The queen sat in front of her vanity brushing red locks diligently. Her focus seemed solely on the movements of the comb running through her hair. It wasn't until her dear husband, the king, walked into their room that her attention shifted, if only for a moment.

Looking to him in her mirrors reflection she said, "My king, is all well?"

Heaving a big sigh, the king sat heavily on the bed.

Sinking into its comforts. "This world is mad, love. There isn't a part in it that remains untouched."

"Surely that isn't true, dear. After all we have two wonderful sons, the eldest is a fit successor."

The king scoffed, "the brat still clings to naive ideals. The sooner he learns the better."

"Of course."

Standing from her chair the queen strolled leisurely towards her king. Slowly draping herself over him she leaned down and whispered, "does my king wish for relief?" Her hands roamed the kings body effortlessly taking piece after piece of clothing off. Before long the kind laid bare before her a sense of satisfaction resonating from him.

He place his hands on her waist and slowly pulled her night wear up and off of her. "My queen, nothing would please me more." His hands cupped her face bringing her forwards for a long sensual kiss. He moaned in pleasure as she teased his skin, running her nails lightly over his chest. A warm feeling spread throughout his body and a haze drifted over his mind.

"Naivety for some is in reality wisdom beyond belief."

The king jolted to awareness at his loves words. The warm feeling from before replaced with a pulling emptiness. His queens face was set in stone cold anger. Boredom and irritation seeped through as she spoke, "oh my king, had you stayed as noble as you were in the beginning none of this would be necessary. Yet you through it all away and for what, queen removed herself from the bed and walked towards her vanity once again this time sitting towards the king instead of the mirror. "My son isn't naive, you imbecile, neither of them are. They knew before I did that you planned to murder you heir, your own son. Bidding his time was smart, for who would fault anyone but the person themselves for falling ill after days and nights of feasts in preparation of a celebration of times."

The king by now had found his body unmovable. Slowly darkness creep from the corners of his eye, seeping to fill his vision with nothingness. "W-What did you d-?"

A cruel laugh echoed in his ears, "I did nothing, my king. It would seem you drank your finally glass of wine tonight, wouldn't you say so?"

Flashes of the earlier festivities raced through his mind and in one such memory stood a fleeting glance between father and son, one of pity. No, no his son wouldn't do this, "...he wouldn't..."

A clash from across the room and heavy steps towards the bed before the queen kneeled down beside the fading king, "of course he wouldn't," she spat, "but neither did he stop to help you. A mother will always want the world for her children even at the cost of her partner. Even at the cost of pain." She stroked his cheek gently lulling him further into oblivion, "You threatened the life of my boys and all for such cowardly emotions. I'd sooner see the world burn then lose my children, that is a mother's love."

The king could utter no other words as his last breathes raggedly left him. Before passing the queen spoke one last time, "Our children will be great. Far surpassing their father in deeds of glory. May you find some peace in that future. I'll see you in the inferno, my dear." A searing kiss was the last moment of a once great king.

Long may his heir rein.

Question is, which one will rule?