Little King

Rae

Everyone in the room stares at me expectantly. I swallow, re-reading the paper over and over again. 

"I'm...I'm the heir?" I stammer, looking at Azi. She nods. "Why did he change his mind?" I ask. Minnoe shrugs. I wet my lips. I fold the paper, pressing it into Minnoe's palm. I turn around, crossing the room in a few brisk steps and slamming my hands into the door. 

"Prince Rae!" Somebody calls after me, but I ignore them. The moon must be up by now, and I hurry to my room, tears threateningly lingering in my eyes.  I throw open my door, slamming it shut. Once I'm alone I sit against the door, sobbing. I pray the advisors know enough not to follow me. Once it feels like I've cried my eyes out, I stand, brushing off my clothes. I slip out of my tunic, unlacing my boots. As much as I want to go straight to sleep, my hair needs to be washed, so I run a bath. When I'm done I dress in my night clothes and climb into bed. 

I try to go over what I was told. Father is gone, if not dead. I'm the heir, the next in line. The soon to be king. I bury my face in my pillow, wanting to scream. I can hardly believe it. All my life I've considered myself lucky I wouldn't have to be king, and here I was. Someone knocks at the door, and I sigh and sit up. 

"Come in." I mutter. Emi pokes her head in the door. 

"Hey, how's it going big brother?" She asks, coming to sit on the edge of my bed. I sigh, falling backwards onto my pillow. 

"You heard?" I mutter. She nods, taking my hand in hers. 

"Does Maxe know?" She says, brushing blonde strands of hair out of her eyes. Her hair is matted and I can tell she's been crying in her room. 

"I don't know, have you seen him?" She shakes her head, and we sit in silence. I stare out the window, remembering times when Me, Maxe and Emi would play in the castle garden, and father would take a break from his duties to play with us. I can't help it. Emi tightens her grip on my hand and we both sit there, quietly sobbing. After a while Emi's hand loosens and she fall asleep. I slip out of bed and cover her with the blanket, retreating to a couch in the corner. 

It's around midnight now and I stare at my ceiling, thinking. Why me? Why not Maxe? He had it all. He looked like father, he was practically raised to be the king. Ravenwood castle has always been his. It was simply a fact of life as I grew up, I was born to be a prince, Emi was born to be a princess, Maxe was born to be king. Eventually, my eyes get heavy and the ceiling blurs. The tears on my face have dried. The last thing I remember is father's face, his ruffled blond hair, kind green eyes and soft smile. 

                                                                               ***

"Prince Rae?" I turn to my door, buttoning the cuffs of my shirt. It's been three days since father's disappearance and many have returned to normal life. I can't. Maxe was sad to hear the news, and surprised about the change in father's will, but he comforted me and Emi. 

"Come in." I sigh, and a small girl opens the door. She looks fifteen or fourteen, and she gives me a small curtsy. 

"Azi the healer has requested an audience your highness." I dismiss her with a nod, and she gives me another curtsy before leaving. I run a comb through my hair, which for once sticks upright, and stand before my door. I take a deep breath, placing my hands on the metal handle, which is cool the the touch. 

"Day three." I mutter, twisting the handle and pushing open the door. It thumps to a close behind me as I walk briskly through the hallway. Emi is making her way to the dining room, and she gives me a smile and a curtsy. She's wearing a pale blue gown with a white ribbon around her waist. The skirt is ruffled and falls perfectly, and her blonde hair is braided and pinned to her head.