The Rise of Nero [bk. II][Chapter IV]

[<3 Valentine <3]

Prologue

Nero, the Hitler of ancient Rome. His mind was amazing, but at the same time he wasn’t right in the head. He was most well known for his eccentricity. He commonly not only held sporting events, but also participated in them himself. He used his power for his own gain and was one of the youngest emperors of Rome. Even the way he came into power was strange. He was the adopted son of the emperor before him after that emperor’s marriage to Nero’s mother. Using her new power Nero’s mother eventually persuaded her husband to name Nero his heir and not his own son. To make sure things went the way she wanted she had Nero’s rivals killed off to ensure he’d be made Emperor. Nero’s reign started off amazingly- Nero had a good relationship with the senate and together they brought Rome to new heights. But Nero’s mother was not done mixing in her son’s life. She began to influence him to kill off all those who apposed him. Eventually one of those murdered was Nero’s own mother. He grew into a fearsome dictator who even the senate didn’t dare cross. At the height of his rule Rome caught fire. It is well believed that Nero himself started the fire in order to level Rome so he’d have room to build himself a lavish new palace. As Rome burned Nero stood out on his balcony playing his violin as the city rose up in flames. Finally the senate took charge, making Nero public enemy number one they sent out the guards to kill him. Nero knew he’d be soon killed and took matters into his own hands. With a trust servant by his side Nero slit his throat and died moments later, his last words ‘What an artist dies in me’.

Chapter I

A thin fragile looking woman sat upright in her bed, her hair a mess and standing up at every which way. Her eyes were wide and her chest was heaving as she clutched her chest- feeling her sweaty palms dampen her night gown. Sleepily another form beside her stirred and a handsome brown-haired man sat up beside her- his arm wrapped around her shoulders while the other lit the candle at their bedside. “Peach, what’s wrong? Is it another nightmare?” The women nodded and leaned into the man- he could feel her body trembling heavily. “It was a bad one, the worst so far. Oh Mikhail why can’t I forget my sister? It’s been over a year and still I wake like this, and I wake you up as well…” He pushed her face into his chest and he held her comfortingly. Mikhail chuckled softly and gently rubbed her back. “I’m your husband, if you can’t sleep neither can I… you’re not bothering me, I just wish I could rid you of these dreams.” He sighed and placed a kiss on the top of her head. Peach drew back and weakly smiled at him before laying back on her pillow. “I’ll try to get some good sleep… for myself and our child” Mikhail nodded, grinning softly and reached over to put out the candle- although he didn’t lay back down right away, his eyes drifted over to the window for a moment and he sighed, laying down finally. “Maybe, if my father returned Myra and Citrus like Haunted told him to things would be better, maybe Peach could sleep easier…” He mumbled quietly to himself as his eye lids slid shut.

