WHEN THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF KING ALDRICH IV REACHED THE KING MARQUIS HE IMMEDIATELY CALLED EGON THE FOURTH PRINCE OF BARAT AND SON OF KING ALDRICH IV. He is currently studying at a prestigious institution in the Northern Kingdom.
The King of the Utara was standing near the window of his office inside his Palace. Observing the outside area of his Kingdom. His two hands are behind his back while moving and playing with his right hand the two round resin-colored stones. He repeatedly sighed because of what he heard and the possible reaction of his friend.
The door to his room opened and Prince Egon entered. His smile was wide as always when he saw his friend the King.
"Your Majesty!" Greetings of the Fourth Prince Egon to the King of Utara, King Marquis. He bowed in respect to him.
"You're here Egon." That King and he has faced It too.
"What is the reason why you summoned me? Your Majesty?" He said as he approached the King.
"Please Egon, how many times do I have to tell you to call Marquis when we're together." Scratching his head, he said while also getting closer to his friend the Prince.
"But Your Majesty..." He said with concern.
"Don't worry, no one else will hear this and one more thing. Most people know that we are friends."
"I will follow your-.... Yes my friend Marquis." This is it. The friends are facing each other and Prince Egon sees the sadness in the eyes of his friend the King but he has no idea what is going on. "Why did you call me here? Is there a problem my friend?" He said.
The King didn't speak immediately, he was just looking at his friend.
"Don't be surprised by what I tell you." He also said it but the sadness is still in his eyes.
"I'm ready for whatever news I will hear." He said while smiled slightly.
King Marquis hesitated to tell the bad news to his friend but his friend needs to know about what happened to his father.
"Your Father the King is dead. King Aldrich is dead. He died on his way back to your Kingdom from the Huba Empire." At last the King told the Prince.
The earlier smile on the Prince's lips gradually disappeared and the earlier smiling eyes were replaced by rolling tears.
All the memories that Prince Egon had accumulated of his father the King flashed into his mind. All his memories with him. Happy memories that will last a lifetime and will be lost because of the news he heard from his friend.
The Prince could not immediately speak what he heard from the mouth of King Marquis. The King also knows that there are many questions that arise in the Prince's mind, questions that he cannot answer either. He also knows the feeling of losing a loved one from the death of his brother and his successor, the King of the Utara. He knows the pain of how to relieve the mind of someone who has left behind all the happy moments they shared. Happy memories that will never be experienced again.
He was just looking at his friend who still didn't speak nor was like a statue in front of him that didn't move. He felt pity for him. That's why he walked towards it.
He grabbed the stunned Prince by the shoulder. When the prince felt this, his mind came back to his senses. He stared at the King and many questions came to his mind.
"When did this just happen?" He asked the King.
"According to the letter that was sent to me from your Kingdom, this also happened today." His voice was sad while saying those words.
"Is that news really true, Marquis?" He asked this question to confirm to his friend because his heart still can't get rid of the news he heard. He still not believe it.
"Yes, that news is true." This is it. "Take courage, my friend Egon."
The prince couldn't hold back the tears he was trying to hide and fighting to escape. Because he knows his friend can't lie.
He just bowed as the tears continued to flow from both his cheeks. If you look at it, it looks like a child who loses his way in the middle of a crowd
"I am sorry for the death of your father the King." This is it.
Who wouldn't be sad if they heard that someone had lost one of their family members? Who wouldn't be sad if you suddenly remember all the happy things?
The King immediately approached the Prince, hugged and gently rubbed the Prince's friend's back. During the Prince's two-year stay in the Northern Kingdom, they became close and secure with each other.
"I have prepared the carriage that will take you back to your Kingdom." Marquis said as he broke free from the embrace.
"Thank you very much. My friend King." He said with greatful. "Forgive my behavior. I looked like a child in front of a King." He tried to smile, but the sadness that you can see in his eyes still did not leave the King's eyes.
"Anyone will look like a child when they know they lost the one they love the most in life. Even me. If you are lost, I will also look like a child because you are one of the important people in my life."
"Thank you Marquis."
"You also need to be strong for your sister and your Mother. They need you in these moments."
"You're right my friend. I remember them too. Especially my mother what will happened to her when she heard what happened to my Father."
They talked for a while inside the room of the King of Utara. Trying to lighten the sudden weight that his friend feels on the bad news he heard. It wasn't long before someone knocked on the door and spoke from the outside shouting that the guard was there and a door was opened and a soldier walked in and immediately knelt down.
