The Good King

'All Sinners'

The sun was about to set down into a beautiful red sky, his first day of victory was not something to celebrate as Elmer had a lot to do and was not able to catch his breath.

He was not only worried about looking week in front of the same people who used to serve Leo or because he was left behind alone without a single person he could trust by his side since all of them went on their own missions.

He was still shocked by Asher's sudden death, Aylin locked herself up in the burnt room and refused to talk to him.

The little prince did not want to see him, no matter how much Betty asked him to, he would not listen and kept saying to her that Elmer killed his father.

Clair was waiting for the prince to stop by not knowing that the same exact foot she asked him to not move too much, did not stop moving since the moment he made her that promise.

Elmer was unable to sit down, not even for one second, not to mention that he could not remember the last time he was able to eat.

With his thinking being all over the place, the throne room door was opened by the guards while allowing the four hunters in.

Standing close to the throne laying right behind him, with a golden crown ready for him to own.

Elmer did not want to take his place in there yet.

Not until his coronation that was happening in a few days and would be witnessed by the whole kingdom.

The hunters kneeled down the moment their eyes met his.

"Welcome back, Mirai, Alex, Rose and Evan"

They were not surprised that he remembered their names but that he decided to use them.

Leaving hers to come last as she was the one who's betrayal hurt most.

"Your majesty, I was the one who came up with that plan, please punish me alone, they had nothing to do with-"

Evan spoke first, getting interrupted by Mirai,

"What are you talking about? I approved of your plan"

He then looked back at Elmer adding, 

"Your majesty, I was assigned as the leader by the late king therefore it is my duty to take responsibility"

Elmer's smile seemed to confuse them more, he was not there to make them choose who deserved to be punished.

"It might sound random but Venator almost killed me twice"

He kept on telling his little story with a smile on.

Looking back at how far he have come, it has been over a year since then.

"Is it hard to believe that he is the same man who risked his life so many times for me?"

Elmer then said, 

"You're all sinner, you killed my people, burned villages and hurt the innocent just to keep the chaos away from your loved ones"

All of their eyes pointed at him, how tall he stood, how strong he remained as if there was no yesterday of him being a mare wanted prince.

"But, if I were to put all sinners in jail, no one would be left around, not even myself"

Elmer then added,

"The four of you will have to pay this kingdom back and help rebuild it, I will assign you to the villages you burnt and you will have to build then again and come to good terms with their people as to returning all of the hostages who are still in this palace"

The prince's words were pretty shocking. He did tell them what he would like them to do yet they could not tell if he did consider it as their punishment or if they would be punished after they rebuild everything they have destroyed.

"Your majesty"

A guard walked in calling for Elmer.

"You may leave now"

Elmer smiled at the four as they walked outside of the door.

"Everything is ready"

The guard then said, while Elmer walked towards the gate which was set open once he got close to it, leaving the empty throne behind.

Without a proper goodbye, the gate was set open for the carriages to leave, each heading into a different direction.

Louis's heart was torn in between staying and leaving but knowing that Elmer would be there for Aylin made him leave in order to attend Ivor's funeral.

Walking towards the still burned corners of the palace.

Elmer did not want to renovate them until they close the investigation and that would not happen until the red haired girl says so.

"Wait here"

He said before stepping into the dusty and ashy king study.

There she was standing beside the open window, a sword and a red piece of cloth in her right hand.

Watching the sun set down on the day she thought would be the end of her misery that just began.

"Aylin"

He said while approaching her.

She turned around, her eyes red from the crying, her mind still unable to believe what was happening and why would a nightmare feel so real?

Their eyes met when she turned around, and they were both broken.

"Am sorry, I don't know what happened, I should have never involved anyone in my war and-"

She interrupted him by resting her head on his chest as she cried.

Aylin did not need to hear a single thing.

Not an apology nor an excuse.

She would never blame Elmer, she just wished to know what happened exactly and no investigator was able to tell her that.

A sudden fire taking away her one and only family, like it was nothing.

"You said the door was found locked?"

Aylin then asked.

"Yes"

Elmer replied.

Even though the door's wooden parts were dust and ashes when the guards noticed the fire that was put off by the morning after a long night of burning everything around.

"I don't understand, nothing remains from his body except for a piece of clothing? how is this normal?"

Aylin then said, she just could not accept it and wanted to at least make sure Asher was really caught up in that fire.

"I must find something"

She then walked away, and started looking around, the cracked walls and  left dust.

"We are still investigating this, Aylin, I would never let out any possibility that could bring Asher back to us"

Elmer said while following her as she moved around the place.

She leaned down on the ground and started checking under the melted metals seeking for any evidence to help her case but nothing was in sight.

"Where would I leave something that can not be found by just anyone and would not risk getting it burnt in here?"

Aylin asked while looking into Elmer's eyes.

He took a good moment to think before answering,

"Definitely not inside the room, maybe outside-"

Aylin rushed towards the open hole behind them, the old window with no wooden trace left.

"I FOUND IT!"

She then shouted...