《Breaking the Guardian's Curse 》Chapter Four
***Eighteen years later***
Prince Edward in his royal apparel stood outside watching his guards and maidens do their duties. He couldn't remember the last time he breathed clear air. He was admiring the beautiful gardens that were being tended to by the gardener. The gardener was his favorite acquaintance. "Lucas," he called and the gardener looked up at him with a smile on his face.
"Do you need my services, your highness?" Lucas asked with one of his knees on the ground.
Prince Edward couldn't stop the smile that escaped his lips. "When you are through tending to the flowers, I'd like to have a word."
"As you wish, your highness." Lucas went back to tending the flowers while Prince Edwards went inside the palace.
Lucas is the cousin of the priest, priest Louis. Although the priest and the King aren't on talking terms, Lucas made a vow that he was going to serve the kingdom. Priest Louis had tried so many times to talk him out of it but he refused. Ever since then, Lucas and Prince Edward became best of friends.
After he was through tending to the garden, he cleaned himself up, changed his clothes, and set out to meet the prince in the palace. The king wasn't in support of a mere commoner coming into the palace but since the queen agreed to it, he had no choice but to succumb to the idea.
The prince, his mother, and his father were having their breakfast when Lucas walked in. Lucas was surprised to find everyone there. He bowed his head and greeted his majesty and her majesty. Disgust and anger could be seen written over King Ghardiel's face but Queen Elise ignored it and walked up to meet Lucas.
"Would you like to join us?" Queen Elise asked but Lucas was scared to say yes. He quickly shook his head and when he looked over at Prince Edward, he could see that the prince was sad at his answer. The queen understood why he declined so she did the only thing she could think of. "Edward," She called her son. Edward walked over to meet her and she said, "Take Lucas to your room and make sure he gets something to eat."
Prince Edward's joy couldn't be contained inside as he hugged his mother. "Thank you, mother."
"Thank you, your majesty."
"Don't mention it, just make yourself at home." she watched the both of them leave to Prince Edward's room. She turned to face the king and she could still find the same disgusting look on his face. "You should be grateful our son has a friend."
"Do I look like someone who appreciates friendship?" King Ghardiel asked.
"Of course, you don't and that is why your heart is stone-cold. I am not going to race my son in that manner. He is going to be a nice and caring Prince and not a heartless King like you."
"I think you are forgetting the fact that he is also my son." the king retorted.
"Your son?" the queen laughed. "If you truly considered him a son then you should know what makes him happy."
"And what do you think makes him happy?"
"He wishes to live a life of simplicity and equality. A life where..."
"There's no simplicity when it comes to being a ruler. Very soon, he is going to become a king, where do you think simplicity and equality will get him?"
The arguments went on for hours. Lucas and Prince Edwards overheard each of their conversations. Lucas turned to look at the Prince and he noticed that the prince was sad so he went closer to cheer him up.
"Hey, I know you are going to make an amazing prince," Lucas assured with a smile.
"What makes you think that?" Prince Edward asked, focusing his attention on the blue-eyed boy sitting next to him.
Lucas stood up and demonstrated how a prince should behave. "You have the stance," he said with his hands at his back as he walked majestically. "You have the voice," he mimicked the prince's deep but soft voice. "And lastly," he bowed his head, and with his hand on his chest he said, "You've got the heart."
Prince Edward couldn't stop laughing. "Do you have to be dramatic all the time?" he asked still trying to control the laughter.
"Of course. It is the only way I can get your highest to smile."
"You made me smile alright."
Their conversation was interrupted by the king's appearance in the room. Lucas turned to bow to the king but the king ignored him. "I would like to have a word with you." King Ghardiel told his son who was looking at his friend that was shivering in fear. He knew Lucas was scared of his father but then, he prefers the company of Lucas to other male attendants. He was the only one who understood him. Why his father doesn't like him was one thing he can't figure out.
"I am all ears, father." He answered.
King Ghardiel glanced at Lucas with a stern look on his face before returning the stare at his son. "I'd like to speak to you... alone," he emphasized.
Prince Edward knew what he meant but he didn't want Lucas to leave. Lucas who could tell what was going on bowed his head and said, "I will take my leave now, your majesty." Without glancing at the prince, he left the room and shut the door behind him.
"Now that the low-life is gone, here is what I would like to discuss with you."
Before the king could proceed, Prince Edward raised his hand in objection and said, "Lucas is not a low-life. The fact he agreed to be the palace gardener doesn't make him a low-life."
"So what is he?" the king asked.
Prince Edward looked at his father and wondered why he was given such a heartless king as a father. How can't his father understand him?
"Answer me." The king's raging voice echoed in the room and for once in his life, Prince Edward was scared. "I command that as the king of this land, you will ans..."
"He is my friend, father." Prince Edward cuts in before he could go further. "For twenty-three years of my life father, I've never had someone to call a friend. He is my one and only friend."
"I won't accept that."
"Why father?"
"You are royalty and he is an ordinary commoner. It won't be a surprise to me if he tries to take your place."
"Father!"
"I don't ever want to see you with that low-life. The next time I see him with you, I will make his life a living hell." Before Prince Edward could say a word, King Ghardiel left the room.
Prince Edward sunk into his bed with tears in his eyes.
