A beautifully adorned casket with emeralds and flowers covering it laid in a quiet forest while many people stood around it with somber expressions. I bit my lip so as to not sob audibly as hot tears ran down my face. I stood the closest to the casket and reached out to touch it one last time. I stopped just before my fingers could brush across it, not wanting to say goodbye. 

A hand gripped my shoulder. My uncle was the only other person who stood close to the casket. Even the person who I thought would want to stand close enough to touch the casket was respectfully keeping his distance. 

My uncle let go and turned to face the people. “The king is dead,” he said, causing me to wince. “But his spirit lives on in this country. Let’s always remember him and respect him. May his body rest in peace.” 

The ceremony was a very quiet affair and I couldn’t look anyone in the eye. When they began to lower the casket into the ground, I couldn’t watch. I ran away, back to the palace where I once lived happily with my father the king. 

I was depressed for days. I was supposed to take my father’s place but I could barely leave my bed. The ceremony to crown me as king was postponed until I recovered. When I still hadn’t recovered, my uncle came to me to take some of my sorrows away. 

“I know you can’t become king,” he said, “because you’re heartbroken over his death. So, if you’re alright with it, I will become king in your place. Or at least until you’re ready to take the throne.” 

I numbly stared down at my hands in my lap. “…yes. That’s alright. Just until I’m ready.” 

Uncle gently grabbed one of my hands. I looked up at his face. He gave me a pitying smile. Then he stood up and left the room. 

I couldn’t attend the crowning ceremony. I continued to rot in my room for a while longer. 

An unexpected visitor came to my room. The last time I saw him was at the funeral with a deeply somber expression on his face. I was unfamiliar with that expression. It had made my father’s death all the more real. But the expression he wore when he visited me in my room was bright like usual. 

“Luca, my boy!” he exclaimed. “It’s awfully dark in here, no? That can’t be good for you.” 

He hurried to the window across the room and yanked open the curtains, something the doctor and maids didn’t dare to do against my will. I was blinded by the bright sunlight and could barely open my eyes. 

“That’s better! If you get any paler, you might turn into a ghost! Unless that’s what you’re going for? And if that’s the case, I could probably whip up a spell of some kind—” 

“Callum…” I cut him off before he could continue to go on. I blinked at him at the window, my eyes still adjusting to the brightness. “What brings you here?” 

“What, I can’t visit and check in on you? Have you been taking your medicine?” He stepped away from the window and began to inspect the room. 

I watched him move around the room. “Of course. You gave me a lot of injections a while ago and I still have some—” 

“Very good, very good!” He cut me off. I guess it’s only fair since I cut him off too. He stepped up to the end of the bed and beamed. “How about we go for a walk? I hear there are some beautiful flowers that have bloomed in the garden!” 

I glanced at the window. I thought about the cold and empty hallways outside my bedroom door. I thought about my father’s empty room. 

“I…I don’t feel like going out…” I said. 

“Nonsense! It’s a beautiful day and a prince such as yourself deserves to appreciate it!” Callum hurried around the bed and began to pull on my arm. 

“Callum, no!” I fought against him. He wasn’t very strong but neither was I. Our tug of war was pretty well-matched. 

“Come on, humor me just this once! The flowers are waiting for us so they can show off!” 

He always says the most absurd things and it always takes me off guard. I stopped fighting and Callum pulled me out of bed. We both stumbled a bit but caught our footing. Then Callum laughed and warmth slowly seeped into my chest. 

I’d only just put on a robe before Callum opened my bedroom door and ushered me out. I hesitated in the doorway, unable to take another step forward. Callum noticed and paused with me. He stuck out his arm and smiled. 

“Shall we go to the gardens, your highness?” 

Hearing my title from him was odd. I’d known him since I was young since he was best friends with my father and always came around to the palace. He often treated me like a nephew and we rarely exchanged formalities or titles. Yet hearing my title from him now somehow gave me the courage to step forward. 

I put my arm in his and stood by his side. “We’ll only walk around once. Then I’m going back to bed.” 

He patted my hand. “Fine, fine. Now then, let’s make haste! The flowers await!” 

The sun felt even brighter when I stepped outside. I already wanted to go back to my dark bedroom. Callum pulled me forward as if he sensed my resistance. 

The gardens were there once you left the palace doors. All the shrubbery, trees, and flowers were colorful and vibrantly alive. We slowly walked among the plants and the butterflies, dragonflies, and birds flew around them. 

“I remember when your mother said she loved flowers,” Callum said. “Your father immediately planted as many beautiful flowers as he could in the gardens. They used to be quite bare and boring, you know.” 

My mother… I’ve never met her since she passed after giving birth to me. All the stories I heard of her sounded positive and like I would’ve loved her as everyone else had. 

“They’ll be together again now, won’t they?” I asked, trying not to get choked up. 

Callum nodded. “Of course. And you’ll join them too one day. But not too soon, yes? That’s why you should get out and walk among the flowers your mother loved so much, hm?” 

The doctor had said I should go on walks and enjoy the sunlight. I decided to ignore him and be stubborn in my sorrow. Of course Callum said the same. He’s not exactly a doctor, but he’s something similar. He’s a mage who could concoct medicines if he wanted to. He mostly experiments in useless spells though. 

“I’m alone now, Callum,” I said. “I knew father would pass one day from his illness, but it still came too soon. I’m not ready for the reality of life after him.” 

“That’s why your uncle took the throne then, huh? It’ll be alright, my boy. Your father wanted you to take the throne and I know one day you can do it. I’ve always believed in you.” 

I bitterly laughed through my nose. “Really? I’m not amazing like my father. I can’t wield a sword to save my life and you even said I have no potential for magic. I’m not even that smart either.” 

Callum laughed. “Oh yes, you can never wield magic! Your father’s face when he found out!” He laughed even more, causing me to feel even more bitter. 

“Sorry I can’t be a prodigy like you…” 

“There’s nothing to be sorry for. And who needs all that stuff you mentioned? Did your father wield his sword often during his reign? Not at all! I know you’ll be a great king because you are you, Luca.” 

Because I’m me, huh… Yet I don’t see what could be so great about me. I’m really nothing special. I’ve only caused other people trouble since I was born, none of it on purpose. 

“I want to go back inside now, Callum.” 

We stopped walking and he gently patted my hand. “I understand. I don’t like to see you so drained of life so please think about what I’ve said. Remember these flowers, hm? You can do great things, I know it.” 

I wish I had as much confidence in myself as he had in me. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to believe in the potential I might have. 

Callum left back to his cottage deep in the woods. My quiet days in my room continued. Yet I decided to pull the drapes apart when the sun shone and gaze down at the garden every day. I could imagine my mother among the flowers, smiling happily like in her portraits. I could imagine my father there too. I could imagine them turning and waving, beckoning me towards them. 

Before I knew it, I had left my room and joined them in the garden. A butterfly brushed against my cheek and birds watched me from the trees. I slowly lifted my hand and a butterfly landed in my palm. It was weightless and beautiful. The butterfly then flew down the garden path and I hesitated a moment before chasing after it.