Chapter VI

“Mother!” Andry ran to hug his mother.

“Oh, my dear son how much I have missed you!” Eve hugged him back and kissed his cheek. She spotted the black-haired man and asked, “Who is this gentleman?”

“It is Daniel, king of Agustus.”

Eve widened her eyes and hurried to bow to him. “I am sorry, Your Majesty. I did not recognize you. You were still a child when I last saw you.”

“It is a real pleasure to meet you, my lady.” he kissed the back of her hand.

“Mother, he hurt his knee. I think you should take a look.” Andry said.

“Of course!”

“And why are you in the palace? Weren't you with the prince's mother?”

“Indeed, we came together because she wanted to see her son.”

“Thank you for taking care of my son, Your Highness.” Axel's mother bowed to the king.

“Axel is now my husband, and I must be good to him.” Lucian smiled. “And please call me Lucian.”

“But you are the prince.”

“And also your son-in-law.”

Axel blushed and held Lucian's hand.

“Welcome to the castle.” the queen arrived at the hall, looking gorgeous under her long dark blue dress and black fur over her shoulders. 

“Your Majesty.” All of them bowed to the queen.

“Axel is a kind young man. You worked hard my dear.” Maya smiled. “I just asked a maid to prepare us tea. Will you join me please?” She asked the three of them.

Three days have passed and everything seemed to be going well in the castle. Lucian was teaching Axel to read at the library. Daniel and Andry always went out to discover the region and also have talks to get to know each other.  Leon and Nathan were doing their duties in the castle. Their teamwork was amazing.

Everything was fine until a Friday morning when the palace went upside down.

Loud knocks were heard on the prince's room's door.

“Who could it be?” Lucian groaned and lazily left the bed to open the door.

“Nathan? What are you doing? Are you crying?!”

“Lucian!” Nathan cried. “T—The king! He's dying!”

Lucian widened his eyes, and he quickly put on his robe and ran along the corridors to his parent's room. Axel and Nathan ran after him.

“Father!” Lucian shouted when he saw the king looking very pale, his eyes were half-closed, his lips were dark and he was breathless. He knelt in front of him and hid his face in the crook of his neck. “Father, please do not leave us.”

The queen was a crying mess. She was sitting on the floor, and staring at her dying husband.

“L—Lucian.” The king mumbled.

“Yes, father.”

“Please take care of Virtus,” Ayaan started, “Take care of your mother.” He said, looking at his queen. “Take care of your husband.” He looked at the young prince who was crying.

“Take care of your people.” He looked at the employees and the important men like Andry and Nathan. “And take care of yourself, my son.” He difficulty held his son's hand.

“And do not worry if you get problems. We have a strong ally.” He said, nodding to Daniel who bowed with a sad smile.

“Father.” Lucian kissed the king's head. He gave his last farewells and left the world a few minutes after.

“F—Father,” Lucian held his father's body in his arms, sobbing while the queen stood up to hug them both.

Everyone in the castle was crying. King Ayaan the Second was the kindest king anyone could meet. Despite his busy schedules, he always made time for his family, his friends and most importantly, his people. He helped everyone in need, and he did not leave any family without sending them what they need to stay healthy. 

He was always a good husband, and he never thought about other women than his wife. He was also an amazing father to Lucian. He taught him everything since he was a child, he made him grow up to be a modest and powerful prince.

Andry cried a lot because the king was like a second father to him. After his father died during the war, the king took care of him and treated him like his own son. Lucian and Andry grew up like brothers, they did everything together.

Still crying, he felt like it was finally the moment to do what he had to do. He knelt in front of Lucian and lowered his head. Wiping his tears with his sleeve, he cleared his throat. “Long live the king!”

Yes, Lucian would now become the king.

Everyone in the room knelt a part of the queen and Daniel.

“Long live the king!”

Lucian closed himself in his office during the rest of the day. He won't talk to anyone and would refuse to eat his meals. The late king was a precious father to him, he was his role model, his instructor, his protector and his friend. He was also not feeling ready to be on the lead of his country.  He had been learning protocols and studying history and economy, knowing this day would come but he wasn't expecting it to arrive that soon. He felt still young to be a sovereign, still young to have a million responsibilities, and too young to protect his people.

Lucian was only twenty-two years old, a young man who just got married and was trying to enjoy his honeymoon with his husband, but it seems like things decided to change.

“Your Majesty.” Andry gently knocked on the door.

“Come in, Andry.”

The blond-haired man entered with a sad smile on his face. His heart hurt him to see his best friend in such a delicate situation. Losing his father was enough to break him, but taking over the country was the cherry on top.

“I brought you dinner,” Andry said, putting a tray on his desk. “Chicken fajita pasta, your favourite,” he smiled. “Leon prepared it especially for you.” 

