A Dead Summer

QUATRO: THE GRAND PRINCE

"You will not be punished for your anger,

You will be punished by your anger..."

- Buddha

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[3rd]

Asseure Amon the third bear the title of grand prince. Next to the crown prince to inherit the throne. He is the less love one. Being a son to a simple noble woman, he is despise. Despite his undeniable wit, he is always set aside. For the kingdom, he will always be the King's son to another woman.

Asseure always knew that being a son of the king is a big duty. What more if you're from a concubine. He got three other siblings which are all full blooded. Another three person who hates him to the core.

He is happy to what the kingdom gives him. He never bother to ask. For him its just a waste of time. But everything changes when his elder brother died. The kingdom lost its heir. Three days after that he was declared as the first for the line of succession. His sisters are furious. He didn't oblige. He craves for simple life. But the death of the first prince brought the kingdom into turmoil. So he have to step up. So he did.

"My prince, aren't you happy?" Lady Saskia ask Asseure one day.

"Who will be happy to have a dead sibling, mother? I never wanted his position. All I want is to stay with you and live a simple life." the young prince uttered sadly. He can't accept the fact that his brother is dead and he is replacing him for the line of succession.

"I understand your sentiments my child. But we can't do anything about it. Your sisters cannot sit as the king's successor. You're the only son left to him. Please, do it for him. He needs you this time." his mother almost begged him.

His mother's pleading voice hunts him to his sleep. So the next day, Asseure visit the throne room to meet up to his father. Its the first time for ages. He never visit his father. He was never allowed there, as well as his mother. But everything changes and he can't do anything about it.

"Greetings to you, Your Majesty.." Asseure greeted his father ignoring the queen who is beside him.

"So you decided to oblige now grand prince?" the king ask him emotionless.

"My mother ask me to. If not because of her, I won't be here. I don't have any plans on being your successor." Asseure replied sarcastically.

"What an ungrateful child! You're talking to your king!" the queen spat at him angrily that earn her an evil smirk.

"I know. I'm not here to hear any of your bubbling my queen. I'm here to inform my father of my decision. Who I am to defy him after all. I'm just a lowly prince from a lowly woman. Your word not mine. I'm going Your Majesty. Enjoy your day." Asseure mockingly said and leave. He didn't even wait for their reply. He can actually hear the queens rant. He can't help but laugh. What a funny thing to start his day.

Asseure assume the duty of the crown prince but he never abandon his post as the grand prince. He sit as the replacement of his brother but he never assume his title. It is undoubtedly that Asseure is a better prince. Everyone in the kingdom loves him. Well, aside from the queen and those who favored her.

For years, he stabilized the kingdom. He is a great planner. But everything changes when the queen fell ill. She is bedridden and most of the kingdom's healer says she won't survive. But not the council. They communicate whit the kingdom of the witches, Reeve. Asseure actually don't want any connection to them. All kingdoms in Rever despises witches. But he can't do anything. The king wants his wife back.

It was his 29th birthday when a witch arrive to Mirrenis. She is an adviser to the queen of Reeve and one of the best witches there. Asseure is never convinced. He felt something wrong will happen. And he is right. At the third night of the witches stay there, the queen died of heart attack. The king is furious. No its actually an understatement. They ordered an immediate execution for the witch but she's able to runaway. So the council tried to declare a war but Asseure did all his best to stop it. He did. But the dispute between Mirrenis and Reeve continue to grow.

Six months after the death of the queen, Lady Saskia was pronounced as the new queen of the kingdom. Asseure together with his mother tried to stop the appointment. But to no avail. The king wanted another queen. That causes a conflict to the council, creating a feud inside them. This feud born the creation of two parties, Cassmore, the pro queen and Bitalia, the anti queen. It starts the dark days of Mirrenis.

Three years following Lady Saskia's appointment the king changed. He became distant and hateful. The council stop trusting his decision putting all the work to his queen and to Asseure. He even had his daughters wed to Mirrenis' rival kingdoms.

The following year, rebels resurge from the east side of the kingdom. They wanted to overthrow the royal family. The council became frantic. While the king sits and make fun of the situation, Asseure and the queen strengthen the security of the kingdom. They did everything in their knowledge to stop those rebels.

Asseure knew that one day will come and those rebels will raise war. And they did. They grew in numbers overpowering the kingdoms own army. So to counter it, Asseure create a decree stating that all man in the right age and willing to fight for the kingdom shall train under his watch. He even make the academy his army reserve, having the student there train vigorously.

The war last for good four months. No one wants to give up. Asseure assured his people that he will fight for whatever they wanted. And that is peace.

Everyday and every night for the pass four months, He think about his mother and the eagerness to win and come home. But his hope to see his mother smile again vanish when he was stab in his ribcage. He is dying and he knew that. He can't help but think of what will happen to his kingdom. Especially his mother. He don't want to give up but his body is surely betraying him. He will not live.

Asseure was sure he was dead. He felt it happening but how is it possible that he is escorted to the council hall for a trial for a witch. When he came to the hall he saw this girl with hazel brown eyes unwavered by the rope that tie he. So he is save by that witch.

Yeah, he is alive because of a witch. No doubt.

*******Belle