At the Royal Library
2241 Words
After a brief battle between his elder brother, Gerald went back to his room again. Grabbing his book that was secretly kept in his drawer. He opened and reviewed all the details. All of the major doom flags are written on the first page with their corresponding start date. Fortunately, there will be no major doom flag in the next eight years. He can peacefully enroll in the royal academy and work through his way to military school with ease.
The bets are now placed. If Gerald wins this battle against Roland. Then the doom flags that happened after Roland took the throne will be avoided. But thinking that made him worried slightly. If he were to win the battle, does it mean that he will become the next king? The very first goal that he had in his mind is revenge against his elder brother. He doesn’t know what will happen if he were to change the timeline. Time is unstable after all.
Being a king is not an easy task. A king should have a charisma that influences his people and makes them believe in their king. He must know the internal workings of the kingdom and do something to improve or lessen things. Well, those can be taught in royal school anyway. He just needs to give it all and everything will be fine. After pondering for some moment, he closed the book and kept it again in his drawer.
Lastly, there is also one thing that is troubling him. His parent’s deaths. His father, mother, and sister died of a disease. Can he even treat them if he diagnosed their disease before it became worse? He replayed his memories about them having dinner. Everything seems to be fine. They look healthy and strong. He doesn’t know when the disease inflicted them. He just needs to be wary in the future and make a suggestion in the Royal Medical Cross.
Royal Medical Cross is the most advanced hospital that exists in the kingdom. Most of the patients there come from a high rank. That is no place for a commoner. Even though there are hospitals in the commoner’s region. Its facility and manpower are lacking.
Gerald then proceeded to go to the Royal Library located in the capital of Brittia, the Londoln. The carriage is waiting for them just outside the royal gates. He brought along his maid to accompany him on his travel.
“Everything is accounted for, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Anne.”
Though Gerald ordered her to call him by his first name. Calling him out in the public face will be taboo and can cause something like a commotion. He looks at her troubled face that wears an apologetic expression. But thankfully, Gerald smiled back indicating that he realized it.
*Gallops.
The carriage wheels creaked as it headed to the Royal Library.
He peeks through the window and sees a different architectural style ranging from Gothic, Palladian, Romanesque et cetera. In the modern world, he compared it similarly to the United Kingdom. Well, he visited there since he was invited to the World Health Summit that took place in London.
Everything looks the same. Unfortunately, this Empire will lose drastically in ten years if he can’t prevent his brother from taking the throne.
“We have arrived, Gerald.”
Anne said and began to get off in their carriage.
“Okay, Anne please pick me up at 5 P.M I’ll just read books here to have a review on the entrance exam test.”
She bowed reverently and went back to the carriage and set off towards Royal Palace.
He looked at the gigantic palladian style library that stood before him. It was a big one containing books from all around the world. It can be accessed by everyone.
Entering the Royal Library in Londoln. He was greeted by two guards with a bow. The guards of the Royal Library know who are occasionally visiting the library. But, the child in front of them that is gathering attention made them realize who he is. It was the second prince of the Brittia Empire. Gerald del Stuart.
Even so, why did the second prince visit the library? Rumors are swirling that the second prince is not capable of ruling than his elder brother. Is he planning to compete for the throne?
While bowing respectfully to the second prince. The prince entered casually, accepting their polite welcome, and proceeded to the main hall.
“What are you doing here Gerald?”
A familiar voice called him. It was his elder brother who looks to be reading a book.
“I came here to study of course,” Gerald said as he approached him and take his seat.
“Studying?” He sneered. “Are you really serious about competing against me? It looks like your ego inflated when you won against me in a simple math contest.”
“Calling it simple but still losing against someone who doesn’t do anything but play around…its an embarrassing reason.”
“I admit that you won against me in mathematics but things are about to get serious next year in the academy. Read anything that you think will help you. But there is one thing that is certain. I will completely defeat you and make you lick my shoes.”
“I’m the one who should tell you that. What do you think will happen if the first prince who is always visiting the Royal Library since three years ago loses to someone inept? It must be a big hurdle for you to overcome when I completely defeat you. I will not let someone full of hubris become the king.”
“You’re the one who’s talking big here.”
“It’s a reference.”
The atmosphere between them became tense. Their oppressive aura began to swell in the library as if a fight would go down at any moment.
“Your highness, what are you doing here?”
Gerald heard a soothing soft voice behind him. He turned around and saw a beautiful angel whose head was tilted to the side quizzically.
“Princess...Catarina...Belmont?”
Seeing a beautiful girl, he can’t help but be stunned by her beauty. Imagine if this girl grew up eight years more. She will be a fine lady in the future. Her future wife is standing there and Gerald offered her a seat beside him. He then explained the situation between him and his brother.
