Heavy is the Head That Wears the Crown

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The Kingdom of Rath was the wealthiest, the most secluded, and the most enigmatic of all the kingdoms across the land. The inhabitants of Rath were strictly loyal to whosoever sat upon the throne. In the age wherein our story takes place, that was Queen Mitsuki and her husband, King Masaru.

Rath was a matriarchal kingdom. They placed women ahead of men for many reasons, the biggest being their sense of motherhood. Women were better leaders than men; it was both logical and correct to assume so. They were naturally prepared to deal with squabbling infants, making them more than capable of handling fellow rulers—especially male ones. They were more compassionate than their male counterparts, as well, more likely to help a poor child and more likely to put the needs of the kingdom over the needs of the few, regardless of who the few were.

Every Rathian Queen had but one child during her reign. It was to maintain the preciousness and importance that resided in children. The birth of Queen Mitsuki's heir—a beautiful little boy—was a day the inhabitants of Rath would never forget. Prince Katsuki's birth wasn't a bad one in any way. Everything went well... except for one thing: he never made a sound. Katsuki was silent when he was delivered, when he was swaddled in cloth, and when he was cradled in his mother's arms for the first time.

Theories spread amongst the Rathian people faster than a wildfire. The baby was a still-born and the midwife was hallucinating and the Queen was dead, the Queen was cursed due to her particular way of reacting, the midwife had killed the Queen and the baby, and many more.

They were all wrong. It turned out he was just saving his voice for the years to come. 

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"Good morning, my Queen," King Masaru smiled at his wife as she took her place at the head of the banquet table. He took her hand in his and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckle.

Queen Mitsuki chuckled, "Good morning, my King." She leaned over to kiss him, only for a young voice to interrupt them.

"Eww!" The two parents looked to their son. "Kissing's gross!" Prince Katsuki declared with his lip curled up in disgust.

As Mitsuki sneered at Katsuki, Masaru leaned forward and gently addressed the ash blond Prince, saying, "Katsuki, one day you'll find a woman you'll love, and you'll want to kiss her whenever you can, too."

"Nuh-uh!" Katsuki turned his nose up at his father. "I won't ever love a woman 'cos kissing's gross!"

"So you've said," ground out Mitsuki through her teeth. "Whatever, little brat. Let's just eat some breakfast so you can go rub your face in the dirt or whatever it is four-year-olds do." She waved her hand flippantly.

Katsuki silently glowered at Mitsuki. He didn't rub his face in the dirt. He rubbed his hands in the dirt. There was a huge difference, one he didn't expect some old woman to understand.

The cooks then entered the banquet hall. The young Prince immediately broke into laughter at the sight of grown men wearing floppy, white hats. He cackled as they set down baskets of steaming rolls. He chortled as they brought in smoked ham. He giggled as they meted the silverware and tucked napkins under plates, tying an extra one around his neck just in case.

A sudden realization came across Katsuki. "I'll just love a man," he declared to his parents. "Then I don't gotta kiss him!"

Mitsuki snickered as Masaru just softly chuckled. "Your mother and I will love whoever you love, Katsuki," he said.

Katsuki's frown deepened. This was a trap.

His parents were okay with him loving a man, which definitely meant he could never do it. But they were the ones to suggest he love a woman! He ended up just shoveling breakfast into his mouth instead of dwelling on his problems. Maybe he could just love breakfast.

Yes. That was it! Katsuki would never have to kiss breakfast, since his lips on breakfast meant breakfast's death! He was a genius.

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Years passed. Prince Katsuki, now ten-years-old, clashed swords with the Knight that followed him everywhere he went in the garden behind the castle. His wooden sword was once again knocked out of his hands, the wielder falling back onto the dirt on his behind.

"You're cheating!" he screamed, clenching his fists and scraping together handfuls of dirt as he did. The cool, soft earth oozed through his fingers. "I don't fight cheaters!"

Knight Inko put her hand over her mouth. "Oh my..." she murmured as she stifled a smile. "Your Highness, I've been fighting for decades! It's only natural; but I don't doubt you'll come to pass me soon enough." She offered the young Prince her hands. With a huff, he took them and Inko pulled him to his feet.

"Would you like to battle again after lunch?" the green-haired Knight inquired after spotting one of the cooks waving from the kitchen door.

Katsuki scooped up his sword. "Yeah!" He marched away from Inko, but before walking back into the castle, the ash blond Prince whirled around and thrusted his sword into the air. "Get ready to eat dirt, Auntie!" he declared.

Knight Inko repeated the action with a war cry of her own. Satisfied, the young Prince retired to the castle for lunch. With a smile on her face, Inko sheathed her wooden sword in the makeshift scabbard Katsuki had made for her. A similar one was wrapped around his own waist.

"You'll be a great warrior one day, Katsuki," she said to no one in particular. "I just know it..."

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