Edward was furious at his father. He couldn’t believe he simply decided to let go of that conversation this easily and throw him away with his best knight’s assured protection. The prince didn’t want to be watched twenty-four seven, as he always preferred having the opportunity to do his own things. Edward Meyers was a rebel, the one to break all his father’s laws, behind his back. Yet that time was over. For Frederick, but also for him. The soon-to-be-king was going to slip off his father’s hands when he’ll become king, changing the laws of Kordania to the better ones. Yet the man couldn’t be rebel anymore. Not when he’d be the one to change the kingdom for good. 

Edward felt like he wanted to scream. To run away, far from Kordania, far from Sarah. Why didn’t the King kill him when he had the opportunity to? The man would rather lose his life then having to keep up that daily chaos, and that pressure he had on his shoulders. To him, being King was more than ordinary; it wasn’t a simple job. The soon-to-be king would be ruling over thousands of people, trying to indulge better laws for the people that may not always agree with each other. Edward could not do anything he would like to and that frustrated him. 

Frederick told his son that his bodyguard was going to be here for his own safety. To make sure that he wouldn’t be doing anything stupid. Truly, the blondie believed that it ever Edward spoke with words that his father didn’t agree with, the bodyguard was ordered to delete him. Yet the tyrant that was his father hated his own descendant, as he had the obligation to share all his wealth to him, basically giving out all his power. The only reason why Edward was still alive right now is that Frederick wanted the son with the most similar thoughts to his being the next king. 

If ever he had the option to, the present king could try and contact a sorcerer in town to prepare an eternity potion to rule Kordania forever. This would be the man’s dream, but not Edward. And even less Sarah. Since the moment that she came, the soon-to-be-king knew that they shared the same opinion. He saw that look of hatred in her hazel eyes, that wince every time he mentioned Frederick. 

And yet. Edward saw it well that she kept a poker face because he wouldn’t be able to keep it himself during the situations they’ve been living. It was abnormal for him to figure that she could always be neutral- she surely had feelings, but what would they be, and possibly towards who? 

The more he thoughts about it, the more he convinced himself he was acting bad towards her. The prince noticed that more than before, he was getting frustrated. Even a small situation could shatter his poker face and make him furious. But that was not normal. In general, Edward was mostly a genuine man with a soft heart that lived for his father’s wealth. But now, he was hardening. All the feelings he kept inside him were slowly starting to creep out, that boiling irritation through the years were growing into rage. No pity and no compassion. 

Would that excuse everything he did? No. The man knew it from the bottom of his heart, but he couldn’t admit it to himself. He didn’t think it was possible to change so radically. Once in his lifetime, during his childhood, before the age of six, he was a joyful child with high dreams that giggled at purring cats and flying bees. But since his father showed him the war, the violence, Edward saw a separate way to the world. He noticed that the world wasn’t only unicorns and rainbows, but also darkness and monsters. Since then, the prince discovered that, and it changed his life, destroyed his (way too) ambitious dreams, and most importantly, tore him down and changed him. 

It’s like a part of his heart, since that day, was darkened by the violence of the war, the actions he committed. That fear, that intense judgement he knew the people were getting. Yet without noticing, the soon-to-be-king grew up like his father, that internal flame inside him blown away by the truth. All his happiness, that sheepishness and that naivety...All because of one glance of the world as it truly was, discovering another facade of what it was hiding. But still. At the age of six, Edward wasn’t ready to see it; not so brutally, the LandWar passing right in front of his eyes as he shook with fear. 

Yes, that’s how a little boy became one of the cruelest teenagers the humanity has ever known. At the first glance of it, the man would be terrifying and ruthless, but deep inside, he truly is a big softie who’s been broken by the path of life. The prince knew Sarah hated him- he could see it with that look in his eyes. Even with her poker face and king manners, his wife wasn’t able to hide that pain that her gaze was showing. Which made him remember her, stuck in a room until they were both getting the crowns to rule the kingdom. And yet he read through her and anyone else like a book. Throughout the years, after inspecting the citidians one by one and presenting his face to the world, Edward managed to see the hatred in the looks. 

