Page 68 of Royal Pain
“Go ahead. Enlighten us.”
“We’ve missed the real fortune that’s right there for our taking. Now hear me out. We could sell portions of the mine or yearly percentages of the gross profit for a chance to make big money. For a boatload of cash. If the mine produces that year, then everybody benefits. If it doesn’t the investors are the only ones who lose. We have our portion of the mine, which of course would be the biggest, and we’d have the huge yearly fees they’re willing to pay.”
Oh shit. He really has no business sense at all. The queen and even my nephew are looking at him with disgust.
“What do you think?” he says innocently.
“I think you have your head up your ass. That’s what I think.” I offer my opinion without hesitation.
It doesn’t sit well with my brother. His lips tighten and his eyes narrow. No words follow.
“We have no interest in selling our greatest resource, Kwai,” the queen says firmly. “And who are these men you’re speaking with? Why are you discussing our business with people I don’t know? Why are you negotiating something you have no ownership or control over?”
That one stings. He sits back down, looking utterly defeated. And pissed.
“I just thought I would get a jump on things before I become king. I need to have some platform to show the people I’m capable of leading the country.”
The queen’s face softens. “That’s not going to happen, son. You’re not going to be king.”
You can hear a pin drop. Kwai and Nubia are stunned. I’m not. But none of us have figured out the next move. Only the queen is privy to her thoughts and decisions. I’m hoping she’s reconsidered ending the monarchy and forming a democracy. It’s not the right time. I see that in the future, but we are too unsettled now with the two deaths. Mozia needs to right itself first. But I have no idea who could become king if not Kwai or Nubia.
“So, when did you come to this conclusion, Mother? Was it yours alone, or did someone whisper in your ear?” Kwai asks.
He looks at me when he says it, but I can’t blame him. He’s hurting and he’s right. But I had nothing to do with this one. My mother respects my business sense more.
“The only person whispering in my ear was your father. We had many discussions on the subject.”
Belinda has been writing nonstop. When she needs to turn a page, she does it quietly. I catch her eye and she does a barely there eye roll.
“Here’s the truth of the situation, Kwai. We all have our strengths. And our weaknesses. Yours doesn’t suit a king’s life. You’d be miserable in the job.” Kwai continues to bite on his bottom lip. I can sense an inner conversation with himself.
“I love you, son.”
He raises his shoulders in a kind of rebuttal. But I can see he knows she’s right.
“There’s more though. And this part may be the hardest for you to take. But remember what your father always said.You have special gifts you haven’t discovered yet.I think he was one hundred percent right.”
We all wait for the other shoe to drop. Even Belinda looks like some great secret is about to be revealed.
“Just tell us, Mother. What have you decided?” I say.
She takes a deep breath and turns her gaze to me.
“I think Zan should be king.”
This time there’s no pins to be heard dropping, because instantly the sound of three voices fill the air. Kwai’s, Nubia’s, and mine. We’re all talking at once.
“What?! That’s ridiculous!” Kwai says.
“It’s not even possible!” I say
“That’s a good idea,” Nubia hollers over the voices.
The ear splitting pitch and the words he says quiets the room. I’m stunned, Kwai’s stunned. But Belinda barely reacts. Did she know?
“Wait! How is that even a possibility? Royal bloodlines don’t run through my veins. I’m a common man, from common people.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Kwai says. “There’s no law. It’s just been how things were done.”
