DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

' Your majesty.' A messenger came running into the court room.

Everyone (the court leaders) turned to him as soon as he showed courtesy to the emperor. Everyone wandered why the emperor's concubine messenger would come in late at that hour.

'What happened? Is Leila fine?!' The emperor inquired with a stressful and worried look and tone.

'Your concu...I mean her highness...' The messenger then stopped for a moment to catch his breath as he breathed heavily from the rush. On mention of his concubine Leila, the emperor sat up and so did his first wife.

'Can you get talking, what is the problem?' The emperor was certain losing patience.

'She is ... giving birth...in her chambers.' He finally broke the news to the emperor.

'Birth?!!.. your majesty...' The empress tried saying something but the emperor stepped away from his throne and just before he could take a further step,

'We have agreed to it your majesty.' The prime minister quickly made a move, making the emperor stop for a while

'You all made the decision, I didn't and neither did I agree.'

'Don't forget about the PROPHECY your majesty.' The prime minister added on. But without turning back, he replied,

'I will not have an innocent child killed because of a false prophecy.'

'False?... Your majesty, this is for the best of the empire and everyone.' The empress echoed right after the prime minister tried to explain and get the emperor to understand.

'That child is a threat to all of us, you too.' She added.

'A one hour baby is it? How can it be dangerous?' The emperor defended his actions with a good reason.

'Right now, it may not be, but who knows what may happen...'

'I am not turning back on my words.' The emperor assured.

'Ah... ' The empress pushed her liniments off the dressing table in anger.

'You seem very concerned about the emperor's decision.' A voice came from her back . She seemed aware of who it was.

'Do whatever you can to have that child eliminated from the surface, even if it means eliminating Leila too.' She then turned round to him_ it was the prime minister.

'Don't get me wrong but are you doing this for the emperor and empire or yourself.'

'What are talking about?'

'We both know that the emperor favors Leila more. And according to Xazidel empire, the last born of the emperor gets to be his heir.'

'But don't worry, I am on your side.' He changed the topic.

'Take a breather...' The royal physician told Leila.

'Now, You will push again on the count of three...'

Before she could even start the count down, she started to push. At last, the child was born, but it didn't cry.

The physician looked up at Leila and nodded.

'I am sorry, your child is dead.'

'No, no, my child...' Leila quickly embraced her child with tears rolling out of her eyes. Just then, the emperor walked in.

'Your majesty.' The physician stepped aside, creating space for him. A smile crossed his face at the sight of the baby in Leila's arms.

'I am sorry your majesty, the child didn't make it out alive.' The physician said in a low tone as though it was entirely her fault. Immediately, the smile faded away and his eyes moved over to his wife who had an overflow of tears in her eyes.

'Lei...'

'Don't... don't come any closer...' Leila pulled scissors out from her side and pointed it to the emperor, sending a shocker to him and the physician.

'Hegy, put that down,...' The physician tried to calm her down but the scissors were turned over to her.

'Liars, you are all Liars, you want to take away my child to have him killed.'

'Listen to me...' The emperor sounded friendly but was cut off.

'No one is having my child.Understand ?' Leila became even more fierce

'Leila, put the scissors away.' The physician again interrupted.

'I will not let you people take and kill him as I watch.'

Before the emperor and physician knew it, Leila stabbed her self in the chest and without warning, her eyes shut and immediately, the emperor's eyes went wide open. It was as though Leila had just traded her life for her child.