Chapter 200

It was a day that neither him nor Leo could ever forget. A warm breeze was in the summer air. Crown Prince Leo had taken a walk with Prince Curtis to practice swordsmanship. It was something that Leo excelled in compared to Curtis.

Every chance Leo got he would walk his brother out behind the palace to practice together. Prince Leo had wanted to be a good brother to his siblings. Since the youngest prince was always weak of health he would never be able to do something as rough as swordsmanship. It became something only the two eldest brothers could do together.

Curtis was not much younger then Leo so growing up they were often complimented as if they were twins. In the public Curtis always acted bright and kind of heart. It was in his nature to act in this manner because the royal family always had to hold their head up high in front of others. They had to show their kindness to those they would one day rule over.

"Have you gone to visit Emery?" Prince Leo asked his brother while the two of them walked together.

"No." Prince Curtis answered still a weak smile.

"You know he worries about you even though he is the one that is weak bodied. You should visit him sometime in the future just to let him know your alive. He can't come out like the two of us can so he often worries one of us might not return home one day." Prince Leo laughed. At the time he had merely found the youngest prince's thoughts a fruitless joke. It felt like they would always live together like things were.

Prince Curtis and Prince Leo readied their swords.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Having practiced together a number of times they knew each other's movements almost as if it was their own. This was something they both learnt naturally over times. After sparring one another over the years it came natural to them. It allowed them both to push forward as they had to seek new sights of their own to look for openings and correct their own mistakes.

This was because Prince Curtis's movements were ruthless. He did not hold back against his older brother, Leo. When Curtis sparred with someone he took the match seriously as if he was fighting with his life on the line. Always wanting to come out on top of the other person in the end.

"We are part of the royal family. One of us might really not come back one day!" Curtis snickered under his breath at the thought of it. That was how royal families really were. Most royal families were nothing but a blood bath for the throne.

"You know father doesn't want things to come to that." Prince Leo understood his brother's worry. A prince would always have to fight on the front line. They had an obligation to the people under them. As a royal family member your life was never safe but it was still considered precious. More precious then the life of a commoner. Sometimes that thought could even drive kings to become arrogant about themselves.

Prince Leo would never understand the depth of what Prince Curtis felt. As a second prince his life was even more dangerous as he grew. The older Curtis got the more duties he had to uphold. Prince Leo was the crown prince which meant his life was top priority among the three children. Prince Curtis had to hold out duties in place of Prince Leo that could but the crown prince's life at risk.

Prince Leo was not kept completely out of the spotlight. He still managed many things that were considered dangerous. Though when it came to a matter of which prince's life would be gambled for the dirtiest jobs Curtis was the one who was pushed into the muck of it all.

What would Prince Leo know? He barely understood. No. Leo never knew how their father, as king, was forced to choose one of his children to do the dirty jobs. That King Hamelot had sacrificed Prince Curtis's mental health for the throne.

The king had loved his children but there was no way he could keep them safe from the filth of the world. There had also been no way a king could turn a blind eye to tasks that were considered dirty. This forced Prince Curtis to become the one who carried out those tasks that someone needed to do.

Curtis had done so much for their father. He had done things that no average human could shoulder. The praise that Crown Prince Leo received was never directed towards him. Perhaps it was because the king felt too much guilt over what he knew Prince Curtis was doing. Knowing that he was slowly breaking that child over the years.

Prince Curtis had never raised complaint about his duties. When he was young he did hesitate at first but once he got a taste of that darkness it sunk into him like it was meant to be part of him. In front of others he always carried a care free smile that could light up the room.

The throne, by right, should be mine. Prince Curtis thought. Those filthy things he did for the royal family flashing through his mind like a haunting nightmare in the daylight.

Clang! Clang!

"Curtis! What are you doing?" Prince Leo began to panic as he felt Curtis becoming more violent in the sparring. He felt like his brother would really cut him down if he missed a single chance to block Curtis.

Thud! Thud!

Prince Leo's sword dropped to the ground as he lost his grip on it. His own body collapsing on his back in the grass. In front of him he could see Curtis standing there with a grim look in his eyes.

"There is no such thing as a royal family who doesn't make sacrifices." Prince Curtis glared down at his brother, Leo on the ground shivering.

"Your Highness, are you alright?!" A few servants shouted as they came running at the sight of the crown prince on the ground.

They were rushing to help Prince Leo to his feet. Catching a glimpse at Prince Curtis's gaze they paused.

"What is going on here?" King Hamelot's voice caused everyone to flinch.

Gazes all swept in the direction of the king. All the servants giving him a respectful bow as he stepped in the direction of his two princes. The gaze in his eyes was enough to cause the entire area to feel tense. The silence feeling suffocating.

"Father, we were just sparring." Prince Leo said as he pressed the servants to finish helping him up. He was hoping to ease the tension in the air. Feeling that King Hamelot was already feeling upset towards his brother.

"I was asking Prince Curtis." King Hamelot silenced Prince Leo. "Prince Curtis, what were you doing with your brother just now?"

"We were sparring." Prince Curtis swallowed his pride as he answered his father just as his brother had done. Gaze falling to the ground as his teeth tightened together. His father's gaze felt full of pressure as if he was inspecting him.

"That better be all it was." King Hamelot decided to leave the matter alone.

Curtis felt like his head was heavy as his eyes opened. He could still hear the haunting sound of his father's voice in the back of his mind. Dreams of his past were haunting him lately. The life he had with his family would never be something he would see again. He did not know why it felt like something was chasing him in his dreams.