Chapter Ten

Leonidas

Three months ago

Entering my son's bedroom, the nauseating blend of alcohol and cigarette smoke immediately assaulted my senses. Allergic to any form of alcohol, be it whiskey or vodka, and wines and vehemently opposed to cigarette smoking, I couldn't fathom how my twenty-year-old son, confined to the palace, managed to sneak these forbidden items into his room without anyone notifying me.

Despite my body's resistance, I ventured deeper into the dimly lit space. With determination, I reached for the remote control, pressed a button, and watched as the curtains automatically glided open, allowing sunlight to flood the room, revealing an unconscious figure sprawled face down on the bed.

He lay there unmoving, he neither groaned nor stirred. I questioned if he might be dead, but the gentle snores reassured me that he was just deeply asleep. I couldn't help but think how Beth would react seeing him like this; thankfully, she was away, sparing her from this scene.

My daughter, Geo