Arkan's father, the previous king of Vetor, had an older brother who was a year older than him.
He was weak from birth and grew slower than other children his age.
Not only his parents, but also those who worried about the future of the royal family worried every day about the King's eldest son who seemed like he would just brush him off, but they had one hope for him since he was weak but strangely good-natured.
The palace physician gave an anxious diagnosis that he would likely not live past the age of ten, but fortunately, he grew up safely despite suffering from minor illnesses.
However, when his father died and it was time for him to succeed to the throne, he called his younger brother, Arkan’s father, and said,
“I intend to go abroad.”
The second son, who had no time to think about preparing for his brother’s coronation immediately after his father’s funeral, doubted his ears when he heard these words.
However, the Prince’s determination was firm.
“As you know, I grew up hearing nothing but stories that I would not live long. Even now, my body is not very healthy. Sometimes I worry that I might die in my sleep. Since my father and Queen were so worried about me, I have never been outside Vetor or the capital. However, my younger brother, I do not want to end my life locked up in this palace.”
Even then, the older brother was taking medicine made by the palace doctors every morning and night, and just as he had said, his physical strength was still declining.
The second son objected, saying that it was impossible, not only because of the chaos surrounding the throne, but also because of his brother’s health, but on the morning of the coronation ceremony after his father’s funeral, his brother disappeared without a trace.
All that remained was a single letter.
“I am sorry to have entrusted you with this burden. However, I am different from you, so I find it difficult to find joy in books and stories. The noble and rigid manners and customs of Vetor have never suited me. However, you loved this country and the royal family much more than I did, and you always worried about them, you also had a flawless and healthy body. I think it is right for the future of the royal family and the country to have the throne returned to you..."
The palace was turned upside down, and the Queen, who lost her husband and her frail eldest son overnight, fainted.
However, it was not possible to leave the throne vacant just because it was chaotic, so after holding an emergency meeting with officials that was nothing more than a formality, the second son of the Cyprusmain royal family attended the coronation ceremony that was originally intended for his brother instead.
After four years, the former Prince who had run away returned to the palace of King Vetor.
He was not a Prince of a country, but he looked like a peddler, and he was not even a single person.
There was a child who was walking around, holding his hand.
He was truly happy to see his younger brother sitting on the throne in his place.
And he said that the child he had brought was his son. The mother was not a noble.
He said that his wife's cold got worse and turned into pneumonia, and she died.
[I’m telling you this only, but I don’t think I have much time left to live. If my body was fine, would I have come back here without any shame? I have no regrets about dying alone. I have experienced all the things I wanted to see while I was alive, the things I desperately wanted but could only imagine.]
[Stop it, brother. The child listens.]
[Yes, child. The only reason I came back was because of this child. Look at this child. Will this child survive after I die? After I die, you don’t have to treat him like your son. You can keep him in the palace and let him grow up as a servant. That might be better. His personality seems to resemble mine.]
At that time, the King dismissed it as nonsense and stood up, and never spoke to his brother again after that.
He must have been holding on to his fading life out of concern for his son because he died in his sleep.
The King ordered the palace doctor to perform an autopsy, and the results showed that both lungs were filled with water and full of inflammation, making it too painful to look at.
The King took his nephew, who had become an orphan, into the palace and allowed him to be educated and raised comfortably alongside his own son, who was the same age.
Although he felt betrayed by his brother who had suddenly left, the King loved his brother, who was one year older, so he naturally felt affection for his nephew.
However, the boy, just like his father, hated the stifling discipline.
He missed the sea, he had lived with his parents on the southern coast of the continent and wanted to leave.
Fortunately, he was in good health. He had not suffered from illness. When he turned 18, he asked to be allowed to leave, saying that he wanted to travel around, but the King could not stop him.
Instead, he was given a title in name only, and he was ordered to return at least once a year.
The nephew faithfully followed his uncle’s orders. That was the story of Pelarhar Cyprusmain, the Duke of Sonetum.
Before the attendant could answer Arkan’s question, who had suddenly stood up, there was the sound of trotting footsteps, and a man with an outfit that did not fit the clean King’s office appeared with a bright smile. He had strangely shaped bracelets hanging from his raised wrists that Arkan had no idea where he had gotten them from, and his clothes were also a sight to behold.
He was wearing a worn-out shirt with ruffles almost falling off, a leather vest, and a plain shirt over it, and his jacket had at least three different stains of unknown origin.
“How have you been?”
It was a greeting as casual and impolite as a child’s.
Since he knew his temperament well, the attendant Plat could not help but say a word, even though he knew it would not work.
“Your Excellency Pelarhar, even though you grew up together like brothers, His Majesty Arkan is the King of Vetor. It is proper manners to be polite when greeting someone for the first time.”
Pelarhar laughed loudly, revealing his white teeth.
“Plat, you will probably live to be a hundred years old because of your petty nature.”
Then he patted Plat’s shoulder, which was now growing old, as he used to.
Indeed, just as Erdene had said, Plat, who looked like dried fish, staggered and groaned.
Arkan, who had been watching him with a complicated expression as if he didn’t know what to say, touched his forehead.
His expression seemed to be bubbling above his head.
“...Pelarhar, I told you to send me at least a letter before you return.”
“I don’t have any paper, so that’s it. I wrote it, but I must have eaten something bad on the way here, so I got a stomachache. So...”
“All right, all right. Don’t even mention the stomachache. You always get a stomachache when you come back!”
Pelarhar chuckled mischievously and plopped himself down on the chair, placing his feet carelessly on the low stool.
Arkan, who had been sighing and making a displeased expression, suddenly threw a used piece of paper at Pelarhar’s head as if he was irritated.
The paper hit Pelarhar’s head and fell, rolling on the floor.
“Ouch.”
“You didn’t even know I was married, you heartless punk.”
Pelarhar suddenly bent his back and laughed at Arkan’s grumbling.
“Yes, that’s right! Do you know how surprised I was when they told me that? It was surprising enough that you suddenly decided to talk to those northerners, but you’re getting married, and to Erdene Badd at that! You, Arkan!”
Arkan’s brow furrowed even deeper.
His stomach suddenly twisted when Pelarhar called Erdene’s name so friendly for some reason.
“Because it’s the easiest and fastest way.”
At Arkan’s words, Pelarhar clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“That’s what it is. The royals are all prime candidates who occupy the first place in the marriage market. You always say that, right? You’ve never had a Queen until now to get the best price.”
“Your Excellency Pelarhar.”
Plat interrupted as if to stop talking, but Pelarhar didn’t care.
He chuckled like a prankster and said,
“How about making the former heir to the imperial throne your Queen? As you always say, it seems like you got a good price as a prime candidate, but that’s that, newlywed life should have its little fun. Isn’t that right?”
Arkan quipped.
“You’re talking a lot when you’re not even married yet.”
“I’m not married, but I’ve probably been through more things like newlywed life than you,”
Pelarhar answered.
In fact, he had met many people while wandering around, and thanks to his amiable temperament, he had no trouble dating. He had never returned to Vetor with another person, especially a woman, and although Arkan had never heard of him being debauched, Pelarhar didn’t seem to know, but the previous King and Arkan had secretly assigned someone to him, he probably wasn’t completely ignorant about love affairs.
Arkan waved his hand as if to stop talking nonsense.
He had been worried about the problem with Erdene just now, and now that Pelarhar had come in out of nowhere, he was confused.
“Let’s stop joking. We’ll have plenty of time to talk. Anyway, go wash up first. You smell like a dog that hasn’t been washed for three years.”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment