Petals in the Ocean

Prologue - The Smallest Meadow

14 YEARS AGO

In a land, smaller than most, but even more grand than the others that lay at its borders, lay a kingdom. Stood at the base of a mountain was the brightest castle of cool grey, beautiful evergreen banners waving the darkened emblem of a crow holding a silver rose in its mouth.

The city around the castle was one that had grown and thrived over centuries of good and prosperous rule. Civilians wandered around the streets, aimlessly happy within the walls that they had always been safe in. There was nowhere better than the kingdom Elvedare. Walking down the street, the scent of freshly baked bread and pies was warm that made the mouth water even if the body was fully fed. Children ran over the cobblestones, laughter like pealing church bells. Smiles glittered with the everyone that passed by, their baskets full of the grocer's goods; fresh eggs, browned loaves of bread, tall cylinders of milk next to sharp blocks of cheese and of course, a snipped bundle of whatever flower was harvested that day.

Elvedare was known as the Kingdom of Flowers. Past the city gates lay hills, meadows, and valleys full of flowers. Some were brought from other kingdoms; roses, peonies, and dahlias to name a few. However, despite coming from foreign homes, they all thrived in the warmth and sun that shined on Elvedare.

For centuries the kingdom thrived with a strong lead - kings and queens that ruled with stern, but gentle hold. They shipped flowers to other kingdoms, their goods being the most desired for coronations, weddings, and parties that all the lands. There was some pride of being a kingdom that's main commodity was so kind. For as long and the kingdom had stood, there had never been any forms of conflict with others. They lived as neutral parties within debacles between rivaling states, their only crime being hidden through a darkened path of leagues of forests.

As a child, crowned Prince Koushi Sugawara was the gentlest of youths. He ran through the palace, his voice chiming with laughter and graced everyone he came across with the grandest of smiles. He was as sweet and mischievous as any child was growing up, but the pride of the whole kingdom nonetheless. Most of his days he spent in lessons, cheeks propped up on his little palms, legs swinging wildly out of boredom until he was dismissed. Without anyone else to enjoy playing with, the little prince found him wandering off into a secret tunnel he discovered that led straight out behind the castle into a small meadow.

He would lay there for hours, staring at the clouds passing in the sky. He dreamed a lot, much more than a prince should. Koushi, or Suga, as he liked to be called by those whom he cared for, wondered what it would be like to be king. His father was the ideal, strong, silver haired, and broad with the crinkles by his eyes that could only have been caused by years of laughter. His mother was just as kind, hands soft and warm as she sang sweet lullabies while she threaded small flowers into his hair when she found him snoozing in the grass. But would his life always be that way? Being able to run away from the servants tasked to watch him to just waste the hours dreaming? Life as king surely couldn't be that simple, even if Elvedare had never seen violence or catastrophe.

Days seemed different only when they had visitors. His royal predecessors had made many allies over the years, his father continuing those relationships with the promise always of good health to all that came to his kingdom. Most liked to get away from their larger homes, the cities too loud, dirty, or fueled by hooliganism that even the leaders could not control. Elvedare was a white spot in the middle of the map, untouched and clean. It was never a surprise that Suga would be pushed and combed into perfection to stand next to his father in the Great Hall to greet people he still couldn't remember the name of.

But there was one family that he grew to never forget. The first time he had seen the Alvalars of Rosavna, he noticed that their daughter was astounded by what their home had to offer. She hadn't been the first young maiden that had been enamoured by the rows of flowers that graced the view as one came out of the forest into Elvedare.