“You never fooled them, my King. You never fooled anybody. You were only hiding your secret from them. That’s two different things.”
“They are just the same for me, Theron.”
“Your reason for not exposing the truth is valid. Besides, you love your people, my King. You are born to rule this realm. I don’t believe that you only did what you did just to become the King. You went outside your boundaries in order to help everyone who needed help. You went to such great lengths to ensure that your people’s comfort would come first before yours. I’ve lived long enough to know that no King had ever done that before. You may have secrets, but haven’t we all? Please rest your mind even for today and be assured that despite your family’s past, you are still a good and admirable King, Your Majesty.”
I did not respond. After smiling and waving at everyone, I’ve excused myself. The celebration will go on for a week. There was a feast and games waiting for all the guests who came.
I turned my back on them and headed to the living room. The twelve members of the Council and the other important political figures were there. They immediately bowed their heads upon my arrival. But I only looked at one particular direction. Both of my parents were smiling at me. It was funny how we were living in one Castle but it was our first time seeing each other again after half a year. That only indicated how huge my cage was and how full my schedule was that I had no time to spare in having lunch or dinner even with my own parents.
Damn, I don’t even have enough time to sleep.
They were the reason why I feel like it was not the crown they passed on me, but their sins.
I tried to smile back. It was our reunion after all. My parents as the king and queen of lies and me, as the inheritor of those lies. How I hate and love my parents at the same time. I know in my heart that they love me. I felt it. All the things I was tasked to do was because of that love, too. But there were times when I would blame that love. Because it deprived me of the chance to grow more as a person, it deprived me of my choices.
I’ve never experienced deciding for myself. I had to be perfect in the public’s eyes. I was trained to be one. And everybody loved me for it. They said that no human was perfect. But there was a perfect supernatural being. They were crazy. They had forgotten that we all came from being humans.
I shook my head at the thought. Now that I’m already the king, my family would most certainly be the ones to enjoy the fruits of my labor. And not me. In order to keep my position, I would have to keep fooling myself. Nobody knew the pain and the pressure for acting as the perfect prince. Nobody knew… how stifling and devastating it felt inside.
My parents deprived me of my rights. There were times when I would find myself envious of the other princes who may have failed in winning the position, but at least, they had lived their lives the way they wanted to. I stared at my mother. Her eyes looked apologetic once again.
I took a deep breath.
It’s okay, Alex. At least, your mother’s alive and safe. That’s our goal, remember? I reminded myself for the countless time.
“A-Alexandros, son… c-congratulations. You made it. Your father and I are so proud of you,” my mother said as she embraced me.
I could not move for a moment. That was the last thing that I would have wanted to hear from my parents. Because they were the ones who truly succeeded. They were the ones who made it. My dreams were scattered all over the place. And I’ve walked the path they crafted for me. In the end, their dream came true. I’m happy for my parents. But how I wish I could be happy for myself, too.
I nodded. Yes, I really ought to congratulate my parents. They were cruel.
“No, ‘Ma. You made it. You and Dad,” I whispered. I made sure to surround us a spell so nobody could hear our conversation. “I’m now a King. Congratulations to the both of you.”
“I’m sorry, son. I’m so sorry.”
I’ve heard that over and over from her. “Stop it, Ma. It doesn’t change anything anyway. If apologies could change everything, then we wouldn’t have to do any of this anymore.”
“Please don’t hate your father so much, Alex.” Her voice cracked. “It was all my fault. You can hate me all you want, but spare your father at least.”
“I don’t hate you and Dad, Ma,” I said as I gently wiped her tears. “I could never hate the both of you. Sometimes, I just wish that our lives are a little different. That’s all. And I don’t blame you. Please don’t ever think that way again. I’m sorry, Ma. I shouldn’t have said that. I was out of line. I was just tired.”
My mother sobbed while the members of the Council clapped and misinterpreted her tears as tears of joy. I smiled bitterly. If they only knew what those tears were for…

TO MY KING,
Congratulations! You are going to be a father soon, Alex! I’m three weeks pregnant. I can’t wait to meet our baby. I hope with all my heart that he or she grows up to be like you.
I really wish I could tell you this important news in person. I wanted to see your reaction. I was supposed to say this on our wedding day. But I could no longer stop myself that’s why I’m writing to you now. How I wish I could drag the days so it’ll be Saturday when I open my eyes again. See you on our wedding day, love.
Always,
Clavia