Chapter 14 Part2 (1/2)

CHAPTER 14 (Part two)

”What about His Majesty's father?”

Mahnu looked at the King in the dark and asked if that was ok. He nodded quietly.

”King Matthew, father of one son, formally...Two sons, informally.”

The King stood up and rushed to Mahnu, ”I...have a brother?”

Mahnu nodded, ”You did have a brother.”

The King sat on the bed, ”Why?...Why haven't I heard...until now?”

”I'm sorry, Richard. He came to the same fate as your father.”

King Richard closed his eyes and then slumped forward.

”He had been only two years old. Formally, he died as nature taking its course but informally he was poisoned. Your mother took it very hard and never wanted to talk about it, it become a taboo subject within Conrella...Also, King Matthew…Was a father of two daughters.” King Richard looked at Mahnu again and she nodded. ”One you know of but the other was like your older brother. They took precautions with more safety and protection after that and then you were born. They decided to stop having children then. It was a worry for a short while, as they had thought your sister might have to take the throne.”

Pain showed on King Richard’s face to the news that he had never known about, even though it was his very own family.

”King Matthew adored governor Valtac. Letting the Crowned Prince become engaged to Valtac's own daughter. He also allowed the engagement of your sister to Valtac's advisor Rick. King Matthew also treated governor Gregory well. He never knew, until death, that he had been the one that had killed some of his family. I hadn't known that due to being nearby and reading his thoughts, I felt it through his suffering. He was greatly affected by the news and tried to survive to claim retribution for his family but he was stabbed by Gregory himself...With no chance of survival.” Mahnu really wanted to change the subject but she didn't, ”Your father was used, he let them trample over him. Kralaide went backwards in his reign...but he dearly loved his family. I dare say the deaths of his children is why he didn't become a better King.”

Mahnu knew what she had said was harsh, biting her lip, she looked away from King Richard. He put his hand in hers and squeezed it. ”It's okay. I knew already that my father let Kralaide go backwards.”

Mahnu squeezed back and took a deep breath in and out...Then continued, ”Your mother decided to follow your father and so you ascended the throne at the young age of fifteen. Your father's mother has spent much of her time, after your father's death, in a temple, I believe...And you were left alone, to rule the entire nation of Kralaide.”

Many mixed thoughts came into Mahnu's head but for others the room was ghostly silent.

First, they were pitying the King, yet proud of his achievements. Then Gregory's nasty, devilish ploys against the throne had them all very angry! Afterwards, they all wondered how it would be like if the royal family hadn't died at the hands of Gregory...It would be different now...A different past.

All the emotions flooded into Mahnu and she felt overwhelmed and was nearly about to cry

William broke the silence. ”Is there a King or Queen that was totally great?”

Mahnu looked at William and smiled, ”Yes!”

William got excited, ”Who!? Tell me!”

”He's right here.” Mahnu laughed and looked at Richard.

”I'm no great King.” He mumbled.

”It's not based on what you, as the King, personally thinks or feels. It's the peoples point of view.”

”The people like me?”

”Of course! They all saw the change of Kralaide from your father's reign to yours. They are much happier now. I even liked you when I hadn't met you. I remember thinking that you made a good decision to help the west and east with provisions just for them, even though they could give you nothing in return. And that's why I ventured to save you from the a.s.sa.s.sins, because I wanted you to live.”

King Richard contemplated her words, he sat properly on the bed, putting his legs out in front of him. ”So that's why we were able to meet?...”

Mahnu smiled at him. ”I felt sorry for you in Nowell. Here I was, an immortal, trying to help people for over a thousand years and there you were wanting to solve everything in a human life span. I even wondered if I should've told you not to bother.”

The King chuckled, ”So, that's what you were thinking then?”

”Yes. But you stunned me when you kissed me. Afterwards, I thought that you had a lot of nerve to kiss a G.o.d.”

”Were you going to kill me?” He asked, his eyes sparkling.

William and Jaclyn started to notice that Mahnu and King Richard were in their own little world.

”No...I...I've never killed anyone before. Grant you, I did hurt people, if they hurt others, but I never killed any human.”

The King was surprised, ”No one?”

Mahnu shook her head.

”You killed Thelmos and Eliza a few times.”

”No. I'm not talking about G.o.d's. Besides they didn't die.”

”I wonder how many times you would have died if you weren't a G.o.d...” William's quiet, curious words made everybody look at him.

Silence filled the room and William shrank into his chair. ”I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.”

”Leave.” The King said coldly.

Mahnu put a hand up, ”It's fine.”

”It's not. Your name and death, in the same breath...”

”Richard!” He looked at her annoyed and Mahnu sighed, ”It is not like William wishes me dead. He was curious.”

”I don't want to talk about it.” The King mumbled.

William got up and bowed, ”I apologize, I will never say those words again.” And he left.

Jaclyn also left, leaving Mahnu to comfort King Richard.

She didn't speak but pulled him down to her lap.

Hastily, he turned around and put his arms around her waist possessively. He kissed her tummy and closed his eyes while Mahnu played with his hair.