The Prince's Wedding

Will Of The King. 1.

"Your Highness. His Royal Majesty, King Russel requests your presence effective immediately—-"

"You can just say my father wants to see me, Felipe. Tell him I'm on the way." I say without turning away from the view in my balcony, but I can almost see Felipe shake his head in disapproval.

But he doesn't move, he just keeps standing there.

"I said I'm coming." I say, finally turning around to face him, and he stares at me from the bottom of his nose like he's royalty.

He might as well be though, Felipe has been in the castle just as long as my dad. From being his manservant to a knight, and now The Royal Steward to my father.

My father.

The King.

"Very well, your highness. As you wish." He says and bows, then walks out, his perfectly groomed full head of white hair looking sharper in the daylight. Sometimes it amazes me that I had watched that hair go from chocolate brown to white growing up in this castle.

This castle.

I sigh deeply, turning back to the view of the kingdom, the blue skies over the wide green landscapes, way beyond the kingdom walls and way, way beyond this castle.

Where the horses and livestock are taken to feed, and beyond that is the sand...golden insight, right next to the deep blue sea.

But from the kingdom walls, the vegetable and fruit market is in sight, the cobblers, the meat men, the fishermen, the jeweler, The Little school of Nirvania,......

All to be under my complete control soon.

No second option, no choices, no time...

*knock knock knock*

"My Prince, I have been informed by Felipe to get you ready to meet His Royal Majesty, The King."

Caspian, my manservant, says from outside my door and I draw my eyes away from the kingdom to head for the door.

Dreading the idea of seeing my father again after our fight days ago......

*****

"You should do more listening than talking this time." Caspian says, adjusting my belt from behind and I glare at him through the mirror.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He's sick, Prince Alexander." He says, giving me a pointed stare and I roll my eyes.

"He's got a fever. He'll come off it soon enough, and next thing you know he's disturbing my life——"

"You haven't seen him." He cuts me off, standing up straight and this time I turn to face him.

"Caspian," I warn and he sighs.

"My Prince, the King is very sick. His condition now is much worse than it was last week. He can barely go to the bathroom himself." He says, keeping his gaze planted on the floor, his hands folded behind his back.

"I'm only suggesting you consider him this time and put the fight that occurred between you two behind you." He says and hands me the velvety, purple cape which I snatch from him.

"Behind me? Until when? He finds another reason to be disappointed in me?"

"Alexander—"

"You're dismissed, Caspian." I say, turning away from him to face the mirror and put on the cape.

Caspian sighs behind me.

"Very well, Your Highness." He says and bows, then retreat.

As soon as the door shuts, I sigh deeply, suddenly feeling guilty for losing my temper....again.

It wasn't easy.

One would think after 27 years of bearing the name Prince Stefan Alexander Donovan IV, I'd at least know how to deal with the pressure.

The expectations.

The power.

It was easier then, as a teenager when all I had to do was follow The king and queen on all trips, treaties, meetings, and trading deals with kingdoms.

Until mother fell sick....and while I was busy worried sick about her, all my dad could do was assign doctors and go back to running the kingdom.

And that was when it dawned on me.

This kingdom, this position, this palace....it just takes and takes and takes.

Your time, your privacy, your decision....your health.

All my mother did was care for this kingdom, she was devoted to its prosperity...

Then she died,....and life just went on.

After the burial ceremony, father went back to running the kingdom because as he always put it, 'It's a role you can't forfeit or delegate.'

This is why I just can't see myself being stuck here anymore, just waiting for the kingdom to suck my life and every interest in it.

Which is why we had that fight.

Caspian's words come back to me as I stare at my reflection in the mirror, the crown on my head, the cape on my shoulders, the impatient look in my eyes.

Deep breaths...

More listening, less talking.

No arguments.

******

"You came." My father says just after the doors are opened by the guards and I walk in.

Good heavens!

He does look worse...

His eyes are dull and deep, his chin and cheeks are no longer firm and fleshy but seem to be hanging on to his jaw. His skin frayed and gray, and the white hair on his head and beard seem to have lost some pigmentation too.

"It's good to see you, Stefan." He says, then coughs dryly and reaches for the cup of water the bedside nurse hands to him.

He snatches the cup, waving her away.

