A king with a bad attitude must change for his subjects or else face the rebellion. He thinks power can stop it all, little does he know power can become the reason for his fall.
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Book 1 | R...
The disorder among the civilians came to a grinding halt the next evening when a messenger was sent to the farmers. The envoy read through a rich purple scroll and, speaking in a booming voice when he arrived at the two clauses that officially stated the suggestions made by Jupiter in a formal language. Well satisfied with the proposition, the farmers released Lord Katju and agreed to wait for the king to discuss his second decision with the ministers.
The morning after marked a win for the local farmers as the royal seal was placed on a parchment that confirmed the treaty was being annulled. Faces of the farmers broke out into smiles while they celebrated among themselves and sang praises for their king. The ministers did not dare to go against their king, apprehensive of a revolt rising again.
Later in the day, Jupiter met Edward in the latter's room. In the past few days, this — spending the evening and the night together — had become their routine.
"I missed having your always running mouth here with me."
"I should close it if my mouth is the only part you missed," Jupiter sassed, making Edward snort in amusement.
"Come here." Jupiter obliged and moved into his man's open arms. "I don't have to ask you to close it, I can do it myself."
Jupiter was full of questions as Ed smiled coquettishly, his face was painted with mischief. Albeit the tell-tale signs glaring at him in the face, he took the bait as his curiosity exceeded his cautiousness. "How?"
"I have my ways." Edward shrugged.
"What ways?"
"These ways," quipped Ed and tackled an oblivious Jupiter in for a kiss. Kissing a lover feels like a lifetime and a fraction of a second at the same time. Going further was on neither of their minds as they fretted about the pace being too fast. Their relationship was fragile, courtesy of belonging to two different worlds. Apart from that, they were amateurs regarding relationships or whatever they had going on between them. Feeling attraction and feeling feelings are not the same.
"I like your ways," Jupiter jokes, out of breath.
"Just my ways, and not me?"
"Just your ways."
"Aww...we can't have that. I have to make you like me back. How would a man as silly as I woo you? What shall I do?" stated Ed dramatically. Jupiter giggled at his antics. Hearing the sound, a smitten smile bloomed on his face. He dropped it soon realizing that he was coming out of his character and picked up his dramatic flare back. "I wondered all day and night, eluding sleep and thinking of ways to impress you, my love." The blush on Jupiter's cheeks at the term of endearment he uttered did not go amiss. "Maybe a gift would do. A surprise gift!"
Jupiter lit up at the mention of surprise. The gift part did not appeal to him a lot. However, the very thought that someone put their time to gather a surprise for him was enough to send him on cloud nine. "You have a surprise for me?"
"Do you want a surprise?"
He deflated at Ed's question. Was Ed pulling his leg? Did he not have a surprise? Frowning, he grilled the man. "So you do not have a surprise for me?"
"You look like a kicked puppy, darling. As much as you look cute right now, I prefer you to not have that expression on your flawless face. Wait for me on the bed." Ed went to the trunk that carried his clothes and retrieved a piece of clothing. Laying it on the sheets in front of Jupiter, he waited.
"What...why did you...they are women's clothing."
Jupiter was clearly uneasy and Ed was finding it impossible to decipher the cause of his unease. Eventually, he gave up, resorting to asking him rather than guessing. "Yes, they are. Why do you ask?"
"Are you implying something by showing them to me? Is there a woman in your life? Or is it a woman you want and not a man?"
Edward was perplexed. He was trying to make sense of his lover's last sentence when the fuse to the light bulb in his head turned on. In a quick motion, he gathered Jupiter in his arms, murmuring reassuring words in his ear.
The roots of his past went too deep in him that Jupiter forgot who he was. Having a self-discovered and self-established identity of your own was not wrong, not getting a chance to explore yourself was. If Jupiter chose to live his life as a man, Ed would support him. The matter of concern was how it was imprinted on his mind that he was a man. Words were deceiving him, so Edward brainstormed. Maybe his actions would speak for him. Fortunately, his brain did not fail him. "I will be right back," he promised and scurried off to the same trunk.
On his second trip, he retrieved another dress. Now, a man's attire was beside the woman's costume. Jupiter gaped at them dumbfounded. "I wanted to give you a chance to explore yourself. After seeing your reaction a few minutes ago, I realized that I cannot do it by limiting your choices but to lay at your feet all the options. So, which dress do you prefer?"
Teary-eyed, Jupiter flung himself at Edward, sobbing. When his sobs died down, he left Ed's embrace and hugged the women's attire to his chest happily. He was still unsure in regards to how he wished to live his life and which identity to wear. And yet to be given a window to explore was a big deal.
In Ed's opinion, the day was perfect. Jupiter was happy. The revolt was squashed before it could spread. Everything was quiet and peaceful.
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