Thank you so much for your encouraging reviews, warrior-wolf, Paperbagprincezz, Evensong, and 'fireworksinmybackpocket'! It has been cough a few months since I updated.. I've been suck in writer's block...

If you haven't read the new version of chapter 2, please do so!

Chapter 3 – The Throne

"This… is the ballroom." The small pit-a-pat of her feet stopped to allow Solita to open the magnificent entrance door. It towered over all three of them, a heavy solid wood door. Solita's frail bones showed as she struggled to pry it open. Ethel smirked under his polite smile, and muttered to himself in a rather childish way, "Weakling." Alaric was such a goody-goody brother, thought Ethel as he watched him help Solita. The two of them eventually succeeded.

It was a vast, echoing ballroom, the floor gleaming of marble and the ceiling carved of angels. The creamy walls had carvings engraved upon them, also, of cherubs and clouds.

Ethel lightly took a finger and traced it against the lining of one of the clouds, which were painted shimmering silver. Mischievously, he tried to flake off a small piece of the cracking clouds.

"Stepbrother," Solita's quiet voice was magnified by the ballroom's high ceilings.

"Please do not lay your fingers on our century-old art."

Ethel scowled. "What then – my dear stepsister- may I possibly be able to touch in this beautiful palace of yours?" His voice was dripping with sarcasm.

She did not mean to vex him this much, yet took small pleasures in doing so anyway.

With a smirk, she replied, "Nothing."

"Lucius is our royal cook," said Solita in a bored voice. A tall, dark-haired middle-aged man bowed to the princes.

"Who is this?" asked Ethel suddenly, motioning at the girl bowing beside Lucius. She raised her head, and revealed an exotic, beautiful face.

"Her name is Romi," said Lucius. "She is a Sieliban slave… daughter of their duchess, I believe."

Romi was about Ethel's age, an alarming beauty of large mammaries, which was currently being eyed curiously by the elder prince.

"You'll have to excuse my brother," murmured Alaric to Solita. "His current fascination is rather… embarrassing."

"But of course," muttered Solita. "Prince Ethel," she said politely. "May we continue with our tour, our would you like to stay and entertain with our servants?"

Ethel scowled at Solita, thinking, she will not be this smug tonight at the crowning.

The chilly wind began to dance through the palace, echoing with the magnificent rings of the courtroom bell. Nobles and royals piled into the room, dressed in their expensive finery while the commoners outside the gates strained their ears to listen.

Lord Castel, the royal advisor, was calling a meeting with the entire court to discuss the matter of the crowning to the throne.

"The death of our beloved King Jethro –," the voice of Lord Castel filled the vast court "– has left us in deep despair. Yet it is time for our next generation to take hold of the reins of power in ruling the kingdom."

The queen, beady eyed, sat composedly on the golden throne, with her sons to one side, and Solita standing at the other. She lowered her eyes, refusing to meet the gaze of either Princes.

"Although it is natural in our kingdom for the crown to descend to the males of royalty, before his death King Jethro has made a different clarification." At this the gray-bearded man cleared his throat. "Despite the presence of Prince Alaric and Prince Ethel – " The princes cast a nervous glance to their mother, and the queen furrowed her brows slightly. "- King Jethro requests a royal of his own blood to acquire the throne, rather than those from foreign kingdoms. And thus, Princess Solita will descend to the throne – "

"Lord Castel," the queen's voice interrupted slowly.

"Our dear Princess Solita is but a child. Would it not be more reasonable to place Prince Ethel, who is approaching fifteen, in her place until she becomes of age?"

The lord smiled politely and made a small bow before speaking. "With all due respect, your highness, I am afraid that cannot be done. It may be that the kingdom must wait for seven years, but was stated clearly by King Jethro and inscribed clearly in the ancient book of Nivalis, that only the heir may become a Queen or King. But of course, the king knew of your sons and has placed them behind Princess Solita in line for the crown."

At this murmurs of agreement ran through the court. Although it may be because of the evening light, but suddenly Queen Napea appeared pale, her beauty faltering a bit. "Surely – " Queen Napea stopped. With a thin smile, she said instead, "So be it."

Solita had not been a bit taken back by the announcement. Across from the court she could sense the heat of gazes upon her, though the eyes of Prince Ethel turned colder than the snow which had began to blanket the kingdom.