One tablespoon of an afraid sheep look, mixed with a tablespoon of disdain and a cup of sadness and voilà, you have hatred! The only good thing in his father's choice was the knight. No, it wasn’t Jack, but Patrick. Patrick was a knight that the soon-to-be-king knew even before the LandWar, back to his early years of childhood. Edward remembered him for his kindness, his well-being, and his odd passion for toads. Don’t ask why he loved toads this much, the only thing we knew was that he was ruthless. 

In fact, he was quite like Edward. Both were acting tough, yet in their heart they were sweet and kind. Patrick was the best of the army before retiring, making rebellions, stepping on the bodies he killed with his hands and scanting the name of his country- but when it came to children he was talking in a baby voice, willing to play barbies with them. That’s exactly why Edward liked this man, he was just like him and was good with everyone (except the bodies he had stepped on). 

Soon, as the prince was pacing back and forth around his chambers, he heard a knock on the door. A bit surprised, he wore his poker face and stopped pacing around, turning the doorknob to let anyone in. At his big satisfaction, he found Patrick, smiling nervously at him, as if he was making a sin. The knight was very tall, having a thin figure, his grey hair misplaced in a faux hawk haircut as his eyes were a piercing blue. The man has long lashes and a beard, along with his knight outfit. 

Edward wanted to lean in and give him a hug, yet he knew he couldn’t. Being a prince, and soon a king, included not showing any physical affection. Since the age of six, the man learned how to stop his desires and act strong, act though. That behavior of him was troubling him even more as he hadn’t seen Patrick in ages. Yet he had to stay still, keeping a straight face with greeting him gently. Chins up, hands behind the back, look of disdain and superiority, his father made him learn. Yet it was angering the prince as he believed anyone was equal and deserved the same treatment. 

“Your Majesty. I will be your new personal from now on. Orders from the king himself. He pretends that will be to assure your safety and your well-being at the highest level of protection. Your Highness, you can count on me.” Patrick greeted as he did his reverence, leaning to Edward at a respectable level. 

Annoyed by how Frederick made up his reasons-even at his own soldiers- Edward stopped himself from cursing. Why did the king have to justify every single decision he was making? Was he deeply insecure of being found out, or was he taking precautions? Not wanting to keep thinking about that neither to be questioned at his troubled face, the man blinked a few times, putting his poker face back on. 

“Hello, Patrick. Please call me Edward if you please. I am glad you are going to become my new bodyguard, so, please, make yourself at home.” His Majesty suggested as he gestured around with a forced smile full of implied ideas. 

Patrick lowered his sword closer to his waist and placed it near a shelf, walking around with a look that was unusual to Edward. His eyebrows were arched, his mouth slightly open as he scrunched his nose. Visibly, something was bothering his new bodyguard. Edward tried to stop himself from asking him, but instead he decided to speak about something else. That way, nobody would be awkward at anything or anyone, as the subject changes quickly. Yet the prince didn’t have the time to say anything that Patrick spoke again, staring at His Grace blankly. 

“You have a beautiful room, Edward. I believe those shelves used to count an enormous number of books and toy.” The man started as he laughed with nostalgy, his voice lowering to a whisper. “And that floor, man, that floor! Your plastic cars would be rolling and rolling, and we’d be racing! Yet every time, you were the one to win!” 

Patrick was lost in his wistfulness, but Edward didn’t know what to do. Everything that his knight mentioned looked blurry to him, as if he didn’t remember a thing from that. He was supposed to, indeed, yet every single mention wasn’t reminding him anything. Edward was stuck in a state of confusion, the fact that he was unaware of what Patrick was talking bothering him. Instead of trying to stop him, he tried to be polite. 

“Oh, I’m not a child anymore, Patrick. I don’t play with toys and run around the castle running your name.” 

