Night befell the Kingdom of Natalin and the people started taking out the fire from the lamps that hang outside their houses. One by one, the lights went out and their only source of light was from the glistening moonlight. And in the midst of the sleeping city, one house was still as awake as ever. And in that house, was an 8-year-old boy, who would rewrite their household's history in the future.
"Grandmother! It's time for bed!" The child took his grandmother by the hand and led her up to his room, excited for another interesting story from his grandmother. The child laid on the bed and waited for his grandmother to settle on his bedside. "Well then, shall I tell you a story?" The child nodded in excitement and remained silent until she started.
"Thousands of years ago, there was a witch who lived in the Kingdom of Natalin. She lived quite far from the city. She was known for her tremendous love for men. She always talked about men as a topic in every conversation wherever she went. One day, her friend from whe she was a child, visited her. Her friend, a man, told her his story. The man once had a lover. His lover too, was a man." The boy, curious about something, raised his hand to ask a question. "Can two boys really love each other, grandmother?" The boy, all his life, had only seen man and woman engaged in a romantic relationship. The grandmother nodded. She hoped that her grandchild would grow to understand and be open-minded about issues like this. Seeing the boy being restless, the grandmother carried on with the story. "He told her about how his lover left him for a woman, because he was without the ability to bear him children." The little boy listened to his grandmother's story with full enthusiasm and bright eyes.
The boy nodded furiously as if telling his grandmother to continue. The grandmother chuckled at her adorable grandchild. "While listening to the story, the witch felt heartbroken for her friend who was broken in tears. She was devastated and didn't know what to do. Then, she realized something. That's when she decided to help her friend. She concocted a pill that allowed men to birth children." The boy showed an expression filled with confusion.
"Grandmother, but father said that only ladies could bring babies to the world. Did father lie?" The grandmother smiled and patted the boy's head. "Remember child, it was only possible because she was a witch. She made it possible because she wanted her dearest friend to be happy." The boy looked confused still. "You will understand when the time comes. Shall we continue?" The boy pondered for a while, then he nodded.
"The witch gave the pill to her friend. She told him to drink it when they became lovers again. However, when the man went to his former lover, he was already with child and a family. The friend knew, when he saw his former lover's family, when he finally realized, that he could not break up the family of the one he loved."
"So then, what did he do grandmother?" The boy asked with great curiosity. "He gave the pill back to the witch. He told her it was something which he did not need anymore. The witch hid the pill somewhere. Up to this day, the people still don't know where she kept it. Some of the people still believes it exists, hidden someplace we did not know. However, some gradually thought that it was only a legend, a myth."
The boy was puzzled. He looked at his grandmother who was tucking him to bed. "Then....does grandmother know where it is?" The boy had simply asked a question out of sheer curiosity, and yet the grandmother laughed. She pulled the blanket and tucked her grandchild in bed. "You'll know when you grow older." She kissed her grandchild goodnight and exited his room.
That evening, under the silver moonlight, stood a figure at a distance, on the roof of a building. With her amber eyes and silky red hair blown by the subtle wind, her aura shrouded in mystery. The air around her was tense, and in a swift moment, the figure had vanished.
The grandmother who had seen the figure, felt saddened. "After all these years, won't you be at peace?" The grandmother murmured to herself. And in that moment, a sudden gust of wind put the castle in a state of chaos, but that was a story for another time.
***
15 years later...
"Louis, why don't you consider this lady?" The young man sighed. He took her hand and placed it on top of his own. "Mother, aren't you tired from doing this all day? Please consider yourself being in my place and think about how I feel." The mother studied her son's expression and sighed. "Louis, do you not want to marry? You are already of marriageable age. You're well-versed in etiquette, you have excellent manners, you may not appear to be very smart, but you are rather quick-witted, and your swordsmanship skills don't disappoint. Don't you want to have a person by your side, to support and love you?" The young man smiled at his mother. "Mother, when I meet that person, then I'll chase after them with all of my heart. But, until that time comes, you'll have to hold on to the wedding plans and be patient, okay?" He kissed her on the cheek and bid her goodnight.
Louis believed that his mother was a rather stubborn woman. She believes strongly in her values. However, it can get mentally tiring, keeping up with her. The pressure can be quite overwhelming for a man in his youth. The young man walked down the hallway and the butler greeted him at the bottom of the stairs.
"Young Master. Your cloak." The butler handed Louis a cloak and looked at his young master with a worried expression. "Sire, are you going there again?" Louis took the cloak and patted Francis' shoulder. "Don't worry, Franc. I'll come back in one piece, I promise. Tell my mother not to worry when she doesn't find me in my room." Despite what Louis said, Francis still felt uneasy.
Louis pulled the hood over his head and headed out of their estate.
***
From a brightly lit room in the mansion, was Louis's mother by the window, who witnessed her son's evening escapade.
"Duchess Remington. The Young Master has left." The butler reported from behind the door.
The Duchess Remington looked at where her son walked out of, no emotion showing on her face.