King Roderick study.

"Your majesty, you know I would never try to hurt you," General Thompson said. He had arrived at the Palace as early as possible that morning. He needed to do something to save his daughter.

"Do I?" the king asked.

"Of course, we have been friends since childhood. I supported you in every way when you decided to seat on the throne. I helped you murder the crown prince and pin the evidence on the second prince. Making the throne fall on you. I have been by your side since then. How can you think I will hurt you now? " general Thompson asked.

The king looked at him, "in case you have forgotten the crown prince and his brother trusted you. You were their friend. Yet you chose benefits over your friendship. So tell me why I can not believe you would hurt me, if there is a benefit to it," The king replied.

General Thompson swallowed back his words when he heard the king. When they were still young, he was very close to the crown prince and the second prince of Avalo, at that time the crown prince and second prince were very close.

There was no rivalry between the two because their both mothers were close and they taught them to be there for each other. The crown prince's mother had died when the boys were just eight leaving her son to the care of her best friend.

Cocumbin Ello was a very kind woman and brought the two boys up in love. She made her son realize that the throne was his brother's and as brothers, he was expected to support him not convert his throne.

So the two boys supported each other in everything and they were the best of friends. General Thompson became close to the two princes. They were three best friends until General Thompson meet with the third prince of Avalo.

"Why do you follow those two around like their dog," the third prince of Avalo, prince Roderick asked.

"What do you mean, your highness. They are my friends," the young Thompson replied.

"I can't believe the next heir of the Thompson family is a fool," the prince click his tongue and looked down on him as though he was a fool. The young man looked at the prince confused.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"you are indeed a fool, those two don't see you as friends. They only keep you close because you are useful to them. They don't praise you or give you the honor you deserve. You fight battles with them, but praise is only a song for them. How long do you want to remain a fool? " prince Roderick asked.

"You are right your highness,". The young Thompson was convinced by the prince's words.

"Of course am right," the prince replied. " I will not treat you the same way if you work for me. I will ensure that's you are recognized," prince Roderick said.

Young Thompson thought about the prince's promise for a while before accepting it. They become friends for quite sometime before the young prince used him against the two brothers.

It was General Thompson that lied to the crown prince back then that his brother had eyes for his throne and wanted him dead. Then he also told the second prince that the prince was only using him because of his good fighting skills.

Although the two princes did not believe him at first, as time went on with a little effort the prince started suspecting each other and kept secrets from each other.

One day dressed in the rob of the second prince, General Thompson stabbed the crown prince to death and flee from sight. A few of the crown prince loyal men have seen him. They had recognized him by his Rob, so the second prince was Exile from the kingdom and the throne fell on the third prince.

General Thompson looked at the king with disbelief, he could not believe what the king was saying. Then again if he wanted to be sincere, he knew he values benefit more than friendship.

"But your majesty, I have no gain in your death, why would I try to harm you. Your seating on the throne gives me a lot more benefits," General reason.

The king gave him a blank look. "you must think I am stupid," the king said. His voice was strong as he spoke.

"What do you mean, your majesty. I have only visited your study to look for a solution to save our children. Only you can talk to the priest of the oracle to change the result. You were the one that told me to have my daughter married to Julia. You promised he will be the next king, " General Thompson said. Stress lines were already visible on his forehead.

" Yes, I promise but I did not ask you not to culture your daughter to speak without thinking. Neither did I know that Julia would be stupid enough to go after his brother's wife. Do you think I can change the result when the Queen has declared to take the oath?

What do you think will happen, when her son comes back and learned how his mother died? " king Roderick asked.

"How? He will blame the princess for laying false accusations and causing his mother's death. Maybe he would even strangle her to death, you have always wanted her dead anyway," General Thompson said.

"Fool," the king shook his head. He wondered why he had remained close to the man for so many years. He was indeed easy to manipulate but he was difficult to reason with.

"Your majesty, I am sure we would be able to make him believe this. After all the verdict was passed by the oracle of truth. No one can doubt the efficiency of the oracle," General Thompson said.

"you sound so confident that the priest of the oracle will listen to me. Do you know something I do not know?" the king asked.

"of course not your majesty. I have only been thinking of a possible solution to all the problems. This has been the best I could think of," General Thompson said.

King Roderick nodded his head. "you do take me for a fool. You heard of the crown prince injure yesterday. Knowing that he would not be returning soon you decided to kill me. Have Julia take over the throne since the crown prince is away.

Of course, if you have killed me, as long as nobody knows you killed me you will go unpunished after all it will not be the first time. Tell me who you were planning to make the victim this time," King Roderick said.

"What? Your majesty..," He was trying to say something but the king cut him off.

"Tell me General Thompson, having me sit on this throne and having my son, your puppet seat on it. Which will bring you more benefits?" king Roderick asked.