On a hot summer's day twenty-nine years ago, Ernest was born. He was the third child of the royal couple and the first son.
As a Prince, he had many obligations as he grew up. The duties of a Royal were not all fun. Even so, there were no problems with food or clothing. He knew the life he lived induced great envy in many people. As a royal, he did appreciate this.
But even though he understood that he was lucky, he still would have liked to run away, for he felt that his life, at his tender age, was harsh.
'Well, well, look who we have here.'
Ernest had gone to the library to find materials for the assignment that his tutor had given him. He had only pushed the door to enter when he heard the familiar voice behind him.
He turned to see his elder sisters; Tierra and Lucia.
'Tierra, Lucia…'
The two young girls glared at him; they looked at him as though they had found prey worth bullying.
'Ernest, it looks like you have nothing to do.' Tierra said maliciously, 'I am busy preparing for a tea party; I need you to finish my assignments and tasks by the end of today,' holding out her books to him.
'How sly, elder sister. Well Ernest, mine as well.' Lucia added
His two elder sisters always pushed their assignments on him. What did the tea ceremonies matter; isn't it just to ridicule others and listen to gossip?
'Elder sisters, our tutor set the assignments for your improvement. So…' kindly do them yourselves.
But Tierra had grown jealous of Ernest's emerging excellence, replied, 'What? You're just a spare part. Are you using that to refuse me?' Her sharp tones pierced his eardrums.
'No, I wasn't trying to…' Ernest replied stepping away from her.
'Sister, calm down.' Lucia said over both of them, 'Ernest, calm down too.'
'I'm sure you only asked Ernest in error, right?' Lucia asked. (Zuben: you asked him to do yours too.)
'Lucia…?'
'Because, sister, you are the next ruler of our country. This sort of thing should be easy for you to accomplish.' Lucia said with an air of confident exasperation. Although, Ernest thought she was taking the opportunity to needle Tierra out of the frustration amassed from following her around obediently.
'You should have just agreed from the start; you should be happy to use the brains acknowledged by mother and father.' Tierra said sarcastically. With a huff of resentment, she took back her school books, she turned on her heel making her lovely dress swing out around her and walked off.
Lucia quickly followed after her.
They seemed to find it fun to use their brother to relieve their everyday trivial squabbles.
Ernest sighed once they were out of sight, and entered the library.
'They're the worst.'
Their parents were usually away at dinner, so the four children had dinner by themselves. Rosemary was still a baby under one. While they all quietly ate, the third Princess, Lydia, puffed out her cheeks in displeasure,
'I hate this vegetable.' It was asparagus marinated in a paprika and lemon marinade.
The marinade coated the taste of the vegetables with the acidity of lemon; Ernest did not like it either. He also wanted to avoid things he didn't like. But the food had been prepared by the chef in charge of Ernest's health. He could not leave it uneaten.
Lydia's grey eyes shone as she saw her elder brother eating the food, 'Brother, you seem to like this marinade.'
'No Lydia, I also don't-'
'I will give you my asparagus since you like it so much.' Lydia said putting her uneaten asparagus and marinade in his plate without listening to him.
He had been eating the food trying not to think about it.
Ernest tried to return the food, but Tierra lifted her red lips in a sneer like a little devil,
'Oh Ernest, you must be so happy to have a kind sister like Lydia.'
'Tierra…?'
'Or something. You are recognized as a candidate to the throne, how could you not accept the delicate kindness of your younger sister?'
Tierra was well aware Ernest did not like the marinade.
Lucia smiled in malicious glee.
The fourth princess, Pricilla, also piped up, 'That's unfair, Lydia! Ernest, Pricilla will also give you all my marinade and asparagus.'
She hopped out of her chair and brought her plate round to Ernest. She was innocent of Tierra's machinations; she just wanted to get rid of the marinade.
'My my, Pricilla is such a good girl.' Lucia said.
'Am I? Am I a good girl, Lucy?'
'Yes, very much so.'
'Yay, I gave Ernest the marinade.'
'Wonderful, Priscilla. Isn't that right, Ernest?' Lucia laughed derisively as she tucked her red-brown hair behind her ear. She didn't have silver hair like her brother which was a trait of the Berghausen royals. (Zuben: Even so are people going to say: Look, there goes Lucia, her hair is red; the queen shagged someone else?)
His two older sisters took great pleasure in Ernest's discomfiture. In truth, his younger sisters were unconsciously similar to their older sisters; they took great pleasure in torturing Ernest. (Zuben:
They are being taught)
His elder sisters were vicious.
His younger sisters were cunning.
Living in such a miserable environment; Ernest was unable to fight back.