Chapter 13: Mother

The ministers, dressed in their finest regalia, bowed as we entered the grand chamber. A long table stretched before us, and we were beckoned to take our seats on smaller thrones beside the king's more imposing one.

"As I have already informed you," the king began, his voice deep and steady, "here stands my eldest son, Prince Alastare Aethelard, my second son, Prince Kyre Aethelard, and my youngest daughter, Princess Valentine Aethelard." I rose from my seat and bowed deeply. Princess Valentine Aethelard?! Oh, my.

"According to the laws of our kingdom, the eldest son shall inherit the crown. In this case, that would be Prince Alastare Aethelard. However, the only son of the queen, the rightful heir by blood, is Prince Kyre Aethelard. The crown prince must be named before I reach fifty-one, and I am but three weeks shy of that age. One of the ancient laws of the kingdom will need to be sacrificed. The question remains: who shall be the crown prince?" His eyes swept over the assembly, searching for opinions.

Hold on just a moment…

"If I may, Your Majesty," the queen interjected, her voice soft but resolute.

"Yes, Queen Lezabel?"

"I believe that Prince Kyre Aethelard should be the crown prince. He is the son of the queen and I believe has been used to kingdom's politics more than Prince Alastare is. Moreover, Your Majesty, I have no doubt you will live to see this kingdom flourish, and we shall have plenty of time for matters of succession," the queen said, her eyes tenderly meeting the king's.

"Very well."

"If I may, Your Majesty," one of the ministers raised his hand, his tone respectful.

"Yes, Minister?"

"While Prince Alastare is indeed new to such matters, it is undeniable that Prince Kyre's experience and wisdom make him the more suitable candidate. He has seen more of the world and understands the burdens of leadership."

"But," I interjected, unable to hold my tongue, "isn't that what crown princes are for? To learn and grow into the role? To be trained for leadership?"

Another minister, seated at the far end of the room, spoke up. "Perhaps it would be wise for both princes to voice their own opinions. Let them decide among themselves who is truly suited to the role of crown prince."

"Agreed," the king said. "Prince Kyre, if you would begin."

"I shall," Kyre said, his voice calm and measured. "I have spent my entire life as a prince in this kingdom. I have watched it rise and fall, seen its triumphs and its struggles. I have borne witness to the responsibilities of a king, and I know what it means to lead. I have traveled across the realms, seeking knowledge and inspiration to become the kind of prince this kingdom deserves. All I have ever wanted was to make my parents proud, to see this kingdom flourish. That is the desire that unites us all, is it not? To make this kingdom a better place. So, I ask for your trust. Trust that my brother, Prince Alastare, has the potential to take us to that place—"

"Prince Kyre—" Queen Lezabel began, her voice cutting through his words.

"Wait, Mother," Kyre said, his expression unwavering. "I see it in him, from the moment we met. He possesses that rare quality: leadership, wisdom, and the strength of character to lead us to greatness. And so, I propose him as the Crown Prince of Aethelard. I will stand beside him, offering my counsel, my knowledge, and my strength to help him shape this kingdom into something magnificent. This is not a denial of my own desires but rather an acknowledgment of my place. I know where my passions lie—helping my brother build a legacy that will outlast us all. To be king would fulfill my mother's dreams, not mine. And so, once again, I propose my brother, Prince Alastare Aethelard, as the Crown Prince of Aethelard." His words echoed with such authority that the ministers broke into applause, clearly moved by the sincerity of his declaration.

"Prince Alastare?" the king asked, turning toward me.

Alas took a deep breath and stood. "As one of the ministers rightly pointed out," He began, his voice steady, "I am inexperienced in these matters. I have not been trained for politics, nor have I held the responsibilities of any royal matters. I am different from all of you in that regard. But I do not believe that should disqualify me. We are all united by one purpose: to make this kingdom the greatest it can be. As Prince Kyre has so eloquently stated, that is our shared vision. I was once an orphan, with no future to speak of. I never imagined that I would stand here today, asking for the privilege of serving this kingdom. I once dreamed of solving the kingdom's woes—the crime, the political unrest, the poverty. I wanted to help the people who suffer the most—the lowborn, the destitute. It is the plight of the lower classes that shapes a king's true worth. A king must first address the needs of those who are forgotten, for it is in lifting the most downtrodden that a kingdom becomes great. But beyond that, there is another reason I wish to become king: for my brother, Prince Kyre. I carry the weight of expectation, yes, but it is a burden I will bear with pride, for it drives me to ensure the kingdom's greatness. I do not seek the crown for my own glory, but for the good of the kingdom and for my brother, who has inspired me more than words can express." I finished, my heart full, and sat down, feeling a surge of emotion I hadn't anticipated.

