The King of Alguna was betrayed not only by his trusted people but also by his beloved wife eighteen centuries ago.
"Fear not, my people! Even with my eyes closed, washing dishes is possible!" he proclaimed with a knife stabbed in his eyes, so the laughter of the aristocrats and commoners echoed throughout the palace.
At that moment, the kingdom he trusted the most labeled him as...
"The Blind Ruler."
★
"Believe it or not, they are making a fool out of Your Majesty!" said the queen, who failed to persuade her husband.
It had been like that ever since the king decided to hold a banquet for commoners. When he finally reached his wit's end, he shouted, "Felia! I will not allow such a nonsensical insult to my people!"
Queen Felia slammed the wall near the window. "Those scoundrels are not your people! So please just cancel it!"
He hoped to let them enjoy an elegant banquet that they never had in their whole life. The queen approved it since she once belonged to them, but for an unknown reason, she had a change of heart overnight.
And that was when their quarrel began.
★
The night that she never waited for had finally come. All eyes were locked on Queen Felia, together with her husband, as they sat on their throne. The queen frowned at him as he smiled like a doting father to his people.
Aristocrats or commoners, they both sniffed the aroma spreading throughout the palace. It became certain that no one could resist luxurious foods!
After a few hours, a mere commoner kid walked towards them and said, "Hey, King! Help us here! You held this banquet for us, right?"
The king was about to leave his throne when his wife grabbed his wrist. Shaking his head, he pulled his arm away from her.
"Have faith in them . . ." he whispered.
The queen bit her lower lip as their distance widened. After waiting for three hours, she tried to find him, for he had not returned yet.
"That fool, the banquet was about to end. Where in the-?" She covered her mouth, dazed by her handsome husband in an apron. Gaining her senses, she slapped herself. "R-Ridiculous! I have no time for this!"
Looking again, she could only see a dumb king who's baking cookies, carrying boxes, and washing dishes. She approached him and cleared her throat. "Eherm. I'm afraid, the people wished for Your Majesty to return."
"Oh, thanks for the reminder." He waved his hands as they departed from the kitchen. The commoners giggled, satisfied by fooling their own King.
Sitting on their throne again, the king doubted Queen Felia's words. His people were focused on different things- chatters with friends, foods on the large table, and the sight of the night sky.
Silently watching the surroundings, he abruptly leaned on his seat when the queen pulled out a knife. "Stay there, Your Majesty."
"Please explain the reason behind your actions."
"I have nothing to say . . ."
Although she had an intent to kill, he noticed that her hand was trembling. He only thought of two reasons: she was not used to killing or she was forced to do it.
"Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!" Before they knew it, the loud cheers had already begun.
"My queen, are you certain that you won't regret this?"
"I-I have nothing to say!"
"Your hands are- AAAH!" A deep scream echoed throughout the palace. She stabbed his eyes before he could finish the sentence so all that the king could see now was darkness.
The people filled with joy, jumped as high as they could. After a few minutes, the aristocrats started slaying some commoners. As they fight back, aristocrats were also killed which caused a war.
On the other hand, the queen dropped the knife as she looked at her bloodied hands.
"What have I done . . . SASS!" she shouted his name as the tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Calm down, Felia . . ." His weakened voice reached her ears. He stood up and made his people halted their weapons for a while.
"Fear not, my people! Even with my eyes closed, washing dishes is possible!"
Proclaiming that right after he was stabbed by his beloved, the laughter of the aristocrats and commoners echoed throughout the palace.
His purpose was to direct their attention to him- to stop the war. Aristocrats and commoners would forget their hatred and get along by labeling him as 'The Blind Ruler.'
His sacrifice might have been needed, but it was successful.
★
The King was still young so he used his heart more than his brain. The whole kingdom hated him for that, but he continued to trust them no matter what.
He had been blinded by his credulity. He realized that if only he agreed to cancel the banquet, things would not have worsened.
After the speech he made in the middle of the war, he slipped away, using the wall as his guide.
Wandering despite the darkness, he felt the smooth and somehow round material in his right hand. Trying to push it, he realized that he's about to enter a room.
"Oh, my pitiful man, thou might be the reason for my freedom . . . Yosh! As a token of gratitude, I shall grant one wish to thee!"
"My wish . . . Can you grant it no matter what?"
"Yes, yes! Please state thy name, together with thy wish."
Without hesitation, he answered, "I am King Sassin vi Zeyern. Grant me the ability to see and learn who should I trust!"
"Hmm . . . Very well! I like thy determination, human!"
That mysterious voice began to chant some ritual-like spells and light suddenly came out in all directions.
King Sassin felt blinded by that flash, but when he scanned his surroundings, shelves containing unarranged books came to his sight.
My eyesight has returned! However..,
"That voice . . . I wonder who it belongs to?" He stepped outside the library to look for that person. His priority, for now, was to express his gratitude.
The war had ended when he came back to the banquet, but the palace became a bloodbath. His eyes searched for his beloved wife who suddenly went missing.
As he stared at every people, the ability that he could not control made him suffer more.
For many years, he locked himself in his room without eating, drinking, taking a bath, or even moving away from his bed.
So he died from sickness without knowing that his ability was passed to a prince inside the queen's belly.
And that's the story of King Sassin vi Zeyern, The Blind Ruler.
★
"To be continued..." The mother closed the book in front of her adorable children.
One of them cried while the other child asked, "Mom, isn't it supposed to be 'The End?"
"That's incorrect, my daughter." She smiled as if she expected that question.
"But I can't find any sequels..."
"Ahahah... It would be sad if we ended it like that. The ability was passed to the king's son, so meaning, there were still next generations. It may not be written on history, but their story will continue."
The children, stunned by their mother's words, leaned forward to listened to her next story.
This time, it was about the next generation in the modern world.