Gathered around a table sat a few men and a woman of various backgrounds with various expressions. One, the head butler named Seb, irritatingly tapped the table. His face was full of impatience. It was absurd that they were still waiting for the one who scheduled this meeting.

Another, a rather small maid by the name of Mia, twiddled her thumbs to pass the time; her face neutral. The tutor to the royal children, Leon, frowned with his arms crossed and back against the wall. “If he isn't here within the next minute I'm leaving.”

Just as Leon spoke, the door to the room opened, revealing the man they were waiting for. “About time, Alfred,” Seb growled while Mia yawned in boredom.

“He's late more often than not, don’t know why you're both surprised.”

Alfred, the King's royal advisor, ignored the grumbling as he strolled in, slipped into his chair, leaned forward in it and rested his elbows on the tabletop. “I apologize. His majesty asked me for some assistance tutoring his son. Which brings me to the topic of this meeting. If the boy survives these...trials I'm afraid our kingdom will fall. The boy cannot even properly remember simple things he was taught just moments before. He's clumsy, naive, he even snaps whenever he is angry. A proper ruler is strong...he is fragile. A proper ruler is wise...and I’m afraid he is not. The boy even pines after that knight of his. Those looks he gives are that of a maiden, not of a king. We must find a way to...dispose of him.”

This got everyone’s attention. None of them wished for their prince's success. They all had other people, more suitable for ruling, on their minds.

“I believe Aria, with a strong man at her side, would make a fine ruler. She has the smarts as well as the grace to lead our people.” Leon nodded to himself. ‘By strong man, I mean myself...just a little pushing and I'll have her full attention.’

“I would rather have His Majesty continue his rule. He does a fine job. When Her Majesty inevitably passes, he need just fine another pretty face to wed. Only then would he have the true power to turn this Queendom into a Kingdom.” Mia softly sighed, imagining herself by her king's side.

“I could care less who rules. Just anyone but that child,” Seb scoffed.

“Personally, I'd rather rule myself and fix everything the past rulers have done wrong,” Alfred said. “However...we are all in agreement that the boy must be taken care of. I want you each to come up with some sort of plan to sabotage Fayt's plan of clearing all the trials. I do not care how you do it or what you do. But that boy cannot succeed. If the goal is to drive the boy mad, do anything you can to achieve it. You each get a single try before I step in. You are now dismissed.”

The other three nodded in agreement and exited the room. Flowing through their minds were ideas of things they could do to get their ways and to sabotage the others’ plans.