Draken woke up to someone touching his legs. He slowly opened his eyes to see Kunia standing over him. "Ahhh!!!," he said letting out a light scream. "That's weird to be doing," he said as he sat on his bed. "Good morning, sleeping beauty," she said as she sat on his bed. "Where..., where did you sleep?" he asked. "Oh, the floor, as you said, stupid," she answered. Draken looked at her with surprise in his eyes. He nodded his head and got down from his bed. He looked out the window and saw that the sun had not yet come out. Draken turned and began walking towards the bathroom, saying, "I'm going to take my bath..." "Already did it," Kunia said. "What did you say?" Draken said, slowly turning his head to look at her. "Yeah. I bathe and bathe you at midnight."
"Thanks a lot, Kunia, but we don't do that here. Girls don't bathe boys and boys don't bathe girls," Draken said with worry. "I did something 'bad', you complained,"she said putting the bad in air quotes. "I do something good and I don't even get a thank you, aren't you humans satisfied with anything you are given. No wonder they want to reset your species." Kunia said with a tinge of anger. "No, no, no. I don't mean it like that. It's just that it's wrong." "Wrong! You're telling me that being good to someone who insulted you yesterday is wrong! When I become..." before she could finish, Draken hugged her. "Thank you for doing that for me. I appreciate that." Kunia froze. She stood as if petrified as Draken's word resonated through her haed. Draken slowly let go of her. He went over to the window and sat down as the sun began to rise from the horizon.
Kunia slowly came to consciousness and turned to look at Draken. She walked over to him and stood behind him. "Why are you sitting here?" she asked as she took a seat by him. "Just watching the sunrise. That's all," he replied. "Why do you need to watch my uncle rise every morning? He even hates doing it," she said playing with her hair. "Yet you enjoy watching him. You humans are so so, complicated." "That's what makes us special," Draken replied. Kunia chuckled and shrugged.
The pair immersed themselves in the beauty of the rising ball of fire. Amazing.. I've never sat down to admire this beauty," she said as the soft rays hit her eyes. Draken turned to look at her and said, "Sometimes it's easier to see what's right in front of you than trying to see something you can't. "Those are wise words coming from a young mouth like yours," Kunia said as she moved her face close to Draken's. "It's nothing really. I just said the first thing that came to my mind,"Draken said. Kunia and Draken's face came very close separated by only one inch. "That must mean that your mind is smart." As the inch that separated them grew smaller, as their faces almost touched, Draken's door opened.
"Hey Draken, the Royal majesties want to see you in the next thirty ni... " The person froze when she saw what was right in front of her. "Sorry but the king and queen want to see you in the next thirty nimixs(minutes)," the person said as tears began to well up in her eyes. "I'll take my leave now," she said before bolting out of the door. "Annia wait!" Draken shouted as he chased after her. As Draken left the room, a sharp pain rang through Kunia's head. She let out a loud scream and fell to the ground as the phrase, "Don't do anything stupid," run through her head. A few seconds later, Draken rushed back into the room. "Kunia!" he shouted. "What's wrong?" Draken asked but Kunia just kept shouting and holding her head whiles rolling and kicking all over the floor. Draken looked around in distress before remembering something. He then lifted Kunia into his arms and put her on the bed. "He then went to the bathroom and brought out a bucket of water and a towel. He sat by her and dipped the towel into the bucket. He squeezed it and put it on her forehead. She shivered at the first touch. "I know it's cold but you'd have to endure for me." He wiped her face with the towel before dipping it into the water and leaving it on her forehead. "I have to go, I'll come and check on you later," Draken said before leaving.
"My dear boy, how is your relation with the new girl," King Ozzy queried. "It's faring well my king, she's improved much better than when she arrived." "That's great news my boy, if that's true then I have nothing else to say. You may take your leave." "Thank my my king," Draken said as he rose to his feet. He bowed his head and turned to leave when someone ran past him. The person ran up and stood before the royals. "Good morning mother, good morning father," he greeted bowing his head gently the same way Draken did. "Good morning son. How was your night?" Ozzy asked. "It was splendid, but not the same without Sister Estelle. I miss her very much," he replied. "We miss her too. But don't worry. She'll return tomorrow and you'll have the best of time with her," said the queen. "But pardon me to ask you son, where did you learn all this formality. In the past you'd jump on us the moment you entered this room but now you don't. Why?"
"It's all because of him," Beckett said pointing at Draken. "He thought big sister some quality rules and she thought me. That's why I said I want him to be with me." "Okay. Hearing this I am satisfied so as I promised you yesterday, you can have him as your servant but when your sister returns and says she wants him back, you can't argue with her." "Understood fath..., I mean I understand father. I will take your decision and utilize it for the remaining time. Thank you, Father, for letting me have him," Beckett said as he bowed and turned to leave. "Let us go my good man," he said taking hold of Draken's hand as they walked out of the hall.
