Chapter 83: HITTING TWO BIRDS IN ONE STONE

Vladimir didn't dwell too much about the conversation between him and Darius as he believed that no matter how his son tried to refuse, he will come around as it was what fate brings him. It was written in his destiny and no one, even him has the ability to turn it down. However, he wanted to make it happen in a smooth way thus he proceeded to meet Ralph Simmons for an advice.

Unbeknownst to him, everytime he asked for the latter's opinion, he was feeding informations that he could use to his advantage to take control of everything. He trusted him no doubt because they grow up closer together. Moreover, he believed that he could trust no one but him and him alone so whatever he suggested, he would always do it without hesitation. Just like the old times, he relied to Ralph's strategies rather than to think of another ways to tame his own son.

Ralph Simmons feed him vicious ideas out of his expectation. It was too risky! However, he was willing to give it a shot just to make things easier for him and to keep his kingdom in his hands forever.

After a brief moment of conversation, Vladimir went back to his tower while thingking hard on how to execute his plans whilst Ralph summoned his son to his chamber to discuss their scheme.

Isaiah barely landed his feet on the marble floors of his father's balcony when he meet him halfway eagerly.

"*There you are,*" he said, smiling from ear to ear. "*Come, follow me to my chamber. I had an important matter to tell you.*"

Isaiah who had just shifted into his human form, frowned at his father but nonetheless, he followed him in as he was interested in what he was about to say.

Silence envelope between the two as they marched towards the inner part of Ralph's chambers where their voices are highly contained from anyone's prying ears. It was wrapped with a witch's spell therefore, even creatures with abilities to hear the tiniest form of sounds would never succeed in picking up their conversation.

"*That important?*" Isaiah asked as he recalled that his father won't just give him the access to get into his special chamber when they would just discuss a simple matter. He seldom took him in so he wondered what could it be to make him this serious.

"*Yes. This is very important and confidential.*" Ralph replied as he closed the door. Then he gestured his hand towards the empty chair, "*...take a seat. I want you to listen to me very carefully.*"

Isaiah take a seat and crosses his legs as he further questioned. "*Okay then. What is it?*"

"*Vladimir came to me earlier,*" Ralph began, "*...he asked for my opinion.*"

Isaiah laughed as he replied. "*He always does and he's such a fool to believe that you helped him out of concern.*"

Ralph shook his head and went, "*This is different and I haven't told you about this before.*"

"*Why do I feel that this revelation is going to be breathtaking?*" Thrilled, Isaiah's interest was highly piqued thus he waited patiently of his father to carry on.

"*This is about the prophecy that runs bloodlines after bloodlines centuries ago. It says that the heir to the throne of Aerouant Kingdom is adhered to the heir of SYLPH Kingdom...*" he explained. "*This has turned to be Vladimir's problem. Darius whom he trained to make the prophecy happen for a long time refused the arrangement and instead, he wanted to pass the throne to Arthur to carry on.*"

Isaiah's brows knitted together as he spoke, "*...I recalled that you used to take me to that kingdom before when I was a child. How's that kingdom anyway?*" He seemed eager to know as he also recalled that he met and played with an adorable fairy before.

"*Closer to ours.*" Ralph replied nonchalantly.

Isaiah jolted up in his seat. "*What did you just say, father?*" He asked as he thought that he might have heard his father's words wrongly. However, he heard him laughing out loud seeing his reaction.

"*You wouldn't believe it.*" He grinned as he went, "*Who would have thought that my plan would finally come to fruition after a long time? I didn't expect that everything would fall into place. Sooner, we will both dominate these kingdoms according to our whims and nobody can stop us.*"

"*I don't understand.*" Said he, sounding extremely baffled. "*How was that going to happen? The real heir to the throne of SYLPH Kingdom won't allow such a thing. What did you do, father? *"

Ralph gave out a soft sigh as he spoke, "*Sad to say that I have to eliminate Janessa and replace her with her half sister.*"

"*What did you just say, father?*" Isaiah's voice seemed to raise as he affirmed. "*Did you just said that you got Janessa dead?*"

Now that he heard her name again, he seemed to have recalled the days that they played together. His childhood memories that he treasured so much which brought him a sense of fulfilment. Janessa has brought colours whenever he was sad during those times...

Ralph raised his eyebrows, questioning. "*Why do you look so... Affected? Don't tell me that you'd hidden something for her all this time?*"

He swallowed hard, shook his head and replied in a cold and indifferent tone. "*She became my friend but that was before. Its been so long since I've heard about her.*" He felt crestfallen but he carefully hide it from his father's eyes as he didn't want to be suspected.

"*You better not,*" Ralph warned, "*Its such a waste to feel something towards the dead and even if she's alive, you don't harbor a chance. Her fate was sealed to Darius and no one has the ability to turn the tables...*"

The broken hearted Isaiah pursed his lips and lowered his head down, silently thinking. '*I just thought that I don't deserve to become her friend because I have an unpleasant behavior for tolerating your wicked deads.*'

"*Now, listen. In a day or two, I will create an oppurtunity to meet the both parties,*" Ralph said, "*I had a hunch that Darius will leave the castle so its better if we take advantage during his absence. Arthur is easy to manipulate unlike his elder brother so Janessa's half sister will appear as her replacement, put Arthur under her spell then she will carry on to the betrothal ceremony. It's like hitting two birds in one stone.*"

"*You seemed so sure that Janessa's half sister would allow to tie the knot with Arthur. Have they meet before?*" Isaiah asked curiously. "*Does she also look similar to her?*" He wanted to know but his father was fast to cut off the eagerness that seemed to spark inside him. Once again he felt sullen.

"*She's actually not. She looked likely her mother. A witch but she's good at casting spells to appear like Janessa which favored to her advantage.*"

"*So why am I actually here father?*" Isaiah questioned.

"*Nothing. I just want to tell you that you should get yourself ready. You'll be sitting on the throne of Aerouant Kingdom in a couple of days.*"