Icy silence filled the palace, capable of freezing anything and anyone to death. With flowers wilting by the side, a person dared to walk through that silence—filling the corridor with the echoes of his footsteps.
After walking for a long time and even more in his mind—seemingly for an eternity, at last his feet stopped at their track. He reached his destination as it seems. With sweat dripping down his face and hands that had gone cold, he slowly opened the door.
As soon as the door opened, a red carpet laid on the floor, as red as blood, led to the mighty throne. There was the king, sitting leisurely with his legs crossed as if to show dominance and his head resting on his hand. "Welcome!" he said, his voice laced with an unknown yet deep intent.
The man, though nervous, had a fierce, determined gaze as he greeted the king.
"Come and sit there," the king said, pointing to the chess game by the window as he, too, got up and went there. The man followed his lead and sat across from him.
The conversation then started with the king moving a pawn that would change the man's fate and perhaps even the kingdom's.
"How did it go?" the king asked while staring straight at the man with a piercing gaze.
"It's taken care of properly. Be reassured, your majesty." The man answered calmly and confidently.
"I really do hope so," said the king with a smile, while being all so obvious that a seedling of doubt had already grown in his heart. "You have handled this job meticulously. So, tell me what rewards do you seek for it?" the king continued.
"Being of use to you is enough for me, your majesty. I do not seek any further rewards."
"Oh? Really? But would your wife be alright with that? She needs much expensive treatment for her illness as I have heard, does she not? Or have I ever misinformed, Dame Alex?" The man flinched, clearly faltering at his words.
The man regained his composure quickly and said—"I am more than capable of healing my wife. How can I be selfish and trouble your majesty with my household problems?"
"How is that troubling me. It is what you deserve for your wonderful work and achievements."
"I would pass on that, your majesty. I really do not have any wishes for rewards."
The game continued as well as the tests the king laid before the man and the mind battle that burned the trust between them with passing each second. It got more intense by the minute but the man kept a calm demeanor throughout.
As seconds passed and the sun moved slowly from the middle of the sky to almost disappearing as sunset arrived, the king became sure of the fact that the man was no longer the pawn he could discard at any moment, at any whim. At the same moment the man also became sure of one thing on his side. The king has betrayed, not only him but the entire nation and it's people.