King Khalil's Doll

Chapter 3: Mourning the King

"Farewell father, I pray you great our ancestors, I promise to take care of the throne and of the people of Mount Paragon," Prince Khalil said paying homage to his father for the last time.

A week after the King was brought death and placed in the kingdom's central hospital, he was at last removed from the mortuary and buried.

The cemetery is a private and enclosed one reserved only for the royal family.

Prince Khalil stood at his father's tombstone, looking at the bold writings on the grave.

To say that he was pleased to see his father beneath his feet was a no to him. 'The lady has to pay, she definitely has to,' he thought to himself.

There is nothing above him to do, and as long as he lives, he will make sure that everything works out as he planned it to be.

It is five p.m. already, most of the people have returned to their homes, and the royal vehicle accompanied with some cars are waiting for the prince in order to take him home. Unlike them, he has no plans to go home, he feels like the only part of him is buried in the grave forever, something he can't stop seeing always for the rest of his life.

Standing fixedly in front of the tombstone with restrained tears, Prince Khalil drops grits his teeth in pain. he has a reason to mourn, one tiny little girl has given him extra reasons to mourn.

"I wish she said would die and follow dad where ever he is, besides, they had an unfinished business," the prince muttered to himself in pain.

These days, he finds himself constantly talking to himself, more like cursing the lady in the palace to rot in hell.

Prince Khalil had not set eyes with the lady in the palace, her name was unknown, and she occupied the position in the dungeon where criminals like her life, just that, her crime are the most severe, she killed the King of Mount Paragon.

The only thing the people are waiting for right now is trial, the girl must be judged in court and punished.

At this point especially with the anger and hate going on, in the minds of the people, the best punishment to give the lady is a death punishment.

To prince Khalil, she deserves it, more than enough punishment. But then, even at this point, he thinks death is not the absolute way to eliminate her. He wants something harsh, something that will make his heart happy when he sees her suffer, moan and cry in pain. Or was that too much for him to ask?

Khalil wants to sit at the front row of the punishment committee, to decide what death penalty will fit the lad the most, and how he is going to execute it.

He wants the go to look at him in the eyes as he kills her, he wants it to be a slow but sure death as if they were in a butcher's house detaching each limp from the other.

The girl deserves to feel the pain he is feeling right now, even more.

"She caused it, this is all your fault girl, and I tell you, she is going to pay for it. Father, do not worry, I will avenge you, even if it means eradicating the whole of Newlay Out, I will. You deserve to be avenged," Prince Khalil promised his deceased father.

As he thought about it, a tear rolled off his eyes which he lazily trailed his body from wiping it off.

It has been about one hour since he

is standing by the tomb, unable to move on with his life.

To him, leaving his father here alone was like leaving another part of him. If he is ever going to rule in the near future, he is going to do it as King Khalil II. But for now, the king jas only being buried, other battles will be there for him to fight, he will have to support his kingdom against the neighboring countries, they deserve his loyalty just like his father had given them to him.

King Khalil had always been the perfect example for his son to follow, a great leader, and a warrior. He always put his life first before any of his citizens will follow, risking it all for them to leave. This is the kind of morals he left behind for his son.

Places were already getting cold, the evening breeze was getting stronger, and everyone who had come to bury the king had all gone. Prince Khalil didn't bother much, the activities and preparations for the King's funeral were extraordinary and so tiring.

The King was buried as the king he was, a state burial was given to him in which everyone had participated.

His golden casket was the best in the country, artistically desired by the best carpenter in town. Ohh! wished he could open his eyes and see how heavenly his funeral is.

In terms of clothing, he was dressed in a king's livery, beautifully designed, and as the people of the highest rank in the country paid homage to him, time was marked for him to be buried.

There he lays, lifeless as if he was freed from this world's suffering.

The responsibility of the state lays on Prince Khalil's shoulders, he knows that his son can take care of his people which is why he allowed the enemies to kill him.

As another tear streaked his cheek, Prince Khalil sniffed, finding it hard to restrain his tears.

As he cried in silence alone, he heard someone approach him. The booted feet on the gravel road announced his presence even before it did.

Using the napkin from his inner pocket, he dabbed his tear-stained face with it.

He was in grieve, and a look through him could explain that even more.

From the corner of his eyes, he noticed that it was commander Austin. He had definitely come to take him home, but was he ready to go, was there any difference between going back to the castle and live in solitude than stay right here and keep his father company. So far, staying here was the only available option which he greedily accepted.

After about a minute of standing without sharing a word between one another, Commander Austin cleared his throat drawing for attention, before starting his speech.

"Prince Khalil, I know this might be very had for you to gulp down in a single round, but then, you have to, it is a slow process, slowly, you will learn to adapt on a based on you shouldering the responsibilities of the people. But I tell you, I will always be there for you, the citizens are always there for you, and they look up to you, waiting hopefully to be saved by you. For you to continue in the former king's great exploit," he said advising him.

The prince had a solemn face, he looked like the words had just turned on a part of him he never ever wanted to revive.

Slowly, he swirled his head towards Commander Austin's grim face.

His grieve was clearly expressed on his face and made realistic that the words of encouragement he preached and nursed into the prince's mind were well planned and deserved. The prince deserves to be encouraged, especially now that he had a big task in front of him.

When Khalil didn't offer a word to the Commander, especially whether if he was on the same accord with him, Austin discovered that the young prince and king to be only needed to me.

Prince Khalil needed time to absorb all this news, to know that things aren't working always like the way they planned it, and when such things happen, they only have to cope with it that way.

"If you don't mind, my prince, it is getting cold here already, if you would follow me, we will head to the car and you will be taking to the castle, where you shall feel warm," he explained showing the way with his hand.

With a slight nod of the head, he didn't argue, he was so frustrated and physically broken to have a verbal fight with Austin.

Sweeping at the King's tomb once more, he slightly bowed to his waist level, while resting his right hand on his chest and the lefthand behind his back.

His father deserves all the honor he could muster.

Straightening to his full length, he trailed behind Commander Austin, and as he entered the car, he was driven to the Castle.

The day after Crystal had collapsed, she'd been locked up in the dungeon, underground the palace where she slept on the hard floor bed with only a small blanket to live in.

No medical attention had been given to her, a bowl of water was splashed on her, reviving her senses. She reserves it, more than enough.

All Crystal has got to eat is stale bread, cheese, and a small bowl of yellow water.

It's like they wanted her to die, yet she was unready to, at least, they should grant her the chance of thanking the good prince that saved her from the hands of the military men.

She knew she stands no chance against them, and the whole place is well secured, guarded by thousand men, so an escape plan is impossible, they will catch her before she lives the prison. Who knows, her plans might work perfectly well, that's if she plans it well.

As she planned an escape plan, she rested on her bed staring at the ceiling.

When the prison gates opened and someone entered, she didn't bother to look because she guessed it was the warder that had brought food for her.

The new and strange fragrance waffled her nostrils, and it seemed unfamiliar to her, so she decides to check and when she swirls her head towards the door, her eyes paired with those of the prince, the same prince she had blast the first day she arrived Mount Paragon as a war captive.

"You!" she said scrambling to the side of the bed in fear.

"Yes, me, little wimp," prince Khalil spat in annoyance, saying the words like it was a bad piece of meat that clung in his teeth.

His eyes smeared her entire pitiful body and his nostrils flared as the unpleasant smell of the dungeon choked him.

"Yuck! how will a human being even live here?" he asked rhetorically.