The king welcomed his brother in his arms and, lingering a little before letting him go, murmured, "Forgive this old fool who sometimes does not have the courage to let himself be carried away by happiness."
The voice tried to be cheerful, but it was veiled by an incomprehensible tremor and the king's eyes were ringed with dark shadows.
“Why didn't you wave or stop by the day you passed by the castle? Couldn't you have come to spend a few days with me, to rest a little and to have fun? Or maybe even just send me a message, a greeting? I thought you had had it with me. Did I do something wrong?
“No. What ideas! I assure you that it's only state affairs that keep me pinned down here. Nothing else.”
“But a note does not take any effort ...” the boy insisted.
“I'm not a great writer. Howe
