Elarion had found peace after the threat of war from the King of Nebuzza faded.
The king had gone back to ruling without fear of a looming war while the royal court moved as it had before.
A normal day as usual until the letter came.
“My lord, King Zareth sent you a letter!” Goldon said, bowing to King Budegha.
He sat on his throne.
The room was empty now; the meeting with the royal council had ended minutes ago.
King Budegha’s hand, which had been massaging his temple, stilled.
“Bring it here.” He said after some time, and General Goldon placed it in his hand.
King Budegha hesitated.
He stared at the royal seal of a dragon pressed into the wax, and his heart skipped.
Then he broke the seal, unrolled the short scroll, and read.
A soft laugh escaped his lips as he looked at Goldon.
King Budegha didn’t know what he’d expected from the letter, but he’d never thought the bloodied king could be dangerously funny.
Goldon watched him with curiosity.
What on earth could be written in that goddamn letter to make the king laugh?
“My lord…” “It’s nothing serious, General Goldon.
The King of Nebuzza was only assuring me they had arrived safely after a brutal two-day journey.” King Budegha chuckled.
“That doesn’t sound funny, my lord.” General Goldon said.
“Oh… sure.
It wasn’t supposed to be funny until he addressed me as a bald king, when I’m not even bald.” Goldon: “!!!” King Zareth is truly disrespectful, he thought.
“He assured me Elira is fine and well taken care of.
That’s all I wanted to hear.” “My lord, you’re punishing yourself too much.” “I failed as a father, Goldon.
I neglected my own daughter.
A mistake I should have owned.
Instead, I treated my daughter as though she were the mistake.” “I understand you, but whatever happened is in the past.
You did what you had to do.
Stop punishing yourself, my lord.” King Budegha didn’t answer.
He dismissed him instead.
He wanted to be alone.
Goldon shook his head and left.
The king was tormenting himself.
If Elira would be happy in Nebuzza, then so be it.
“Are you done listening, William?” King Budegha asked, straightening on the throne.
“I’m surprised someone has turned over a new leaf.” Prince William said, stepping out from the shadows.
“Isn’t that a good thing?” “Is it?” “There are things you do not understand, William.” “The only thing I understand is that you are weak!” He chuckled darkly.
“Sometimes I wonder why the people chose you as their king when you can’t even protect yourself.” William said through gritted teeth.
King Budegha’s first reaction was surprise, then shock, then anger that vibrated through him.
“How dare you!” He rose sharply from his throne and advanced towards William.
“You know… I’m not lying, Father!” Prince William’s voice was low and dangerous.
“You are such a pathetic son I would gladly exchange for a daughter, William!
Do you think you’d make a great king when you have turned to the vilest of the Valkrest bloodline?” “Hahaha… vilest, you say?
Have you forgotten how you treated your own daughter?
You made her a shadow even to herself.” William shouted.
“You said you were doing it to protect us, but that was a lie.
You did what you did for selfish reasons.
If you had shown her love, no one would have dared question you!” King Budegha was left speechless.
Prince William’s words struck him so hard he stumbled back.
William was right.
No one would have dared question him if he had done the right thing.
“Yes!” He nodded, finally seeing it.
“You’re right.
I was stupid and selfish.
I treated my daughter the worst.” Then he looked at Prince William and gave a sad smile.
“Then tell me… why do you want to be like me?” Silence.
Then William burst into laughter.
He laughed so hard King Budegha grew confused.
“You think so highly of yourself, Father.” He said.
“You think I would ever want to be like you… a weakling?
You couldn’t even stand against a king.
You faltered in his presence.
You bowed your head because you were threatened.
Do you think I would ever want to rule like you!” He clicked his tongue.
King Budegha raised an eyebrow.
“Then why didn’t you lead the army?” “Seriously?” William was stunned.
“Yes!
As Crown Prince of Elarion, you should have led the army.
But instead, you hid behind me.
I still remember the fear in your eyes, like you would wet yourself just at the sight of Zareth.
And yet you speak of weakness.” The king smirked.
Prince William flushed pink with rage.
“We shall see!” With that, he swept his robe behind him and stormed out.
King Budegha watched until he disappeared.
Then he exhaled.
He knew William well.
He had raised him.
The way Prince William had acted was enough to tell him he was plotting something dangerous.
**** **** King Zareth strolled through his quarters.
General Alaric followed, grinning like an idiot.
“Don’t you have anything better to do, General?” “No!
My best duty is following a married king so I can watch his face turn red every time I tease him.” Alaric grinned, and Zareth glared.
“Brother!” The voice came from a distance.
King Zareth looked up to see a seventeen-year-old boy running toward him at full speed.
His brown hair bounced as his robe fluttered in the wind.
General Alaric jumped and stepped in front of the king, and Zareth shoved him aside without slight hesitation.
King Zareth opened his arms as the boy leapt into them and wrapped his legs around Zareth’s waist.
