Heavy is the Head

Chapter 6

uhhhhh.... it's gonna get worse before it gets better :/

_______________________________________________________________________________

From time to time Pete would wonder what happened to Trump when he left his mother's castle. Was he doing well? Did his father still work as a gardener there? Did he still remember Pete?

He was too young to know it then, but in retrospect, Trump was probably his first love. And even though sometimes he was a little pushy, Trump was the first person who ever truly chose him.

Pete still doesn't know how his father found out, even all the way from the imperial palace, a three days journey from the castle in which he and his mother had lived. Somehow his father always knew everything. Maybe it came with the territory of being king.

He doesn't even remember it that well, he was young when it happened. One minute he was playing in the courtyard with P'Trump and the next thing he knew men from the palace showed up to take him away. He remembers their faces as he was escorted away. His mother in tears and P'Trump flushed with anger.

He remembers his father's fury, it's the first memory he has of his father.

But now, he does not see fury.

What he sees now is cold and somehow victorious. Like somehow his father has gotten what he wanted before they've even started negotiations.

"-Not even a full fledged knight. A trainee."

Pete is frozen in place as the looming shadow of his father approaches him.

"You were warned, Pete. About engaging in behavior that could shame the crown."

The king looks at him with no familiarity, like he's a stranger. He stops short of touching Pete, almost as if physically repulsed.

"So why is it then, that I hear about your filthy indiscretion with- what was his name-"

"No," Pete breathes.

"Ae, was it? It would be a shame if something were to happen to him."

Pete's face is wet with silent tears.

"You can't," he gasps.

His father grins, a mangled, thorny thing.

"In one week's time we will hold another ball at the palace. We will announce your engagement to the young lady Deli, and the royal wedding to be held on the day of your birthday and coronation."

"Father-"

"I wonder, does your knight have any family?"

Pete is silenced.

"Until then, you may not leave the castle. Perhaps you can take this time to prepare to be a proper man, husband, and ruler."

Satisfied that he's achieved his goal and made his point, the king makes to leave Pete's bed chamber.

Hand on the door, he turns back to look at Pete. For a moment it looks like he won't say anything. At this point, what could possibly be left to say? What else could he possibly want Pete to hear?

"You," he says heavily, "are my greatest sin."

He pushes through the door and out of the room. But even as the door closes behind him, Pete still feels his presence. Suffocating, strangling him.

He falls to his knees, trying to reclaim the breath stolen from his lungs, failing miserably.

Hours later, when Win and Team come in for their morning shift, that's how they find him.