Cevic

Chapter 24

Tell me what you want to hear

Something that’ll light those ears

I’m sick of all the insincere

I’m gonna give all my secrets away

 

-One Republic, Secrets-

 

 

My life as a somewhat prince had never been a bed of roses.

I didn’t intend to wallow in self-pity and seek succor in pep talks with Rezia. A heroic life was next to impossible for me.

  I was not welcome by commoners and thus my hopes of engaging in little but happily simple adventure in daily routines like going to the grocer’s, talking bad about high-ranked officers, sitting by the streets and eating baked beans straight from the stalls, or chatting with my friends were dashed- those were merely the children of my imagination, added flesh by what I observed commoners my age did.

  I was shunned by the royalty or the Council of ministers and lords. Thus engaging in even the simplest conversations, discussing the weather, or even actively contributing to the politics and problems of society was impossible too.

  Seeking enjoyment of company was equally difficult. I lost friends easily because my company was either considered too much or too little.

   I was constantly surrounded by people who tried to kill me, tried to kill my family, and tried to kill my enemies. My grandfather, the late king whom King Decus and I have not seen before, was supposedly killed as well.

  He was sixty-three, active and overflowing with energy. Rumor had it that the late father of Lord Defas had slowly poisoned the late king to death. The minister was morbidly patient. He added a few drops to each meal, and when the drops accumulated enough to spread to the heart, the king passed away in his sleep.

  According to King Decus, I had nearly been killed two times when I was a wee little baby. I was not surprised; I had few allies in and out of court.

  I was very used to surprises.

I had been surprised by a knife at my neck when I was twelve. The attack had nearly killed me. Once again when I was fourteen, I was nearly poisoned to death. Lady Isha saved my life; she had had her suspicions that Lord Defas had been trying to kill me, and that she had poisoned my drink like his father had done to my grandfather.

  When a kitchen maid was bringing the drink to my room, Lady Isha accidentally knocked into the maid and spilled the drink.

  I was surprised again, when it was my thirteenth birthday and King Decus had a feast to be cooked for me, later that day Queen Sakira slapped me, telling me to back off from her husband, and had me promise to not tell anyone that she hit me, or she would have my fingers to be cut off.

  The threat was real enough.

But standing there re-reading the letter I had by then memorized by heart, I couldn’t have been worse prepared for a surprise.