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Three young men sat a top a wall- the smallest of the three was swinging his legs back and forth. The black haired one had his nose deep in a book while the almond haired man gazed towards the sky. The one swinging his legs looked over at the other two and absently asked them. “Mikhail was suppose to be here an hour ago, where could he be?” The almond haired boy grunted and looked towards his fiery haired brother. “He’ said Peach has been having a rough time sleeping, I see him in the library often looking through books to find something to help her.” Neptune gave a firm nod in a matter of fact way. Mercury peered up from his book, laughing lightly. “No, I see him in the library and I tell you…” Pluto, the red haired prince burst out into laugher so hard so almost fell over the wall. Neptune blushed and glared at Mercury. “You pick a fine time to actually talk you know that?” He reached over to push Mercury but someone’s voice stopped him. “My little brothers fighting again?” Mikhail chuckled heavily and scaled the wall- sitting cross legged on the wall beside Mercury and looking down at Neptune and Pluto. Neptune quickly pulled away from Mercury and grinned. Pluto was still holding back his laughter. Mercury looked up and actually closed his book, setting it on the wall. “You in the library again Mikhail?” The oldest of the four brothers nodded and he sighed- glancing towards the sky. “She’s losing a lot of sleep, I see her wandering around the castle in the day time like a zombie and I worry about her…” He bit his lower lip and turned his dark brown gaze to the stone wall he was sitting on. Mercury reached out and placed a gentle hand on Mikhail’s shoulder, offering a reassuring smile as Mikhail looked at him. “I might be able to help.” Neptune and Pluto looked up towards Mercury and Mikhail, surprised at the mass amount of words Mercury was actually saying. Even though Mercury was now perfectly capable of speech, and a very eloquent speech at that, he still didn’t talk often and when he did it was very little. This was the most they’d heard him say in a long time. Mikhail eyed Mercury suspiciously, could his little brother actually help? “What do you have in mind?” Mercury reached out and picked up his book, opening it to the page he needed on the first try, he knew exactly where it was. He quickly scanned the page and his finger stopped on a line and he read it to them. “It’s this plant, suppose to make you sleepy…” Mikhail leaned foreword, trying to read upside down. Neptune coughed lightly and nudged Mercury’s side- pointing up towards Mikhail. Realizing his brother was trying to read the book he handed it over to him. Quickly Mikhail read more of the page and he smiled. “This is great, Mercury how did you know to look in this plant book?” He flipped to the cover, a book he’d seen a million times but never thought to look in. Mercury grinned and folded his arms across his chest. “I asked Subire, he knows that library better then I do.” Pluto snickered and leaned over to whisper in Neptune’s ear. “They’d make a cute couple.” Neptune covered his mouth as he chuckled. Mercury glared over his shoulder at them- although he didn’t hear what they had said. Mikhail certainly didn’t know what Pluto had said, he was already deeply engrossed in the book. Suddenly he snapped it shut- blinking a few times. “I feel like an idiot, I told you guys to meet me here… for a moment I almost thought you guys told me to meet you here.” He handed the book back to Mercury who tucked it away in a bag he’d brought with him. All three of the younger brothers looked up at Mikhail who was glancing back and forth between all three of them, something serious on his mind. “Father and I have talked, and we’ve decided which of you three will take my place as crowned prince.” Immediately all three leaned in, not wanting to miss what Mikhail was going to say. Mikhail inhaled deeply and grinned. “And we’ve decided not to tell you until the day we announce it to the whole kingdom, this way everyone will be surprised.” Mikhail began to laugh and all