The Happy Prince

The Great King

For the next few days, Elwin spent most of his time pondering about the events that had unfolded in the throne room that evening. 

Who were those people? Why did Father refuse to help them? What was really going on beyond the palace walls?

And that girl, Renna...she had some gut to talk to his father that way. Elwin had never heard any servant, aside from Millie and a few others, speak. They were not allowed to associate with royalty. Only a few select individuals, Donovan included, were permitted to speak to him. He had always just accepted it as a part of everyday life. Though he had never mistreated or spoken rudely to any servant, he had always regarded them as someone who should not be noticed, unworthy of his attention. It is just how it had always been. 

But now, Elwin wondered. Indeed, it would be only a couple of years before he would be joining his father at his right-hand side in the throne room, involved in the decision-making and inner workings of the kingdom. He would be someone important, worthy of respect and having his opinion regarded. He would be learning at his father's side, and gaining a glimpse of his future as king. 

I have to know what is going on, Elwin thought determinedly.

Pacing around the palace, he soon found himself at the doors to his father's drawing-room. The king had returned from his trip the other day and would most likely be sitting at his desk now, doing some paperwork. 

Elwin gave a tentative knock.

"Enter," his father's distracted voice sounded from the room.

Elwin cautiously peered in before entering the drawing-room. His father wrote a few more lines on a document before looking up to regard his son.

"Ah, Elwin my son, what can I do for you?" the king inquired, setting down his quill. 

Elwin cleared his throat before beginning. "Actually, father, I have something to confess." Why is my heart racing? 

The king raised an inquisitive brow. "Oh?" 

Elwin paused slightly before continuing. "I overheard one of your proceedings in the throne room the other day. With that man and the girl?"

"Elwin, you know very well that you are prohibited from entering the throne room," his father interrupted. "You still have a lot of growing to do before you can begin to understand the reasons behind why I proceed and decide things the way that they are."

"Yes father, of course. That is not what I meant by it." Elwin started. " I just wanted to know why these people came to you in the first place. It does not make sense! Shouldn't they be showing their gratitude and favour towards their king, who delivered their enslaved ancestors from the hands of the Vadrach and Klydron Empires all those years ago? Shouldn't they be giving you praise for establishing such a powerful and prosperous kingdom when things were so dire and miserable before?"

The king regarded him for a moment. "So, you have been paying attention in your history lessons. Good." 

He paused for a moment to read something from a manuscript before continuing, "All I can say is that sometimes, people can forget all the good things you have done for them and this forgetfulness leads to ungratefulness. This ungratefulness cannot be tolerated," he stated.

Elwin listened as he watched his father methodically stack some papers before placing them neatly to his left.   

"And thus, this response must be met with certain...consequences," the king said, meeting Elwin's eyes with a pointed gaze. "Simply a reminder of their loyalty to their king. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of paperwork to attend to. Run along now."