Chapter 48: Royal Warnings and Feathered Threats
The courtyard was still recovering from the Great Chicken Escape.
Feathers floated through the air like snowflakes. Guards were limping. A royal robe had somehow gotten stuck in a tree. And in the middle of it all, Prince Kimo stood tall—dignity shredded, hair ruffled, a faint scratch across his cheek from an especially vicious rooster.
And all around him... laughter.
Not quiet chuckles.
Not respectful snickers.
Full-blown, belly-shaking, breath-stealing laughter.
From the guards.
Prince Kimo narrowed his icy blue eyes, adjusting the single feather still stuck in his hair like an accidental crown.
"Oh, you all find this funny?" he said, his voice velvet-smooth and chilling.
The laughter died faster than a torch in a blizzard.
One guard coughed. Another went stiff like a statue. A third tried to shove feathers into his pockets to hide the evidence.
Kimo stepped forward, slow and ominous.
"I see. The image of your Crown Prince being attacked by a rogue chicken is amusing."
"No, no, Your Highness, not at all!" one guard stammered. "It was the, uh, angle. Of the attack."
Another whispered, "I think the chicken had a vendetta..."
Kimo raised an eyebrow. "Vendetta?"
The courtyard went silent.
Then he smiled—cold and charming. "Well, since we're all laughing… I think I should return the favor."
He snapped his fingers.
Every guard in the courtyard froze.
The wind picked up. Leaves spiraled. A faint glow shimmered in Kimo's eyes.
"I hereby declare mandatory combat training... at midnight. Shirtless. In the snow."
Gasps erupted.
"In the snow, sire?" one brave soul asked.
"With chickens."
Dead silence.
Even Oki, who'd just arrived with an armful of bread and tea, stopped mid-bite. "Did you say... with chickens?"
Kimo turned to her with a devilish grin. "Yes. Let's see how they like being pecked and chased."
"But... chickens don't fight," another guard whispered.
"They will now," Kimo said darkly.
The guards looked to Oki for help.
She just sipped her tea, trying very hard not to laugh. "I warned you all not to laugh."
Kimo paced slowly, his hands behind his back. "Don't worry, I'm merciful. I might forget about the chicken combat... if someone offers me a peace treaty."
A guard bolted forward, dropped to one knee, and held up a roasted chicken leg from lunch like a peace offering. "For the prince."
Kimo blinked. Took the chicken leg. Nodded solemnly.
"Accepted."
Everyone sighed in relief.
Then he looked at Oki. "You, however..."
She raised an eyebrow. "Me?"
"You were laughing the loudest."
She smirked. "You'll forgive me when you kiss me later."
Kimo froze.
Guards gasped.
The king, once again watching from the balcony, dropped his goblet.
Kimo turned beet red.
Oki winked and walked away, leaving the prince to face his stunned soldiers and a courtyard that would never look at chickens the same way again.
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To be con.....