Chapter 26: I Will Be Here

A day from ten years ago.

A day so gloomy and wet awaited the palace, the windows were closed, and the strange yet unique smell of the rain spread heavily on the wind. Inside of the tall and grand palace was a feeling so warm and pleasant making the weather at least more bearable with the fireplace lit. The wood burned brightly and it crackled, the person sitting infront of the fire leisurely laid a white bordered scroll open on his lap, reading it quietly. The start of the month's morning was well and progressing smoothly when a white clothed servant barged in inside Aren's small chambers.

Calming the lady, he lent his ear and listened to her huffs. Then after some time, he exclaims with his eyes opened widely; "The Prince has caught sickness you say?!" The newly appointed assistant placed down the scroll on the table and grabbed his white coat, fastening it around his shoulders after. "I see, I'll head over there now, please prepare the medicine and treatment." He said urgently, tying a white veil behind his head, covering his nose down to his chin.

As it was his first time handling a case like this, the young man felt a bit of a pressure, stress crashing his back as he doesn't even have any experience caring for a boy, nor a younger brother when sick, especially now he has to take charge of the care of a royal blood, no, rather the future King of the Jian kingdom.

He gulped, walking along the long corridors of the orange lit palace. Outside the beautifully stained glasses of the palace's gigantic windows, struck a lightning yet the thunder that came after it sounds so muffled due to the thick walls after beside Aren. And perhaps it just sounded too low because he was too busy reading a scroll related to how to aid a boy out of a severe (mere) fever.

He stopped infront of the Crown Prince's doors and knocked for entry.

Jian Li rustled against the bed, trying to sit up. "Father?" He called out faintly from inside the chamber, exhaling a hot breath.

"Your Highness? It's me Aren." Answered one from outside.

The Prince's voice lowered, sounding a big disappointed. "Ah, its you.. come on in."

Two nervous looking guards opened the doors, (mostly because they are newly appointed) Aren entered the room with a mask around his face. "The doctor shall be here soon, please do your best to stay in bed Your Highness." He came beside the Prince's bed.

Jian Li leaned back while Aren piled up a pillow behind his neck to rest on. "My father... Can't my father come here and watch over me? I'd prefer father's presence than of a doctor.." the blue eyed boy muttered, his eyes half closed.

Aren sighed in adore. 'Ah, i forgot he also is a little boy, a toddler longing for his father's love and attention.'

His hands went to the thick blanket and covered the sick boy. "I... Am sorry to tell you Your Highness, but the King seems very occupied with a national issue between kingdoms.. I'm afraid he cannot pay visit inside your quarters.."

"Is... Is that so.." The Prince bit his inner lip, his sorrow reaching the heavens to pour more rain to the ground.

'Ah. How poor the royal children are. But it can't be helped, their father is the King after all.' thought Aren while frowning behind his mask.

The wind outside seemed to bellow hard, thumping hardly on the window. Aren walked across the room and pulled the curtains, blocking out the sight of the rain.

"No," whined the Prince that made Aren stop. "I like to see the rain. Please do not block it Aren." The pleas of the Prince had beaten the soft hearted Aren, and so the curtain was drawn back, getting peaceful view of the scenery outside.

Soft knocks on the door took both pair of eyes, Aren who was fully mobile answered the door and was met by a small servant. "What? Delayed? What do you mean? It's the Crown Prince's health on the line here! Do your job and make him come here faster!" Even though both servants were talking outside the chambers, the loud thunders of Aren's panicked voice reached the ears of the Prince.

The door opening again, Aren walked inside with himself pinching the bridge of his nose. "Does something matter?" Faintly asked the weak voice of the Crown Prince.

Aren shook his head and went beside the Prince. "No, Your Highness, it just seems that the doctor will be a little late."

The Prince looked down, "Haha.. even the doctor whom I need to have by my side won't be able to be here too."

This soft spoken voice made Aren's poor heart squeeze and wilt, saying "Shall this servant attend you in His Majesty's stead?"

'Shit, who am i to take His Majesty's place?!' he cursed immediately.

The little boy slightly smiled,"I will forever be grateful."

"Ah—" Jolted Aren at the unexpected answer.

The Prince snuggled down the bed covers, his head feeling crumpled little by little. "You are not to be absent when i open my eyes." His little voice pleaded.

Aren fixed his poise and bowed, closing his eyes carefully. "I will be here Your Highness."

And so, the day of Jian Li's sickness quickly faded away, dreaming nothing but the bluest seas and stars, and waking up with a smiling servant beside him, feeding, and supporting him whenever he would move, and when he talks the servant would listen intently with his ears, engaging in surprisingly interesting conversations.

One night inside the sick Prince's chambers, while Aren was still around the chamber day and night, he couldn't help but feel bored. I mean, who wouldn't? Though he has taken the chair to sit onto while the coughing Prince was asleep, his boredom still bothered from time to time, and only hears the ticking sound of his silver watch. And so, by the desperation to drive the boredom away, he keeps glancing at the watch, opening and closing it. In result, he developed his own habit of pulling his watch out of his pockets or spinning the watch by the chain, and even developing some cool tricks out of it. It was funny actually, how he got this habit in one night.

