They were welcomed as heroes.

Simon watched in amazement as the road leading to their kingdom’s main gates overflowed with people waving and throwing fresh flowers at their carriage’s path.

“Prince Simon!”

“Welcome home!”

“Our Twin Kingdom’s hero has returned!”

Simon waved from inside the carriage he rode on.

Earlier, his brothers told him to lead the procession with them on horseback so that the townsfolk may see him in all his glory, but he was reluctant to do so.

“T-to tell you the truth,” Simon told them, his face burning, “m-my leg is still aching a bit, and I still find it a little inconvenient to ride on a horse with my injury...”

“Hmph... I guess your healer is not that good after all,” Largos mumbled.

Nell lowered his head upon hearing this.

“No, Nell is an excellent healer!” Simon quickly defended his companion. “I-it’s just that... I don’t want his efforts to go in vain... if I push myself to ride a horse too soon and injure myself again...”

“And why would the kingdom’s hero get injured that easily?!” Largos mocked him.

“I-I’m just being cautions... I really am not feeling that well yet...” Simon insisted.

His two brothers gave a deep sigh.

“If that’s what you wish, then suit yourself,” said Juno, sounding rather annoyed.

“I guess our kingdom’s citizens shouldn’t expect much from you after all,” said Largos. “Hurry with your breakfast, we move again in 15 minutes.”

“Do you think they’re angry at me?” Simon asked Nell when his royal brothers left them in their small tent.

Nell shook his head.

“I sure hope so...” Simon looked down at his hands as he played with the hem of the coat he wore. “We were never close as siblings, and they have always treated me as a worm...”

Nells face rose to meet Simon’s in a questioning look.

“T-they just like to play little tricks on me...” he told him in a solemn voice, “they like to watch me slip and kick me when I fall... I’m pretty clumsy after all...”

Nell gave a sigh and shook his head.

“I just hope that this time... being a hero would help me get closer to my older brothers. Maybe, perhaps, they might even treat me as their equal...?”

Nell slowly nodded, his eyes, kept shaded.

“Well, at least I have you as a friend now!” Simon told him happily.

And happily, did Simon wave at the people who were shouting his name on the streets.

The cheering becoming even louder as their procession led to the castle with his two brothers leading the way in their chargers.

“I still can’t believe that all these people are here to welcome me!” he told Nell who sat quietly behind him. “I don’t think they even knew who the 9th prince from the Eastern Twin was!”

Nell smiled at him.

“Oh, I can’t wait to meet my father, the King! I’m sure he’ll be proud of me now. The last time I met him was on my mother’s funeral about a year ago, and he hardly looked my way back then,” he went on as he continued waving at the crowd. “I’ll introduce you to him as well. I’m sure he’ll reward you dearly for healing me so well!”

“Your highness, Prince Simon, we are now at the Castle steps,” one of his brother Juno’s knights called out to him. “It is time to get off the carriage.”

“Oh, of course!” Simon felt embarrassed as he fumbled for the knob to open the carriage door.

The knight outside offered a hand to steady him.

It was good that he didn’t need his clutches anymore, but he still walked with a slight limp, and the step down was a bit difficult for him.

Nell touched his shoulder as he alighted the carriage, patting him on the back.

“Thank you, Nell, but I think I can stand on my own now,” Simon told the healer who stood behind him.

Simon cleared his throat and looked up front.

The grand staircase leading to his father’s audience chamber, was lined on both sides with the king’s best knights.

They raised their swords in salute as he took his first step, and kept their gaze up as he passed in their midst.

“The 9th prince of the Eastern Twin, Prince Simon Alvin Krems seeks audience from the Eastern Twin’s King Morel Jacob Krems,” announced a page as soon as Simon entered his father’s hall.

It took him a while to walk towards the throne where he sat, with his two eldest brothers already standing on either side.

The room was full of people – nobles close to the royal family, vassals, government officials, all of whom stared at Simon.

Some had smiles upon their lips, while others, eyes full of judgment, and Simon felt himself grow smaller and smaller as he neared his father.

He stopped in front of the dais where the king sat on a golden throne and bent his knee in supplication, wincing a bit as he knelt on his injured leg.

“My majesty and my King, I have returned from the quest you had bestowed upon me...” he said in a feeble voice, as was their kingdom’s tradition. “...I have brought you, victory!”

Only then did the people in the chamber begin to cheer.

“I welcome you back, Prince Simon, my son! Come closer, that I may bless you!” said his father in a loud voice, giving Simon some courage to take the four steps up to where he sat.

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Go to Part 19

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