The Plan
The king burst through the doors after he and the royal court dismounted their horses.
"Calm down!" The queen urged him.
The king had high blood pressure and when he got too angry, his face would turn beet red. People would duck for cover in case of a massive explosion. The king's breathing came in rapid surges. His wife put her hand on his shoulder and spoke to him in a soothing voice. Prince Charming and Princess Una walked in as well, completely consumed in conversation.
The king looked to his son for some support in his anxiety. When he discovered that Prince Charming, who they all called Char, was not paying any attention to him, he let out a great bellow.
"Were you paying no attention?!" The king yelled at his son.
Char looked up from his object of affection.
"What father?" Char asked.
"Did you not notice the townspeople?" The king gasped.
"Um, no I'm afraid I didn't." Char paused, giving his father a sheepish look. "Was I suppose to?"
The king sighed and threw his hands into the air.
"The people Char! The people!" He yelled, disappearing into the Great Hall.
Char turned to Princess Una.
"Sorry." He shrugged.
She fluttered her eyelashes at him as she said,
"I must be going anyway. Same time next week?"
Prince Charming gave her a dramatic bow as he took her hand and kissed it.
"Of course." He answered.
With that the Princess giggled and gestured for her guards to follow her. They mounted their horses and set off for their own country.
Char watched a moment while they left then turned on his heels to go get an explanation from his father. He found the king slumped and pouting in his throne. Walking to him, he asked.
"What is it father? I do apologize for my absentmindedness."
The king either ignored or didn't catch the sarcasm lining Char's voice. He just sighed and slumped lower in his chair. The queen, who sat next to him, rolled her eyes.
"He thinks the people don't like him." She explained.
Char let a small laugh slip up his throat. He tried to mask it by coughing but his father already took notice.
"Why do you think that father?" Char asked quickly.
"I know because the looks they gave me. Even more so, it used to be that people would run to see our Royal Court marching past, but most people now ignore us or glare at us." The king moped.
"I didn't notice anything strange." Char said.
"Oh please, you were too busy playing puppy dog eyes with Una." He grumbled.
Char took offense and looked away.
"And my spies tell me…" The king began.
"You have spies!?" Char's eyes lit up with intrigue.
"Of course I have spies!" He responded. "Every king has spies."
Char nodded and waited for his father to continue.
"As I was saying," He glared. "My spies have told me that people are losing their respect for Royalty."
"You spy on your own citizens?" Char laughed.
The king once ignored his son.
"What's to be done?" He yelled. "How do we regain the love of our people?"
The question was rhetorical, but Char took the opportunity to respond anyway.
"Maybe you should stop spying on them." He challenged.
When his father's face fell again with distress, Char continued.
"Look father. I'll be honest. The people don't see much of you. We tend to keep to ourselves. Maybe if you're a little more…..social…..their respect will grow."
The king was thoughtful for a moment. Suddenly his eyes lit with excitement. He jumped off his throne, waking the queen who had dozed off in her own throne.
"Goodness!" The queen put a hand to her throat. "What's the matter?"
"Iiiii'vvvveeee GOT IT!" The kind triumphantly called.
He walked to his son and took his hand, shaking it firmly. Char's whole body vibrated with the strength of it.
"What?!" Char asked.
"You my boy, are a genius! You must take after your father." The king laughed.
Char waited impatiently for an explanation.
"We must find common ground with the people!" His father began. "We need to show them that we understand them and care about their thoughts and opinions. That we see them as one of us……" \
His voice trailed off and Char nodded, still unsure of where this was going.
"And this," He continued, "Is going to come to pass by you."
He stopped and stared at Char. The prince's face darkened. His father always made bad decisions that landed on his shoulders.
"What do you mean?" Char asked suspiciously.
"You are going to marry one of them!" The king laughed and clapped his hands together.
Char just about took out a priceless statue as he stumbled back and threw his arms out.
"What?!" He gasped.
"Don't worry, we'll have it all planned out." His father rubbed his hands together as his mind worked through his plan. "We'll find the girl, pay her off, then we'll hold a ball……"
As his father spoke, Char's mouth dropped open.
"…….and then we'll reveal her to be one of them! A simple peasant girl!" He finished.
"NO!" Char spit out. "How can you contrive such a plan?"
"Now don't you oppose me boy." The king ordered. "You will do as your told."
Char looked to his mother for help. Her eyes were wide as she stared at her husband in disbelief. Then her face smoothed out.
"You know….." She spoke to no one. "That is quite a good idea. She could give us such insight."
The king took his queen's hand as she stood from her throne.
"We could learn what needs to be done to help the people." She continued.
"Are you both crazy?" Char insisted. "What about Princess Una? I'm set to marry her!? "
"Oh that arrangement can be easily broken peacefully with the right amount of money." The king shrugged.
"I am not marrying a complete stranger, let alone a peasant!" He hollered.
"You see, that right there is why this is such a great plan." The king pointed out. "You see them as a lower class of people!"
"They are a lower class of people!" Char threw his hands up. "We are not equal to them, that's the way this system works!"
"I will hear no more of this." The king demanded. "You are ordered to do as I say."
Char turned and stormed out of the room.