The Lost Rose

Chapter 8

Uncle Jacob and I are eating at the end of the long dinner table.

We were served pork with a honey sauce and carrots. As I requested, we are eating dinner and lunch when he can, everyday, together.

It pained me to know he used to eat alone.

With Clarisse, meals were always a moment of sharing. About what happened during our day or what we were going to do. We were trying out new recipes, sometimes really good ones and sometimes not really edible ones...

I miss her. Sometimes at night, before falling asleep I think about her. Where she might be,  why she left me like that and why did she hide me. Why didn't she tell me the truth? I would've stayed with her.

If nobody would've gone for me, even though I would've known about my real identity, I think I would've stayed with her.

- I had some questions, I start, swallowing my food.

-Go ahead, Uncle Jacob looks at me and replies instantly.

- About the great war. I heard stories when I was younger but I don't know the full one. What really happened?

All I know is that it happened 18 years ago and that I was born during it. The blackhearted king, the king of the dark kingdom tried to destroy Eden. He possessed magic from a very ancient force and attacked the four parts of the kingdom.

I know that he didn't succeed.

-You know who is the blackhearted king? Uncle Jacobs asks me

I nod and put a fork of food into my mouth.

-His name was Renton Aartmik. It means "Lonely Soul" in an ancient language.

-That's kind of a sad name... I frown.

-He carried it well. He was a lonely man.

- Was?

- He died after the war was over. One thing that most people don't remember or don't want to is that he was the brother of Logan Aartmik.

I knew I had already heard that name.

- My father, I breath out.

- Yes, he nods. They never got along as kids and it was even worse when they grew up. Something terrible happened to them...

- What was it?

- They fell in love with the same woman.

- Let me guess: my mother? I raise my eyebrows.

- You catch on fast; he smiles discreetly. Your mother and I were from another kingdom. At first, we only came in the south kingdom as visitors. Our two countries wanted to get along and make alliances. And your mother and I met the two heirs of the south kingdom: Logan and Renton.

I stop eating because I'm too much into this story. I didn't know about all that and I really want to know more about my mother's past. Uncle Jacob had already mentioned that he didn't really like my father.

- Your mother fell in love too. With Logan. They got married quite fast and I had to move into the south palace with her too.

- What about Renton? I ask.

- He was devastated. His brother already had everything he wanted: he was the heir to the crown, the oldest, he was his parent's pride and joy and now he got to be with the woman they both loved.

- But it was my mother's choice, right? If he really loved her, he should've accepted to let her go right?

- Well yes, of course.