BEROYALED

THE GREEK GOD PAN

THAT NIGHT ON THAT SAME day when the King and the Queen and gramps had explained to me everything about the pact during breakfast, I spent time alone in the Moon Hall, staring up at the ceiling and had watched months' worth—probably years—of how the stars and the moon had moved through time. It weren't the real stars but it was the closest. Nights had become too bright for people to be able to see stars. I was having a good time for myself alone until my brother, Frederick peeked from the door. I called him to come and join me.

"Are you here to make a wish, little prince?" I asked.

"No. I'm here because I know you need company." He answered and it made me smile. "Did you come here to make a wish, Drei?"

"I always come here to make a wish." I replied. And I told him how many lifetimes of shooting stars I've already used to make a wish in the Moon Hall. And when he asked me if I believe that my wishes would really come true, I told him. "I want to. At the very least, I want to believe it would, little prince. But that's a lot more wishful than me wishing on a lifetime's worth of shooting stars. Being engaged to somebody that you don't even know who yet. Wouldn't that be something you'd wish to never have happened to you, Derick?"

He was quiet for three seconds before he shrugged his shoulders. "I'd rather wish another life than wish something in my current life did not happen. Is that what you really wish? Do you wish to leave the princess life, Drei? Do you wish to leave the palace like our great uncle and leave your family behind?" He asked, looking at me.

His innocent young face was glowing bright under the artificial moon and stars from the ceiling. But his eyes did not glow in likes of his age. I saw it, though I've always believed it. He's a dignified King. And he was right. Not just as a wish but I have that choice. I could strip myself off of everything just like how the Crown Prince Charles took off his crown and denied his claim for the throne. I would have no contact with the Royal Family and neither will they too. And I would have to start a new life with no one—no family. Did I really wish that?

When Simon had asked me to leave with him, I might have wished it for a moment. But it had only reminded me of my brother asking, with that face and those eyes of a dignified King. I almost wavered when Simon had confessed he loved me. I have heard the desperation in his voice and his anxious determination. But deeper in Derick's eyes, I saw a twelve year old boy who is afraid but is bravely facing his responsibilities. And that had helped me make up my mind. I couldn't leave my family behind. I have to be there for my brother.

Far—but not too far—behind the academy's building, there's a tree on a little hill. It's where I have spent all my time whenever I wanted to be by myself. I might have already decided to bravely face my responsibilities despite how afraid I am but it did not mean I wasn't afraid anymore. I needed time for myself to get used to it. Moreover, I needed time to get used of facing the fact that I might have already lost a friend like Simon.

But on that day, as I got closer towards that hill, a sound of a flute playing caught my attention. I recognized there was already another student occupying my little hideout. Perhaps I should've just left and find myself another place for solitary but something about his music had drawn me in. I already noticed him. I've never seen or heard anything like it before. He appeared to be glowing with the sunlight right behind his profile. He looked like a greek god or an angel sent down by the heavens to grace the earth with his music.

"Who are you? I've never seen you before." I asked, interrupting him from his melody. Then I realized, I've had enough strangers tormenting my mind with who they are. A group of boy scouts were enough. I told him, "Never mind. Just leave, I want to be alone."