In an emotional moment, he wept, tears streaming down his face. “I’m so tired! I don’t want this anymore, I give up! Come and get me, my darlings,” he said weakly.

At that time, no one noticed Xerxez, perhaps because they were all tired and asleep. But Pyramus was still awake, with his younger brother sleeping soundly in his arms. Pyramus felt a sense of fear and anxiety. To ease his worry, he decided to go and sleep beside his father. But he was surprised to see his father leave the room, so to find out where he was going, he followed him, carrying his brother. They followed without being seen, so they successfully reached their destination without Xerxez knowing they were there, watching. As they followed Xerxez, many questions filled Pyramus’s mind. Even at his young age, he had learned to understand what was happening, especially his father’s suspicious actions. Even though these challenges were difficult for him.

“What is father going to do here? Is he going to kill himself? Does he not love us?” Tears immediately began to fall as these questions came out of his mouth.

The ocean was quiet, with no roaring waves, and only the moonlight prevailed in that desolate place. Xerxez ran towards the water, but his foot slipped on the sand, causing him to fall. Already unlucky in life, he was also clumsy. He was so frustrated at that moment, unable to explain it. He had no choice but to hit the sand in front of him, but he just ended up crying. The intense distress in his mind led him to a dark path: to end his own life. After that, his anger and sorrow began to surface.

“My love, why did you leave me?” his voice trembled as the night grew colder and deeper. “If I can’t be with you, it’s better that you just take me!” he yelled. “It would be a joy to be gone from this world! I am so, so tired. My heart is tired too.” His body ached as he said this. “Please, for goodness’ sake, talk to me… I’m tired of constantly pleading with you.” He fell to his knees in the sand, surrendering his life. He looked up at the sky with tears streaming down his face. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, he took a deep breath and said, “It’s best to end this!” He stood up, even though he was unbalanced and stumbling. He walked step by step towards the ocean water. He couldn’t think of anything else. He kept walking. But then, a crying scream broke the silence.

“Father, don’t leave us!” Pyramus’s cheeks were soaked with tears, and some fell on Maximus’s face. “Are you going to leave us too, Father?”

“Pyramus, what are you doing here?” Xerxez asked, surprised, as if he had come to his senses, but his dark intention hadn’t subsided.

“Don’t you love us? Have mercy on us, Father,” Pyramus said, trembling. Pyramus took a step towards the water, but his father stopped him just as the water was about to touch his feet. “Don’t come any closer, stay there!” he pleaded with his son. “For goodness’ sake, son, leave! Just pretend you don’t have a father anymore,” he pushed his son away.

“Don’t you love us? But Father, please don’t go through with this,” Pyramus begged. Pyramus’s body was shaking with fear; he didn’t know where to go or what to do. Pyramus cried loudly because he truly didn’t know what to do.

Xerxez took more steps, until the water reached his chest, so he was a bit far from his son. But Xerxez spoke. “When you grow up, don’t be like me.”

“Father! Don’t leave us!” Pyramus pleaded, his voice almost hoarse from screaming. At that moment, Maximus woke up because of the noise and the fresh tears that were falling on his face. But he immediately became quiet when Pyramus hugged him. But the sound of those cries seemed to bring Xerxez back to his senses.

“Where are those cries coming from? Maximus? My son?” Xerxez wondered as he stopped. But he felt as if he was just imagining things and it was all a hallucination. He looked at Pyramus, but it became dark at that moment because the clouds covered the moon. So he couldn’t tell if Maximus was with him.

Pyramus saw how worried his father was when he heard that cry. Especially when he stopped. He remembered the times his father was in despair, and the times he cried. He remembered that Xerxez was easily moved to pity by children, especially his own son who was still innocent. He quickly came up with an idea of how to bring his father back to a positive mindset. To make Maximus cry, he pinched his arm for a long time until he started to cry loudly. He regretted what he did, but it was for their father.

Pyramus’s idea was not wrong, and he succeeded, although he had to use Maximus to bring his father back from the dark desires of sorrow. Xerxez then remembered Maviel’s last wish, which was not to neglect their children. Finally, the anger and disappointment in Xerxez’s mind were replaced with worry.

“My children!” he said in dismay as he saw that the water was now up to his neck. “What am I doing? I don’t want my children to regret that I became their father if I am this unhappy and negative in life.” After all, if Xerxez had died, who would raise his children? They would probably live like slaves and be despised by people, and that would really be the reason for them to be angry and resent him. But it was a good thing that his mind changed. So he stepped back. “My children! Pyramus! Maximus! Wait for me there!” he said happily, but he slipped and his body went under the water.

