The Terrific Crown Prince

Enemy or ally

"shut up!" Luke was really angry at the end. "Stop all your nonsense and get out of my room, Agatha!"

"No!" Agatha shook her head. "I want to be given a second chance by you. I am willing to do anything so that you can forgive me, your majesty.” Agatha begged. Luke snorted sarcastically for the umpteenth time.

“Agatha, I know you don't love me. You only like my treasure. Even so, I still understand the reason for all your actions. Right now I can only regret it because I don't have any feelings for you anymore. You're the one who wanted our divorce. You also shut down all opportunities for the things I want to explain to you.” Luke then called the bodyguard to enter his room. “Drag this woman out of the palace and never let her make a scene again.”

Agatha could not accept it but Luke's decision was unanimous. The woman was kicked out of the palace just like what Samuel had done to Luke before.

“Luke, you will regret what you said!” threatened Agatha still trying to scream for the last time. She even dared to call Luke by name. Agatha was dragged out of the palace completely. The woman was very humiliated. Luke seemed deaf not to hear what she said.

The girl nodded her head after a while. "All right Luke! You've made your choice. Then don't blame me that I will get my revenge on you.” Agatha hissed vowing an aura of hostility in her heart.

***

Victor looked up after seeing Agatha enter his office. “Look whos the woman came to me today!” Victor chuckled lightly at Agatha's arrival. He had expected Agatha to come to him sometime after she was dumped by Luke. But he didn't expect her to come so soon.

“Let me guess the reason for my coming. Luke already dumped you, didn't you?" Victor chuckled at Agatha.

“Sir, I beg of you. Work with me to get my revenge on the kingdom of Puissance, especially on prince Luke.

Victor laughed hearing Agatha's request. “Agatha, I am a businessman. I work with profit and loss in mind. Tell me, what things will I get if I cooperate with you? Moreover, we are fighting against the government. We will never be safe when we simply disobey. we can be executed. I don't want to risk my life for something stupid."

“Hasn't the Puissance Kingdom been interfering with your business? They charge taxes that are too high. They also closely monitor all illegal businesses. They often act like heroes who are actually no different from loan sharks. Didn't yourself tell me that I'm very fed up with the rules given by the kingdom? If we can't destroy the queen's reign, we can get rid of the crown prince at least.” Agatha raised her eyebrows feeling confident with her offer. She had been thinking all night.

Victor chuckled. “This is the reason why one shouldn't reveal secrets just like that. any time your opponent will use it.”

“I am not your opponent. When you tell me the secrets doesn’t mean you believe me? am I not your ally?” Agatha offered confidently. "Sir, I need money and avenge a bit of humiliation I received while you need space to be more free in developing your business."

Victor chuckled lightly. "Do you already have a plan?"

Agatha nodded her head confidently. “I will not come to you just like that without bringing anything. But before I reveal my plan, I wonder if you have strong enough relations to support you.”

“O course, I know some of the other conglomerates as well as some of the nobles. Olivia is included in it. I know you two aren't very good friends but we can use Olivia to achieve our goals.”

Agatha played with her lips. "what about the mass media such as journalists and the like."

"Agatha, that circle is the closest to me. I need them to build my image to be good."

Agatha nodded her head. “Great! The initial stage is we need to spread negative rumors about Luke. This is the most important element for the kingdom. The image and satisfaction of the people towards the government. As we get started I'm sure there are a few other people out there who have spread other nasty issues. Today's technology makes it easy for us to sway public opinion to our liking.”

Victor smiled broadly. “Agatha, you are very smart. Do you have time for lunch?”

Agatha smiled. After his lengthy remarks, Victor finally accepted his offer. "Yes, I do."

“Looks like we have a lot to talk about. I will reserve a private place.” Victor immediately contacted his secretary. After that he stood up from his seat. Then he extended his hand to shake hands with Agatha agreeing that they would be allies from then on.

***

Queen approached Luke who was still in his library even though it was late at night. Knock! Knock! The queen knocked on the open door only to get her son's attention. Luke immediately looked up then smiled a little at his mother.

“Why you just stand at the door, Your Highness? Come in!”

Queen smiled a little. She approached her son. “Why haven't you slept yet, your highness? Is something bothering you?”

Luke shook his head. “I'm just checking the financial statements. There were some odd taxes while the properties of the conglomerates were quite a lot. Some of them pay less tax than they should. I'm sure they're hiding some of their wealth." Luke knows. When he was a commoner for four years, he recognized the environment outside the palace. The experience benefited him. He got more information and more thorough.

Queen exhaled. “Troubleshooting with the rich and nobles is more difficult than with the common people. They are smart and take things into account. You will not finish tonight, your Highness. Even when you've found his irregularities, you still find it difficult to prove him to say he's guilty.”

Luke smiled a little. "I know. But I'm not sleepy yet. I purposely filled my time with more useful activities.”

"Your highness, I think otherwise. I think you need a more relaxed activity.”

Luke raised his eyebrows at his mother. “Are you trying to offer me to date again, mom? Your majesty, I'm sorry I have to refuse your request.”

“Your ex-wife is still trying to harass you, your highness. She must think she still has a chance to be your wife again. She will not leave. I'm afraid she's trying to break into the palace once again. who knows no longer as a guest but to stay for a long time.”

Luke held his mother's hand. “I understand your concern, your majesty. Agatha is a stubborn woman. She's also ambitious even after I remarried, she'll definitely bother me until she manages to get what she wants. I've lived with her. I know very well its nature. Getting married or dating again is not the right solution to make Agatha stop."

"But you also have to strengthen your position, Prince." The queen today doesn't want to give in to Luke. “Ten years there was a coup that killed your father. Even your life is in danger. What if the same event happened but you didn't have a replacement? You don't even have allies backing you. If you have the right mother-in-law, she can help you in many ways. I know in marriage there has to be love but sometimes it's not just love that gets someone married, your highness."

Luke took a sip of his saliva. He wanted to deny it but when his mother brought up the coup ten years ago, Luke couldn't bear it. He knew the Queen was very traumatized by the incident. she lost her husband and nearly lost her son. In fact, it took six years after that for the palace to stabilize again. The Queen has been amazing to have survived this far.

“I have one candidate for you. Her name is Lady Olivia Xanders. Her royal status is not very high but the Xanders family is quite influential from the past. They were respected better than some of the other nobles. The Xanders have always produced good offspring. she is beautiful and smart, she deserves the status of crown princess. You already know her too, your highness. I think my offer is not a difficult one.”

Luke smiled faintly. "You don't want to have a daughter-in-law like Agatha but instead you choose someone who has identical characteristics with her. Olivia is as devious as my ex-wife, she is also arrogant and rude. How can a woman like that be made a candidate for queen?”

The queen took a deep breath and then exhaled. "I knows he used to insult you, Luke." Even now the Queen speaks to her as mother and daughter in general. Not using his title like before. “Forget the past and think about your future. I only have this one request of you.”

Luke bit his lip. His mother gave him a difficult choice. "I'll consider it," Luke said finally.

The queen immediately smiled broadly. “I will arrange a meeting for you immediately.”

“Your Majesty, I said that I would consider it but you acted rashly. Give me a little more space. Not necessarily Olivia would be willing to meet me.” Luke chuckled lightly but the Queen no longer listened to her son's words. She was already happy and had high hopes for her son's relationship.