"So new friend," Beckett started as they walked through the castle hallways. "What is your name?" "Excuse me prince but what did you call me?" Draken asked as he turned to look at the boy with a surprised look on his face. "Please drop the formality. Just call me Beckett. And you are...?" "I'm Draken. Draken Gondsten." "Okay Sir Gondsten, I want you to teach me how to be the greatest royalty the world has ever seen. So that the name of Everett Beckett and his advisor Draken Gondsten would be wide spread across Driscorvia and beyond. If there is a beyond," Beckett said with enthusiasm. "Okay prince Beckett, I'll teach you all you need to know," Draken said after seeing the boy's determination. A tear rolled out of his left eye. "Why?" Beckett asked. "Aren't you happy?" Beckett questioned. "Of course I am, it's just that I just remembered something. That's all." "And that thing is making you cry?" Draken nodded. "Well," he said. "Let us go and start with your lesson." The duo made their way to the prince's room
"So prince, to start you said you wanted to be the greatest royal the world has ever seen. That is your dream. So everyday when you wake up remind yourself of what you want to be. That on it's own will train you better than the training I'm going to give you." "Yes Draken," Beckett answered. "That is my first principal." "Now I'll start my real principals. My first teaching is that a great ruler is not one the has the strongest army or the most sword masters. A great king is the king who treats everyone with respect and dignity. They treat everyone equally. Take your father as an example. He always puts the views and opinions of his people before his and that's why Elyria is great. So if you want that then be like your father." "My second principal is that a ruler must be brave. A ruler must be foolish enough to do things that others wouldn't do. Depending on the cause, it would couned as bravery. As you are being brave, you would also need to add confidence. A ruler must always believe in themselves. They must balance their confidence and their bravery. If they can't do something at the moment, then they must train themselves in that art. If you do something, then you must have the mentality that you would succeed even if the odds are against you. These are one of the few things that make a great ruler. Do you understand up to this part?" "Yes boss," Beckett said shaking his head. "Okay. The next principal is..."
Knocking was heard on the door disrupting the ongoing teachings. "Prince Beckett, your parents await you to begin with your lunch," the person said. "Please come in young lady," Beckett said. The door slowly opened and someone came inside. She entered she saw Draken she fell backwards spraining her ankle. "Are you alright?" Beckett asked as he rushed to her aid. "Yes my prince," Annia replied. "Let's go, shall we?" Annia got to her feet and Beckett assisted her. "Oh no. There's no need for that my prince," Annia said as moaned in pain. "Nonsense. As a citizen of Elyria, you are my priority. Come, come, now. Let's go." Annia and the prince slowly started walking out of the door. "You go ahead prince to your lunch. Let me take care of her," Draken said lifting her into his arms. She blushed a little before burying her face in his chest. He then made his way and carried her to the palace infirmary as Beckett went to dinner.
"Why are you being nice to me?" Annia asked as a guilty feeling crawled up into her mind. "There's is no point to being mean to someone so that's it." he answered. "Can I have a chat with you tonight." "I'll try and see if she'll let me come out." "Who are you talking about?" Draken asked. "Her," Annia said as someone appeared before them, blocking their path.
"What do you think you're doing?" Yulinda asked as Draken made his way to the infirmary. "I'll allow this time but never again."she barked. "Yes madam," Annia said as they walked away. "Why does she always treat you like that." "I have no idea but she always says I'll know one day," she answered. "Okay," Draken said he entered the infirmary. He found an empty bed and laid her in it. "I'll return to check on you at sunset." "Okay. Thank you." Draken kissed her forehead causing her to blush a little. "Goodbye," he said as he waved her.
Draken made his way to the kitchen meeting Yulinda on the way. "Can I ask for a favor?" he said. "What's it for?" "I want to cook something up for Annia to eat...,"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it" she said cutting him off.
"It's not only Annia I want to cook for but for now I want Annia to eat. Please."
"Fine. Go ahead but don't dare poison her." "Thank you very much."
"Hey Kunia," Draken said as he entered his room holding a tray of covered plates. "Where are you?" "Where have you been all day you little prick?" she asked fuming. "I'm sorry for leaving you the whole day so to compensate I brought you this," he said laying the tray before her in bed. "What's this?" "It's food. I brought to help you feel better." The aroma wavered around her head. "It might not taste good but that's the best I can do." Kunia picked up the fork and opened the food cover. She used the fork to pick up something up stuck it in her mouth. "What do you mean it doesn't taste good. This is sweeter than any honey I've tasted in a 1000 years. You should try it." "No. No. You eat up." "If you don't eat, I'm not eating," she said folding her arms.
"Kunia...,"
"No. I'm not listening."
"Okay," Draken said as he tried taking the fork but Kunia slapped his hand away. "To make sure you do eat, I'll feed you," Kunia said. Draken nodded and Kunia picked the fork. She stuck it in the food and stuffed it in Draken's mouth. "Mhmm. Delicious." Draken said causing her to giggle. She took another bite. She smiled as they enjoyed the food. And repeated Draken's action. "To be frank you're a pretty cool person Kunia." Hearing this a rogue tear fled from Kunia's eyes. She set the food aside and without saying a word bolted out of the door. "Kunia wait. What's wrong?" he shouted but she didn't respond. He decided to leave her alone for now.
As he sat at the window something the prince said flashed through his mind.
BEFORE DINNER
"That girl really likes you." Beckett said. "What...?" Draken said in surprise. "Seems like I have to teach you now. You may not know it but that girl likes you and who wouldn't love an angel like you?" "The world doesn't," Draken said. "Don't worry Draken, I love you," Beckett said. Draken smiled at the comment. "And so does my big sister Estelle," he added. "What do you mean?" Draken asked but the prince just said, "We'll talk about it at another time."
MEANWHILE IN THE WOODS
"Father!!!" Kunia screamed at the top of her lungs. "You told me that they were monsters but look they aren't." "FATHER, FATHER, LISTEN TO ME," she kept shouting as someone suddenly appeared behind her.