Aren started feeling his lower body grow numb from sitting for hours on the chair, he sighed and placed the silver tool away, standing up to get some air. Before he could reach the terrace though, his eyes noticed something twinkling from the corner of the room, his interest piqued, he wanted to get a closer look.

In his surprise, it was the shine of a well polished wooden violin of the Crown Prince, and just like it was the most natural thing, Aren picked up the precious violin, so carefully like it was a newborn infant, so gentle not to break it.

He raised it up to his cheeks and leaned by the side, stroking the fret and feeling the bow on his grip. He closed his eyes and exhaled, playing one long and soft note gracefully.

Jian Li, who was sensitive to sounds heard this stroke of note immediately, causing him to open his dazed eyes and blink, watching the silhouette of the man who was playing in front of the moon.

They both smiled in comfort, Aren kept his eyes closed, keeping each of his notes light and soft, something that would play with your heartstrings while listening. Sometimes so low and gradually pacing. It was something so gentle and small, something that would just bring warm to you, Aren would play this piece like just how pleasant an embrace is, or as if it was a song full of nostalgic clouds and thousands of heartbeats.

When Aren noticed a pair of eyes locked onto him, he panicked and stopped playing, quickly hiding the violin behind his back; the actions that he did on a reflex.

He stepped onto the portion of the room that has light, sweating and smiling altogether, "Ah- Your Highness! Does something matter? You cannot sleep? Shall I bring you sleeping medicines? Or would you prefer natural herbs for-"

"—I would like to hear your music. I think it would make me sleep better." Interrupted the smiling boy.

The servant jolted and noticed he actually played a royal's violin. "Ah! I-im sorry for using it without your permission Your Highness! Please punish this lowly servant!" He bowed, nervous for his life.

The sick boy sat up his bed, chuckling softly, "Please, I am just a little boy. I cannot punish my personal servant who didn't even do any harm could I?"

Aren blinked and gulped, sighing away, "...Your Highness, sir.."

"Could I hear you play again?" He said while gulping some water.

"But Your Highness...." Aren felt the worry.

"Would you mind doing this Prince a favor?" Said the Prince before snuggling inside the warm and soft mattress again.

"A-ah! Of course! Right away!"

Aren would play the Crown Prince's violin until he slowly delivers him to sleep, his melodies carrying the Prince away, just like a lullaby to sing to the Prince. Every night, consecutively, Aren would play the exact same piece to the sick Jian Li, sending him to a peaceful dream land.

He would notice now and then the void inside the child's heart from the absence of his father was slightly filling up.

He would sigh in satisfactory and bring his hand to pat the sleeping Prince's hair. "I would fill this loneliness with the presence of my music. For now, sleep and get your strength back, little Li." Aren would mumble to the air, watching the little boy get better day by day.

Watching Jian Li proudly.

*

The nine and a half year old Jian Li passed by the music room, yet instead of passing, he heard someone playing from inside the room.

He walked inside the well resonating, full echo room, seeing Aren playing in full focus until he felt the small footsteps on the floor, withdrawing the instrument behind his back immediately. "Why do you always hide your instrument the moment i come in?" The Prince sighed, motioning the servants tailing him to keep out of the room.

The assistant scratched his nape, unable to say that this reflex was because of the fear he developed a few years ago from the paranoia of him being caught by someone, especially his late father. "I think its.. well, a bit embarrassing for a Prince to hear.. Im pretty sure Your Highness is way much better at playing the violin than me! and um, being a musician is not impressive at all! Hahahah.." he sweats.

The blue clothed Prince looked at the instruments. "In fact I haven't started attending a lesson regarding on playing the violin." Indeed he hasn't, except the harp.

"Your Highness?" Blinked Aren.

"I cannot play the violin." Repeated the boy.

Jian Li felt troubled whenever Aren would be seen in this behavior. "Aren, being a musician isn't mediocre." He frowned, "Art and music is something that would connect us even without words." He stopped, gazing over the strings of the instruments. "And for me, I think that music is truly wonderful." Smiled the little boy enthusiastically, trying so hard to explain the words out of his heart that made the assistant left in adoration.

"Don't worry, for when I become King, I would build a huge organization for aspiring musicians and release the prejudice of this field of art that this kingdom regard unnecessary." Dreamt Jian Li and smiled, making Aren do the same.

"Aren," called out the Prince.

"Your Highness?" Answered Aren.

"I would like you to teach me how to play the violin."

*

The Crown Prince of Jian Kingdom had reached his eleventh year, his face and height didn't change that much and only his voice sank a little bit. Aren still was by his side, always following and arranging things for the Prince, they would day by day practice musical pieces in the violin and Aren would teach lessons to Jian Li after his morning lessons from Lady Anwir. In short, Jian Li kept supporting his knowledge of things, and he doesn't stop feeding himself different skills, trying to learn until he feels like he has covered the whole basics.