“I see, you are competing for the throne, Gerald. That’s random for you. But why did you suddenly want to compete for the throne?”
“I want to make this country greater than any country. Best in healthcare, education, infrastructure, social welfare, economy, and military.” He replied in a mature tone.
Catarina and Roland can’t help but wear a surprised expression.
“Then I wish you all the best, Your Highness.”
She seemed to be in awe when he said that. The mood between them is romantically rising. Is this a perfect time for a proposal? Can he formally present himself here? In his previous life. The marriage between Catarina and Gerald happened three weeks from now. But he can’t wait. He needs to secure her.
“Um...Catarina?” He said
“Yes?” She replied in a soft voice.
“Uhm...I’ve always...like…like…like”
For Roland to see his younger brother bashfully writhing. It feels to him that he’s going to declare his love for Catarina.
A moment later, he finally has the courage to declare his love.
“I'd like you to go out with me!” He declared proudly in a loud voice.
The people who were reading their books can’t help but look at the man who just proposed suddenly. They were interrupted and saw the man familiar to all of them. It was the second prince of Brittia.
“Uhm… Gerald, what are you doing?” Roland asked.
“Please hear these feelings of mi--”
“I’m sorry.”
Gerald fell to his knees as he was hit by the word that is so fatal that he can’t believe what just happened. Man down.
“...Why?...”
A prince that was rejected was an embarrassing thing that would happen to oneself. He demands an explanation. In his previous life, they were formally declared smoothly. What just happened? Is this regarding his being ahead of himself? If he should just wait three weeks later, will he not suffer from his rejection?
“I would not easily declare my love to someone who is not worthy or without my father’s and king’s consent.”
Hearing that he felt half-relieved and half-confused. What does she mean by that? Did she even love him in his previous life? Is he missing something here?
“Without your father’s and my father’s consent? It feels not love to me at all. If my father wants you to marry my brother would you accept it?”
“Yes.”
And then another bullet pierced through his devastated heart. So it was not loved before huh? They were just engaged because their father did so. Gerald comes to realize that they were just used back then as a political tool. What he wants is the genuine love of Catarina. She was the only girl that stood by his side in his previous life. Even though it’s fake, it was too late he had fallen to Catarina since then.
“Then princess Catarina, regarding our fight to the throne. Who do you think will win?”
“It’s you, your highness.”
Bang! Another shot to his devastated heart again.
“If I become a King will you be my Queen?”
With that question, Gerald couldn’t help but look at Catarina. Hoping for her to say no.
“If it's for the betterment of the country. I will gladly accept the offer of the position of the Queen.”
“Gerald-Kun? This is the girl that you fell in love with? Unfortunately, she will become my wife in the future.”
“Will you shut up will you.” Gerald said, staggering his voice, “Princess Catarina, if that is your answer then I will not oppose it but remember this… I will never ever give up my genuine feelings towards you. I will make you say `I love you` with all of your heart. Remember this. I will never give up.”
With his declaration. For the first time, he saw Catarina's flustered face. Gerald noticed it and he smiled joyously despite his rejection earlier.
“Then it's settled. I will prove to you, my love! I will be the one to inherit the throne...I will make this country better than ever. This is not only a talk I assure you.”
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Three hours later. He did exactly what he came for. He read books and manuscripts that can be found in the library. But he only covers roughly 1% of the library books. Catarina and George left early, leaving just him in the library. The pitying gaze of the students, librarians et cetera is piercing him evenly in his body.
He pondered for a moment trying to ignore those pity gazes. There must be a reason why Catarina is acting like that earlier. If he remembers correctly her mother died when she was five years old. She was once a mischievous, spirited, and naughty little girl. However, her mother’s death caused her to develop a behavior like a meek, mild, and introverted personality. What a pity for a child to experience such loss in her early life. Her father is an engineer who indulges himself more in work than her daughter. There may be a possibility that his father doesn't care about his daughter. But it’s just assuming though. He wants to believe that all of it is a lie.
Gerald made a promise that he will never give up on her no matter what happens. He’ll do whatever it takes to make her heart beats again.
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After spending more than five hours in the library, he finally went home to rest. But.
“Gerald-sama. The King wishes to see you.”
“Huh? What’s that about?”
“I’m sorry but I don’t know.”
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Gerald was called by his father to come to his office. He knocked on the door before entering.
“Come in”
His father said on the other side of the door.
“Then excuse me”
He opened the door gently and entered. Seeing the inside of the office his eyes open widened.
“Princess Catarina? What are you doing here?”
“Gerald let me introduce you to his father, Ivan Belmont.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, your highness.”
He returned a bow.
“Father? What’s this all about?”
“Your engagement to Lady Catarina of course.”
- Writer