three brothers frowned. But quickly Pluto’s frown turned to a grin and he whispered something to Neptune who whispered something to Mercury. All three Princes grinned and suddenly Mikhail stopped laughing- gulping as all three of his brothers slowly stood, Mercury leapt at him. Mikhail jumped to the ground in time to see Pluto and Neptune leaping to the ground after him. “Get the big brother!” All three starting chasing after Mikhail, all four laughing as they ran the village streets. Mikhail quickly turned a corner and saw his brothers keep running down the street- he laughed and turned to walk down the ally way. As he turned he nearly ran into a women who was slightly older them him. “Sorry..” He mumbled. The women in front of him appeared frantic, her eyes wide as she panted. “Mikhail, are you prince Mikhail?” Surprised Mikhail took a step back and nodded- noticing that this woman was dressed very shabbily and covered in many cloaks and other rags. She quickly unbuttoned the first cloak she had on with one hand and threw it to the ground, sighing as if a large weight was lifted off of her shoulders. Quickly she turned back to Mikhail, her panicked face returned. “Your wife- where is your wife?” Mikhail gulped- reaching out to grab the women’s shoulders. “What are you talking about? Peach is up at the castle, I saw here there not an hour ago.” The women shook her head, unbuttoning a second cloak with her hand. She held this one out to Mikhail. “No she’s not, put this on and come with me…” Mikhail appeared greatly confused, but took the cloak and put it on, pulling the hood over his head, covering his face in shadows. The women picked up the first cloak she’d taken off and buttoned it back up. She turned and beckoned Mikhail to follow her. Quickly he took off after her, despite the large mass of clothes she was wearing she moved incredibly fast and Mikhail struggled to keep up with her. She led him out towards the woods just outside of the kingdom his father ruled. Once in the cover of the trees she dropped her cloak hood, Mikhail started to do the same but she stopped him. “No, we don’t want you to be recognized.” She began to drift down the path and Mikhail followed her, careful to keep his face hidden as she told him. A half an hour down the well-worn path was a large tavern with an inn over top. She silently walked towards a back door, stopping just short to let Mikhail catch up to her. She pointed to a window nearby. “Watch though there and promise, no matter what you’ll keep yourself hidden.” Mikhail appeared greatly confused, but nodded all the same. He moved towards the window, kneeling in the grass he peaked in- narrowing his eyes to see better. The room was dark and suddenly light flooded in as the women opened the door and walked in, leaving it open a crack so the sound flooded out to Mikhail. She looked around the room but never looked at the window so Mikhail couldn’t read her face. The women spoke softly. “Peach, Peach are you in here? It’s Kefira.” A second later another shape was made clear to Mikhail. The delicate appearing women quickly went to Kefira and threw her arms around her. “Oh Kefira, I would have never wandered from the castle if I knew this would happen…” Kefira patted the women’s back and then looked around. “Are they here?” Peach shook her head no. “They left moments before you arrived.” Kefira nodded happily and finally turned towards the window, waving for Mikhail to come in. Quickly Mikhail entered the room and flew to Peach’s arms. She appeared quiet surprised that Mikhail of all people would show up- but she melted into his arms without questions, tears spilling from her face. “Oh Mikhail I’m sorry, so sorry…” Mikhail didn’t know what was going on, he looked towards Kefira for answers. She sighed and gently tapped Peach’s back. “Go rest dear, I’ll tell your husband what’s happened.” Peach gloomily nodded and drifted back into the darkness. Only after there was the sound of a door closing did Kefira turn back to Mikhail. “There is a chair in the corner, sit down- this story may take a while and you’ll end up sitting by time I finish.”

