The king's eyes

We finally arrive at the castle. The passage takes us directly to the gardens.

I can’t wait to see my family again, but I dread facing my father.

I don’t see anyone at the moment. We go to the main building. It’s early afternoon, it’s likely that my father will be reunited with the court to give an update on the morning of the city guards and the citizens’ supply needs.

Iris comes to us.

"Satine, Romeo, thank you for coming so quickly.

It wasn’t an emergency either, you know, everyone is panicking for nothing, we’re just annoyed by this whole thing, which doesn’t even concern us after all, huh?

How are you doing? So Kortoga? I can’t wait for you to tell me everything!" She said, nervous.

"Iris, yes, I’m going to tell you everything, but first I have to talk to Dad.

Where is he?" I asked, determined.

"In a meeting. Everyone is there, including the heads of neighboring sections.

Come with me in the living room while waiting, you can talk to him quietly afterward." She proposed.

"Not exactly. If everyone is there, so much the better.

Come, you too Iris.

Oro taking a nap?" I asked

"No, he doesn’t want to take a nap anymore, he’s with Nana, they’re playing at building a fort with cushions."

"Okay, so here we go.

Wish me good luck."

Iris looks at me, confused.

She knows what I’m going to do, she doesn’t know if it’s a good idea, but I know she’s determined to support me, she takes my hand and holds it tight, before accompanying me to my father.

I knock on the door of the throne room and enter.

Iris and Romeo follow me.

"Satine?

We were just talking about the underground routes that will soon be exploitable, can you enlighten us?" My father asked me.

"Hello, dad.

Yes, I’ll tell you about it right after, but before that, I’m very stressed so I need to address it now.

You called me for a reason, you have questions for me, and I’m listening." I said, no wasting time.

"..Satin. It’s not quite a summons.

Let’s just say that some rather slanderous information has reached you so far.

Which really irritated me."

My father stares at Romeo for a few seconds. And that upsets me. He pursues:

"So, since you’re here with us, you’ll be able to explain to everyone in this room, that people got carried away with this story, and that you and Romeo are just old friends."

My father has a chilling look. This look will always impress me...

But it’s my life, I don’t have to be ashamed of my feelings. I have to talk for myself, finally.

“No, Dad. I don’t know what you heard, but it’s probably true.

Romeo is the man I love and have chosen.”

He takes two seconds to take a deep breath, then resumes.

“Okay, I’m going to ask you all to leave the room, I need to talk to my daughter.”

I see everyone rise from their seats, but I intervene.

“No, stop!

I want everyone to hear it Dad, I don’t want to hide it anymore.

I’ve been in love with this man since I met him when I was 17.

I never forgot him, there was only him in my heart and in my mind, even after 6 years.

I know you were hoping it would pass me, I know you want someone else for me, besides I wonder who finds favor in your eyes to deserve my hand, but it’s him!

He’s the only one I want to share my life with, and I don’t understand why I should hide it, why it should be forbidden.

Don’t look at him like that!

He had nothing to do with it, he left when I begged him to stay, he did everything to make me forget him, to find someone else while he loves me, him too.

It was I who went looking for him, it was I who implored him to keep me in his life!

He was keen not to disappoint you, he spent HIS LIFE doing what was asked of him, acting without making waves, he has forbidden himself to have a free life AND THAT'S NOT FAIR!”

My anger is great, but my pain prevails, so I start to sob...

“Dad, you know who he is, you know he’s perfect for me, he’s the other half that completes me...

I am fire, he is water,

he is calm and I am the storm,

I am red, he is the blue,

he is the sun and I am the night,

he is the angel, and I am the demon...

You said Iris was your light in your darkness... He’s mine...

He always was... I’m nothing without him...

Please...

I don’t want to ask anyone’s permission to love the man of my life, but I want you to approve...

I need my father to approve me...

Dad...”

My father is moved by my confession, I know it...

But I’m still so afraid that he will reject me...

"Dad, I need you in my life... Please don’t reject me... I'm begging you to not deny me..."

"Satine, stop..." He said, cutting me.

I see tears flowing from his eyes, he abruptly leaves his seat...

When I think he’s going to leave the room, my heart sinks...

But I see him heading straight for me.

He embraces me in his big arms so that I cry on his shoulder.

I crack, I release all my pain, all the shame of having probably disappointed him when I simply ask to be able to love the one I have chosen...

I feel that my father is very shaken... And that he wants to reassure me.

“Satine, I will never deny you, never... How can you believe it even for a second... I am here, and I will always be here,

even if you are linked with Romeo”

I feel him chuckling while crying against me. I pull out of his embrace to see Romeo’s face moved, he has tears in his eyes, too, and laughs at having heard my father teasing him.

My father walks over to Romeo, holds him by the shoulders, and says:

“I was tough on you.

You didn’t deserve to be doubted.

I’ve never doubted you since I let you go, I wanted you to know that.”

He hugs him, too, with that affectionate pat on the back.

“I will be unfair to stand in your way, I know when a battle is lost.

Welcome to the family, Romeo, if you ever left it.”

My father walks towards Iris, and the members of the court rise, moved, to applaud us.

Joan smiles at me, I know he’s happy for me.

“Kids.

Despite everything, there remains a shadow on the board."

My father brings us back to reality, indeed, we are not alone.

"We are the royal family.

With all due respect to Romeo, he is Shezaar’s son. It may not be acceptable to the people for the queen to marry the heir of the most dangerous wizard in history.

We need to talk about it." He said.

I have to continue.

"It’s already decided. Dad, I relinquish my title."

"Sorry?" He said, shocked. I pursue:

"You all heard right. I never wanted to be queen, it’s not for me.

I am an enthusiast, an adventurer...

I want to travel the kingdom when I want, live sometimes with the demons, sometimes with the villagers, I want to fight with the soldiers, ride on the back of a terrabuse, party with the goblins, eat and drink what I want, I want to dance the tango with all the passion of the world without being afraid of what people will say...

I want to enjoy life, be free, have a child if I want, and not by an obligation of inheritance, and I no longer want to sit at the big gathering!!

Joan...

Joan is the perfect future king. He is already in this role naturally, he has always been delighted to follow in your footsteps!

He’s perfect, dad.

He will be a great king just like you, and I will be even more honored if possible, to be his sister.

Call me what you will if I need a rank, but he is the king, this throne and this title are not chains for him, when they are for me."

Joan looks at me, shocked. He doesn’t know what to say, but he knows I’m right.

My father too.

He looks at me and nods his head.

Yes, everyone’s place is important, especially when you know which one is the right one.

End of the intermediate book “Satine's Destiny”