"I'm fine. Leave us." He groans and she bows and walks out, allowing me to finally walk closer to my father as I take off the crown.

"Father, I... I wish I could say the same for you." I manage to say, all thoughts of argument and pride washed from my mind as I stare down at him.

But he just chuckles.

"I'm an 80-year-old man. I should look this way." He says, then drinks from his cup and drops it.

"I'm glad you came. Truthfully, I was worried you might not show up and I... I'm afraid I don't want my last words with my son to be said out of anger." He says and I frown, a heavy lump forming in my throat as I stare down at him in shock.

Last words?

"You shouldn't be joking about that." I say and he smiles gently.

"Don't act so surprised, Stefan. You always knew your time will come eventually."

"Not now." I insist stubbornly, suddenly forgetting Caspian's advice.

"Not yet. This is still your kingdom to run—"

"Until it isn't." He concludes and I find myself taking deep breaths, suddenly having so much to say yet nothing to say at all.

"Father—"

"It's okay Stefan. I brought you here to listen, not speak." He says calmly, putting his hands on mine and at that moment, I feel how fragile his hands are and the lump in my throat grows bigger.

"First of all, I want to say that I love you. Having you as a son is the best gift I ever had in my lifetime, right next to having your mother as a wife. It may have taken years, but when I finally held you in my arms, right here in this room, I knew you were worth the wait. Nothing could make a 53-year-old man happier." He says with a smile and I just keep staring at him.

I'd heard the story of my birth a thousand times. How the kingdom had waited for an heir and how my mother went through several miscarriages before I came....but hearing it now, feels like the first time.

"And I know I was a bit too quick to drop the responsibilities on your shoulders, but you always handled it well. It may seem unfair but we can't run from who we are, Stefan. The kingdom, the people, they need us. They need you."

"Father, we've been through this. I'm not ready and I'll just end up disappointing you." I say impatiently, looking away.

"No. You've never and will never disappoint me. I'm so sorry I said those words to you. I'm proud of who you are—"

"But not enough to let me travel." I say turning to him and he gives me a stern look.

"We both know you won't come back. We both know the reason you want to travel is to leave. To run. To hide from Nirvania because it reminds you too much of what you've lost and stands to lose than from what you've gained and stand to gain. But you can't run forever Stefan. You have to forgive this kingdom....and me." He adds and I sigh.

"I bear no grudges against either."

"Don't you? I see the way you look at me, at this place. Like it is holding you, prisoner."

"All I want is to travel. To leave Crystal Island and experience the opportunities out there."

"For how long?! This is your home, Stefan!"

"Not until it took my mother!" I erupt, unable to hold it in. "It took her and it now it's taking you and I'm just supposed to stay here and let it? Even worse, rule it? Care for it? To what avail?!"

"Till you understand it!" He yells and starts coughing again, taking his cup of water before I can even reach for it.

And I watch as he drinks slowly, returns the cup, and turns back to me.

"Till you find peace." He says calmly and I scoff.

"There is no peace for me here."

"Yes, there is. Peace, and healing and happiness." He says, sounding confident and as I stare into his green eyes, the lump in my throat finally gives way.

"I can't do it, father... I can't. Please don't leave me to do this alone." I finally say, my voice shaky and he smiles.

"No one said anything about being alone. I'm only going to be gone from my body, but not the kingdom and not from you."

"I'm sorry." I finally say, tears feeling heavy and alien in my eyes and on my cheeks.

"I'm sorry about the argument. I don't blame you for your mother's death." I admit and he smiles.

"I know."

"I don't want to disappoint you. But I can't be king father. I don't know how."

"Yes you can, and you do. You need to stop seeing this kingdom as a foe. It's your friend, your family, your people." He says but I'm just shaking my head continuously,

"I don't care about the kingdom. Just get better, please."

"Your mother always said, the kingdom is not just the place but the people. It's me, it's her and it's you. To care for it is to care for us. I'm sorry Stefan but I can't honor your wishes to travel. You're the only heir to the throne, you can't be away from a kingdom and rule it as well. If you do leave, you'll be taken to have forfeited your right as heir and will lose all Royal benefits." He says casually and I get up from his bed in shock, staring down at him through my tears.

"What?!" I yell but he says nothing.

"You can't do that!"

