Exquisite Pain (Garmau)

Chapter 31 The Life He Knew

Smile,
Because it confuses people.
Smile,
Because it's easier than to explain what's killing you on the inside.
~The Joker
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stared at the mirror.

The man that stared back at me seemed fake. He was sad, empty, lonely. He was anything but proud of what he had to do.

I straightened out my clothes and let my facade fall for a moment as I gripped the edge of the desk, clenching it as hard as I could. Steam started to radiate from my knuckles, and I realised I was using fire.

I abruptly let go and lightly grazed the now singed wood.

I weaved my hands in my hair and pulled at my scalp.

She was gone, gone from my life for who knows how long. Maybe she would come back to visit, once my father passed then I could certainly arrange something with her. That would be nice.

If I didn't tell her not to come see me...

I must seem like a terrible son, counting on the day my father finally died.

I let out a sigh and straightened my shoulders.

Garroth Andy Ro'Meave. Son of Garte and Zianna Ro'Meave. Heir to the throne of O'Khasis.

I hadn't worn the name in a long time, but now it was all I was. A mere title, a face for the people to look at while I worked behind the scenes more often than in front of people. I would pretend I cared, I would lie for the lives of my real family. The whole royalty thing was just one big act.

I walked down the hallways in my proud way. Shoulders back, chest out, standing tall for anyone to be intimidated by.

Zane noticed me and rolled his eyes. Well, he rolled the one visible eye that I could see, but I assumed it was both, simply because one eye roll didn't only seem ridiculous, but ever so slightly impossible.

Then again, how would I know, I'd never even tried.

I stopped at an oak door, carved in an orderly way that truly only the youngest son of O'Khasis could bear. I knocked and waited, soon realising Vylad probably wasn't in.

I sighed and ran a hand through my blonde hair that felt like it was aging and growing more and more grey by the second.

Today was when I was going to be crowned as the returning son of O'Khasis. Knowing my family, there would probably be some elaborate story for the people to believe. And knowing the people, they would eat it up.

"Garroth, it's time to get ready."

Mother smiled at me and placed a gentle hand on my arm. She walked with me back to my room and sat me down at my vanity. She started to comb my hair and prep me for the ceremony.

"I can't tell you how glad I am you came back," Mother smiled and blinked away some tears that started to build up.

"It's good to see you, Mom."

"And the fact that you're taking the throne, it seems like just yesterday you were just learning how to walk."

"I'm not taking the throne today, I'm just being welcomed back," I reminded her.

"I know, but it's hard to believe how much you've grown."

"I'm immortal, Mother, I can grow very old."

"Don't sass me," she ordered. I smiled softly as she placed her hands on my shoulders, I reached up and held one of them.

"Thank you, for raising me."

I turned in my seat and Mom kissed my forehead.

I stepped out onto the stage in front of the people, refusing to smile. I sat in the prince's throne and stayed emotionless as the crown was placed back onto my head. The crowd roared with excitement as I stood and gave a small bow to show my respect for my kingdom.

Father stood and started to give a speech and explain what he would do about the rebels. I looked to my right and saw both of my brothers not batting an eye to the whole thing.

And could I blame them? It was what had been embedded into our minds from such a young age.

"Now listen to me, Garroth, you will sit up there and not move a muscle. One sign of any emotion can be taken and twisted and distorted by the people, and they will do anything if it means they can have an excuse to turn on you. Do not let them see anything other than a stoic king to be."

My shoulders straightened at the memory.

This was my life, I knew it well.

Since I was a young boy, I was always told what to do. People thought I had power, but in reality, I had no power. I never did. I was just a puppet on a set of strings, my father never let me do anything without him knowing where I was at every breathing moment. I was nothing but a face for the people to look at and to give them false hope.

This was my life, I knew it well.

(Travis' POV)

I stood in the crowd with my cloak hiding my face well enough. I watched as Garroth sat there, pride sitting on his straight shoulders.

I felt a hand grab mine, and I knew Katelyn was looking for something to hold onto. Even if it meant she had to be a little weak for awhile, she had to have some comfort.

I looked to my right and made eye contact with a guard and he looked sceptical. He started to walk calmly in our direction, and I knew we had to leave.

"We have to go," I whispered in her ear before bolting off.

"Hey! Stop!"

The guard called after us, and I picked Katelyn up bridal style. She started a violent wind behind us so that we wouldn't be followed.

We got back to the camp and sat down for a breather.

"Is it true?" Laurance looked at us with hesitance.

"Yeah," I nodded, "it is."

A/N Look at me, writing like I should have been doing forever ago! I'm literally the worst sometimes. So yeah, for now I'm not doing the time skip because if I do it right away this book might end about ten chapters earlier than I want it to. I love you all devils, byeeeeeee.