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[<3 Valentine <3]

Chapter II

Peach sighed as she stared out the castle window down towards the market just outside. It was a world so close to her and yet she it was so different and foreign to her. Despite living here all her life, she’d never drifted down the market. Her fingers tapped the window sill, her minds working. She wondered what it would harm if she went down there for an hour, but Mikhail warned her against it- especially since she was so close to giving birth he didn’t want anything to happen to her. She smirked playfully, standing up she moved towards her door, grabbing her traveler’s cloak as she whisked herself out the door. “I won’t be gone long, besides- Mikhail won’t always be there to protect me so I’ve got to learn to hold my own.” She sounded quite convinced in her reasoning as she climbed down the multiple flights of stairs and finally made it to the door to the outside, to the market. Taking a deep breath she pushed the door open and quickly walked down towards the market. Immediately she was greeted with a whole new world of sights, sounds and smells. Pleasant, freshly made, baked goods caught her nose’s attention, while her eyes noticed a jewelry maker’s stand off towards one side. Her ears heard the sounds of many children, running around with their friends causing trouble. She drifted towards the baker’s stand. The old man smiled from behind the counter. “Just came out the oven- interested?” He waved his wrinkled hand over the enchantingly scented fresh-baked bread. Peach slipped her thin hand into her pocket and pulled out some money, handing it over to the man. He gladly took it and wrapped the bread in some paper before handing it to Peach. She took it under her arm and continued towards the next stand. Sitting in a stool a little old woman was carefully spinning yarn. In front of the woman was a bunch of cloaks, blankets, and other spun items. Peach ran her hand lightly over one, commenting under her breath how soft it was. She drifted over towards the jewelry maker’s stand. She gazes at all the lovely necklaces and bracelets. The man inside the stand watched her with a curious eye for a minute before saying anything. “See anything you like?” Peach looked up towards him and sighed. “Oh it’s all so lovely…” The man smiled and gave her a nod. “Take your time.” Peach’s eyes wandered over the necklaces, every so often she’d pick on up for a closer look. Finally she found one that caught her eye and she paid the man for the silver necklace. As she walked away she carefully put the necklace on, hold her bread under her arm, and attempt not to run into anyone. A pair of women going the other way bumped Peach’s arm and her bread fell to the ground. She gasped lightly and knelt down to pick it up, still holding the necklace in her other hand. One of the women turned around and smiled lightly. “Sorry about that.” The other turned around also but didn’t say anything. The first women appeared to be the younger of the two, and the friendlier one. The second women crossed her arms and watched Peach pick up her bread. The first women held out her hand to help Peach back up. Peach smiled and let the women help her up. “Thank you, my name is Peach- and you are?” The first women smiled kindly and gave a glance back at her friend. “My name is Kefira and this is my friend Indira.” Indira who had remained silent up until this time stepped foreword, eyes sweeping over Peach. Other then her face you could not see any more of Indira so it was impossible to read her body language. Indira suddenly smiled and gave a nod. “Peach eh? Well I hope your bread isn’t ruined…” Peach shook her head no and then Kefira spoke up. “That’s good, I love fresh bred myself.” Peach’s face suddenly lit up with an idea. “How would you two like to join me for lunch?” Kefira began to shake her head ‘no’ and say something about being busy but Indira jumped in. “Oh Kefira we have some spare time, why not?” Kefira sighed and looked towards the ground before nodding. Lunch would be good. The three women turned and started walking towards an empty corner of the market. Peach smiled and pulled up a bench from in front of the nearby tavern and Indira grabbed a barrel, pushing it over towards them. Kefira and Peach sat on the bench while Indira leapt up onto the barrel. Peach unwrapped her bread and they passed it around, taking a chunk yeah before passing it back to Peach. From inside her cloak Indira produced some dried meat. “We’re just finished a long travel, so we don’t need this dried meat anymore, not when we can get fresh stuff here. It’s not much but it’s all we’ve got to put forth for the meal.” She handed the dried step of meat around and everyone took a bit. Quickly the three women ate their make-shift meal. Peach smiled happily- her bread had been delicious and hot just as the man said, and she’d never had dried meat before. Curiously she glanced over at Kefira. “What are you two doing here?” Kefira glanced over towards Indira, giving her a ‘you answer’ glare. Indira glared angrily at Kefira but started to answer anyways. “We’re on a job, looking for someone here.” Peach sat up and quickly piped up. “Who? Maybe I can help you two find them.” Kefira glanced away- darting her eyes around to people who walked by, oblivious to the three women sitting together. Indira smiled and stood up, crossing her arms in front of her. “We’ve found her- your husband is looking for you Peach.” Peach appeared confused but gave a nod. “Okay, where is he?” At this point Kefira stood and looked over at Peach. “Off in the woods a way, training with his brothers or something. We were passing by on our way here and he gave us some extra money to send you his way… “ Indira nodded and also stood. Peach stood and the three went towards the exterior of the market where Indira bought the use the three horses. Together the three women road into the woods for about 15 minutes before coming to a tavern. Kefira lagged behind them quiet a ways. Peach, who was in the middle glanced back and then said to Indira. “Kefira’s lagging behind…” Indira looked over towards Kefira. “Doesn’t matter, go- use the back door of the tavern, Mikhail’s waiting in there.” Peach smiled excitedly, remembering this tavern from years ago- Mikhail took her here after they road out in the middle of the night to watch stars. Entering from the back door she found the room was dark. “Mikhail?” She called out- taking a few careful steps into the dark room. A voice answered but it wasn’t Mikhail’s. “Nope, just the boogie man.” A large shape drifted out of the shadows, appearing for a moment in the light of a window. Peach stumbled back- her hands reaching behind her for the door but she couldn’t find it. “Who… who are you?” The shape drifted towards her- reaching down he lifted her up by her wrist. “I’m missing two of my court members, do you know where they are? It’d sure be nice if they came home, Paladin misses his wife and he hasn’t seen his kid…” Haunted chuckled before he set Peach down on a stool in front of the window. Peach felt herself glued to the stool, unable to move. Haunted moved closer so she could see his face in the light. Peach stuttered lightly- wanting to back up but she found that the wall was there. “but Indira said…” Haunted chuckled and crossed his arms across his chest. “Indira lied, she’s a mercenary- the best around, I paid her to lie to you and bring you here.” Peach glanced out the window over her shoulder, Indira and Kefira where no where in sight. Haunted smirked and chuckled. “and Kefira- she’s a member of my court, not very happy about that though. In exchange for helping Indira I promised to leave her alone for awhile…” Peach blinked in disbelief. She turned back to see Haunted heading for the door. “I’ll be back Peach, I’m going to go get my Myra back” He bowed as he left. Opening the door he closed it. Peach heard the lock click. Eventually her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she saw a bed off in the corner. Near tears she crawled into the bed, curling up in the corner.