“Thank you, Andry but I have no appetite,” Lucian mumbled quietly, staring at the floor. 

“Oh, Lucian,” Andry sighed. “Look at you! You look so pale and tired. You should eat!” 

“But I d—” The king couldn't add more words because his friend shoved the fork in his mouth. 

“Eat.”

Lucian sighed and sat in front of the plate.

“Delicious, isn't it?” Andry asked, and Lucian only nodded.

“You ate?”

“Yes, I did,” Andry answered. “I had dinner with Axel and sir Daniel. They are worried about you.”

“I am alright.”

“I can see it.” The royal knight rolled his eyes.

“When is the funeral?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Alright,” Lucian said before forcefully taking another mouthful of his pasta.

“The coronation will take place the day after the funeral,” Andry said, fearing the new king's reaction.

Lucian lifted his head and stared at Andry with a confused, angry and sad face. “I hate everything that is happening.” He mumbled.

“I know, Lucian. I know.” Andry sighed and sat next to him.

“Everything is happening too fast. I understand how difficult it must be for you.”

“I am not qualified to run an entire country, Andry.”

Andry furrowed his eyebrow and faced his friend. “How can you say such a thing?” He asked with an angry tone. “You spent too many years studying and working harder than anyone. You followed the late king everywhere, curious about politics and royal businesses. You worried about people who died during the war and people who died because of poverty and illness. You sent help to a thousand citizens not once, not twice, but a hundred times.  You care about them as much as you care about your own family and friends.  How can you say that you are not qualified?”

Tears started to fall from Lucian's eyes. “You say only good things about me.” He whispered.

“Because I love you, Lucian.” Andry smiled. “You were the first friend I ever had since we were children. I was there during your most important moments, and this is why I know everything about you and I know you more than anyone. I believe that you will be an amazing king.”

“Ah, you never stop flattering me!” Lucian chuckled. He put his arm around Andry's waist and his head on his shoulder.

“Thank you, my friend. I was feeling quite bad since the morning's event. You were the person I needed.”

“There is someone who won't like hearing this.” Andry chuckled.

“Axel?” Lucian laughed. “My dear husband.”

“You should talk to him, your dear husband.” The blond-haired chuckled. “He was looking so lost earlier, and he didn't know what to do or what to say to comfort you. He is very cute.” He smiled.

“Are you perhaps falling for my husband?” Lucian dramatically covered his mouth with surprise.

“Oh, I thought I could keep it a secret from you!” Andry acted along with him. “I am in love with the king's husband! Oh! I deserve death!”

“I shall cut your head!”

They both stared at each other's acting and burst out laughing. Andry fell on the floor, laughing like there is no tomorrow, his body curled up. Lucian pushed his head back, and he couldn't stop laughing along, tears from sadness, fear and happiness falling on his cheeks.

A strange and beautiful feeling reigned inside the office— the feeling of true friendship.

During a long moment, Axel was watching everything from afar. The study, which was in the middle of the king's garden, was surrounded by glass panes, anyone could see through it.

He was afraid to approach his husband because he wasn't in the mood. He kept observing how lonely he looked until Andry knocked at his door.

“Sometimes, what you need the most is the support of your best friend.” A deep voice surged behind him, making him jump.

“Sorry for frightening you.” Daniel chuckled.

“Your Majesty.” Axel shyly bowed.

“Thank god he is eating now.” The king said.

“Andry must have convinced him.”

“That boy is very good at convincing,” Daniel smirked. “He is very talented.”

“I cannot agree more.” Axel chuckled.

“Look at them being affectionate, and making me feel lonely and jealous here,” Daniel mumbled, staring at the two friends hugging and smiling to each other.

“I know he is his friend, but I cannot help being jealous too.” The young prince shyly said.

“The king and his knight are playing with our poor hearts.” Daniel laughed.

“It seems like Andry already stole yours,” Axel said after seeing how the king was staring lovingly at Andry.

“And I am not complaining.” Daniel smiled. “He is such a charming young man.”

“He is, indeed,” Axel smiled.

“To be honest, he was the first man to catch my attention here in the palace.”

“I thank the lord because you married sir Lucian,” Daniel chuckled. “I don't like concurrence.”

“How could I compete with you, sir? You are a great man.”

“Am I?” Daniel sighed. “I don't know if I deserve him.”

“You certainly do.”

Axel felt his heart breaking when he saw Lucian crying again, his head hidden on Andry's lap.

“He loved his father very much,” Daniel said.

“Yes, I know how difficult it is to lose your father,” Axel mumbled, thinking about years ago when they received a telegram, announcing that Mr Eastoft honourably died fighting for the country.

“And so do I,” Daniel added. The late king of Agustus died during the war, and he would forever be remembered as a hero.