"I can and I will. There is a lot for you to learn in Nirvania, for the sake of your future and its own. And I'm afraid that's the only way, Stefan. Because if you do leave, you'll never become the King your mother and I knew you could be." He says and I remain standing, aghast and speechless.

"You taking my right is one thing, but the benefits?! How the bloody hell am I supposed to cope?"

"Then it's simple. Don't travel. Of what use is a King with money and no kingdom?" He asks and I can't even muster a reply.

I suddenly feel choked.

Cramped.

Like the walls are closing in on me.

I'm stuck here...

"Stefan, I love you and I hope you know I'm only doing this because it's what's best for you. I hope you get to see this kingdom the way you always should see it. As home."

"You're being unfair." I insist. "You can't throw this bombshell on me on the same day that I find out that you might be gone very soon. You're putting me in a position to do nothing but accept it. It's blackmail! Please, father."

"Stefan, my decision is final. And I will it to remain so. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get some rest. We can discuss this better, at dinner." He says and leans back into bed while I just stand there, a mixture of feelings and reactions swirling within me.

The sound of my heartbeat is pounding in my ears and my palms clench into fists, but the sight of him in bed, looking frail and tired sends every irrational reaction out of my mind...

So I storm out, fuming yet overwhelmed with sadness. Still, I don't miss the fearful glances the staff and servants give me before clearing from my way.

Why did this have to happen now?

Why after the argument?

Why is he doing this to me?

What have I done to deserve this?

Leaving me alone in this screwed-up kingdom and like that's not enough, making me do his will in a form of emotional blackmail.

By the time I storm into my room, my palms are sweaty from my fists being clutched too tight and I snatch the cape off me, flinging it to the far end of the very wide room.

But it's not enough.

And the emotions within me feel like turmoil, fighting to escape.

So I kick at the large mirror and it cracks a bit.

More.

I kick it again, even harder and the c***k spreads.

More!

And I continue furiously kicking it, over and over until it explodes into an eruption of shards of glass.

At that moment, the rage vanishes and a wave of sadness engulfs me, causing me to drop on my knees in tears.

******

I'm awoken by the banging on my door.

"Prince Alexander!" He yells.

Caspian?

*Bang Bang Bang!*

Goes the door again.

"Prince Alexander!!!" He yells even louder and I grab a robe from the rack as I rush to the door and open it.

"Caspian, what in the——"

"You must come quick!" He says, panting, already turning to leave.

"It's the King." He adds and I don't hesitate to join him as we both race to the Royal chambers,

"The nurse went to do her hourly check on him," he says to me as we head for the room, "but when she got there....."

He trails off as he slows to a stop in front of the room and I stop too, amazed at the amount of panic going on.

"Get the physician!"

"Alert the Prince!"

"We must find a way to—-"

"SILENCE!" I yell and everyone, the guards, the nurses, the servants, instantly stop talking, turning to me.

They're all standing there, staring at me.....waiting.

But my mind is occupied with what's happening on the other side of the doors, and without another word, I slowly walk towards it as they make way for me.

And then I open the door.

And he is just lying down there, just as he was when I stormed out earlier today.

Besides his bed is a nurse, packing up supplies, silently sobbing. She hastily bows when she spots me and leaves.

"Father?" I say quietly as I slowly make my way to his bed and kneel next to him.

"Father..."

Cautiously, I reach out for him, my hand hovering a bit before taking his hand in mine.

It's cold.

"Father....can you hear me?"

I ask, looking up at his peaceful face.

But no reply.

So I the one thing I didn't want to do.....

I check for his pulse.

Nothing.

And I just stay there, staring at him, speechless.

Unable to feel anything.

He's gone.....

"Your Highness..."

I turn slowly to the entrance to see Felipe standing there.

"He's gone, Felipe...." I say softly and he sighs deeply.

"I'm so sorry, Your Highness." He says after a few moments of silence and I just turn back to my father...laying there.

'We'll discuss this later, at dinner...."

And we never did.....

"My Prince, I'm aware this is not the time...... but we await your instructions." Felipe says and I don't bother to look away from my father.

"Sound the bells. Let the kingdom know... Then call the priest. Burial arrangements should start now." I say.

"As His Majesty wishes." Felipe says and this time I look up and turn to him, but he is already leaving, while the new title echoes in my ear.

His Majesty......