I
The next day, King Timodore and the Council of Elders discussed about Toremo and Sulie and what to do with them.
The head of the Council of Elders, proposed for their execution because of betrayal and treason and attempt on the lives of the Highest Royal Family in the Kingdom but some propose to just let them vanish from the Kingdom, banning them and throwing them in a faraway land. With that, King Timodore gave them another day to make a final decision and come to him when they have the same decision already.
“I don’t want to give my decision because I might be unfair since it is my family who had been betrayed and at the same time Toremo is a relative. So, as our Council of Elders whom I trusted, I am entrusting to your hands the decision. We will meet again tomorrow, on the same day.
The Council of Elders bowed their heads and simultaneously affirmed. “Yes, Your Highness,” they chorused. They admired how their King Timodore handled the matter regarding Toremo’s betrayal. If he is some kind of Kings, who would immediately use his power out of anger, Toremo might have been beheaded already.
When the Council of Elders left the throne hall, King Timodore made a deep breath. If Toremo is not his relative, definitely he will automatically order for his death but Toremo is still a relative, the blood running in his veins is partly the same as his. Hence, he could not just take his life, that’s why he gave the decision to his Council of Elders.
He was in such momentum when his Queen together with their children came inside the throne hall. All of them were smiling as if nothing happened days ago.
“My King, Quacey, and Noema wanted to go to the mall and play. Can we go?” Queena Asalea asked with a happy face.
When King Timodore glanced at their twins, they gave him their begging looks and King Timodore could not say no, anymore.
“Alright. You can go to the mall,” he said as he stood up from his throne and approached his wife and children.
“King Father, would you want to join us?” Quacey asked with his glittering eyes.
“Please, King Father,” Noema said with a begging voice and begging look.
Queen Asalea was controlling her smile as she knew he cannot say no to their twins.
“King Father, please,” both Quacey and Noema hold on to each of King Timodore’s legs that made him looked at her wife, who was already smiling widely. He closed his eyes and sighed, jokingly.
“Alright, I will join you and will drive for you,” said King Timodore that made Quacey and Noema jumped with delight.
II
King Timodore drove off his Mustang car going to the popular mall in the city, while their twins were so excited looking outside the car’s window. Queen Asalea was silent while looking at her driving husband. From time to time, her lips would twitch in a secret smile.
The twins enjoyed playing in the carousel, bumping cars, and others. Until Noema saw a claw machine full of stuffed toys.
“Queen Mother, King Father, I wanted to play that game and get those stuff toys inside,” Noema said with excitement in her eyes.
Quacey looked at also the claw machine and ran towards it. “I will play too.”
So both of the two played the claw machine, but alas they already spent a lot of coins but they could not win any of the stuffed toys inside. Noema was getting impatient while Quacey was getting furious.
Suddenly, the cute lips of little Noema twisted into a mysterious curl. “Queen mother, could you please buy me coins again?” she asked to which Queen Asalea nodded and bought another ten coins, giving Noema the five coins and Quacey the other five coins.
The twins started to play again. Noema concentrated and shot the biggest brown teddy bear inside the claw machine that was holding a heart shape pillow on its heart with her narrowed eyes. Slowly, her hands move the joy sticker letting the claw get near the brown teddy bear. When the claws clamped the Teddy Bear, the teddy bear was like hanging in the air, sticking in between the claws as if it has been magnetized to it. Neoma never blink her eyes until the big brown teddy bear hit the prize out catcher.
With wide eyes, Noema shouted as she got the big brown teddy bear and hugged it while looking at Quacey who could not yet get even a tiny stuffed toy.
Quacey gazed at the big teddy bear of Noema with jealousy. King Timodore and Queen Asalea looked at each other both suppressing their smiles. They waited for what their young boy would do.
Quacey, tried again moving the joy sticker and stopped its claw on top of a teddy bear, the same as that of Noema. Noema’s eyes squinted. She does not want her little brother to fail this time.
When Quacey clamped the claws of the joy sticker on the Teddy Bear, the teddy bear was like a good boy that immediately stuck in between the claws as if it clinging to it not to fall until it reached the prize out catcher. Quacey jumped proudly as he showed to Noema, King Timodore, and Queen Asalea his brown teddy bear. Noema secretly smiled.
“Congratulations Quacey, you made it too, brother!” Noema hugged her brother smilingly.
Unknown to Noema, King Timodore and Queen Asalea were watching her while her eyes squinted and never blink until the teddy bear fell on the prize-out catcher.
King Timodore and Queen Asalea looked at each other again as they hugged their twins. The same things were running in their minds. Noema would take care of her brother and would not let her down. What she did today clearly showed her love for her brother. But their minds on the side had reservations. Would Quacey when he grew up, accept the fact that his sister is stronger than him?