"The carriage is ready, Your Majesty." Said the soldier who entered the room.
The King nodded and the two of them walked out of the room together and went to the room where the Prince was staying. King Marquis immediately summoned his servants to help the Prince pack his things.
"Don't worry my friend." Egon said.
"Just sit on it and let the assistants put away your equipment."
There is nothing he can do but follow the orders of his friend the King. After a while, the summoned helpers entered and they began to clean up and packed up. The King did not take the friend to the outside of the Kingdom because he still had a meeting with his Ministers. His Chief Assistant and only one soldier escorted it to the outside of the Palace.
Prince Egon couldn't even fully imagine the tragedy that happened to his father the King. Because he knows that he is skilled in fighting because since childhood his father has taught him to handle different types of weapons, different types of fighting. If the one he was riding in fell down like his friend King said, he could easily get out of the carriage and save his life.
He was thinking about this so much that he just fell asleep.
The journey of the Fourth Prince made back to their Kingdom was peaceful. Right at the gate you can see the plain colored flags, even the suits of the soldiers guarding there. They stopped in front of it for a moment to show the identity of the rider of the carriage. When they recognized it, they immediately opened the door for the newcomer to enter. Even some of the Helpers who were there and walked inside the Kingdom were also wearing pure clothing.
After the Prince got off the Carriage, together with Captain Adem and the soldiers, they immediately went to the Palace of Garam, the Palace of his Mother, Danih. The Aides and Followers who were there immediately bowed to see the Fourth Prince approaching them. A follower yelled to inform the people inside the palace of the arrival of the Fourth Prince. After his announcement, the palace door immediately opened and the Prince entered from there while Captain Adem was left outside. When his mother and sister saw him, they immediately hugged him.
"It's good that you got back here safely." Said the Royal Consort.
"By the mercy of God My Dear Mother. How about you Mother, how are you?" The prince asked as he noticed the sadness on her face.
"It's sad, because of the passing of your Father the King, but I have to be strong for you and for your sister, my children." This is it.
"You are right Mother, even we must be strong for the whole Kingdom." Here and after that, the shedding of his tears because of the memories that came to his mind. Happy memories with father the King.
They continued their conversation until the fifth of the afternoon because he was going to the Bekam Palace. The Queen's Palace to pay respect to his arrival. Just like in the Palace of Garam when the Assistants and Followers saw him in the Palace of Bekam they also bowed and simultaneously greeted the arrival of the Prince. When the door of the Palace opened, he entered immediately. The Queen was sitting in the living room of her Palace with her children Prince Aenes, Princess Kriesha and Prince Kaiser. He knelt as a sign of respect to the Queen as soon as he approached.
"A blessed day to you, Dear Queen Xena." He said this while bending down and placing his right hand on his chest.
The Queen motioned for him to stand up, which he did.
When he stood up, he bowed to his brothers in respect to those who were superior to him.
"Blessed day to you too Fourth Prince Egon. May your journey back here to our Kingdom be safe and peaceful." She said.
"Yes Dear Queen. With the help of the King of the Utara. I was able to return here safely."
"Send a letter to him and convey my thanks."
"I will follow, Dear Queen."
"I will rest in my room first. Prince Aenes, you take care of your brother first." She said to her eldest son.
"I will mother." Saying this before the Queen walked to her room. When the Queen disappeared from their sight, the four of them went out to walk around and accompany their brother to the Temple of Mourning where the remains of the King were kept.
As they walked, they talked about what happened with their Father. Even the First Prince is also suspicious of their Father's death. Even he knew his Father's ability, so it was impossible for him to die that easily.
In front of the Temple of Mourning stood there the Third Prince Claudius with his sister the Second Princess Chiara and the Third Princess Evonne. The three of them bowed to pay respect to the Queen's children while Prince Egon bowed to pay respect to the son and dauther of the Second Rank Royal Consort. The First Prince led the entrance to the Temple of Mourning.
All the people there bowed and paid their respects to the Princes and Princesses of the Kingdom.
IN THE ROOM WHERE THE REMAINS OF THE KING ARE STILL THERE ARE THE MONKS WHO CONTINUE TO PRAY UNTIL THE NINTH DAY OF THE KING'S DEATH.
They sat on the empty seat there and quietly listened to the prayers of the monks.
..
In the Discussion Center of the place where the twelve ministers of the Kingdom meet.
