eldia

35 | andromeda

Jean sat down in his chair and immediately proceeded to kick off his shoes. He had been on his feet since early this morning.

He had always known being King of an entire kingdom would require a lot of responsibility, but he seemed to have underestimated how tiresome the job truly could be. Not to mention, his residing queen was ordered to bed rest so he was also picking up twice as much work than usual.

With his restricting shoes finally free from his aching feet, he sighs loudly as he rests his head back against the chair. This was the first time he had a moment to himself all day.

The room was occupied by only him. For a moment, everything is so blissfully silent. There wasn't any complaints from the villagers or the sound of construction coming from outside as they continued to rebuild the kingdom. It was just the simple sound of his own breathing.

His peace didn't last for very long. A few moments later, there is the sound of someone knocking at the door. The official royal transcriber pokes his head through the frame. "Your highness, is now a bad time?"

Jean looks down at his feet that now only wore socks and then back at the man. Despite the high quality of his socks, the fabric was beginning to tear due to being overworked from just today. "Depends. Is it urgent?"

This man was responsible for sending and receiving all communications from other kingdoms. All mail, all gifts, they all first came through him.

He holds out a package of some sort. "Maybe not urgent..." He trails off. "But I do think it is worth your time when you have a moment to spare. This was sent from King Nicholas."

Jean sits up directly in his seat. "King Nicholas of Ember?" He holds his hand out so that the transcriber may proceed with handing him the package.

When the package is closer to eye range, he gets his confirmation. He wondered what he could've possibly sent him. The parcel was much too thick for a simple letter but too small to be anything else.

Without much thought, he begins to rip apart the seal to see what's inside. Before he pulls the contents out, he waits for the man to leave. When he's completely alone, he pulls out what seems to be a rather worn out journal of some sort.

The journal had a leather binding to it. An almost burnt red color with a string that wrapped around to seal the journal shut. Engraved into the leather were the initials MB.

Along with the journal, a piece of paper with writing sat firmly on top. The piece of paper was addressed to the king personally from one king to another.

Dear Jean,

I found this while going through my brother's belongings. It seems he kept a journal and documented his time in Eldia from the very first day he arrived.

I hesitated sending this at first, especially with the Queen being with child. I did not want to add any additional stress. I just hope that this finds you instead of her and that if you do choose to show her, you find the right time to do so.

I will warn you. The journal entries are not easy to read. I couldn't make it halfway. Hopefully, you have the courage to make it all the way to the end. If not, I don't blame you. It isn't for the faint of heart.

He explains everything in gruesome detail. The day he left Ember with a plan. The day he arrived in Eldia. The day he met you. The day he conspired a plan with the prince. It's all there. I felt you all deserved to know how it all came to be. Maybe it'd allow you the closure you all deserve.

On a brighter note, we received word from this side of the mountains that your child will be born any day now. By the time you receive this package, they might already be born. Whether or not, Ember sends their congratulations. We have no doubt that the child will do great things.