Esther (Herobrine x Reader)

Part 7: The King's a Hypocrite

"...thought I, for the Eastern wind may blow, and the winter's chill may bight, but.." A voice --masculine-- narrated an ancient tale as you lay there asleep. Only as you came to did you hear the man's words. You groaned under the covers, annoyed now that you couldn't roll over to relieve your sore back. The man paused. "..How much of that did you he-"

"Just woke up." You spoke tiredly, one of your arms now having to fight its way out from under the blankets just so you could rub your forehead. "Who is-" In the process of rubbing one of your sleepy eyes, your head rotated to the left. Your mind stopped. It was the king himself! There, sitting in a chair beside your bed, though a little distance away, was Herobrine. You immediately wanted to sit up, but knew what that would cost you.

"I apologize for not coming sooner. My...men were.. unable to wake me." His head lowered some in shame.

"No- no. It's fine!"

"I heard your back was hurt. Are you paralyzed in any way?" He asked, honestly worried, to your surprise.

"...no.." Quickly turning to scan the other side of your bed, you saw the empty spot where Kim had been before. "Where is-"

"Kim got up a few hours ago. Last I heard, she was with my brother." He informed. Though you were glad to hear she was doing alright, you also greatly wished you had your emotional support here. You wanted to speak, but, you couldn't find any words to speak. "I heard you fell while trying to escape.. I am... truly sorry.."

"Ohh no.. it's not your fault, I-"

"-I should have told you I left the side door unlocked and lead the guards around it to other stations." He sighed. "I had no idea you would take the riskier route.."

A brow of yours lifted a little. "Wait.. so, you purposefully-"

"-I didn't want to see you cooped up like some caged animal... Though my mother loves me so, she forgot to consider the opinions of the people.. my people. It is my job as your king to see that you live freely... And..it is my job as a..basic being with a strong moral code..that any human with innocence in their heart be kept from any cages.... Yes.. I am saying I tried to give you an easy way out. That way, I could let you go, and at the same time prove to Mother that her way simply wouldn't work. Of course.. now..." Sigh. "She refuses to believe it was a failed escape attempt, so sure in her mind that her way is the right way, she believes it was a mere accident on your part."

"...You sound like you have a very confusing mother."

"I do." He laughed.

"-About that moral code of yours.." You couldn't help but speak the nagging thought in your mind before it was completely irrelevant to the conversation. "..What is your stance with your...enemies? How do you think they should be treated?"

Herobrine sat for a moment. Then, thinking, he shifted in his chair a little bit, finally putting down the thick book he had been holding on the small table by your bed.

"Good question.." he milled over the question in his head. "I would say..they should be treated with respect.. -unless, and this is unless.. they have committed a terrible crime either against you that you must stand against..or against another, who can not defend themself against this common enemy."

"And.. does this count for all kinds of enemies..?" You tried getting to the real heart of your question without making it obvious. "For instance... Say one country has done something terrible to another.. You have since conquered and gotten rid of all the bad rulers in that country!... What do you do with its remains..?"

"Hmm?" Herobrine smiled a little as he rubbed his chin. "I like your questions... What would you do?"

"I'll only answer after you have answered." You smirked back at him.