⌞ True King ⌝

❖ Prologue ❖

2650 w.

Ink had just finished his latest painting. It was beautiful, of the recent sunrise, showing of glowing golds, and stunning fades of azure. Each brush stroke looked perfect, as if made with deliberate, well-calculated and thought out actions.
This was the prince's gift.
He could take any landscape, person, animal, or object, and make it look stunning. The paints may be expensive, but for the prince's work, it was well worth the price. As a Comyet, they only bought their child, Ink, the best.

"What a day! If only every morning could be as amazing as this one!" Ink had always been a morning person. Waking up at the most obscene hours, even going to sleep at horrendous times. But... that's just how their prince was, a naturally energetic and pleasant young boy. Raised by the best, and though he was spoiled; luckily grew up well mannered, and treated his staff with as much respect as they gave him. Prince Ink was somebody that everyone looked up to. He was the perfect ruler, fighting for everyone's rights; they all felt spoiled around him.

"Good morning my prince! Did you sleep well?"  Epic, the general of war, greeted Ink similarly each morning, it became a routine, something that was only missed under dire circumstances. "I told you, Epic! Call me Ink! No need for formalities when it's just us!" The prince honestly hated being called by his title. He liked being equal to everyone, not having them think of him as higher or lower.

Epic coughed into his uniform's sleeve, a bit embarrassed to have this conversation every day. "I apologize bruh, you know how your parents get." Ink's parents tended to be strict on the staff, though Ink argued for them if he was present.
"I'll speak to them again. As long as you get your work done, I see no problem having you all be yourselves!" Ink was truly the kindest of souls, if only there were more young men like him out there.

❖

The study was full of art supplies, ranging from expensive pastels, to equestrian oil paints. Easels were stacked in the corners, and along the pastel pink walls were rows upon rows of paintings, ranging from the size of entire windows, to tin-can labels. Ink felt spoiled, often trying to hide his work if anyone apart from his family and staff were to enter. In the back of the room a single bookcase stood, filled to the brim with books of art, astronomy, and quantum physics.  He was always fascinated with the night sky, and if he wasn't drawing sunsets; he would be mapping the stars, and the millions of constellations and patterns he found.
He wished for whomever he was to love in the future, that they would love the stars as much as he did.

❖

He was to meet with the king and queen of a rather dark kingdom, the kingdom of war, on matters regarding the alliance between the Joku kingdom, and the Comyet's kingdom. While he heard they are relatively friendly, he still had the feeling he needed to stay cautious around them.
The meeting room was relatively small, consisting of two tables, six chairs, and a large window overlooking the statue of Ink, labeled 'The Best Artist in The History of Comyet's Kingdom'. A bit of a stretch in Ink's opinion, and it truly did embarrass him, but the more he said it; the less people believed him.

The king and queen arrived exactly forty-five seconds early, taking the seats across from Ink and bringing out a small notepad. "Prince Ink, a pleasure to meet you." The king, Echo, calmly greeted the prince, bowing his head slightly. "It is a pleasure to meet you as well, King Echo, Queen Frisk." Ink's voice didn't hide his nervousness, his movements shaky as bowed in greeting. He was not used to talking to other royals, let alone talking to other royals about important business. "Alright! We are here to discuss the treaty that will be made between here and the Joku kingdom, correct?" Ink remembered what his title was. He wasn't some deranged artist, he was the prince, and he needed to make a good impression.
The king and queen nodded. "Yes, as you know, the Joku kingdom and the Echo kingdom are allies, this means that in order to ensure both of our kingdom's safety, we may also need to talk about our arrangements with your kingdom for the future events that are to take place." Echo's voice was deep and scratchy, but Ink could tell he didn't mean it in a threatening way.
"So would you like to see the current arrangements planned between here and Joku?" Ink wasn't exactly sure what King Echo and Queen Frisk arranged this meeting for, as his parents simply told him to handle the meeting! And he can do that.. "If that is possible, then it would make this a lot more simple." Bringing out a small list, Ink placed it down on the desk, both of them looking over and talking about arrangements, possible trading routes, border patrols.