A king with a bad attitude must change for his subjects or else face the rebellion. He thinks power can stop it all, little does he know power can become the reason for his fall.
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Book 1 | R...
Jupiter was sitting lopsided in the center of the reading room surrounded by books. An array of pages were strewn all over the space she was occupying. A notebook was lying beside her feet. The scribblings looked like the writer was in a hurry and these were her last words. To sum it up, the place was a mess. Somehow, Jupiter was messier and still the most beautiful person in the world.
Heeding her engrossment in the books, Edward approached her with careful steps. Moving the books around, he settled beside her. He sensed that she was unaware of his arrival.
A hand in her vision alerted her of another presence in the room. She jolted from her position, prepared to attack the intruder. Seeing it was Ed, she lowered her hands and it was then her lover reached out to gather her into his arms. She sagged with relief and cried a bit despite Ed clearing her cheeks of saltwater repeatedly.
Edward could not relate to Jupiter, but he understood that she was overwhelmed rightfully so. These books introduced her to a lot of others who faced a dilemma like hers. There were even many more who chose an identity they felt was right for them.
These books introduced her to the correct term for what her probable solution was. Gender fluidity was the term that would give her the freedom to choose for herself.
These books were a blessing in her dark times.
Post their exchange, Jupiter was left alone to her devices by Edward. To her chagrin, he was unapproachable and nowhere to be seen even in passing. Without Ed around and her being off duty, she immersed herself in reading.
Information on many cultures highlighting gods, demigods, heroes, and other mythological beings with both male and female characteristics was printed in the ones she read.
In Hindu mythology, there is Lord Shiva who is known as Ardhanarishvara, a composite of Shiva and Parvati with a male body on the right-hand side and a female on the left.
Can I be both too?
Speaking of Greeks, Achilles was disguised as a woman and sent to live with a king by his mother to prevent his death in a battle.
And I was sent off by my father, but not to save him.
Even Thor, the Germanic god of thunder, was helpless as he had to disguise himself as a woman to retrieve his hammer, Mjölnir.
I was helpless too, wasn't I?
The Egyptian god Hapi is represented as intersex, with breasts and a ceremonial false beard.
I am an Egyptian God sans the false beard? Facial hair should do, I guess.
A recent print on war heroes familiarised her with humans like her - women who were born female but had to use a disguise for one or the other reason. Hannah Snell adopted the identity of her brother-in-law after losing her child to death and her husband leaving her. She served in the Marines.
The hard bounds were not only limited to the case studies but some reflected the fluidity of the gender in a positive light while lamenting about how there will always be an uglier side to our society. There was much to learn and not enough time on hand.
Days passed before Ed found her in the reading room engrossed in the pages of another book. As she saw him approach, she hastily sprung to her feet and put her hand in front of her as if to ward off an animal.
"Do not be brazen, Your Majesty. One hasty step and I will not hesitate to indulge in hand-to-hand combat with you."
Edward was flabbergasted by his usually quiet and compliant lover. He was coming up short with the reasons why she was speaking of fights when all he craved was to make love to her divine body day and night till eternity. If being with her in the afterlife was possible, he would do that too. She made him a new person. Before her, he was nothing but the son of the Great King Ansal. With her, he is King Edward. With her, he would be a great king like his father one day. Her indifference toward him was a dagger to his heart. A thorn deep under his skin. The lack of oxygen in the air. His first instinct was to be a mule and demand she let him near her. To demand she dissolve into his very essence. Though he scolded himself and steered to a different path.
"My darling, please let me touch you. Give me a chance to calm you, my sweet raging storm."
A dusting of pink settled on her cheeks like the sunset on a summer evening, but she held her ground and warned him. "If you put a finger on me, I will resist. You have to do it forcefully if you are so desperate."
Edward was appalled at the despicable words, almost losing his calm into slapping her back to her senses. Although his reputation as a short-tempered man exceeded him, he was not an abuser. Laying a hand on an innocent was not in his father's teachings. Hence, Jupiter's words devastated him.
"Force you? Darling, what brought this on?"
"Why are you acting shocked? You do not care less about me and to get what you desire is not a daunting task for you. One order and we have to kneel in front of you."
"Such harsh words!" Anguish was getting the better of Edward with each passing word. "What is the reason behind this?" The heat of his glare was so intense it ended up making her explode.
"A WEEK!" She bellowed. Edward was thankful for the thick walls and cushioned doors in the reading room. "You have not visited me in a week. You claim to care when you granted me leaves for God knows how long. I could not be near you because your guards would not have allowed me past them without prior explicit permission from you. And now you are coming to me when you felt the need to touch me?!" Edward visibly noticed the change in her as her body drained itself of the anger and only sadness remained. "Are you tired of me already?"
Despite Jupiter's protests, Edward plastered her against the wall behind them. Tears were flowing freely against her cheeks as she sunk into a pit of despair. "I can never get tired of you. Do you think I would fake affection and intimacy to remain in your good books?" Jupiter vehemently whispered a no. Edward was not the type to pretend. A suitable description for his attitude would be - It is what it is. I am who I am. "Then who put these ugly thoughts in you? Did you tell about us to someone and they brainwashed you?"
"No. You were ignoring me."
"What is that?" Edward probed; her words were a mumble under her breath.
"You were ignoring me, so my silly mind conjured up the worst scenario."
"Darling, I was not avoiding you," he clarified while wiping her tear-stained face using the sleeves of his shirt." I was giving you time to yourself. You needed that time to digest the sentences you read cooped up in this very room. I had no intention of hurting you."
Suddenly, Ed had his arms full of a sobbing Jupiter. Caressing her back, he tried to comfort her, but she was inconsolable. In between hysterics, she apologized to him. "I-I was an emotional wreck these past days. The relief I felt from learning that I was not alone is indescribable. I am sorry. I am sorry."
"I hope I will continue to have the privilege to be a part of your life?" Ed joked to reduce some tension.
"You are not merely a part of my life, Ed. You are my life."
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