Prince Leo walked into his older brother's room after knocking on the door.
It was the largest room in the palace , it looked marvelous , golden from the ceiling to the ground with a large library on the back , it was full of many books that Hiram has already read before at least twice , not a surprise since he is much of a reader.
''Leo , take a seat''
The King looks as cheerful as ever so he said with a bright smile pointing at one of the two chairs in front of him while he sat on the other one accepting the wine's glass that his little brother handed him.
''Thanks , it was a long day''
Said Hiram as he let out a sigh of relief taking a sip of his drink , on the other side Leo looked happy and he usually doesn't smile at all , it seemed more like a smirk...
''Yeah it was indeed''
He replied as his eyes kept watching the King's every single move , those ice blue eyes that looked pretty much out of it , that tall golden hair that was left up in a beautiful ponytail , Hiram looked more like an angel that fell out of heaven by mistake and lived among humans , an angel that had a lot on mind.
Leo was a little nervous or maybe scared as he saw his older brother sniffing that drink , his heart almost stopped beating as he froze in fear , yet that expression disappeared when Hiram smiled and drunk the wine all at once till the last drop.
Leo suddenly got happier than ever that he even laughed , his laugh got louder and sounded more evil as the king started feeling ill all of a sudden and turned so pale , he put his hand on his throat seeking for the slightest breath but he just was no longer able to breath , his eyes turned red and the expression on his face showed how much of pain he was feeling as it kept suffocating him.
He tried to scream but his voice couldn't help him at that moment , his nose started bleeding , he cough and a lot of blood came out of his mouth as well , the last thing he heard was his body giving up and falling on the ground before his ears went deaf and the last thing he saw was his little brother's wide smile gazing at him enjoying the view.
Even the sky was in grief that day.
''Just like this our kingdom Lydia lost King Hiram ...''
He was lying inside his coffin , his golden hair that was quite tall touched by those white roses that surrounded his angel like body , if anyone looked at Hiram they would think he is just sleeping and might actually wake up any second now yet the truth is that whether you like it or not the King is dead.
His funeral was all sad tears dropped by his people , how not while he served them so well , he did a lot for them and was loyal to every single soul out there , Hiram was just the quintessential King in everyone's eyes , his little brother didn't even attend the funeral saying that he hates rainy days , some servants said that he was in a deep sadness yet the truth is that he was in bed with some women , lost in pleasure and even forgot about the brother he killed.
Elmer the first was about ten years old at the time , after losing his mother once he was born , here again he lost his father , his eyes were so swollen and still crying in silence as he took a last look at his dear King leaving him in there alone.
Years passed by and Lydia the magical kingdom was no longer the same , people were dying of hunger and illness , not able to get their slightest rights as human beings , stealing and killing each other in order to survive another day and most of them just lost their selves.
Present day...
Elmer got up this once and for the first time before everyone else , even Betty was shocked when she walked in and saw him already dressed up , she put on that breakfast's plate on the table , admiring his energy that was not usual.
''Good morning Betty , I bet you are impressed''
He said as he helped himself getting an apple and took a bite of it.
''Thank you for breakfast I need to go''
And didn't even give her time to reply because he rushed out of his room as she smiled brightly,
''I think he will be fine'' then started her cleaning.
In one of the palaces rooms , she was sitting alone playing chess by herself in the dark before she got up , walked towards that small window as she watched that golden haired prince running through the back garden heading to meet those two knights so early in the morning , she kept watching him for a while before she spoke,
''My favorite chess piece , I can not wait to meet you again''
''Good morning''
Said Elmer and they both greeted him back with a smile , they did not expect him to be so excited or to make it on the right time yet he did , Elmer was not even aware himself of what was going on with him , he is changing.
''What are we doing here ?''
Asked the first prince as he looked around to find out that they led him to the library.
Asher replied ''To read , why else would we be here ?''
Ezra let out a laugh at Elmer's expression that showed how unexpected that was,
''Don't tell me you thought we will start by the swordplay ? you can not even hold a sword properly''
Which got Elmer to mumble ''That's why I asked you to teach me''
As the two kept on attacking each other with words , Asher came back holding few books and interrupted them,
''Shut up both of you''
Then put everything on one of the tables , started turning the pages of that book then stopped at a map's drawing,
''Now here's Lydia''
Elmer was speechless it was really his first time seeing his kingdom's map , and it was big that he felt hurt about only seeing the palace and the forest next to it , he kept staring , not being able to say a word , but Asher felt Elmer's anger and sadness , so he patted his back and said...
''It will be alright''
Ezra too smiled comforting ''Don't worry Elmer , I will give you all my knowledge''
Which really helped and cheered him up.
The little prince Edmund was wondering around the palace looking for Elmer yet he couldn't find him anywhere , which got him to feel so down that he almost started crying until she showed up out of nowhere and handed him that red rose with a soft smile that wasn't able to hide her dead eyes and broken soul , Edmund smiled back not being able to see through that angel like female that was wearing a purple dress with a collar on her neck which showed that she is a king's property but a nine years old child would never be able to tell.
Edmund took that rose from her hand
''Thank you''
He said while blushing , and she patted his hair gently before she finally spoke...
''My pleasure prince Edmund''
Then she walked towards the library , meaning to meet her favorite chess piece.
Elmer learned many new things about the kingdom , Asher asked him to read many books after giving him an introduction then left him there alone to keep reading and the thing is that he was really enjoying himself , the Lydia in those pages was just so magical to be real.
''.... the most thriving kingdom of all times , gold mines everywhere , all kinds of pearls and sea food since it's right by the ocean ...''
He focused on each word and lost track of time.
''Do you really think he will be able to do it ?''
Ezra wondered while walking right by Asher's side on the hallway,
''I do not know''
He simply replied though the look in his eyes said something else , he was confident , he would bet on his life that the fist prince will one day be king , Ezra got it and smiled before they parted ways and the red haired knight decided to go back home since it has been over ten days since he last visited , and there's someone waiting for him there.
It got dark outside , Betty was already reading Edmund a bedtime story , Louis was with his belly dancers , watching them but his mind , soul and heart were definitely not present which really got them to worry about him , he's never touched one of them or harmed them in anyway , it's like he just pick them to protect them from his father , just like Elmer but each of them has his own way.
''I am hungry''
The first prince sighed before he decided to put an end to it...
''I think this much is enough for today''
Then he stood up and walked through the library corridors he noticed that old book between those endless shelves and with no second thought he held it tight into his chest , it was the same book Hiram read to him every single night.
''I really miss you''
He said with a broken voice , he felt both sadness and happiness at the same time , of course he decided to keep the book that means so much to him and to the previous King yet as he walked out of there and right by the door he bumped into her which caused her fall on the ground...