The ministers sat quietly in front of the table as they waited for the Most Prime Minister to come to the Discussion Room to discuss the important matters left behind by their King, discussions to focus on, problems to be addressed and the most important thing they should pay attention to is the Appointment of the Crowned Prince who will succeed as King of the Kingdom of Barats.
All those around the table stood up when the door of the Discussion Room opened and the Most Prime Minister entered the room.
"Good evening Most Prime Minister Garateo." They greeted him at the same time when he was seated, the other Ministers also sat down while the Left Prime Minister, Marino, remained standing.
"After we escorted the Dear King to his final destination, Minister Augusto, and Most Prime Minister Garateo and I decided to immediately begin the selection of the Crowned Prince who will take the throne as King." He started.
"And in all of King Aldrich's remaining tasks. The Most Prime Minister has decided that Minister Marino will be the one to handle it. I am the one assigned to lead for the selection of the next King."Said the Right Prime Minister Augusto. "Here in my hand is the list of who will be with us in all the activities." He raised his right hand holding the parchment and opened it. He looked at his fellow Ministers for a moment before reading it aloud.
"IN PREPARATION FOR THE ELECTION OF THE CROWNED PRINCE AND SUCCESSOR AS THE KING OF BARAT. Minister Dagum From The Armed Forces Department, Minister Sato From The Finance Department, Minister Hamparo From The Education Department, Minister Laurel From The Justice And Rights of People Department, and Minister Quiroz of the Health Department. Those assigned to the interim management of the Kingdom. Minister Sindayan of the Agriculture and Commerce Department, Minister Poeyo of the Transportation Department, Minister Ansona of the Communications Department and Minister Alib of the Local Labor Department. " After the Right Prime Minister read what was written, each of them faced and nodded to each other.
Gathered at different tables were each minister assigned to their respective roles led by the Right Prime and Left Prime Ministers. The Most Prime Minister, on the other hand, stayed in his seat while thinking about what might happen while they still had no King appointed. There is the possibility of attacking the bandits and other Kingdoms who want to conquer their Kingdom or that is why the rulers have neglected their People in different parts of the Kingdom. Just a few seconds can happen What is in his mind.
...
After their three-hour stay inside The Temple of Mourning, the First Prince stood up followed by his younger brothers and they came out together.
The atmosphere was dark when they came out from the inside of the temple. Only the chirping of quolls and birds is what you will hear in the silence of the environment. The people outside the temple bowed to the Royal brothers and simultaneously went to the backs of their leaders.
"We'll be leaving first, First Prince." Prince Egon bids farewell to his older brother. After bowing, his sister Princess Evonne and her Assistants and Followers followed.
"I'll send a carriage to pick you up." That First Prince offered but they refused. "You two be careful" it added.
"I'll follow you." he said before they left the room with their Assistants and Followers.
The First Prince was about to call for a carriage for his remaining brothers but they refused his offer, so they walked together under the light of the moon.
"What will happen to our Kingdom now that our father is gone." Prince Claudius asked as they walked.
Silence prevailed again before Prince Aenes spoke.
"Don't think about that thing. Let's think about what's happening now. The Ministers of the Kingdom are there to think about the appropriate steps for our Kingdom." This is the answer.
"Brother is right, Claudius. Let the Ministers talk about the Kingdom. We still have a lot to do, especially with the upcoming delivery to our father's final destination. We still have to prepare for it." That Princess Kreisha.
"You are right, Prince Aenes and Princess Kriesha. Patience is what I thought." Said Prince Claudius.
They continued their walk to the gate of the Mourning Temple before they went their separate ways.
In the Place of Wisdom, the school of the Nobles and Highnesses of the Kingdom in the northeastern part of the Kingdom were the Ministers assigned to plan the steps for the election of the Crowned Prince. Laid out on a long table were the opinions and suggestions of other Ministers even the Mother of Officials in the Kingdom. They even asked their subjects to get their opinion for their future King.
One by one they look at it and read every paper they can touch. Thinking carefully their criteria in choosing their new leader.
The customary tradition in selecting a new Crowned Prince they will follow.
Five tests. That's what every Prince will face as they struggle to become the Crowned Prince. Different types of tests to see their weaknesses and strengths in different aspects of their tenure. Tests to measure their abilities as a King.
After being appointed as a Crowned Prince the chosen Crowned Prince will again go through another step and will be under probation for six months for the evaluation. To find out if their chosen Crowned Prince really has the right to be the King of their Kingdom
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