Chapter 11 (Believe)

(My first dedication!)

IMPORTANT NOTE PLEASE READ!!!!!!!

Before this one begins, I want to inform all of my constant readers that I have switched up one little thing. I had at first thought that I wanted the two of them to meet before the ceremony and talk, but then I changed my mind. I decided that I would not have them meet each other before then. (All I had to do was erase the last sentence). So, please do not worry because I took that part out. Alright, enjoy the story!

Edward (POV)

"What is the meaning of this?!" I heard my father roar in outrage as he burst into the small room I call an office. I sighed and dropped my pen near the papers I was working on as my mother trailed in behind the king, her green eyes not glancing anywhere but at the floor. I could see that she has been crying recently and I didn't know how I felt about it. Then, some guards and elders, who were always at his side, had followed him in as well. Oh great, I thought sarcastically, a show for the lovely people. "I asked you a question, boy!" He shouted again as he reached for my arm and grasped it, jerking me out of my chair harshly. I gave him a droll stare as I glance into his dark brown eyes full of anger. I looked down at his hand, still on my arm, and slowly pried off his meaty fingers. I then met his glance with a calm one. The redness around his eyes informed me that he had been drinking recently and I also could see a small hickey on his neck, confirming that he spent the night with another girl.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." I answered him, my voice calm and slow. He responded with a slap across my face. I heard a small gasp from his entourage, except my mother, as my father started talking again.

"You know what I'm talking about! Don't play dumb with me." I swallowed down my anger. Just reaching to his level only makes me worse. You are better than this. I didn't answer my father and he hit me again. "I did not give you permission to do this action!" He shoved me back. I clenched my fists into balls and bit the inside of my cheek as I watched the floor. You are better than this. I chanted. "What do you have to say for yourself?" He asked loudly in my ear. I counted his breathes as I waiting for my body to calm down. Getting angry will never get me anywhere. My mind flashed back to 3 days ago when I asked him for permission to do something different with my coronation party:

'"Father." I spoke out as I made my way into his office. "I wish to speak with you about my coronation?" He ignored me, just as how I thought he would. I waited a moment to see if he would react. When he didn't, I kept speaking: "I wish to seek a new tradition during the coronations." This time, his pen froze above his page. He never looked up to me but I knew that I now had his attention. "I just think father, that since the commoners are the ones to be ruled by a king; that they should be able to join in on the party." It was silent a moment before I heard his pen snap in anger. His breathing was harsh as he rose in his seat and slammed his hands against the desk. He leaned in to the point that I could count the ringlets around his eyes that he had from his sleepiness nights.

"You will never get the privilege to be king, because you don't deserve it. And if you ever think that it will happen, then you are just as stupid as your mother." With that, he shoved me backwards and sat down in his chair. I left his office not a beat after that and I smiled, because of two things. For one, I knew that he never said no to the offer. The second one was the tiny device in my hand. I clicked stop on my recorder and gave it to my Nana as we walked up to my room. Our first plan of action was complete.

As I brought my mind back to reality, I smiled. I smiled as I unclenched my fists and I turned my gaze to my fathers and I smiled as I watched him grow angrier. "You never said no during our conversation; I thought that it meant I was good to do as I pleased." I watched as his mind glazed back on our conversation. I watched as he got angry, not only at his stupidity, but at my cleverness. I also watched him get angry that I wasn't the push-over child anymore; that I was stronger than him and would beat him at anything. I shrugged at him innocently.

His teeth grinded together as he shoved me backwards and stormed out of the office. Soon, the guards and the elders had left as well. I chuckled at my father's childish ways before glancing at my mother. Her gaze was still at the ground before I cleared my throat. Why was she still here?

"You should have just done what you were told, Edward. You should just listen to your father. Why can't you just be like him?" She asked me, her long arms wrapped around her petite waist. She also had tears in her eyes the begged to spill over. I noticed that she had gotten paler and skinner, though I couldn't voice my concern, they would only use it against me. I could feel myself get angry at her question. My entire life has been revolved around my abusive father and she asked why I couldn't be just like him? She didn't even have the right to say these things, because in her own little way, she was just like him. Though, I knew I couldn't say these things to her. It would only ruin the moment that I had to show her that I was right.

I gave her a small, fake smile as I spoke: "'What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?'" I asked her as I placed my hands in my pockets and walked around my desk. I leaned against the edge of it as I continued: "John Green. A beautiful writer whom I think you'd like." I grinned down at the floor as I thought my next words carefully. When I knew what I wanted to say, I looked back up at the women who had birthed me. No, she wasn't my mother, just someone who was forced to carry me around. "I am not some little kid, mother; despite what you may think. I know I have seemed like some pushover in the past but I have hopes, dreams, and an imagination that tends to run wild." My voice was a whisper as I spoke my mind. I quickly straightened up and my way over to the window. I moved my teal colored curtains out of the way and gestured behind me. "Come look." I commanded. My mother froze for a split second before walking over and staring down at the guards and the people strolling along the castle borders. "Do you see everyone down there? All the people that father has to command, that he has to make sure that they know what they are doing?" I questioned her. I turned to watch her, but she was focused on the outside world as tears rolled down her face. I wasn't too sure why, and I wasn't going to ask. "There is so much potential out in this little kingdom that we rule, mother. So many people that don't get the opportunities that they deserve because father doesn't know what the difference is between fear and love. So many people are going to go to waste just because he can't figure out the difference between two separate things.

"Yes, there is a quote out there by Niccolo Machiavelli that says, 'It is better to be feared than loved,' that father probably goes by but he doesn't have the ending to it. 'It is better to be feared then loved, if you cannot be both.'" I paused for a moment as I watched my mother take in what I had just said. "Father doesn't understand that you can do both, that you can have people love you and still fear you all at the same time. I want to be better than that. I want to walk down the street and not have people fear my every move. I want people to have dances and parties in my honor. I want people to live, mother." There was a long silence as we booth watched our people down below. "That is why I cannot be like him." I spoke quietly and forcefully. I dropped the curtain and watched as my mother wiped her eyes before making her way to the door. Her hand was placed against the door as she froze.

"'There are so many people out there who will tell you that you can't. What you've got to do is turn around and say 'watch me'.' Layne Beachley once said that." She froze a beat before she turned her head in my direction. "I believe that you can do it." I watched her quietly as she closed the door and I listened as her footsteps echoed off of the floor as she walked away. I felt like my heart was in the clouds.

Hello my lovelies! Here is my latest chapter and I hope you enjoy it! I did this because I was asked to write the next chapter and I already had it prepared so I thought, why not? I also have the next chapter ready but I am still thinking about changing a bit of things so I will not post it soon. Also, my break is almost up which means I will have to go back to school. :( Which also means I will not have as much time to write and I am entirely sorry for that.

Please tell me how much you liked this chapter in the comments and please don't hesitate to click the little star to vote. It means so much that everyone his reading this and I love you all. (1545)