A minister raised a hand. "But, Prince Alastare, you still lack the experience and knowledge necessary for such a responsibility."

"Your Majesty," I said, standing once more, "A man's true knowledge does not lie solely in his academic theories. Knowledge fades, but adaptability is eternal. The ability to learn, to grow, and to face change is what will truly define a ruler."

A silence fell over the room. The king looked from one prince to the other, his eyes filled with pride. "I cannot express how proud I am of both of you. You have each spoken with wisdom beyond your years. So, let us proceed with a vote. Who believes that Prince Alastare Aethelard should be crowned Crown Prince?"

All the ministers raised their hands in unanimous agreement, even Queen Lezabel, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Then it is settled," the king declared, his voice firm. "Prince Alastare Aethelard shall be inaugurated as the Crown Prince of Aethelard on the 57th of Winter, next week." The room erupted in applause. Kyre stood and embraced Alastare, a touching moment that stirred something deep within me. I stood and followed the rest of the royal family as we exited the chamber.

"It's late," the king said. "You three should retire for the night."

"Yes, Father," Alastare replied with a smile.

"Wait, Father," I asked, my curiosity piqued. "You haven't answered our question. What of Mother? Where is she? I haven't seen her since before."

The king looked startled, his face shadowed with grief. He let out a long sigh. "She's... come with me to the garden," he said quietly.

"My king…" the queen started, but was quickly silenced by the king's glance.

"They need to know, Queen Lezabel," he murmured.

We followed him to the royal garden, the air cool and fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers. It was an enchanting place, even under the dim light of the stars. The king sat upon a pink velvet sofa on the balcony, and Alastare joined him, while Kyre and I sat across from them, waiting in silence.

"Your mother and I first met at the lake near the main gate," the king began, his voice faraway as if lost in memory. "I was just a young crown prince, wandering the village when I heard a girl crying. Driven by an uncontrollable curiosity, I approached her quietly. She looked up, and upon seeing me, she fled. Despite her tears, she had the most beautiful hazel eyes. Even now, that image is vivid in my mind. I chased after her, and just as she tripped, I caught her in my arms. We locked eyes, and in that moment, I knew—she was the one. We spoke for hours, shared our troubles, our dreams, and the world seemed to shrink away. As the night grew colder, I gave her my coat, telling her we would meet again. And we did—again and again, until it was time for me to marry. I chose Emmeline, but the laws of our kingdom would not allow it. I lied, claiming she was a princess, but no one believed me. On the day I was to marry Princess Lezabel, I could not bear to part from Emmeline. So, we fled to Archirilio, where we had Alastare and then you, Valentine. Those years in hiding with Emmeline were the happiest of my life. We lived in peace, away from the kingdom's pressures, raising our children in love and solitude. But it was not to last. One day, the guards of our kingdom surrounded our secret house. They barged in, demanding I return to the castle, threatening to kill my family if I refused. I had no choice. With Emmeline still weak from childbirth, tears streaming down her face, we were forced to leave. I carried her back, the sound of Alastare crying as he climbed toward her still echoes in my mind. The same sadness that I had once removed from her eyes returned, perhaps even worse than before. Yet, even in her sorrow, she smiled at me. I tried to send her letters, but none were answered. A month passed, and the silence grew unbearable. My anxiety reached its peak, and I begged for an audience to see my family again. In the end, they offered me a cruel deal: I could visit them, but only if I married Queen Lezabel. It was an agonizing decision, but I agreed. Anything to be reunited with Emmeline and our children. I married Lezabel, and just days later, I was sent back to Archirilio. But when I arrived, the house was gone—reduced to ashes. I asked the neighbors, but the news that followed was the most devastating I could imagine. Emmeline, and my children, had perished in a fire that consumed the house. I failed all of you, a loving family that I built. It was my fault. I should have done more to protect all of you." The king's voice faltered as he relived the pain of that moment. We sat in silence, the weight of his words sinking into our hearts. I could see the tears in his eyes, the raw grief that had never truly left him.

