Chapter 624 - Six Hundred And Twenty-Four: Freedom (1/2)

The third point of view:

”NO!”

Akim was rejected even before he could bring up the topic.

”You're not going anywhere, not to talk of bringing Jasmine along with you,” Emily rejected Akim firmly before he could protest.

Emily had been in their private chamber when their son, prince Akim came up to them with the suggestion of going to the food festival in Lincolnshire.

She was not against him attending the festival since they were having it in the palace, but he was wrong - Akim wanted to leave the palace. He wanted to celebrate the festival outside their palace grounds with his sister, Jasmine.

It wasn't enough he was attempting a suicide journey, he wanted to drag her other child into it as well? No, she was not going to let that happen. Emily refused to lose her children over a petty request! No, she would keep them safe.

”We won't be out there all night and we'd be dressed like the commoners, no one would recognize us,” He added sarcastically, ”As if they even know what I look like anyway?”

After the war with the rebels, he was almost shut out from the outside world. It wasn't until five years ago that he was introduced to the outside through schooling. Even with that, the citizens of Lincolnshire hardly know what their prince looks like.

Akim was attending a private school owned by the royal family and no one dared to take a picture of him, it was a severe crime; the perpetrator would be given fifty lashes of cane. Hence, no one needed to be told twice about taking a photo of him. He could even count the number of times he made a formal appearance on air.

Although there were still some daredevils who dared to take a photo of him, before they could share it, the efficient bodyguards sprang into action and captured them. They were set as an example and the others learned their lesson aka keep their distance from him.

Akim was as lonely as shit, his bodyguards were always beside him, even in class. Their presence was always with him that it felt as if he developed a second skin, he could feel them everywhere. It was overwhelming and suffocating. He wished he could breathe, even if for a second.

Thanks to their intimidating appearance, he got no friends. Well, just one, Maxwell, but he was popularly called Max. He was the only one brave enough to engage him in a conversation and make him feel.. human.

But then, even with that, Akim was still alone. There was a great distance between him and his classmates. What was the use of being a prince and being smart at that if he can't relate with his friends?

”Even with that, you're still not going anywhere. Do you think the rebels are fools not to recognize you,” Emily asked him.

”But they are gone! You made sure to exterminate them! Father made sure to keep us safe!” he couldn't help raising his voice.

”Akim!” Judy cautioned him. He then took over from his wife, ”Do you think they ever deplete? The rebels are like cockroaches who never die out no matter how much you end them,” He said.

”That means the war won't ever end then,” Akim pointed out.

”Exactly,” Judy said, thinking that his son had gotten the point.

”Then for how long am I going to stay in hiding?”

”What?” Both couples were dumbfounded.

”For how long am I going to live this way? For how long would I need to fear the rebels? For how long do I need to wallow in darkness against an assumed enemy?” Akim asked them, his eyes blazing with anger.

”Everything we're doing is for your protection,” Emily said.

”Till when? Till I'm twenty? Twenty-five? Fifty? Till I'm old?”

”Akim!” his highness Judy growled once again and this time his voice was strained. Akim's words were finally getting to him and he didn't like it one bit. He didn't want to be swayed by Akim's sentiments because he believed he was making the best decision for him here.

”Instead of hiding in the illusion of protection, why don't you face the problem headstrong?!”