Have you slept well last night dear?" his mother asked flashing him a tender. Her voice suddenly so full of concern for his well-being. Which only meant one thing – she definitely needs something from him.

"Why have I been summoned, that too at such an early hour of the morning?" Kaname questioned his father, suddenly becoming wary of his surroundings. His mother and grand-mother's worried eyes didn't sit well with him. Their gaze appeared too needy for some reason.

"Aiyora dear why are you standing there..." the queen suddenly called out her daughter in law and invited her. "…come take a seat."

The young princess was about to sit down on one of the empty chairs only to have the queen-mother interrupt this time.

"Why sit so far? Take the seat here…" Kaname took notice that his grand-mother was pointing towards the empty space beside him.

"Beside Kaname." She even said that out loud.

Although he kept a straight face upfront but inside he was staring to panic. He had an ominous feeling about all these.

His father spoke after Aiyora sat down beside Kaname.

"I'm sure you both are wondering why we have called for you at such an odd hour."

King Haruka was the one who started but his wife Juri took it from there.

"Doctor Ruka brought in the report last week."

Aiyora tensed at that revelation. The blood in her veins ran cold. Her heart stopped beating momentarily, and then few seconds later the only sound she was hear was the drumming of her heartrate.

"Aiyora," all focus was now on her, everyone there was just looking at her now. Making the girl gulp nervously.

"The queen-mother and I would like to apologize for being so hard on you all these time. We pointed fingers at you without realizing that you were not the one at fault. We tried to put the blame on you when it wasn't your fault to being with…"

'Where is this going?' Kaname thought mentally. After all his mother isn't the type to be so humble. Unless there is some agenda.

"As per the medical report it is not you at fault my child. It is my son who has the main issue."

There was a whole minute of silence after Juri finished. Till Kaname took the initiative to break this silence.

"Is his condition not curable?"

"The doctors are doing their best but the chances are completely low."

"Is he aware about it?"

"We haven't told him anything and would prefer to keep it that way. Also we would ask you both to keep silence in this matter."

For some reason Kaname wasn't surprised. It was his mother old habit to keep Rido shielded from everything.

"What role must I play during this crisis?"

"Now we depend on you Kaname."

"My duty being?"

"It is your responsibility to produce an heir on behalf of Rido."

"I thought I made it clear, I have no interest in the throne."

"Nobody is asking you to sit on the throne!" His mother exclaimed. "You are being asked to produce an heir for Rido."

"Excuse me!?"

Aiyora's gasped, finally grasping onto the conversation.

"And if I refuse?" Kaname asked skeptically.

I don't think you stand in a position to do so." This time his father cut in. "It is your duty towards your family. It is an obligation that you have towards your nation and your people."

And on that note the conversation ended there.

The decision was made.

And their fate was sealed.

a.n. thank you all for reading hope you enjoyed.