Love Hate, Hate Love

13.

{Author's Note: Welcome, welcome, welcome. Have a seat and relax my darlings. Enjoy another quick chapter for you binge reading at ungodly hours or during your scholarly studies (I see you reading this during science class, darling. Kidding, kidding I do the same no worries). Have fun.

- SilverFlarePlays <3}

The years quickly added up and the princes' 15th birthdays came quickly. Linterna always looked forward to their birthdays because it gave her an excuse to take them around the kingdom and show them her favorite places. Every year was a different experience for the two. This year, however, was going to be a little different than she had planned.

She sat outside in the courtyard on a bench watching as Lunan practiced his swordsmanship on a couple of straw dummies. Solun laid on the bench resting his head in Linterna's lap while reading a novel Linterna gifted him.

"Are you enjoying the novel so far, Solun? It looks like you've gotten pretty far already and I only gave you it this morning," she chuckled softly raising her eyebrows in amusement.

"It is quite fascinating, Linterna. Although, I do ask why you decided to give me this particular book. Isn't this book banned throughout multiple nations?" Solun continued reading his novel.

"I just believe you could relate to the main character, sunflower. I have many 'banned' books like that one. There's nothing negative in them so I don't see the need for them to be silenced," Linterna shrugged a bit, returning her gaze to young Lunan.

Just then a hurried maid came trotting out stopping in front of Linterna and Prince Solun to give them some unexpected news. Eclius had returned home from war after 15 years of being on the front lines. Solun perked up and closed his book.

"Father? Father has returned?" Solun stood up excitedly and sprinted to where the maid said Eclius was. Linterna also stood thanking the maid for her valuable information. She went over to Lunan and told him the situation. They both walked to meet Eclius together.

Linterna had to admit she was glad to see Eclius alive and well after so long. She greeted Eclius with a respectful curtsy and the princes were both nervous and excited to meet their father. They had only heard of him through letters and stories Linterna read to them over the years. Though Linterna was slightly concerned about one thing, Eclius. One of his eyes was missing...

"Welcome back, your majesty. I'm glad to see you're alive and well," Linterna smiled at the king. "Although, I'm afraid you didn't come back in one piece... What has happened to your other eye?"

"It is quite a long story, Linterna... Best discussed when I'm not so exhausted," he sighed and turned his attention to his sons. His slight smile dropped the second he saw Lunan.

Lunan had no rays. His son Lunan was defective. Eclius' species always grew rays as they aged. The more rays a member had the older they were. They were a status symbol and the pride of the species to resemble the sun. The source of light and power of the world. For his son to lack any, well, that was no son of his. This would spark Eclius' dislike for his son Lunan. The defective weren't fit to rule after all, that is what Eclius has always believed.