"That's not true, Father," Alastare said softly, rising from his seat to walk over to him. "You did everything you could. It was fate, and sometimes there is nothing we can do to change it."

"Don't blame yourself," Kyre added gently. "None of us can control the whims of fate. We must carry on, honor her memory, and move forward."

I nodded in agreement. "Father, we are here now, together. And we will find out the truth about Mother. If there is any way we can discover what happened, we will."

The king wiped his eyes, nodding slowly. "You are right. Perhaps one day the truth will come to light. But for now, we must carry on the legacy of the Aethelard family, in honor of your mother, in honor of all we've lost."

We stood together, embracing him in a quiet moment of shared strength. The journey to uncover the past and face the unknown loomed before us, but as a family, we would face it together.

Kyre yawned, breaking the somber silence. "Well, I'm going to get some rest. I think we all need it after everything that's been said tonight."

"Alright," Alastare said, offering a weak smile. "We'll talk more in the morning." Kyre walked away. Our father walked joined us just after Kyre left, as if knowing how lonely we felt in this new place.

"Your mother was a waterbender, a truly gifted one at that. Zeus, her loyal companion, was more than just a pet to her—he was her constant confidant. To me, Zeus symbolizes your mother's brilliance and strength, which is why I made him the kingdom's national animal. If only I could see him just one more time…" My gaze met Alastare's, and for a brief moment, we shared a silent understanding.

"You can, Father," I said gently. Our father, lost in thought, looked up at us in confusion, but his expression softened when we called his name. A few moments later, Zeus appeared, landing gracefully and rubbing against our frozen father's legs.

"Zeus…?" Our father whispered, his voice thick with emotion, and pulled the creature into an embrace. Zeus gave a contented, pampered growl in response, nuzzling his master as if to offer comfort.

"We'll find Mother soon, Dad," Alastare assured him, his voice firm. I nudged him lightly.

"Synonym for 'father,'" he flexed his new vocabulary, I rolled my eyes in response. Our father chuckled, a soft laugh that lightened the mood. It was no longer a childish act, but one of pure affection between us.

"Look," our father began, his voice heavy with regret. "I'm really sorry—"

"No, Father, you don't have to apologize," I cut him off, stepping forward to reassure him. "It's not your fault, and we're not blaming you. Everything happened for a reason, and I'm sure Mother understood the risks when she made that choice. We'll figure it out. We'll find her."

"What benders are you two?" he asked, the conversation shifting.

"Fire," Alastare responded quickly.

"Water," I added, my voice steady.

"I love you both so much. You're all I have left of her," he said, pressing a kiss to our foreheads, his voice full of emotion. We wrapped our arms around him in return, the bond between us unbreakable.

"We love you too, Dad," I murmured.

"You two should get some rest now. I really miss Zeus…" he said, his voice trailing off as he looked down at the creature nestled at his feet. "Right, bud?"

"Yeah, ai moone, Father. Ai moone, bud," Alastare and I spoke in unison, walking toward the door as two servants came to lead us to our rooms.

"Ai moone, Alastare," I called over my shoulder.

"Prince… ekhm," he replied, his voice teasing.

"What?" I glanced back, puzzled.

"Beware of the evil spirits," he warned with a mischievous grin.

"Alastare…" I laughed, giving him a light punch before stepping into my room.

I froze when I saw it. The room was a perfect vision of pink. It was vast, the size of our entire house in Archirilio, if not larger. The floors were made of smooth granite, and the decor followed a minimalistic yet elegant theme. Rose gold and beige tones flowed seamlessly throughout, making the space feel both luxurious and calming. The room was equipped with a spacious closet and a private bathroom, and there was a cozy sofa near the window with a view of the town below. The city lights sparkled, casting a soft glow on the landscape outside.

I could hardly believe this was my new reality. Just a few days ago, I was an ordinary girl, and now here I was—royalty. The change was overwhelming. I let out a sigh of amazement, taking in the beauty of it all.

It had been a long day, full of emotions and unexpected revelations, so I wasted no time. Stripping out of my corset, I slipped into a sleeping gown that was elegant yet comfortable. The servants had helped me change and, once they left, I sank into the bed, letting the exhaustion of the day wash over me. It felt like a dream, but for now, it was my reality. I closed my eyes, letting sleep pull me into its embrace.