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[<3 Valentine <3]

Chapter III

By the end of the story Mikhail had his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. He glanced back up at Kefira after a moment of silence. “When did this happen?” She sighed, slightly ashamed now that she revealed herself as a follower of Haunted. “A day ago… and last night… Peach had her baby.” Mikhail felt a groan well up in his mouth and his eye sunk back into the darkness of his palms. In a place like this? In this place his child was born. He felt a tremor shake his body and he stood up. “Where is he? My child.” Kefira quickly corrected him. “She.” Quietly she drifted into the darkness, coming back a moment later, something cradled in her arms. Without hesitation she handed the bundle over to Mikhail. “I was the only one here when it happened, and afterwards we stuffed blankets under Peach’s dress so it still looked like she was carrying a baby, no one but the three of us in this room know she exists.” Mikhail was only half listening to Kefira. In between Kefira’s words he could hear Peach’s shallow breathing as she slept and all he could see was his child in his arms. Tentatively he reached up to push away the blanket and look into his babies’ eyes. He felt a smile grow on his face as he first looked at his daughter. She was perfect like all daughters were, rosy cheeks, big eyes that were closed in sleep. Mikhail gently covered his daughter back up, looking towards Kefira. “Wake Peach, I’m taking her and our daughter home.” Kefira started to nod when she suddenly stopped, hoof beats off in the distance. Alarmed she ran to the window, swearing under her breath she turned to Mikhail. “No time, Indira and Haunted have just pulled up on horse back, they’ll see you leaving and realize Peach is gone to soon. Quickly- into the tavern.” She ran to the other side of the room and pushed open a door which lead into a dark hallway. She pushed Mikhail into the hallway and closed the door. At the other end a door emitted warm golden light through cracks, the tavern. Mikhail started to walk towards the tavern when he heard Haunted’s voice on the other side of the door he just came through. Turning around he held his daughter close with one arm and leaned towards the door, peering into the room through a knothole in the door. Haunted stood in the doorway, another women he didn’t know, probably Indira, stood beside him. They were conversing between each other. Just out of the corner he could see the bed where he assumed Peach was and Kefira sitting on the foot of the bed. She was glaring over at Haunted. “When I agreed to help you kidnap Peach you didn’t tell me she was carrying a child, I don’t like this Haunted.” Haunted shrugged uncaringly and drifted towards the bed- reaching out a hand to stroke Kefira’s hair. She pulled away, still glaring at him. Haunted sighed. “If it makes you feel better I didn’t know either… but this is good, not only do we have the prince’s wife but we have his kid- surely Set will send over Myra and Citrus now.” Kefira sighed and looked away. Indira leaned foreword, drifting over towards the bedside. “Is she asleep?” She indicated towards Peach. Kefira glanced over her shoulder a moment and then nodded. Peach was still asleep. “Yes, don’t wake her…” She glared defiantly at both Haunted and Indira who both didn’t seem to care, but they didn’t disobey Kefira either. Haunted looked over at Indira. “Kefira, Indira will be taking over your shift watching Peach.” Kefira gave a nod and stood up, drifting towards Haunted. Indira switched places with Kefira, but didn’t sit on the bed. Instead she stared down at Peach. Haunted and Kefira turned to exit. Indira waited until they both left and the door was closed before kneeling down beside Peach, reaching out with her hand to poke Peach.”Wake up…” Peach grumbled and then realized it was Indira’s voice she shoot up into bed. “Mikhail, where did Mikhail go?” Indira laughed and stood up. “Back in dreamland Peach…” She laughed, but suddenly she stopped and glared down at Peach. “What’s up with your belly?” She pointed and Peach looked down in alarm to find the blankets she and Kefira had stuffed not long ago were a mess and didn’t look a thing like a belly. Indira reached out and placed her hand on the mass, feeling not a solid belly with a child it in but blankets. “You! Where’s the baby!” She removed her hand from Peach’s belly to slap her face. Peach rolled from bed, narrowly avoiding the slap. “I.. I…” She didn’t have an answer. Mikhail felt the strong urge to leap out and save Peach, but his daughter- he had nothing to hold his daughter while he fought Indira, he couldn’t put his daughter at risk. Indira reached into her cloak and drew out a dagger- pointing it at Peach. “Start talking or I’ll call Haunted back here and we’ll get him to get you to talk.” Peach held back tears and remained silent- staring up at Indira, she wasn’t talking. “No answer Peach? Fine?” She threw down the dagger, striking Peach in the heart. “Then die.” Peach crumbled to the ground and Indira whirled around to leave and find Haunted, tell him what happened. The moment Indira left Mikhail burst from the door and ran to Peach, their daughter still in his arm. “Peach! Peach!” He said in between tears. Peach’s eyes flickered open and she looked up at Mikhail. “Take care of our daughter, please… I love you.” She reached out a hand to weakly touch Mikhail’s cheek. Mikhail placed his free hand over Peach’s and held her to his cheek. “I love you…” Suddenly the sound of hoof beats growing louder turned his attention to the door, someone was coming. Peach pointed towards the door. “Go, you can’t save me… save our daughter.” Mikhail fought the urge to lift Peach as well and take her. He leaned down, kissing Peach’s forehead and then her lips he stood up and ran towards the door that lead to the tavern. He ran down the hallway and burst into the tavern, tucking his daughter under her cloak he exited the tavern. He quickly started running down the path in the direction of castle Carrlin, tears freely running down his cheek and anger boiling inside him. He wanted to have a talk with his stubborn father, now…

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[<3 Valentine <3]

