The past (7): Brother…

Carlos walked , walked and walked. He didn't know how long he had already walked. He just kept walking. His mind is full with his comrade voice. Even though he had said that it was his choice, what if that really happened. Would his brother really have betrayed him? Even if he would have dared to betray him, he might have a reason, right. It is because I had too much authority over the army. If that is the reason, he just needs to give the authorities to the king back. Then It would be normal again. If that is not the reason, what reason is there…. The walking had stopped for a moment before Carlos started walking again. 

It might be because of his mother.

His brother had never been able to stop his mother. And that is one of the reasons why Carlos had been sent to war even though he is the eastern duke… not a fucking northern duke. Since that day the king had chosen the goddess Enariel, Mother of Edicts, as his benefactor. He chose the goddess of laws and protection in light of him being a ruler and she possessed the wisdom and power benefiting a ruler. And the goddess really does fit for a king. She is not like other gods that don't want to share their wisdom. She provides everything and teaches him everything. And the king wants to pay back the goddess. And that is the time, the goddess had shown her true self.

The hunter of stories had appeared that day. From then on, he couldn't do anything on his mother no matter what his mother had done. He had to protect her no matter what. This is the story his goddess had wanted after all. 

The goddess had given the story she wanted to see since the beginning and if you don't follow the story or disobey the story reasoning. After all, no one wants to suffer the curse that the queen of the gods give. No way, even Carlos didn't even want to imagine it. The stronger the god, the story that they wanted to see become harder. The goddess didn't care about the king's mother nor did she want a beautiful mother-son story. 

She only wanted to see how my brother would handle the situation. She is the goddess of laws and protection. As the gifted of hers, she wanted to see what the king would choose. The laws that he had enforced for justice or the protection upon his mother. The king's mother wanted the throne for herself. It doesn't matter whether the enemy is her own son. And the Goddess wanted to see if my brother would disobey him or not. It doesn't matter whether the king chose to protect his mother or punish his mother. That will still be disobeying the goddess. If he chose to punish his mother, he is not following the story and the goddess will punish him. And if he chose to protect her, he would be the king who doesn't follow his own laws and the goddess will be disappointed. And what does disappointment mean, punishing. No matter what, his brother will be punished. Carlos had seen his brother suffer from the punishment that his goddess gave, he didn't know what kind of punishment but he was pretty sure it hurt like hell. And mostly his brother suffers because of him, the king tries to protect Carlos from his mother and it becomes disobeying to the story, he gets cursed. After all, the story did say a son before a king, not a brother before a king. 

And the queen didn't stop trying to kill Carlos. When she knows that she can't hurt him as long as Carlos stays in the eastern state because of the king. So, she uses something that will look good in front of the nobles and gods and also to become an interesting arc in the king's story. And the result is Carlos being in the war fighting like shit to survive. The king can't do anything shit because of the fucking story of his. He had been disobeying for a long time for a long time. Even if the goddess likes an unyielding dog that doesn't mean she always likes that. And the king had already pushed his luck. He can't do anymore if he wanted to.

His brother should have chosen the other gods. Even if the other gods are not as strong as his own, he might have more freedom. 

If the queen is the one who told his brother to kill him, his brother will have no choice but to fight him. His brother's body had been a toy for his goddess to control for a long time. And that is why Carlos had been safe for that long. The king had played as a grateful son for so many years for the goddess to please. So, the goddess as well as his mother would forget about Carlos for a long time. If that is the reason then Carlos will have no choice but to fight back. His brother had already made Carlos promise, which is to survive.

"Carl… promised me that you will fight back and survive no matter what, even if your opposite is me."

Maybe his brother had known that one day we had to fight each other. But will Carlos do that? Can Carlos do that? His brother is his everything. Can Carlos hurt him? 

The walking had become faster and faster with the way of his thoughts had become crowded. 

Is the throne room that far away?

As Carlos was thinking, he bumps into the giant walls. And it hurts. Carlos thoughts. After that he looked at the walls which were standing tall like a giant human. It is a room. Yes, it is a room and the walls which Carlos had bumped into is the door of this magnificent room. Carlos thought he couldn't be wrong, this room is obviously the one and only throne room of the empire. And behind those walls, the king, his brother is waiting… while sitting on the throne, maybe standing. Carlos doesn't know. His brother always had a way to keep himself busy after all.

The heavy door of the throne room loomed before him. Carlos stands there unwilling to move even a little bit. It has been a long time since he had seen his brother. Everyday, he thought about his brother. His brother is the strength that keeps him going in those endless wars. His smile, his voice, the warmth of his hands had led Carlos to go him forwards. Carlos had always wanted to see him. And that day had come. But Carlos is afraid, he is afraid that instead of a hug, he might get a sword pointing at his neck while his brother looks sad. The only thing Carlos doesn't want throughout his life is to see his brother's sad eyes looking at him. 

Not even once.