Love and Other Crimes

Redefining Life

It had been one year since the armies of Malgravia and Calsabwe had defeated the Redlandian army. Henry was watching the people's celebrations of the first anniversary of that victory from afar. Imari had sent an expedition to join the celebrations. A lot had changed during that year, but nothing had changed at the same time.

The good thing was that Henry had made a sincere friend. A few months after this victory, he travelled to Calsabwe to meet Imari. He truly estimated him. And that was the end of the good things during that year.

Soon after the celebrations stopped, the trial of Edward and Edith began to concern people again. Henry knew well. He could no longer postpone it.

Since he was the king, he could intervene in anything he wanted. He chose not to all those years. But this time was different. He addressed to the court, asking that the death penalty changed to exile. Everyone, including the court members, felt deeply betrayed by the prince and the princess. But they couldn't resist accepting their beloved king's affecting request.

So, Edward and Edith set off for their new home, the place of their exile. It was a rocky peak in the middle of nowhere, far away from the capital. They would spend the rest of their lives there; with their guards as their only company.

Henry chose not to kiss them goodbye; he couldn't bear that. He only watched from afar when they were leaving the capital. The three siblings' glances met this way for the last time. The tears in the little ones' eyes said all they meant to. How sorry they were for killing his great love. For ruining their family.

A long time later, Henry tried to recall that moment; in order to understand what his glance could have meant. All he remembered was two pictures before his eyes. The one was his two little siblings shortly after they had lost their parents. When young Henry promised them that he would take care of them from that moment on. The other was his sweet Brigitte's pale face on the table; with her wonderful, soulful eyes wide open in terror. When he found out he would never stare at these eyes again.

He spent a lot of time alone after Edith and Edward left. He would only meet Maxwell. And he asked him the same question every time.

"Where have I been wrong?"

"Why do you have to be wrong, Henry?"

"Because I raised these kids. I must have done something wrong! And I should have definitely prevented this. I should have protected my wife. She was the only innocent in this story, but she paid the greatest price!"

Maxwell sighed. He stared at the sky for a while.

"Your father once asked me if I believed you would become a good king. He was afraid his love for you misled his judgment. I replied that you would definitely become a good king; perhaps better than him and his father. But I was unsure you would become a happy man. He worried. He asked me why. I told him you were very easily blaming yourself for anything. I couldn't know I would prove right that way though... Edward and Edith were already adults when they did what they did, Henry. And you raised them well. Their actions were their fault and only. They used to be good kids. I love them and what happened hurts me. But I can't defy the facts."

Henry had chosen to bury Brigitte in a place with a magnificent view. She loved staring at nice landscapes. So, this was the place appropriate for her grave. Henry visited her grave every day, just before dusk. It was her favorite time during the day. She was amazed by the colors in the sky.

He stared at those amazing colors, recalling every moment they had spent together. His whole life wouldn't be enough to have enough of her. But he could have never imagined they would have such a little time together. Sometimes he whole-heartedly wished she came back to life, even if he would never have her again. It would be enough for him to know she was alive and happy. But alas, his wish was never fulfilled.

As time slipped by, Henry got used to feeling miserable. He got used to this pain in his chest. He didn't wish to let it go. Since he still was a young man, he was advised to marry again. He rejected any suggestion or matchmaking. His bed felt so empty without Brigitte. But he wished to replace her with no one else. He was told that no one's indispensable; but he strongly opposed that. His Brigitte was indispensable.

Maxwell's support was his only comfort. He was the only person he could openly talk to, as if he was talking to himself. But Maxwell already was old. Six years after Brigitte's loss, Henry lost him too. The old man knew when his death was close. So, he had the chance to say a few last things to Henry.

He knew it was hopeless to talk to him about remarrying. "A child, however, is different!" His councilors and allies were telling Henry that he needed a successor. And so did Maxwell. After he lost him too, Henry thought his words over. And that was when he had some news.

The wife of one of the fallen soldiers at the time of Sigmund's attack had just died. Her seven-year-old son had no one to look after him. Henry knew exactly what he wanted to do upon hearing the news. He took the little boy to the palace and adopted him. So, his succession was not a worry anymore.

Henry soon felt close to his new son, little Jeffrey. He was a smart and pure-hearted kid. And he soon became capable of keeping the sad thoughts away from his father's mind. Henry made up a story in his mind. Jeffrey was his son with Brigitte; the one they never had.

Whenever Jeffrey saw his dad sad, staring at the void, he fell in his arms and kissed him. He carried him away with several games he made up. Henry took him to walks to the city and its outskirts. And he also took him along whenever travelling to other areas of the country or overseas. He took special care of his education. And he moreover talked with him about many things. In the night, he told him a bedtime story.

Henry truly loved the boy. And the boy truly loved him too. This love became the one true balm in Henry's heart. When Jeffrey grew up, he told him everything about his life. "Just so you can learn from my mistakes and misfortunes."

Malgravia was proud of Prince Jeffrey; of his virtues and skills. They felt lucky he would be their king after his worthy father.

Jeffrey helped his father in the kingdom affairs. He could see that, despite their strong relationship, his father's sorrow for his losses would never go away. So, he wished to relieve him of as many trouble as possible. And when Henry grew old, Jeffrey took good care of him. He was always nearby, trying to keep an eye on him. He only left him alone at dusk; at his daily visit to Brigitte's grave.

When Henry turned sixty, he quit the throne and crowned Jeffrey king. And Jeffrey promised the people of Malgravia he would follow in his father's footsteps. Henry stayed by his son's side as his councilor for the rest of his life and Jeffrey counted on his advice. When Jeffrey married and had children, he couldn't get enough of spoiling his grandchildren.

When Henry understood the end of his life was close, he wished to see his siblings one last time. From the day they left, he hadn't written to them; until he adopted Jeffrey. That was when he for some reason decided to communicate with them again. He wrote to them every two months, but he clearly set a condition: the past would never be mentioned. The two little ones' joy for his decision was obvious in their letters.

Jeffrey prepared his father's journey to his siblings' place of exile. But in the morning of the departure, his father was late. Fear overwhelmed Jeffrey's heart. He knew his father had probably not slept all night. He ran to his bedroom and found him sitting in his armchair, in front of the window. He seemed asleep; but he wouldn't wake up.

Jeffrey buried his father in all formalities. And he looked for the appropriate words, despite his sorrow, to write to Edward and Edith. Two months after his father's funeral, forty five years after their exile, Jeffrey pardoned his uncle and aunt and let them return to the palace. So they could mourn their brother. He took care of them for the rest of their life. And when they too died, Jeffrey vowed there would be no more misery in the palace.

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