ZARA'S POV
"I princess Zara of Azrael and future queen of Everton, think the law is stupid," I blurted out, and everyone gasped.
They all stared at me in horror, like I had said the most forbidding thing ever.
"Your majesty, I'm lady Gwen, the lady in charge of women's affairs may I speak?" Gwen asked.
"You may speak lady Gwen," the king ordered.
"I think princess Zara holds little regard for the law. She was not brought up well by her parents, she should be punished severely for her reckless art," Gwen spoke, with a smirk.
I was not going to let what she said slide.
"Lady Gwen, what gives you the right to talk about my upbringing. You have no right to talk about my parents with that disgusting mouth of yours. If we should talk about upbringing, why don't we talk about yours," I muttered, giving her a smirk.
Her face turned pale in horror, as she understood what I meant.
I could tell the council about her affair with the king. Yes, the king is allowed to have affairs with other women, but only if the woman was his concubine, and the king is allowed to have a concubine after marriage.
"I'm sorry for speaking rudely about your upbringing princess Zara, I spoke without thinking," Gwen added, immediately. I guess she was scared of me exposing her affair.
I didn't answer her but turned to face the council.
"Can any of you tell me why it's so bad for women to take part in martial arts?" I questioned.
"Your majesty, I'm Lord Charles, Lord of household affairs. May I speak?
"You may speak Lord Charles,"
"If the women start to take part in what is meant for men, it is possible that they will start to challenge men and see us as their equal instead of their superior," Lord Charles, muttered.
I hated men who look down on women and think that women are inferior to them.
"Lord Charles, women are not inferior to you, but your equal. If I may ask you Lord Charles who brought you into this world," I questioned.
"A woman," he retorted.
"A woman, that means you won't be standing here if it wasn't for a woman. women help give life and bring people into the world, which is the most precious thing. Then how could you stand there and call a woman inferior," I blurted out, in confidence. my voice rang throughout the entire hall.
Lord Charles head was down as he seemed to be short of words. I intend to put every one of them in their place.
Lord Narciss, you say martial arts are meant for women. I just want to ask you this.
"You have a wife and a daughter right?"
"Yes, I do, princess," he replied.
"What if they got into trouble, and it was a matter of life and death, and you were not there to save them, due to your absence, they lost their lives because they didn't know how to fight and defend themselves. How would you feel?"
"I won't be able to forgive myself for failing to protect them," Lord Narciss answered.
"And how would you feel if your wife and daughter were able to protect themselves in your absence or maybe one day you were too weak or injured and could not fight, and your wife was there to help you, wouldn't that make you feel good," I asked.
"It will, Princess."
"You all know that sometimes you will be away from your wives and daughter, you should let them learn martial arts, so in your absence they would defend themselves and not cower in fear, waiting for you to come save them."
"I agree with your opinion, princess," Lord Narciss commended.
"Lord Charles, I'm sure you learned the personality of your wife before you married her, and I'm sure you brought your daughter or daughters If you have any in a good way. you should learn to trust them more. I also think that not all women are interested in martial arts, so you don't have to worry."
"All those in favor of princess Zara, could you raise your hands," the king ordered, and almost everyone raised their hands except for a few.
"Princess Zara, since most of the council members agree with you, I will change the law, and make a decree that women can participate in martial arts," the king announced, and I felt really happy.
"And what about my friends locked up in the dungeon," I questioned.
"That will be for you and me to discuss," he replied with a smirk, making me wonder what he was up to.
Carl stood up, walking majestically out of the throne room, and I followed behind. why did he not discuss it in front of the council?
We arrived in a room that looked like Carl's office. He sat down crossing his leg while staring at me. He still had a smirk playing at the corner of his lip, and I knew, he was up to no good.
"Why did we have to come in here to talk about the release of my friends, when we could just sort it out with council? I questioned.
"Well, because the council might go easy on you and decide to release your friends, just like the way they agreed with you just now. I didn't want that to happen, I wanted you to suffer a little," Carl retorted.
"You are so heartless, my friends didn't do anything to you, why are you still keeping them in the dungeon? you have no right, after all, they work for me not you," I muttered, angrily.
He was getting on my nerves, and I felt like pulling his eyes out.
"You should watch what you say princess or I might decide to make your friend's life harder," Carl growled.
I was angry at not only Carl but myself, if only I didn't decide to have fun and took part in the archery competition, they won't be in trouble.
"What do you want Carl, What should I do for you to release my friends?"
"Now you're talking Princess," Carl muttered, walking toward me. He stalked me like I was his prey, looking into my eyes with a smirk.
I moved away until my back touched the wall. he put his hands on both sides, making it hard for me to escape.
"Princess Zara, do you know what I want," he asked, using his hand to trail my lips.