Pick Your Wife, Pick Your Life

In a distant land, there was a Kingdom surrounded by large vegetation and wildlife. The ruler of the Kingdom was an individual who overflowed with great wisdom and power, his physical and mental power were in a class of their own, with the citizens believing that to call the King a man was truly insulting, but the King did not mind the statement, for his only blood child was human. The King with great power and wisdom, was also by nature, a caring person, and through this kindness, it greatly benefited him in raising his two sons, whom he gave authority over the kingdom, with close supervision. Despite the King's sons being twins, the twins were as different as night and day. Adom, the eldest, was lazy and carefree, he drink with friends on the weekends and did little work during the weekdays, if any at all. Then there was Ayman, the youngest. Ayman was diligent and a hard worker, he only drink when he needed to take his mind off of work, but he barely drank at all. He never had friends, for all he could think of was work. The citizens accepted Adom as one of them for his outgoing nature, but they had high expectations for Ayman for his diligent nature, leaving the now two young men to be influenced differently. 

On the day the twins had crossed the threshold of becoming adults, the King hosted a party for his son's that was larger than any of the parties they had before. During the party the King made an announcement, exclaiming his excitement over his sons and how they had withstood the test of time and had finally  become men. The announcement the King delivered was that since his sons had become men, he believed it was the time for them to have a wife. The process was fairly simple, next week, any woman who were interested , all they had to do was to present themselves in the prince's throne room and whoever the prince chose, that maiden was to be their set wife. The crowd cheered on for the princes, with Adom joining in on the cheers and Ayman appearing not interested at all, only thinking of what work he had to do the following day.

  A week had passed and the dawn of a new day was approaching and the brothers were still fast asleep. But after the morning cock call, Ayman woke up thinking of all the work that would have to be set back due to the event that was happening today. Once Ayman calculated that not much would change, he looked over at his brother still fast asleep,

"Hey wake up,"  Ayman says.

Adom squirmed around, annoyed at Ayman's voice, "Why?" Adom asked with a hangover voice.

"Today supposed to be us choosing our wives, Father told us to get ready as quickly as possible yesterday."

Adom slowly raised his head up with a drunker smile on his face, "Oh right," Adom chuckles, "You ready to see some lucky ladies?"

"I couldn't care less." Ayman responds as he gets out of bed.

  "Oh come on Ayman this could be fun, why do you have to be a let down?." Adom says as he flops out of bed.

"Because I have work to do. I only agreed to do this to make Father happy, but I'll reject all the women and hurry up and get back to work."

Adom scoffs at this and doesn't give much thought to Ayman's words, "Let's just get ready," he says.

As the brothers prepared for the event, Adom continued to talk about how excited he was for the special event happening, but Ayman thought it unnecessary for Adom to tell him, since Ayman could see the constant back and forth pacing Adom was doing. As Adom was finishing getting his clothes on, Adom noticed a difference between his and Ayman's quality of clothing, the clothes the brother's were placing on were robes that their father had hand made for them, by hand. Ayman's robe seemingly made out of silver and small amounts of precious stones, while Adom's robe was made out of fine linen of white and red and small amounts of silver, Adom noticing this difference in clothing quality grew in curiosity.

  "Hey Ayman, can I ask you something?" 

"What's on your mind?"

  "It just occurred to me. But can you explain to me why father made your robe out of silver, and mine out of fine linen?"

"What's your reason for this question, brother?" Ayman questioned.

"Well I was just asking that it feels like that father is more or less picking favorites. With you having a more precious item than mine."

Ayman stares at Adom, Ayman's cold blue eyes piercing Adom's spirit, "Father loves us both equally, you should know that.  The reason father has given you a robe made of fine linen instead of gold or silver is because you lack literally any dedication to your work. You go off drinking with your friends  knowing that you did little if any work at all, and the fact that you looked at this situation as Father valuing me more only shows that you know it's true." 

Adom, conflicted at the answer given to him, decided to finish getting dressed in silence.

"Now Ayman, watch out how you speak to your brother," the King says as He walks into the brother's room.

The young men stopped what they were doing and looked at their father coming in.

"Adom please know that I reward both you and Ayman based on the performances that you have both shown me and your robe is only the end result of what that work has shown." The King says as he walks into the room, forcing the heavy pressure in it to be calm.

  "So tell me, is that unfair?" the King asked with a smile.

Adom averted his eyes away from his father, "No I guess not," Adom says, lowering his head.

The King goes over and lifts up Adom's head and hugs him, "But please know Adom that my love for you is even greater than silver and gold, so please just know that, okay?"

"Okay," Adom says as he feels the peace of being in the King's arms.

But soon the King gives out a loud thunderous clap, "But this is not the time for lounging around, it is the time for my sons to be choosing their wives!" the King shouted with excitement as he yanked Ayman in on the hug, with a strength that rivaled a bear, "Now come on my sons, it's almost time." The King says.

"Oh and also, I handpicked two of the women, so it'll be beneficial for you both to  pay 'close' attention," The King says as he gives a subtle wink at them.

"Yes Father,," both of the sons say as they are trying to find the strength in their limbs and torso from the  "hug" their father just gave them

The King soon lifted His son's heads and started urging them to leave their room, so they were not late. The sons, not wanting to be aggravated any longer, left their rooms with Adom eagerly walking down the stairs, but the King ended up having Ayman halt for a bit.

"Yes, what is it Father?" Ayman asks.

" Ayman, I have taught you to always speak the truth, but I also taught you to be a kind and gentle person. Remember my son, there is a difference between an honest and gentle person and a person of negligence, do I make myself clear." The King says.

