[Fairy In The Forest] By Minutestory017

part 55

Lake, the youngest son of the Plovdiv kingdom's king, and Prince Mike's best friend, looked up from his book as a lady entered the room. "Little prince, the food is ready," she announced.

Lake turned to face her, his expression curious. "Oh, did my mother eat?" he asked, his tone gentle.

The lady hesitated, her eyes darting downward. "I-I beg your pardon, Your Majesty," she stammered.

Lake's eyes narrowed slightly. "I am asking, did... my... mother... eat?" he repeated, his voice clear and authoritative.

The lady's face flushed, and she hurried to respond. "No, no, Your Highness... but we'll send food to her as soon as you eat."

Lake's expression turned stern, his jaw setting in determination. "No," he said, his voice firm. "I want you to send the food to her first. Then I will eat. That's my order."

The lady nodded hastily, her eyes fixed on the floor. "As you wish, little prince," she murmured, backing away before quickly exiting the room and closing the door behind her.

Lake turned back to the window, where the warm light poured in, and closed his eyes, lost in thought. Memories of his mother flooded his mind, and he couldn't help but smile. The queen, once a gentle angel, had raised him with love and care. She had taught him, played with him, and been the safe haven where he could run to, calling out "Mother!" with joy.

He remembered the way she would sing soft lullabies to him before bed, her voice a soothing balm to his soul. The way she would feed him with her own hands, nourishing his body and heart. But now, his mother was a shadow of her former self, unable to even take a bite for herself. The cruel hand of fate, shaped by his selfish father's actions, had left her alone and starving.

Lake's heart ached as he thought of his mother's suffering, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of anger and resentment towards his father. How could he do this to the woman who had given him everything? The woman who had loved him unconditionally, and had always put others before herself? The injustice of it all burned within him.

All because of his father's cruelty, Lake's mother was now a prisoner in her own room, locked away and isolated from the world. No one was allowed to see her, no one was allowed to bring her comfort. And whenever his father's temper flared up, he would storm into her room, unleashing his wrath upon her.

The reason for this brutality was her refusal to stand idly by while his father committed atrocities against the innocent civilians of Jozeia. She had always tried to intervene, to stop him from carrying out his evil plans, and for that, she was now paying the price.

Lake's heart seethed with anger and hatred towards his father, who could so callously torture the woman who had given him life. He couldn't understand how his father could be so cruel, so heartless, and yet, he knew that he had to find a way to stop him, to protect his mother and the people of Jozeia from his father's evil grasp.

Unknown to the outside world, Lake harbored a secret. Behind the palace walls, he was a complex person, hiding his true self from the public eye. To outsiders, he presented a carefree and humorous persona, always ready with a joke or a motivational word.
Even to his best friend Mike, he always gives him motivation despite his own bad condition, he never complain, always laugh and make others laugh and happy. But in palace, the whole kingdom, his own people, servants knows that how serious and scary he can be for his family. He is a very brave person, knowing how to control his emotions.

As Lake gazed out the window, lost in thought, a small bird suddenly flew in, its wings fluttering rapidly. Attached to its leg was a tiny note, which caught Lake's attention. He carefully removed the note from the bird's leg and unfolded it, his heart racing with curiosity.