58. Perspectives
1400 Words
"What should I do with you now, princess?"
His voice echoed deep inside her brain. He KNEW.
How?? How could he know?? What gave her up? What will he do to her now, knowing that she was the real princess? The real enemy of his kingdom?
She did not even dare to make a move. She did not even dare to look into his eyes.
Her beautiful porcelain face froze over time, and she didn't even seem to dare breathe in front of him.
-How did you know? She managed to gather enough posture to ask him.
-I knew someone once. She was just ... like you. A princess. Acted just as well as you do in front of the others.
-What has happened to her?
It was his turn to keep silent for a moment, as if deciding if she was worthy to share with his precious memories.
-She died.
He waited for her reaction that never came. Whatever she was thinking or feeling right now, she was locking it deep inside of her, where she was not granting him access. He hated it. He pushed his chair behind and walked towards the window, looking outside. She was still like a stone.
-Did you...
She found the courage to speak, and she was really asking him that? Did she really think he was the monster who...
Of course, she would think anything low about him, she was a Warchild princess after all.
Her mind was already poisoned from the moment she was born. Now, what should he do with her?
He did not answer her unfinished question, but she knew he did not do it. She was feeling he was hurt by whatever has happened back then. And that would only mean that she could hurt his feelings right now, making that assumption. And she was wrong about it and he did not say anything against her.
-I am sorry for your loss. I think she meant something to you. And... I am sorry I thought... I do not have the right to...
-You don't!
-Yeah... so I am sorry for that.
He turned to look at her with the corner of his eyes, she really looked like she was sorry. When she looked up at him, he could see the compassion in her eyes. She did not think he was watching her, so she did not try to avoid showing him her emotions.
-A Warchild bastard killed her.
Great! Now she had to give an account because a Warchild killed this king's female!! Perfect! What's more... Silver Moon was tired.
-This is what the war does, you know?
He looked at her, trying to figure out the meaning of her words.
-What?
-Stealing the people you love. Dividing families, separating children from mothers when they need them most. And men are no longer so fearless and strong when they lack half their heart.
-What half of the heart?
The king did not understand her words, and she smiled at him. There was no way she knew, it was something of her, personally.
-My mother taught us that. She told us a story about a strong, cruel king. As the strongest man in the kingdom, he was the strongest because his heart was half to him, and the other half belonged to his lover. Thus, no enemy could defeat him, because no one could kill him as long as his heart was not whole and it was half beating in his beloved's chest. This gave him unprecedented power in the human world, and therefore no one could defeat him, because his sweetheart was always in his heart and defended him like a shield against any weapon. So, you see...? He was not strong all by himself. He needed her half heart, to get there. So this is what the war does to people. Stealing away their lives, because the war cares not for the happiness of the men or women, or children. The war cares not for the love between men and women. The war just takes. Away. From everyone.
-And what would be the alternative? If the enemy is killing you?
-You be wiser and make peace.
-Peace?? Seriously?? With the enemy??
-In times of peace, the people prosper. In times of war, they die. What would you rather have?
She had it right, even if she was wrong. How could she think like that?
-Only a female can think like that...
-I think that only a great king could manage to give that to the people. Because kings are servants of the people, they are not just rulers of the lands.
-No man could just accept the enemy's apology when it comes to the death of the people they care for.
-No one should accept it. That is why everyone should work in this direction. To protect the people they care for is to ensure a future for them, instead of just death. What will become of your kingdom after you die? If you are to take a queen and father children, what will they become, if you die before your time?
-Who do you think would even try something like that on me?
-There comes a time when everyone becomes weak. And everyone grows stronger.
-No one would dare...
She again smiled at him and her face was all shining with a strange light that was touching him in a way he felt it was wrong.
-I was raised in a king's house. It seems to be very easy to build and make dynasties disappear when the pillar that sustains everything is gone. I have seen that happen. How did you become king?
Her simple question blocked him. His mind could not issue an answer for it.
-What kind of question is that?
-A simple one?
-Everybody knows...
-I am not everybody. Please, forgive my ignorance. I really do not know. I was not here...
-Are you serious? What do they teach you there? Won't teachers teach the history of dynasties in your house?
-Yes, but ... we have a different kind of history ... Please, tell me?
-I took the crown after my father fell in the battle of Nio... the fortress where we ambushed you? There was a time when we owned it, but then it fell into the Warchild's hands. My father died there because of your people.
-Do you have any brothers, or sisters?
-No.
-Did you ever feel alone growing up?
-No.
-I can not imagine how that is. But even so, with only one prince, you are still alive. You are lucky. If anything would have happened to you, then your entire kingdom would be at risk. This is really a king's responsibility, to promote life and stop the war, not the actual war. Am I right?
-The war is the way a man is forged.
-You so... think like a man. This is why you will fall. Every man is thinking like a man... You are all the same. The one with a different perspective though... will rule.
-Perhaps I should make you my counselor...
-Ha! As if your War council would take the enemy into consideration...
-The what?
The king was looking at her in confusion. Why was he looking at her like that?
-The... Waarr.... Council?
He still looked confused. So she realized it... Maybe, they did not have a War Council??
-Do you not have a War Council? How do you call it then? The council that helps you rule?
-I rule alone. Everyone knows that!
-That is the most... are you serious?
-Yes. Is the most... what?
-You mean, you have no council to help you make good decisions regarding the people... and to help you rule?
-Why would I need anyone else to help me rule if I have already ruled my kingdom ever since I was 17?
His words made her sad.
He could only hear her whisper "Mother..." and she just closed her eyes.
Her sudden change made his heart clench. Why was she sad about it?
He was really 17 when he took the throne and ever since he fought his way to keep his kingdom from falling apart because of the Warchild clan. The Warchilds were too ambitious and because of their greed, his father died.
And because of them, his mother also died.
How could he ever forgive that?
- Writer