Chapter IV

King Set tightly pinched the bridge as his son stormed back and forth in front of his desk. He could feel as a few more of the hair of his head was turning grey, but at least it wasn’t falling out just yet. He removed the hand from the bridge of his nose and ran it through his grey-brown hair and sighed. “Mikhail, I’m sorry about what happened to Peach- but I’m not sending Myra or Citrus back to that castle.” He said stubbornly and Mikhail threw his arms in the arm. “Fine I give up, I can’t convince you can I? Maybe when I turn up dead some day you’ll get the message father.” Mikhail turned on his heels and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Set sighed heavily and looked down at the grain on his desk, tracing it with his fingers. Suddenly he looked up as a small girl appeared in his doorway. A smile grew on his face and his granddaughter stumbled into the room on her chubby little legs, her mother right behind her- holding one of Enigma’s arm carefully so her daughter didn’t fall. “How’s my little Iggy doing?” He reached out and ruffled his granddaughter’s hair with his hand and Citrus smiled, scooping the little girl up into her arms. “She’s getting big, and walking quite well for her age. She can’t get very far without my help though.” She smiled proudly down at her daughter. Set smiled happily and held out his arms to take Enigma from Citrus. Handing over her daughter to her father Citrus then sat in a chair across from Set. “I’ve seen Cherry, she looks just like Mikhail, but her skin- it’s the same complexion that Peach had…” She looked just as proud when talking about her niece as she did when she talked about her own daughter. She frowned lightly as she added the word ‘had’ because Peach was a thing of the past, no longer in the present. She watched her daughter coo happily and play with the jewels on her grandfather’s clothes. She seemed unconcerned with what the adults were talking about. Set looked down at Enigma in his arms, trying to refrain from actually saying anything back to Citrus. He didn’t want to talk about Peach, her death, or anything of that nature. “Enigma’s been quite happy since Cherry’s come home hasn’t she? She’s got a little play mate now.” Citrus nodded and reached back out to take her daughter back. Set gave Enigma a kiss on the forehead and handed her over to Citrus who cradled her in her arms and then looked back up at her father. “Father, I don’t want to raise Enigma here, without her father…” She quickly looked down, ashamed at what she had said. But it was the truth and as much as she disliked Paladin, he was Enigma’s father and deserved to see his daughter grow up. Set appeared in some shock, but bit his lip and then shook his head. “I…. I can’t lose you again…” Citrus sighed and for her father’s sake didn’t get angry. She’d heard the heated argument Mikhail and Set had not long ago and didn’t want another one. She rose to her feet and turned towards the door. She glanced back over at Set. “Of course father, forgive me.” She turned back towards the door and quickly left the room. Set stood up and closed the door after she left, sighing. He didn’t know what to do. And here he thought he was scott free- like he was actually going to get away with kidnapping Myra and Citrus back. But now that Peach had been killed he wasn’t so sure, how many more family members would be wasted? He glanced out of his window down into the courtyard. He noticed Mikhail sitting on a bench in the flowers, a tiny bundle in his arms. Cherry, Set’s second granddaughter. In a few moments Citrus and Enigma appeared, walking straight over to Mikhail. The two adults conversed while Enigma feebly attempted to see and play with the much younger Cherry. Mikhail nodded and then all four of them left the courtyard. Set wondered what they had talked about for a moment and then turned back towards his desk. Walking over he sat down in the chair just as Mercury entered the room. Set glanced up as the black-haired prince walked over to him. “Father.” Mercury nodded politely and Set indicated with his hands that Mercury could go on with what he wanted to say. Mercury nodded and then continued. “I… I don’t want to be King, let Neptune or Pluto take the spot.” Set looked up, blinking a few times he tried to process exactly what Mercury said. “Not be King?” Mercury nodded and Set sighed- looking down at the papers on his desk. “You don’t even know which of you three I’ll pick, why are you telling me this now?” Mercury quickly answered, like he’d planned to be asked this question. “Just in case you were going to pick me… I just don’t think I’ll make a good king. That’s all father…” Mercury turned and quickly left the room. Set sighed and stood up, walking out into the hall way and down towards the castle library. Inside he found Subire at a desk. As Set came over Subire stood and bowed. “Subire, those papers proclaiming Mercury as the next King been written and sent out to the other kingdoms already?” Subire nodded and smiled. “I sent then out this morning just as you asked.” Set nodded, appearing pleased and then left the library, shaking his head and sighing. “Sorry Mercury, your brother got out of being King but I’m afraid it’s to late for you.” He said to himself as he walked back to his study.

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