Charles

~~~

Today, Mark came to visit me again. He seemed more stressed than ever, so I offered him to stay the night. Hi made that apologetic smile he always did, only today it looked much more like a grimace. For a second I thought he grinned at me like a wolf, ready to rip my throat out... but then the image was gone.

"You know I can't, as much as I'd like too," he said. Just like last time.

I changed my offer for him to just stay the day, to rest for a bit, secretly relieved that he wouldn't be staying too long. After all, I said to Mark, he is the Lord - it's his choice as to what he does with his time. After a bit of consideration, he agreed, and sent his guards back to the town to inform his advisers that he is going to be missing for the rest of the day and shall only return in the evening.

Today I finally left the house, with my brother by my side. We spent about two hours leisurely walking along the shoreline of the lake and talking pleasantly. Mark told me how he's finally started to get the realm under control, and how all his advisers were backstabbers and only cared about amassing as much power as they could.

I joked that his life seemed almost tougher than mine, and he laughed. Seeing that made me feel nice. I'd do anything to make him feel better. Anything for him... Anything but my life.

Mark left late this evening. He seemed somewhat rested, and his face - previously strained by stress, - was calm. He no longer reminded me of the grinning wolf I saw within him this morning. Now he was more like a holy lamb that deserves the world to fall at its hooves.

Somehow, seeing him relax calmed me down, and inspired some kind of bravery within me. I'm considering returning to the white house with the flowers, and finally finding out who lives there. It's about time for me to get over my silly fears. I can not succumb to this insanity. I must not become like my father.