“Father!” Pyramus screamed. “What happened to Father?” Pyramus was terrified. But his fear quickly changed when he saw his father standing again and getting closer to them. “Father!” Pyramus’s face was filled with joy when he said that. “It’s good that you changed. We love you, Father. We don’t want to be separated from you; you are the only remaining strength for us to live in this world.” Pyramus was truly revived when he saw Xerxez come back.

Xerxez was panting when he reached where Pyramus was standing, because he had tried to run fast through the water. He was so excited to hug his children. From his eldest son, he kissed him repeatedly and then did the same to his youngest. Xerxez had truly come to his senses because he had no second thoughts in his mind except to be with his children. “My children!” he said with worry. “I’m sorry for my mistake. I hurt your feelings, especially yours, Pyramus.” He was crying; even though his face was wet, you could still see the tears flowing. Pyramus felt sorry for him when he saw this, so he immediately gave him a calm answer.

“Father, don’t think about that tragic experience anymore. What’s important is that you’re back in our lives. You’re alive, Father, and that’s what matters most!” Pyramus explained to his father that he was not angry despite those grim moments. Xerxez took the child from his hands, and Pyramus gently handed his brother to his father.

“Give me Maximus,” his father said with excitement. Pyramus heard what his father said when he had the child. “Maximus, my son. I’m sorry, I was truly stupid. I didn’t even think that I still had things to worry about, and that’s you, my children. I’m sorry, Maximus, I neglected you.” Pyramus just looked at Xerxez and saw how much his father loved his brother. “Instead of me being the one to take care of you, I was negligent.”

They went home to the kingdom as if no sorrow had ever touched their hearts. Even the people there were surprised by Xerxez’s change.

Since Xerxez realized his mistakes, he didn’t think of anything else, especially remarrying. Instead, he focused on the affairs of the palace and even the other surrounding countries. Even though many beautiful maidens were still after him. But even with many people saying that Xerxez was cursed and unlucky in love because of the beliefs of the elders of Thallerion, some still said they were willing to die just to marry Xerxez. However, Xerxez himself rejected them. He improved his army and expanded the territory of Thallerion, conquering the entire land of Wendlock. Because of this, the other kings saluted him. As a result, a conflict arose; the Ossibuz tribe, who lived near the land of Wendlock, got angry. In response, their king, Matar, challenged Thallerion to leave the land of Wendlock because many of the Ossibus people had moved there. But Xerxez refused.

Pyramus was now sixteen years old, he was big and had the mindset of a young man, but he had also changed a lot. He had become picky and easily angered, especially with his servants. The long hair that he used to have the servants comb was now cut, which made him look more like a young man. Because he had Peronican blood, his skin was very smooth without any blemish. His eyes and skin tone were inherited from his mother. He also didn’t like his things scattered around, especially in his room. He was always annoyed with his brother because Maximus always bothered him; all Maximus wanted was to play with him.

“Father, I have something to show you!” he shouted while rushing. This immediately caught the attention of the people there, especially his father. Pyramus was also there. “Where did he get that?” Pyramus thought to himself as he sullenly followed Maximus with his eyes. “What is he going to show? It’s probably embarrassing!”

“I’m going to play for you,” the child said happily. Everyone was smiling except for Pyramus. “It looks like my son inherited a talent from the King of Thartherus,” Xerxez said happily. There was a moment of silence, which showed respect for the young prince. “Silence!” one person said. The king was also waiting to see what his son would do. Soon, he blew into the instrument he was holding. A sweet and gentle sound came out of his mouth and through the hole of the flute. Everyone applauded the prince’s performance. Everyone was amazed because they knew that no one had taught the child, and yet they discovered he was so good. “Truly a Thartherus bloodline!” some said.

“That’s amazing! Who taught you that?” his father asked in amazement. “Did King Driother teach you that?”

“Yes, Father, Grandpa visited me and brought me gifts, and he said he would teach me how to play, so I learned how to play the flute. And also, I taught my friend,” he said happily. “Caspard!” Pride was etched on his face as he mentioned his friend.

“He’s Vethor’s son,” Xerxez said.

“Isn’t Vethor just a poor man? Why would a noble associate with the son of a peasant?” people whispered. “Be quiet!” Xerxez shouted. “Bring Vethor here, now.” But a delegate soldier, Phalleon, protested.

“That man has no wisdom. He doesn’t even know how to write. Why do you value people like that?” he complained. “It’s only right to command the ignorant to learn and become your soldiers.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep