Chapter Text
The knock on my door woke me from the sleep I had settled into. “Who is it?” I asked still half asleep, wondering who would dare to wake me at such an outrageous hour.
“Lord Kerwyn, Your Highness. May I enter?” came a voice from the other side of the door.
That got my attention, my eyes flew open and I quickly realized that 1) I had fallen asleep at my desk and my back did not like that, 2) it was already quite late in the morning and I was late to breakfast, and 3) I had important papers that I didn’t want anyone, including Kerwyn, to see lying on my desk in plain sight.
“Just one moment.” I yelled through the door stuffing the papers into a backpack that I stuffed into my suitcase. “Come in.” I said when I was done.
Kerwyn opened the door and bowed, “I realize you are upset that your parents are sending you away, but I thought you would at least eat breakfast with them. It will be a while before you get to do so again, Your Highness.”
“I.. oh, yes, well I meant to but I was up late… getting ready.” I said grabbing the shirt I had laid out for today last night and quickly changing. “There, off to breakfast.” I turned to leave.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes Kerwyn.” I said turning around to face him.
Kerwyn smiled, “You have ink on your face.” He said grabbing a wet sponge from the bowl on my dresser and wiping the ink off. “There, that’s better.”
“Thanks.” I said before practically running to the dining room.
When I entered the room, my father gave me a disapproving look for being late, but at least he wasn’t scolding me for having ink on my face. Thank you Kerwyn. I took my seat and the food was promptly brought out.
We ate in silence for a few minutes and I almost thought it would have been better if I had stayed in my room. I suddenly realized that I would greatly prefer this silence to any discussion about regarding the fact that I was being sent away.
But of course, that couldn’t be avoided. “I’m sure you’ll make lots of friends in Bymar.” My mother said, “it won’t be forever Jaron.”
“I’m not making any friends in Bymar.” I said through gritted teeth. It was unfair of me to take my anger out on her, but I was angry. My family was sending me away. It wasn’t them I was angry at though; I was angry at myself for giving them a reason to send me away.
“Jaron,” Darius said softly, “promise me you will try to make the most of your situation, at least try to make friends. You might find going to school in Bymar to be a pleasant experience if you just try to enjoy it.”
I sighed. I looked him in the eyes, “Fine. I promise that I will try to make the most of my situation and make friends.” Darius smiled, so did my mother, my father just relaxed a little. Probably hoping that by ‘make the most of my situation’ I don’t mean ‘try my hardest to get in as much trouble as I can’.
Unfortunately for him, that might be a valid concern. “I need to finish packing.” I said hurrying out before they could object.
Back in my room I straightened the papers I had put away earlier and put some clothes and other items inside the backpack as well. Then shut the backpack in the suitcase.
No way was I going to Bymar. I think a nice vacation to some beach would be nice. I heard there were some private beaches in southern Avenia, maybe I could sneak onto one.
Then I could move forward with the rest of my plan.
It was almost time to leave. I still had to see Kerwyn one last time, I had something to give him. As if on cue, another knock came to the door.
I opened it to see Kerwyn. After letting him into the room he said, “I’m going to miss you, Your Highness.”
“I’m going to miss you to Kerwyn, but I’ll be back eventually.” He was about to say something else but I started talking before he had the chance, “There is something I need you to keep safe for me.”
I pulled out a small envelope with a red wax seal on it. “Keep it safe, open it only when I return.”
He raised an eyebrow but tucked the envelope into a hidden pocket. He didn’t say whatever he had been about to earlier. “Your carriage is ready, Your Highness.” He said instead.
“Right.” I said half heartedly smiling. I started to leave but paused at the door. I ran back and almost knocking him onto the bed embracing him in a hug. “See you someday.” I said trying to hold back tears.
To my relief he hugged me back, something I always wished my father would do, but he wasn’t exactly a touchy feely kind of person.
Then, I left.