“Oh, I know you aren’t. Even though you’re almost an adult, it doesn’t mean you can add up a bit of fantasy in your life. Why don’t you read a book, or even try to play with one of your old toys? It would be fantastic to get back into it!” The concerned one suggested, unbothered. 

“Oh, I don’t think that’s possible anymore. My father threw them away after the LandWar, so they probably burned in Mayain or something. I can’t play with them anymore, and I don’t want to. That would be so useless!” Edward muttered with a scoff, rolling his eyes. 

For a few seconds, his bodyguard looked frustrated. He was beginning to lose his patience, his joyful expression slowly growing into one of pain. The young prince didn’t mean to blame anything on his shoulder or hurt him, yet he was speaking what he thought. Yet he didn’t notice that this could’ve been influencing Patrick negatively. 

“Edward, are you being serious right now? It’s not useless! With the pressure you got all your childhood to become a king, now is the best time to try and relax! You have a few days ahead of you, so why don’t you play a bit and release your inner demon?” 

“Patrick...” The man growled with a warning voice, spitting the word louder than he expected. “Can’t you just take “no” as an answer? I’m not a little child anymore! If you hoped you would be going here to play the transformers here with me, you’re wrong! I’ll just stay here and do nothing, and you’ll be bored more than I am!” 

His bodyguard seemed shocked for a second, at the level that his jaw dropped open. He frowned and knitted his brows, his cheeks heating from surprise. Edward has never seen him in that state. One of pure shock, of exasperation. It’s like Patrick didn’t see Edward like this. Yet he was only being casual and being himself, so he couldn’t be blamed for something he was doing every single second of his life! And yet...A few seconds later, Patrick closed his mouth and shook his head in anger, laughing uncontrollably, but not in joy or because it was hilarious, but because of sadness. 

“They’re right, they’re right! That’s what they all said! You’re not yourself anymore, Edward Meyers! You’re not yourself! When you were five, you were the happiest child I’ve ever known, and nothing could change that! But now, look at you! You're a cruel well-managed teenager with the eyes of the world as it is really! You know the reality, and so? You’re still getting just like a father, a tyrant.” 

“So what if I am?” The prince responded indifferently, as if the man’s words were affecting him this much. Yet they were. Deep down, and a lot. Those words were hurting him more than Patrick could think it would. 

Why did it hurt? Because it was the truth, the saddest truth. He got broken by life, his father and humanity. And yet he couldn’t admit to himself. Visibly, he caught his bodyguard off guard because he didn’t dare say a single word. Tears flowed down his cheeks, as he stuttered to find the words. There was nothing to say in the situation. 

“Wipe your tears.” Edward ordered. 

Seemingly surprised, Patrick sniffled and did as he asked, also a bit surprised by the reason for this sudden request. 

“Yes, Your Majesty?” The man questioned after a while of silence. 

“Don’t cry in front of me. Don’t get hurt by my words. I don’t want you to think that I am a monster. Am I one? Slowly and surely, maybe. But I’m still the Edward you have known since then. I have changed, but I still have a heart. I don’t want to become like my father, so I’m starting to stop it. And good for me, I’ve found a conceivable way.” 

“Possible?” 

“Yes, possible.” The prince shrugged. “I am still unsure, but I am so desperate that I could try anything at this point. Even trying out things I’ve never felt just to earn back the happiness that I’ve lost.” 

For once, Patrick looked proud. He nodded eagerly, a smile creeping across his face as his whole expression lightened. Visibly, he was overjoyed to see that Edward would give his all to become a better person, and that most of all, he noticed what he was becoming, trying to stop it. 

“You’re got me hanging there, Ed. Come on, what is it?” 

“Love. I’ll let my heart do the rest, but I figured that I could maybe soften to my new wife and try and find love. I’ve been in constant lack of love during all my childhood, so maybe a little bit of love could do the trick.” 

“Are you sure it’s gonna work? It could be a total failure and leave you neutral about that princess. She might not be the one for you, you know.” 

“She might not be the one, but I appreciate her. When I’m with her, I feel like I’m calming down. Not a lot, but maybe just a little bit...”