Prince of Lies

Chapter 22

The army's return was a jubilant day, where husbands and brothers and sons returned home and the entire land gave a sigh.

But the king wasn't among the celebrations.

It wasn't worrisome. The king's horse was back in the stables, and Ilya  went immediately to reunite with and comfort Haruto , who introduced him to Nyix. Niil  and Zione returned to their children's sides, much to Zeyn's annoyance and Chaol's relief.

No one dared to stop or follow the king when he walked alone down a well-worn path behind the castle, down the carved stone steps, and to the plot of land that his ancestors were laid to rest.

Iseul 's grave was still relatively fresh, its marble headstone the shiniest of all, and the flowers still fresh. Jerym suspected that the girls and Haruto  had something to do with that, because they knew that tulips were Iseul 's favorite.

Upon closer inspection, Jerym saw that Haruto's flower crown had been laid over one of the gravestone's corners.

Out of a kind of respect he couldn't name, Jerym felt himself remove his own small crown, and let it dangle off the fingertips of his right hand.

"Iseul ." He murmured.

The wind tickled his face and blew through his hair in response.

"I miss you," Jerym began, "I wish I could have been here for you. I know- I know you hated it when I went off to war. You hated a lot of the things I did, and I just did them anyway..."

He sniffed, and knelt down in the fresh, cool dirt that was darker than the rest of the plot.

"I'm sorry. I was such a bad husband. A terrible husband. You deserved better. The kids deserved better."

"Sometimes we would say that given the chance, in a perfect world where we weren't forced upon each other, you and I wouldn't never have wed, perhaps never even met. But I know now that the idea of life without what you and I created wouldn't be a life at all. I shouldn't ever have had to choose between you and Ilya . Never. And now death is laughing in my face."

"I'm not sure where you are, but you deserve heaven. You're probably with Aerom, and my mother and... and the daughter we never got to meet. You'll tell me her name sometime, right? Take care of all of them. They need it. And thank you- for always taking care of me."

Only the soft creak of wheels announced that Haruto  was coming up behind him.

"Dad?" He called.

Jerym turned, wiping his tears. He knew from the letter what to expect when he saw Haruto  the next time, but now; seeing his son's body like this- once so strong and graceful-

I'm going to lose him too.

Jerym was careful not to let his face grow any sadder. He straightened and squared his shoulders.

"Son."

"Help me sit with you."

Jerym didn't waste a moment before standing up and undoing the strap across Haruto's waist, and then picking him up in his arms like a baby. Haruto's delicate little nose- Iseul 's nose- wrinkled a bit when it smelled the dirt and blood under Jerym's semi-fresh uniform.

"Why can you still pick me up so easily?"

"You'll always be my little boy, Haruto ."

"Mama said the same thing." Haruto  whispered. "It was one of the last things she said to me before..."

"You were with her?" Jerym hadn't realized that, and hugged Haruto  tighter.

"I thought she went to sleep." Haruto  murmured. "But she never woke up."