“Easy, Darius.
The king is too old for your stamina.” General Alaric teased, and Zareth frowned while Darius laughed.
“I am not old, General!” King Zareth said, then turned to Darius.
“Now get down, boy.
You’ve gained weight.” He teased, and Darius dropped to the ground.
“I missed you!
You wouldn’t let me come with you, and you didn’t even send me letters while you were away?” He complained.
“General Alaric, was that good?” “If I were you, I’d make him pay for treating me like that.” General Alaric huffed, and Darius laughed.
“You two look awful.
Did you fight wild animals on the way home?” Darius asked.
“We fought men instead.
Gods, it was a terrible sight.” General Alaric said, and King Zareth smacked him on the head.
“Stop frightening him!” Zareth warned.
“How is your training going?” Zareth asked.
“It’s exhausting, brother.
Heman doesn’t go easy on me.” Darius pouted.
“He’s trying to make you stronger.
Don’t worry, I’ll tell him to go easier on you.” “Thank you, brother.
I heard you brought a bride home.” King Zareth nodded.
“Can I see her?” Zareth wanted to say no, but looking at Darius’s eager face, he couldn’t refuse.
“Sure.
But act like a man,” he said, and Darius grinned.
“I promise!” With that, he turned and walked off.
“You didn’t tell him she’s beautiful.” Alaric said, stepping away from Zareth, who glared at him.
**** **** “So the late king married three wives, made the third wife his queen, but still named King Zareth Crown Prince even though he’s not the son of the queen?” Elira asked, confusion clear on her face.
“Yes.
You could say it like that.” Nasha replied, braiding Elira’s hair.
“But that doesn’t make sense.
Why?” “King Zareth is different.
He was born to lead, and the late king saw it.” “Wow!” “Yes, my lady.
The queen had a son named Darius.
He’s still young, and King Zareth’s favorite.” Nasha smiled as though the name brought back memories.
“Darius just wants to live without a burden on his shoulders, and the king promised him that.” “But why haven’t I seen the queen?” Elira asked.
“Because the queen died many years ago, and King Zareth’s mother ruled after her.” Nasha replied, and Elira nodded as though she understood.
Then she shook her head and faced Nasha.
“Say it one more time.
This feels like history I have to study.” She pouted, and Nasha shouted in frustration.
“Do you need me to write it down with ink and paper?
How slow is your brain?” Nasha fumed.
“You’re making it hard to understand.
You’re a terrible tutor.” Elira cried.
“It’s not hard to understand.
The king had three wives, and…” “Nasha!” Elira stood and glared at her.
“Okay, okay, okay!
Don’t look at me like that.
It’s not even scary when you look like a rabbit.” Nasha said.
“So are you going to tell me?” Elira asked.
“It’s not her place to tell!” They both turned toward the voice, and there stood King Zareth.
“My king!” “Your Highness!” How does he enter without being noticed?
Elira thought.
“Your Highness, what are you doing here?” Nasha asked, and Zareth raised a brow.
“I didn’t realize I needed to be summoned.” Elira: “…” Nasha: “…” “I didn’t mean it that way, Your Highness.” Nasha bowed and excused herself.
“I’ll take my leave now, my lady.” With that, she bolted away as if running for her life.
“You look lively.” King Zareth said, drawing her close, his hands resting on her waist.
“Thanks to you… Zareth.” She still felt her voice tremble at his name.
“Hmm.” He nodded.
“How is the Queen Dowager?” Elira asked.
“She isn’t well… yet” For reasons, she didn’t understand why, but her heart ached.
“Why did you trap these ugly things in a bottle?” King Zareth released her waist and walked to the window where she’d placed the large bottle of butterflies.
He picked it up and tried to open it.
Elira rushed forward and snatched it from him.
Her attitude stunned him for a moment but he smirked.
“They’ll die!” He said, looking at her.
“No, they won’t.
The bottle has holes for air, and there’s sugar water for them.” She argued.
“That’s absurd.
These are fragile creatures, Elira.
You can’t keep them long.
And it’s not even beautiful.” “I didn’t know you had an interest in such things, my king.” Elira said, watching Zareth as she clutched the bottle to her chest.
Zareth laughed.
“I take an interest in anything touched by the Princess of Elarion.” Elira laughed softly.
She carried the bottle back to the window and set it down.
“I’ll release them someday.” She said.
King Zareth didn’t answer.
He stared at her for a while, then nodded.
“I sent a letter to your father.
I’m sorry I didn’t ask if you wanted to add anything.” He stepped closer to speak again, but his hand accidentally brushed her stomach, and Elira immediately clutched it on instinct.
“Are you alright?” He asked.
Realizing what she’d done, she lowered her hands and straightened.
“I’m fine.
It’s nothing.” King Zareth raised a brow.
“Are you sure?
You’ve been protecting your stomach a lot.
Do you want me to call the physician?” The moment she heard the word ‘physician, she went pale.