Word Of Paradise

The Crown in the Kingdom

                                                          Present

                                             Julio's age: 30 almost 31

                                                      V'Nar's age: 56

   It's my birthday today... Julio thought to himself, Father has probably forgotten again...I wish mother were here. She never forgets my birthday... Julio sighed.

   He stayed in his bed for a little while longer, fidgeting with his blankets, hoping his father would come in and say sorry for all the things he had done. But alas, he never would. Julio positioned himself to where he was sitting on the edge of his bed, away from the door. Julio closed his eyes, counting. He didn't know why, there was no need to.

   This is stupid. Just get up and do something. Your father is a narcissist...he only cares about him-

   Julio was interrupted when a guard came into his room.

   "Prince Julio, the king wants to see you. In the throne room.."

   Julio nodded, "I'm on my way."

   The guard nodded and turned to head out the door, but before he left he said, "Happy birthday Julio. Don't be too mad at your father now, maybe he'll give you a present.."

   Julio scoffed. "yeah, right..." Julio said under his breath.

                                                                             ***

   Julio walked into the throne room, expecting his father to be on the throne. Surprisingly, he wasn't. Julio stopped a few feet away from where his father was pacing. Julio waited in silence, not wanting to annoy his father.

   "Hello, father." Julio finally said.

   V'Nar stopped walking back and forth and turned to look at his son. It took him a bit to realize why Julio was here, but then his face lit up.

   Julio looked at his father in disgust. His father never smiled or looked... happy. At least not to see someone...

   V'Nar opened his arms wide and headed toward Julio, "Julio! I'm so glad the guard sent you!"

   Julio rolled his eyes and scoffed.

   V'Nar acted like he didn't notice, "How are you son? Today's your birthday, correct?"

   Julio narrowed his eyes on his father. He never remembers my birthday... Julio thought.

   "What are you playing at..?" Julio asked

   V'Nar rolled his eyes at his son, "Nothing. It's a genuine question....."

   Julio raised an eyebrow, "Uh-huh.."

   V'Nar sighed, dropping his arm and letting them hang to his sides.

   "What do you need?" Julio said as he rubbed his temples

   V'Nar sighed, "You're so hard to work with.."

   Julio folded his arms and looked down at the floor. He was hard to work with? His father was! V'Nar never listens, never knows what's good for the kingdom, doesn't give the people what they need... and.. other things.

   Julio looked back up at his father, "So..? What do you want? Did you just ask me to come to the throne room so you could ask if it's my birthday?! If so, why now! I'm thirty-one now, not two..!" Julio was getting frustrated now.

   V'Nar put his hands up halfway, "No, no. I have a gift for you..!"

   Julio rolled his eyes, "A gift?"

   "Yes!" V'Nar said excitedly.

   Julio sighed. His father was acting like a giddy five year old, "What is it?"

   V'Nar smiled, "Follow me."

   Julio shrugged and followed his father. They walked in the grand hallway, passed the ballroom, passed the dining room, and a few other rooms. Soon they walked into the showcase room. The room was very beautiful on the inside. It always seemed like it was dark in there and it always had a moonlight tint inside.

   What was in the room was nice. It had all kinds of heirlooms and jewelry. There were jems and there were also some crystal heels (Which belonged to Julio's mother). Most of the things in the room were Alora's, Julio's mother. Around the room were some plain mannequin's, those mannequin's held dresses, or suits.

   In the center of the room, there was a crown, it looked presentable, fitting for a small head much like Julio's, it looked like a crown that a lesser queen or king would wear, but this one held power. Julio was drawn to it. He wanted to possess its power, but he knew he could not.

   V'Nar walked toward the crown. V'Nar reached for the crown. He picked it up and lifted it up to eye level. V'Nar examined the crown that looked so little to such a man so high in power. V'Nar turned to face Julio, still looking at the crown.

   "You know this crown, correct..?" V'Nar asked his son.

   Julio hesitated to answer his father. "Yes, father. Mother has shown me it before..." Julio hesitated to answer his father.

   V'Nar looked at his son.

   "Good." Was all he said.

   Julio looked at his father in confusion, "Why are you asking me this..?"

   V'Nar looked at his son with determination in his eyes. V'Nar knew this time would come, he knew Julio would have to take over. V'Nar knew that he would pass down his power to his son someday, he knew he'd live forever and couldn't keep his crown. V'Nar also knew the people loved him... and Julio held so much power, he just never knew it would come so soon.

   "Julio, I think you know why I'm asking you this..."

   Julio looked at his father in disbelief, he couldn't believe what his father was doing.

   "Julio, I'm handing the throne down to you."