Ayman pauses for a bit, then he speaks, "Yes Father, I understand, but I also have a question?"

"What is it?" the King asked knowing what the question is about.

"Why is it that my clothes are made out of silver, I have seen many of my other kin with gold and diamond for robes, why is it that I have silver?"

The King puts his hand on Ayman's shoulder and says, "Work and a sibling can also be the ruler of someone's life."

Looking at his Father confused, Ayman answers, "Yes Father, I will be more mindful of myself next time."

"I'm glad to hear that," The King says as He holds Ayman tightly and soon hurries him up to catch up with Adom.

An hour had passed and the brothers were in their throne room waiting for the maidens to show themselves. Adom, with the patience of a house cat, is already slouching on his throne from boredom.

"Straighten up Adom, you look like a fresh corpse ," Ayman says.

"But I'm, so bored! The women really are taking their time," Adom says in the complaint as he straightens up a little bit.

"Can't you be just a little bit patient." Ayman mumbles.

"But to be honest, I'm not expecting much out of this. Although this event won't set my schedule back, a second I'm not getting ready to work, is a second I'm late for work, but hopefully it shouldn't be that bad. Just dismiss all the women here and get my work in for the day." Ayman sighs in the middle of his thought, "And then I will have to do the same old work the next day, really boring, but I'm content with it though." 

  After a few minutes went by, a servant went into the throne room announcing that the first of the maidens is ready to be presented to them, but the servant had to voice something about this maiden, 

"What of it," Adom asked impatience simmering from his voice.

"Well before the maiden can be seen her father wishes to talk to the both of you before the ceremony can officially start," the servant responded.

The brothers knew that something was off , "Sure a father would like to know what man his daughter is going to marry, but Adom and I are well known throughout the Kingdom, the woman should know what she's getting herself into, unless she thinks life is a fairy tale that is," Ayman says.

" But her father can come in," Ayman replied with Adom nodding his head towards Ayman in frustration.

"Thank you my lords," the servant says as he turns around and shouts out, "You may, come in now." The servant says with distaste in his voice.

By then a man was already walking into the throne room of the brothers. The brothers could not grasp who this was yet, but Ayman got the feeling that he was not a man of good heart. The man appeared to be a tall, well fit man who was covered in a fine clothes, with a veil of darkness. He bowed before the Princes and unveiled his face which showed  his face was fair and well kept. Ayman and Adom knew that this man was or used to be a person of great importance.

"Oh my Princes,I hope the stars and sun are a blessing to you both. I am Haborym," the man said.

  Ayman's blood runs cold, but it quickly boils over, with Adom seeming not interested in what the man has to say anymore.

"I just want to say that I am very pleased to meet the both of you today, to be in your presence is most of a reward," The compliments fall short of Ayman, but Adom starts to lower his guard because of it. "I would really like to say that I am a man of two beautiful daughters, who wanted to meet the both of you. But a tragic illness had come to plague our family. I chose to keep the youngest of my daughters to help me out because even I am in a very complicated part in my life," Haborym says, lowering his head only an inch.

"Of course we do not wish to ever cause a household to stumble like that, right brother," Adom gestures.

Ayman not giving much attention to his brother just gives a simple answer, for his mind is wrapped around Haborym. 

"There is really no reason to tell us this, its not like we were going to go door by door, demanding every woman to come, that's both a foolish thing to do and a great evil that should not go unpunished." Ayman says

"But isn't this is the man whom father warned us about. This is my first time meeting him in person." Ayman thought to himself.

"I promise you, my dear lords of this land, that even if my eldest daughter chooses one over the other. If the other brother has not yet found his maiden, I swear that my youngest daughter will be willing to marry the other, you just need to give it time if things like this happen. " Haborym says with joy.

"Well we will make sure to take that into consideration, Haborym, but please don't force her to do anything she doesn't want to do," Adom says with a smile.

Haborym seemingly glad at this lifts up his head. 

"You are way to kind my l-lords. Please have a wonderful day," he says looking at Ayman in which he sees the cold gaze from the young man. Haborym quickly left the room as if there were a predators in there with him.

"Well that was interesting right Ayman," Adom whispers to his brother.

Ayman looked at his brother with his cold blue eyes and spoke back, "Have you forgotten who Haborym is brother or have your mind been blinded by curiosity to see this man's daughter." 

"Come now Ayman, Haborym didn't seem that bad, and besides it would be such a travesty if we turned away a child just because of some parental grudges now wouldn't it." Adom retaliates as he stares back at his brother with a calm smirk. 

Ayman felt frustrated with his brother, when he looked at Haborym walking away, he saw a smile on Haborym's face. He  soon looked back at Adom who wore his arrogant smile, and he sat back down in his throne feeling defeated,

"Fine! Haborym's  daughter is allowed to proceed."

Adom's arrogant smile grew more solid,

Ayman gripped onto his throne in anger and frustration at this. The King looked at both of His sons and he was clearly worried about the both of them, with each being for different reasons.

"Lighten up Ayman, I may have just helped you out in having another option for when you ruthlessly reject all the women here," Adom says with that same irritating winky smile that people give when they think they are right. All Ayman chose to do was to seal off his anger and scorch his anger. Soon enough, Ayman loosened up in calmness with the King growing a smile on his face at this sight.

In the hallway, as Haborym was walking out of the Throne room, he walked by the first maiden and as  he passed by her, he discreetly whispered to her,

"Don't mess this up." 

"Yes father." She responds.