39 Chapter 25: A Tearful Farewell

IVORY:

"Your brother, Prince Raven, has collapsed!"

What?!

"Ivory let's go back to the palace!" Kyle decided quickly, his sapphire eyes alarmed as he grabbed my arm.

"Run, run, run!" I pulled him, "Let's just run back to the palace, it'll be quicker than calling a carriage!"

"…I only hope Raven's okay." I heard Kyle mumbled quietly as we ran.

***

"Hey, are you okay?!" I shouted, as the door slammed against the wall and nearly fell off its hinges.

Raven lay in bed, his cheeks pale, as a cloth lay against his forehead. Kyle's footsteps thundered loudly as he rushed to Raven's side.

"I'm so sorry, little brother." Kyle choked quietly, yet it seemed to ring loudly in the very, very silent room, "I should've found a way to prevent it."

Raven smiled bitterly, as though the whole world was against him all his life and my heart wept for him,

"It was… impossible to prevent." Raven answered in a subdued voice, "I really wish-"

Raven did not finish what he was going to say as he quickly grabbed a napkin and vomited blood.

I finally regained back to my senses and with heavy footsteps, fled to his side,

"What's the illness?!" I panicked, kneeling on the ground beside him, "I'm sure I can find the cure for it!"

Raven looked at me sadly, as though he was looking at a naïve child and Kyle turned around with a grimace on his face, trying to hide his despair.

"…There's no cure, Ivory." Raven smiled sweetly, tilting his head to the side.

With an agonized pang in my heart, I realized the blood on the napkin he was holding…

Had butterfly wings mixed with it.

"You were the one who vomited blood and butterfly wings last time…right?!" I blurted out quickly, recalling the splatter of blood in the palace hallways, "Why did you find the need to hide it?"

Raven slowly closed the napkin, concealing the blood as though hiding it would cure his illness.

"…Yes, that was me." Raven nodded with a bitter smile, "I didn't want to see you sad, that's why I didn't tell you. I only wished to disappear, without you realizing."

I felt tears welling in my eyes, and my nose and cheeks going hot,

"How long did you know this was going to happen?" I asked, swiping my arm across my eyes.

"Ah… That is a difficult question. Apparently, I started vomiting this when I was three. That's when my parents knew I was doomed." Raven smiled, slowly sitting up. "It only happens once every few generations in the royal family. Guess I got lucky."

Kyle made a choking sound before he stood up,

"Excuse me, I need to get something." Kyle stated, walking out of the room.

We waited until his footsteps slowly died away and Raven's gold eyes fluttered shut, as though he was agonizing the seconds to come.

"My disease is called 'Regiis Gloria'. Which is 'Royal Butterfly' in Latin. People like me tend to be referred as Butterfly Boys or Butterfly Maidens." Raven continued on, staring out the window, "My disease means that before I turn ten, the disease will consume me. I'll slowly turn into a butterfly and forget all of you, with only animal instincts. Basically, Raven dies and a butterfly emerges."

There was a stretched silence before I asked a question to break the heavy stillness.

"…Is this… why you never liked butterflies?" I inquired softly, inspecting my long, white gloves to avoid eye contact.

"Ah… not exactly. I ate one and choked when I was younger!" Raven beamed brightly before slightly deflating as the mood grew even more depressed, "Just kidding… Yes, the disease is why I never liked butterflies."

Raven looked at the white ceiling of the room,

"I guess I'll have to learn to enjoy their company, after all, they'll be my only companions soon." Raven smiled merrily, "I hope I won't be afraid of heights."

"Wait… How much time do you have left?!" I gasped, clasping his hands with mine, squeezing them desperately.

Raven looked at the clock in the corner of the room,

"The doctor said I had five hours left." Raven whipped his head towards me, his black hair fluttering, "Just enough time to tell you everything to be careful of."

"Hm?" I tilted my head, "What do you mean to be careful of?"

Raven gestured for me to lean forwards,

He whispered in my ear, "Try to be on guard around…"

***

"So, do you have any last requests for me?" Kyle asked nonchalantly, sipping his green cup of tea.

Raven gently put his teacup down, pondering what to ask for.

"Aha!" Raven snapped his fingers, "Name your first-born child after me!"

"…Is that what you decided to ask for?" Kyle asked with a disturbed expression.

"I'm confident in my decision!" Raven grinned, "After all… You'll be the child's father and Ivory will be the mother! Wouldn't the child be perfectly beautiful?"

Kyle and I blushed furiously and looked away from each other.

"I… haven't thought that far ahead yet…" I fanned my face rapidly.

"Hehe, you two are so cute together." Raven giggled before glancing at the clock, "There's one hour left… Kyle, bring Father up here."

I felt a sudden pressure on my heart, Raven was leaving us very soon. I could not imagine a day without Raven messing around with Kyle and me.

"I'll be leaving to give you guys some space." I sniffed; my vision blurry.

As I turned around and walked back, just as I opened the door, I heard Raven speak to me.

"Hey Ivory…" Raven smiled tearfully, "I'll see you again in a while, so don't miss me much."

The door closed softly in my face as tears trickled down my cheeks.

***

I waited by the door as I heard muffled murmuring from Raven, Kyle and the King.

Time seemed to rush past as finally; the door opened gently.

"Ivory… Say goodbye to Raven." Kyle smiled weakly, opening the door widening for me to enter.

I stepped into the room and I saw a golden butterfly, resembling Raven's eyes, rimmed with black fluttering around the room. I cried salty tears, as Kyle bowed his head and tears dripped onto his shoes; Raven was gone and only a butterfly remained.