色戒完整版

Chapter 8: Castle Part 3

"And so what if it\'s me?" George said as he walked towards King Adrian, "You disrespect my messenger, yet you are now lowering your head? Why does it matter that you are respecting me now?"

King Adrian retreated before his back hit the table behind him.

Captain Roland was quick to action, pulling out his sword and pointing at George.

George\'s face turned sour as he saw the sword in front of his face, "You think, if I wanted your King dead or anyone of you to perish, I have to go through you? Move; I have no need to take away your pitiful lives anyways."

"Put away your sword!" King Adrian whispered as he hid behind Roland, fearing that the wizard may do something to harm him.

George walked towards the chair beside Michael and sat there, "What are you waiting for? Sit."

Both King Adrian and Captain Roland sat on their chairs on command.

"I will ask you one more time, do you agree to add my name, my symbol, to your flag…."

King Adrian closed his eyes tight as his heart started racing upon hearing that question; he had declined the request previously for the honour of the country\'s tradition; he would also be the enemy of the people if he bowed down to the request of Oz. But he also knew that if he followed Oz\'s request, Oz would ask for more, and just like the other wizards and witches, to be able to tax the people of Veridiana.

"This isn\'t supposed to be a hard question, Adrian. You should be honoured that you have this opportunity. I don\'t just allow everyone to put y name on their flags. You\'re making a fool out of me; make up your mind." He continued.

Michael closed his eyes as George was straying away from what he was supposed to say. \'What are you doing??\' Michael whispered into his ears which George ignored and continued staring the King down.

King Adrian had always felt superior when confronted by other Kings, wizards, queens, and witches. A voice of his past came back towards him.

"Father! Just listen to him! He will kill you! Just accept his condition this one time." Young Adrian shouted.

His father, the King at that time, King Adrian III, stood tall and looked at him with a disappointed look stamped on his face. "No."

Young Adrian burst into anger, "He will kill you!!! Just give him the wand… Is that wand more precious than your life?"

The King turned to look at his throne, "Son, do you know what this throne is? Do you know what it represents?"

Adrian nodded, "It represents your absolute power over this country, but listen, you don\'t have absolute power over that wizard!"

The King shook his head, "You still don\'t understand." He said before touching the throne.

"This is not the time! Give the wand to him."

"This throne does not represent power; the throne represents the people!" King Adrian III shouted as he turned to Adrian IV. "And when I sit on it, I am reminded that I am only here because I have the people to lean on! Without them, I am nothing! They expect more from the King they carry on their back! And I cannot! I cannot accept that I will be a pathetic King who would bow down to an unreasonable request from a stuck-up wizard! That is what a King is supposed to be!"

He then sat on his throne, "If I were to die today, I would die as the King they love, as the King that they look up to. Remember this, son, when you take over, never forget this; as the King, you have a duty to listen to no one but the people." He muttered before extending his hand to the soldiers, "Take the Prince away! And bring that devil of a wizard here!"

The soldiers ran to Adriann before picking him up and carrying him away despite his struggles and crying, "My King!! You cant do this!! Father!! Father!!!"

King Adrian opened his eyes and stared at the Wizard of Oz, who was a stronger of more powerful wizard than the wizard his father faced and died to, but he knew that if he were his father, he would do the same thing, "Great Wizard, my answer to your proposal, is, no."

"My King! You\'ve got to think this through; at least speak with the advisors."

"I know what they will say, and I know what I am supposed to say. But I can\'t do it."

The captain closed his eyes as he covered his face and used all the muscle in his face to stop himself from crying.

George glared at King Adrian before his lips twitched as if he was angry, "That answer, are you sure about it?"

King Adrian hid his hands in his robe as it was shaking uncontrollably from just looking at George, "That is my final and only answer." He said before shutting his eyes. "If you are going to take my life, then so be it, but leave my people alone."

But instead of feeling pain or having his life taken away, he heard the sounds of claps. As he opened his eyes, he could see the Great Wizard clapping his hands, "Of all Kings that I have met, you are the only one worthy of seeing me."

"So, do I get to live?"

George nodded before standing up, "Adrian, do you know why Emerald City doesn\'t have allies? It is because, in every other country I go to, I see their leaders too scared and too willing to bow their heads to a higher power. If there is another country more powerful than I am, would I be able to trust them? No, they would take the side of the higher power. But a King who is loyal to his people would be loyal to his allies. And you would make a perfect ally." He said before extending his hand toward the King.

"So what do you say? Allies?"

The King smiled and chuckled, "So this was a test all along!! Hahaha!" He said as he looked at the ceiling. \'Father, did I do well?\'