Aaron couldn't sleep for the past few nights. The gravity of the situation that he, himself created had seriously affected the way he lived that the King and Queen became worried about his well-being. He couldn't eat, sleep, and he refuses to take even the shortest stroll to the palace that he once loved.
The memories flood back to him whenever he sees anything connected to her—be it the garden, the small castle for the future Queen, the banquet hall—everything. It was so overwhelming to him that he could only despair about it.
Lorelei-Therese—his Therese, now hated him. It was practical for his plan—optimal, even, but it was deadly for his heart.
As if the world condemned him for treating her so badly despite knowing how much she tried to be worthy of him, he was informed by his mother of Therese's decision to study in a faraway country—away from him. Her actions indicated to him that she has decided to move forward with her life and to not be bothered by him, the one she claimed to love the most. Even when he tried to convince himself that it was all for the best, he couldn't convince his heart to be happy.
'You are the love of my life, Eros,' Aaron remembered her say when he gave her the Yang flower.
'You are the only one I'll ever love," was what he replied.
"You promise?" Her smile was so intoxicating and he drowned in it.
"I swear."
Remembering this, his heart ached so much that he audibly gasped. He left his luxurious bed and went to his bathroom to reach his scissor. He wanted to operate on himself and remove his heart because the pain was weighing down on him. However, just when he was going to do it, the King suddenly snatched the scissors out of his hands and pulled him through the collars of his pajamas.
"What in the world are you trying to do?" he asked him, fury evident in his purple eyes. "Why are you trying to kill yourself?"
Aaron stared at him with lifeless eyes, to which the King flinched. He never saw such eyes in his life. Even those who were punished with death penalty looked so much livelier compared to his son's.
"What…what happened to you, Aaron? Who made you feel like this? I will execute them!" The King said, anger very evident in his voice that the knights stationed in front of the room suddenly felt scared. The ever gentle King showed a side of him that they never once saw—madness.
To Aaron's thought, the King was the person who made him the way he was, and that he would kill himself if he ever told him the truth.
"No one," Aaron answered and gently slapped the King's hands away from his collar.
"No one means someone," the King said, his eyes deeply concerned and curious at the same time as he removed his hands from the prince. "Are you, by any chance, in love? Or—are you broken hearted?" This time, he smirked and leaned against the door frame while watching his son blush so hard. "Oh, you are! Let me guess—was it the Farenas girl? The brown-haired one?"
"What? No!" Aaron said, fixing his clothes and stretching his neck. "I am not in love with anyone."
"Do not lie to me Aaron, my dearest son. I know you, and I know that look on your face," The King said, absolutely enjoying the scene in front of him. "That is how I looked like when I heard your mom got engaged to another man."
"What?" Aaron asked, because he never heard how his parents met.
"Your mom. I stole her from her fiancé. I courted her, pretending to be a commoner friend so I could be with her until she and her fiancé fought because of me. When they broke up, I courted her even more, still with a commoner disguise, and then when I told her I'd introduce her to my parents, I surprised her with the grandest wedding she could never refuse." The king laughed so hard his eyes teared. "She even refused to spend the night together for a month because of what I did to her. God I love her personality."
"Your Majesty, anyone would react the same way when from a commoner, they instantly became the Queen." Aaron replied, his head spinning at how much chapters his father skipped just to get to keep his mother.
"Why would I give her any chance to escape? This is a lesson for you, my dear son. If you want someone, just send her a wedding proposal! No one could ever deny you because you are the prince." the King exclaimed happily. "I want ten grandchildren, anyway, just letting you know."
"Just…just stop. King. Please," Aaron said as he touched his forehead, still amazed at his father's audacity.
"It's the red head, isn't it?" the King said as Rigel sprinted to the feet of Aaron and he rolled to show him his tummy, demanding belly rubs. "Your eyes looked disgusted when I said the brown-haired girl."
Aaron blushed, but he got scared. He had to remind himself that this was not the father that harmed him—because he hasn't lost his mother.
However, before he could even answer, a servant, short-haired with black eyes, called to the majesties with such haste and panic.
"Your Majesties! The Queen-"
Aaron's world started to fall apart. He thought he had eliminated some risks that may lead to his mother's death, but seeing the maid made him realize how wrong he was.
Suddenly, a cry loudly echoed in the Kingdom's chambers.