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...
Somehow, Edward managed to escape the clutches of bandits. As soon as he smelt the fresh grass and mud after staying captured in that awful stingy place for hours, he ran for his life without looking over his shoulder. Since it was after midnight, the guards who kept an eye on him - checking up on him frequently - would settle in their rooms with flasks of alcohol and arrive in the early morning to check on him. Hence, he was safe.
Regardless of his safety status, multiple scenarios were running through his head. His mind was working overtime, trying to devise ideas. Most of them were impractical whilst some of them were considerable. The most prominent one was: I can cover a good distance and maybe reach a nearby village or town if I continue without taking a break.
By the time the capital's gates came into view, he was ready to drop dead. Walking on his feet for four or five days straight took its toll on him. Blisters were starting to form on his sole despite his wearing slippers. He had stolen them from outside one of the rooms while sneaking out. Walking without slippers was not a choice. I am a King, after all. The mere crossing of the thought had tears flowing out of his eyes. Falling to his knees, he rested back on his heels with his hands placed palm down on the gravel ground. Sobs burst out of him as he let out pain held inside him for days. Once he was empty of the hurt, he wept again. They were tears of joy. He did not remember ever being this happy upon seeing his kingdom, his home.
The home I did not give a single thought to after accepting my title as the king, he lamented.
He was thankful to God for sending him the lovely woman that is Jupiter. Regret would have eaten him alive and he would be dead inside before his captors physically killed him if it wasn't for his lover who showed him the right ways. Living with an ego larger than the kingdom would have given nothing to him except a bloated head. He shivered, thinking about having all his wrong deeds playing in his mind while he sat tied in that abandoned place alone in the darkness of night.
STOP! He yelled at himself. Keep going. You need to keep going. Fear had consumed his mind and now he was petrified to the bones at the mere notion of getting caught again.
Scrambling off the ground, he stood. With utter concentration, he sluggishly trudged his feet forward.
"Home," he croaked as soon as he stepped inside the city gates before coughing. The dryness of his parched throat was feeling like sandpaper on his tongue. His coughing drew the attention of passersby. Slowly, their eyes widened in recognition. His sunken eyes were far from his healthy ones but his now thinned cheekbones were still recognizable. People gawked and whispered under their breath.
"It's the king."
"...really King Edward?"
"Oh, Lo..."
"Our king is here."
The crowd parted like the red sea, giving way to their king. One by one, everyone began to bow. A woman stepped in front of him and curtsied. "Your Majesty, I sent my son to bring our carrier cart. I do not have much to offer other than a cot. Please take a seat and accept water from your loyal subjects."
Edward let the woman lead. Dropping on the cot, he grabbed the glass of water offered and drank it in one go. "More. Please," he added the last bit as an afterthought.
"Give me a second, my king." The woman hurried to fetch more water. She appeared so delighted to be given such a simple task that one would think she was given the world. My kingdom has kind people. Edward strained himself to not cry for the third time in two days.
The woman came back with more water sooner than later. "Thank you," he whispered as he drank his last fill. Immediately after, the woman's — Reva's — son appeared with the cart.
Edward waved as he sat inside the cart. The people surrounding the vehicle reciprocated the action. Reva's son yelled haash! and struck the whip on the horse's back.
I am coming, Jupiter.
A palace never had more than fifty guards stationed at its main gate unless the kingdom was at war. Therefore, Ed was alarmed to see double that count. At the entrance, the guards' expressions mirrored his. They were stunned to stillness after catching a glimpse of their king. Thankfully, one among them gained back his senses and rushed to open the huge iron gate.
Inside, it was bursting with activities. The front garden was full of training soldiers, maids and servants were walking with hurried steps and the trainers appeared tenser than usual.
"THE KING IS HERE."
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