I Am The Law

Next morning I woke up with a hunch of changes coming that day but I was certain they would happen regardless of me taking action earlier or not. Hence I focused on more important things such as breakfast. The weather was unusually lovely today, it would be a sin to not take this opportunity and enjoy my meal outside.

As I was finishing my after-meal cup of Darjeeling tea, I was approached by an android servant. “My prince, the king would like to speak with you.”

I didn’t think it would start that fast but I was prepared for it. “Please let him know I will come to him as soon as I finish my tea.”

“Negative. The king wants to see you at this moment.” It wouldn’t hurt my father to be more respectful and let me finish my meal, but who am I to humble the king? “He’s waiting in the audience hall.” The robot dismissed itself.

The audience hall. “So he wants to elevate his displeasure of my marriage with Gia even further?” I said to myself. I couldn’t help but grin at the potential clash. “Fine. I’m more than ready to rub dirt against his face.”

“Daddy’s calling you, Elly?” I heard a familiar voice as I left the garden.

“How can you tell?”

“You had this crazy look on you. I knew something’s about to happen and I can’t miss that.” Micaela couldn’t hide her excitement as she smelled potential entertainment for herself.

“Yes, but it’s a closed audience.”

“I think it wouldn’t be a problem if I came along?” She grabbed my arm, ready to go.

And I removed it as quickly. “It would, actually.”

She seemed to be speechless for the first time since I met her. “Don’t say you actually fell for her?!”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll proceed with the plan regardless.”

“I hope you will remember about me.”

“Unfortunately, your priorities have become - how to put it - not my priorities.”

“You know what, I thought that Prince Elyon Lawrence wasn’t that much of a wimp. What a disappointment, but it was to be expected. Nevertheless, I’ll find a way. You weren’t that crucial to me after all.”

“Bold of you to say that to the future king who can burst your dreams like a bubble.”

“Oh, please, leave that exchange of pleasantries for your father. You will need that. Bye~!”

I expected her to be more fierce, but it seemed like she wasn’t that invested in her research to be accepted. I guess I could half-sigh in relief. Another half will come after a confrontation with my father.

Standing right before the entrance to the hall made me feel nervous, but I wasn’t afraid. I was determined like I’ve never been before. I stepped inside, my boots echoing the tips and taps. Full of confidence.

I approached the two ornate thrones, on which King and Queen sat, awaiting my arrival. “So, she will take part in it too?” I thought.

“You called for me, father.”

“Yes. There is a matter I need to discuss with you.”

“Is it regarding my future bride, Gia?”

A strong echo resonated upon the hit in the arm made by my now angered father. “Enough of this nonsense! If you want to keep this facade just to irritate us, then I shall be the one to put an end to it,” he said, following him standing up to make it more dramatic.

“You are betrothed to the von Taxiarchos’s girl, not to the girl you picked up from the street. I will not allow my heir to marry a peasant! It would be a disgrace to the whole family! What would other lords say to that? You will not destroy the legacy built over the centuries by my ancestors in a blink of an eye over a mere woman! Do you understand that, young man?”

“I understand,” I answered calmly, surprising both of my parents, “but I’ve never said I will comply with whatever you say.”

“Elyon-!”

“If your son marrying someone out of love, not duty, would be such a disgrace, then I don’t want to be part of it.” King was about to respond, but I didn’t allow him to. “You only look at what snobs will say and never listen to me, and what I want!”

“You’ve always had whatever you wanted!”

“Wealth is not the most important thing in the world! There are more important things, but you seem to forget about them. You see people through a social rank prism, and because of that you underestimate Gia. 

“She’s a breath of fresh air for the nobility, you can’t fake your blindness for that. She’s as smart as I am, but she didn’t have an opportunity to receive the education she deserves; like many others like her. It’s not her fault she was born into poverty, without access to the blessings of technology we use every day. If there are more people like her, the wasted potential is horrendous!

“I’ve always wanted those in need to have access to technology that may ease their already hard lives. We throw away an enormous amount of unused scrap that can be reused by them. It would cost us nothing. So why-”

“You cannot change the reality you live in, son. It is how it has always been, you cannot simply erase the gap between us and them. And with Rense’s Law-”

“I’ve never said I want to erase it, as I know myself it’s impossible. About the Rense’s Law - once I marry, I ascend to the throne. I will become a king. With the power that comes with this role, I will be able to make significant changes. If the law doesn’t want to apply to me, I will change the law.

Moreover, I will become the law myself.”

“You fool! You will bring doom upon the country with your petty demands!”

“I don’t ask for much. Nor have I ever intended to ruin people’s lives any further.

I am your only male heir, father. I simply ask you to accept Gia, and let me rebuild this country for the benefit of all citizens. Otherwise, this will be the last time you see me.”

“Elyon! What are yo-”

“Please stay away from this, mother. This is up to father, whether he wants to comply or not. I won’t change my mind.” 

Seeing my parents on the verge of insanity made me feel fulfilled. I felt a little bit bad for my mother, but it was unavoidable. If I weren’t persistent, they wouldn’t even consider listening to what I have to say.

Taking the long silence as an end of conversation I excused myself to leave them to process the information.

👑

Time passes so quickly it needs only a quick moment of distraction to realize a small bud becomes a beautiful flower. I’ve had one more conversation with my father and we were able to find a solution which made the wolf full and the sheep whole. He was always ugly stubborn but seemed to warm up upon seeing me having an intellect befitting of a king.

It was my wedding day. I never thought I would look forward to that, but with my mother’s support I knew it was going to be a beautiful day. I’ve never seen her so invested in the ceremony. Having in mind I was an only child, I kind of understood her.

Dressed in the most expensive white suit the world has seen, I anxiously waited for my bride behind the church’s door. The royal wedding is a public event, with tens of thousands of people following each of your steps, not even mentioning the ones watching us from afar on telebins. It was suggested to transmit such a once-in-a-life event for the masses. I couldn’t agree more, as it was the beginning of the revolution.

The revolution I was about to marry - of eyes like river water, and hair of pure earth.