Watching from afar, the servants stood amazed, their eyes following the image of their young and dazzling young master playing the harp skillfully.

"Wah! As expected of the Crown Prince! He is so talented!" One of the servants blurted, a bright radiance floating around her.

"Really! A genius from birth!" Praised the other.

"I guess children born in royal blood is just normally like this talented on everything."

"An intelligent boy blessed by the gods! How wonderful this is!"

Aren stood in front of this pile of ladies while his back faced them, his eyes just tracing the Prince. He suddenly speaks. "From day to night, he reads every single book enough to dry his eyes or burn his eyebrow from the candle. That boy is no genius, he is only dedicated and disciplined, he spends most of his days thinking how he could save those homeless children in the kingdom's slums buried in trash and filth more than any nobles in this city." Said Aren that made the servant's chatters dissipate.

Then he adds, "His Highness works hard to achieve the knowledge he has now. Saying that he's a genius, somehow makes it sound like he doesn't done anything."

"Prioritizing and sacrificing his youth's joy for the sake of the people is something that makes him truly a King and addressing his highness as genius since birth doesn't really define the Crown Prince. That young King is much more than that." Aren felt good, talking about how great his young master was, but the servants behind him had their souls flew out, thinking they just got scolded by their superior.

"F-forgive us Lord Aren!!" The all said and bowed so deeply, startling Aren who also began to sweat.

"Ah- no-" He frantically waved his hand around, signalling them to stop bowing to him. He sighs after a while. "It's me who should apologize, I should be even more grateful of your praises for the Crown Prince." He chuckled and faced the bright Crown Prince again.

'What the, why do i feel irritated at small things.' he thought.

Aren smiles, 'I am too proud of your growth that I hated how everyone else doesn't see how hard you're trying to catch up.'

Then he chuckles in fascination. 'Strangely, I have remembered all of the hard work that this young boy has done. And I sometimes forget he's just a kid. Who wouldn't. (sigh) he speaks and moves just like an old man, way older than me.'

"Maybe i should get the Prince a present?" He blurt out of the wind and laughs at the idea.

A day or two passed, the blue clothed Prince spends his afternoon snacking on cream puffs and tea, while doing arithmetics at the same time.

"Your Highness?" The familiar voice of his personal assistant, Aren, outside the chamber doors poked his focus away.

"Can I come in?" Asked the person outside the doors.

The Prince pushed away the snacks and closed the book on his left. "Yes, come in."

"Aren? Do i still have unattended schedule?" He asked his attendant, a bit confused what he was doing inside the chambers after he thought that his day's duties were done.

Aren pulled a large box from his back and placed it on top of the Prince's desk. "Ah, no Your Highness. But I am gifting you something as a reward of your hard work." Aren smiled widely behind the box.

Jian Li tilted his head and erupted a question mark sign on top of his head. "A reward?"

"Yes, now open it." Aren tapped the top of the large orange box, and smiled. The Prince hesitatingly reached out his hand but grabbed the lid anyway.

Just the moment the little Prince removed the lid, his whole eyes lit like nothing before, his face was so bright and his teeth showed when he smiled. It was a very surprising and lifting sight for Aren.

Jian Li's hand grabbed the orange thing inside the box and lifted it. "Puh! P-puppy!" He gasped and giggled, not believing his own eyes. The small dog, having a blonde orange or brown fur was something Jian Li only have seen for the first time of his life. Its big almond eyes stared at Jian Li and it started to wiggle his fluffy tail.

'Oh here comes the little boy side of the cutie Prince.' thought Aren who was widely smiling from the side, enjoying the sight.

"Woah..!" the Prince kept hugging and snuggling the dog, laughing at each licks, getting so overwhelmed with joy.

"Is- is this true?! Is he mine?!" Asked the boy with intense joy while Aren nods excitedly, till a moment after, the Prince's lips trembled and his eyebrows knitted together.

'!! He cried!' Yelled Aren inside his mind.

The Prince's tears overflowed his eyes, but laughs escaped his mouth, confusing Aren way too much.

"What the-?! Your Highness?! Is everything?!—"

He sniffed and wiped his tears, the dog helping also. "Thank you.." Jian Li smiled to Aren.

'This is the first time I've seen him smile so genuinely, and to also shed his tears..' thought Aren.

The little Prince carried the orange puppy and hugged it. "My father does not give me rewards but he does praise me by giving me awards and jewelries. But I've never felt happier to receive this."

Aren patted his head, "Little Li,"

"Arf! Arf!" They both blinked, the dog sounded like he imitated Aren.

"Ah—" Jian Li was dumbfounded.

Their eyes met, triggering the urge to laugh. "Pfff— hahahahaha!"

"Arf arf arf!!"

"AHAHAHAHA!!"