CHAPTER 4 - EAST

"The sun always shines so beautiful," he sighed, "I wish, please rain hard? I want to play under the rain with my friends," he wished with his eyes closed and hands together.

His father knocked on his head, "Idiot! We don't need the rain, we have enough water. Our Almighty God has blessed us with such good weather, why ask for rain? You piece of, ugh! Go home and prepare our breakfast."

He was busy looking around the beautiful crops when he bumped with his mother, "Mom, where are you going? Dad will be here soon, he asked to prepare the breakfast," he said while helping his mother to get up.

"Your Aunt called me that Friean got thorned with poisonous plant in their garden. I have to move fast."

"You mean the Queen, Mom. Stop pertaining to her as an ordinary person. She's already the East's Queen," he untied the nearby horse, "Come on now. I'll send you there," He offered his hand.

His Mom ignored him, "She's still my sister. She's still the same and ahm, she just got a crown now, that what makes her different, but she's still my Regina."

"Queen Regina!" he corrected. Sounds redundant.

"Yes, right! It suits her well," then his mother smiled.

"Hurry up now, Dad will get angry if he finds out that both of us are not here and the breakfast isn't ready. I'll just send you there." She finally accepted his hands.

His mother almost lost her sanity when she found out that her younger sister, Aunt Regina was pregnant. We all know that she is not in a relationship since then so we got surprised when she told us that, and the father was the Crowned Prince Bruce, who is known to be a playboy. She was married off immediately as the King ordered. And after she gave birth, Prince Bruce was hailed as the new King.

"We are here. Get off now. I'm in a hurry. I don't want to receive a beating."

She chuckled, "You are right. Go now. I'll see you off," and she waved goodbye.

Luckily when he reached home, his father was not yet home. He prepared everything and right after that his father came.

"Why did you take it seriously? Your cooking skills are hopeless!" he laughed, "Where's your mother?" he asked as he sat down.

"The Queen summoned her. The Princess got thorned with a poisonous plant, so yeah, she almost fell just to reach the palace in an instant."

He dropped his utensils, "That bastard, she always disturb your Mom."

"Stop clenching your fists, it will hurt you. How will you produce beautiful and healthy crops if you will hurt it like that," he saw that his father relaxed. "You and Mom should be careful of addressing the Queen now. She was not the same Aunt Regina we knew, she is now the Queen."

"The Queen that the King never wanted."

We are all aware that Bruce was just like in a life and death situation when he was asked to marry Aunt Regine. His father, the King, told him that he will disown and replace him as the Crowne Prince. He was left with no choice. But since Aunt Regine looks madly in love with him, she still married him knowing that she may face hardships.

"Let us forget about that, Dad. It is her choice."

"Yes, indeed. But that choice doesn't only affect her life but your Mom's too."

"I agree with that, Dad. Mom almost lost her sanity when Aunt left us. How could she do that to her?"

"That's not it, Rex."

"What do you mean, Dad? Isn't it the lone reason why Mom became like that?"

"Your mom," he paused and I saw tears building up, "We are not married."

That shocked me.

"Who cares? It won't affect our family, not even an inch. I haven't noticed also if you didn't tell me."

"Maybe what I'm gonna say will do," he sighed, "I'm not your biological father, Rex. I just stayed with your mother all these years because I love her too much, that I can't see her suffer alone."

"What nonsense is that, Dad? I'm yours!"

"I'm sorry, Rex. But it's the truth. You are not destined to inherit my farm, your mission is what your name suggests. Always remember that I never not love you. I love you like my own. And if chances may permit, I just want you to stay with us, forever."

What does my name suggest? But my name means, King. I'm not for that. I will not be.

"Bruce was the one badly hurt. Friean's was just like a tiny prick on her nose that's why she has a fever. Your Mom rushed there for Bruce, not for Friean."

We spent the whole day without Mom. It's already late at night when some soldiers from the palace came.

"Good evening, Sir Rex," the leader greeted and bowed.

"Rex," he corrected and bowed.

"Lady Mary wants to see you."

"Can't she go home to see me?"

"The Queen asked her to stay overnight, Princess Friean is still in bad condition. She still has a high fever and shivers sometimes."

I remember what Dad told me.

"The Princess or the King? My Mom is not the Royal Physician, so why would she stay and work there?" I can't stand this.

"We are not in the position to disclose any further reason than what was stated a while ago. The carriage is ready, you can hop in with us."

"No, thanks. I'll take my horse."

Rex can't understand why does his Aunt, the Queen rather, do this to his mother. They have agreed to cut ties the moment Regina accepted the proposal of the King to marry Bruce.

He jumped off the horse as early as he saw his mother standing at the balcony with a man he can't recognize. He looked at her and saw the happiness in her eyes that he didn't even saw once when she is with his father.

He immediately runs up the stairs to reach his mother's location.

"Mom! Dad is worried sick about you. Come on now. We need to go home."

"Rex, you're here. Come here, I'd like you to meet, Bruce."

The man that caused my mother's suffering and also to my Aunt. He destroyed our peaceful life at the farm.

I bowed to show respect, even if he doesn't deserve it.

"Let's go, Mom."

"Wait, it's about time."

I felt nervous. I don't want to hear this.

"Rex, your father—"

"Is at home and worried about you, Mom. Let's go home."

"Let her finish, young man." That was King Bruce.

"Finish what, Your Highness? We need to hurry, its getting late."

"Let her say who is your real father."

"I don't want to know who is he. I have no plans."

"Stop being disrespectful to you Father, Rex!" Mom shouted

That blown me away. I almost lose my balance. My heart was about to burst when someone shouted that the Princess was awake.

We are now in the bedroom of Princess Friean. She was 4 years younger than me. She resembles more of Aunt Regina's features except for her dark skin color which King Bruce has.

"She and her Dad was training at the garden when they both fell at my poison plant. Thank God, she's awake now and Bruce is alright too."

"I hope this would be the last time that you will call my mother for help, Queen Regina," I said.

"You being too formal, Rex. Why can't your Mother—"

"Because that is what we agreed, Queen!" I shouted, "Could you please stop bothering my family?" I looked straight into her eyes.

The door suddenly opened and the King entered.

"I'm afraid to tell you that it will not happen as soon as you wanted."

"What do you mean by that? Can't you just leave my family alone?"

He smirked, "You are my family, Rex. And being the Crown Prince requires great responsibility."

"When the hell did I become?"

"Watch your words, Rex," Mom interrupted.

"Since this day. As the Crowned Prince, you will go with Friean at Mythical Island. Your mission is to represent the East and protect Friean at all costs."

"Go where? Mythical Island my foot! I will not go there the same as with

being the Crowned Prince."

I turned my back on them leaving my Mom and saw father at the door.

"Dad? What are you doing here? You should get some rest, we will be early for tomorrow."

I was about to pass him when he stopped me. I looked at his eyes but he was looking at Mom.

"I knew that this day would come. I don't want this to happen," he faced me, "Do your duty, Rex. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine as long as it's me who you look as your father."

I seriously don't know what to do. I hugged him in front of everybody, even in front of my real Father.

"I love you, Dad. I will do as you say. But not this."