The Academy of Kings

Katherine (14) reads a book in bed while Kaïs (also 14) reads the same book in a library. Her parents, the King and Queen, take her to meet potential mates for when she inherits the throne’s shadow as wife of the new king. She slips away and meets Kaïs. They watch tournaments where several young men excel but Kaïs is merely average. The next day, four suitors are interviewed: Adam, Gabriel, Alexandre and Kaïs - Katherine’s only interest. Four years later, Katherine sees a woman die from abuse and argues with her father over women’s mistreatment. She believes she should take the throne, not a husband who gets it through marriage, and she wants to make changes. The king slaps her and takes her to choose her husband. After a second test for suitors, Kaïs wins and the two marry. This infuriates Marcus, the father of potential suitor Adam, who has the current king killed. Kaïs begins his reign, leaving Katherine out of the daily duties. She takes sword fighting up in secret, to learn to defend herself and other women. While Kaïs tries to find evidence against Marcus, he doesn’t include Katherine. Marcus attacks Adélaïde, a friend of Katherine’s. She defends Adélaïde and Marcus attacks her. The new king witnesses the attack and has Marcus put in the dungeon, awaiting trial. The trial brings out that Kaïs withheld evidence of regicide while investigating it. Marcus tries to make Kaïs look suspect. A witness describes Kaïs and King Hector as arguing, which they did not. Katherine stands and takes over, sentencing Marcus to death, banishing her husband and the entire Academy of Kings, and takes the throne alone. Marcus escapes and builds an army. Kaïs and friends end up at a monastery. Katherine finds out she is pregnant. Six months later, Katherine has a baby boy at a convent. Marcus attacks the kingdom after she leaves, and she hurries back. The banished Academy of Kings, which includes Kaïs and Academy men, rush to defend the queen. Adam kills his father, Marcus. The enemy is defeated. The queen and king are injured, and the King Kaïs dies. Four years later, Gabriel announces his love for the queen, but she states there will never be another husband as she watches her son play with Adélaïde and Adam’s daughter. The end shot is orphans getting a home at the old Academy of Kings and the hospice slowly becoming less occupied with abused women.