Cherry Tree

-Chapter 1-

~Ariol~

I woke up to the sound of birdsong through my open balcony window. I drowsily opened my eyes as I sat up, blinded by the sunlight streaming through my curtains. As I stretched popping my back in the process, I let my feet dangle over the side of the bed before looking at the royal blue suit that was folded nicely beside my bedframe.

Yawning, I stood up and snatched the clothes from their place, and took off my night dressings. I stumbled over while getting my legs through the footholes in the bottom trying not to unbalance myself. Grabbing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', I finished dressing for the day and opened the door to a maid sweeping the top floor hallways.

I smiled at her before heading down the halls into the kitchen. As I pushed through the swinging doors to the kitchen, I smelled fresh, warm bread and meat which I assumed was bacon. I walked over to the fruit bowl on the counter and took a green apple.

As I took a bite I felt my senses wake up all the way and remembered what the next few months would consist of. I was getting married. Now don't get me wrong, I liked the idea of having someone to stand beside me until death do us part, but it wasn't all that appealing once you realize you can't be free and only have to worry about your own opinion and wellbeing.

"Goodmorning, Sir! How are you?" asked an English accent, I jumped in surprise at the sudden noise breaking me out of my thoughts. "I've been better," I replied with a fake smile plastered to my face as I spun around to see the senior chef standing behind me.

"Where are you off to so early? You're usually not a morning person," I sighed. "Nowhere special really," I lied, mumbling and remembering my go-to thinking place. "Alright then! Have a good time where ever you're going," He said, waving me off.

As I headed out of the kitchen, I ended up running into one of my father's advisors. "Your Majesty, your father requires your presence,"

I sighed and started walking to his room when the voice spoke again, "Be careful, he's had a rough day and he's been grumpy all morning."

As I walked down the hallway, I started going back to the thoughts of marriage.

While I was thinking, I reached my father's door. As I knocked, I heard shuffling from the other side of the dark oak door, then it opened revealing my father's face.

"Hello my boy, I've been looking for you." He frowned. My eyes trailed over his unkempt beard which wasn't shaven and clean as he usually did it, his eyes were clouded, as if Itaki, the god of shadow and sorrow, had possessed him. His red suit was wrinkled in some places which made me guess that he had fallen asleep while he was crying over mother. I couldn't blame him, because we both missed her terribly. Sometimes I missed her so much that I would just sit in our cherry tree and not come inside until dinner.

"I need to talk to you, Father." I stated. "Ah yes my dear boy, hurry up now, we have to discuss important matters." He nodded calmly. "Well... well Father, you know how I'm getting married? I really don't want to. I need to find someone who understands me as well as Peter did." Peter was my best friend. Key word 'was'. He had gone off to fight for some country that wasn't ours and his horse got shot, then he fell off and couldn't move out of the way before his horse fell on top of him and crushed him. I missed my dear friend, and I knew I would see him again some day.

"Son, we will not discuss this now. Grow up and get married or you'll have an entire kingdom to carry over your shoulders and no one to share the burden with." He sighed. "But something very important has come up," 

"I'm engaged."

(Hey guys! Author here, I just had to tell you that if any of these made up gods are similar to any else, I deeply apologize. I'm just making these up off of the top of my head! I hope you're all doing well and wonderful and I wish I'd been here sooner, because I've missed you all so much. Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, sleep daily, and take your meds! I love you all and thank you for the support ❤️) Author out