I just can't wait to be King

Riko had never been in any misgivings about what he was, what he had to become. He had the attention, the townsfolk forever cheering at his arrival, and his uncle’s eyes were always on him whenever he’d receive punishment for his failures. Kings did not fail, that was the one thing that revealed that Riko was still but a Prince for now. Once Master had finally squeezed the last ounce of weakness out of him, he’d stand so tall that doubt would not in his vocabulary. Kings were loved. By the people, by his Queen. Master had already started the process of finding a wife for him. He was to marry at twentyone, to a woman he’d never met and did not care for. He would do it without complaint, of course, because it was the request of Master, of the family, even if Master was barely considered family, too. He’d marry, he’d have children, and at the end of the day he’d slip back under the blanket, next to his brother. If anyone thought a mere concubine could pry him away from Kevin, they were fools. Kings were intelligent and cunning. When Riko wasn’t training, he was studying. And he was learning about the world. He listened attentively to the stories of Kevin’s journeys to far off lands, about distant kingdoms and people who lived so different from him. He’d read aloud from books and Riko would find himself sinking into them easily, dreaming of distant times. Aside from Kevin, he had his personal knight, tall and strong. This dog had been a wild thing when he’d arrived. Master had put it in Riko’s hands to train him - To show that he could lead the troops into battle. A King had to fight at the frontline with his people, or they would falter. So Riko broke him, tearing pieces of him as he tore them from himself. He trained his hound, made it obedient and loyal and scared and hurt, kept it by his side and made it accept the other knights until it emerged a warrior he could count on. Now, Jean barely left Riko’s side. Of loyalty or fear? It was all the same when you had Master Tetsuji for a teacher. And there was good reason that his teachings were so harsh. Their Kingdom was never safe. Every year it met an onslaught, but they were always victorious - Riko made sure of that. Castle Evermore was strong and their knights’ defenses were legendary. Kevin and Jean sat at his table, reserved for only his best knights. Six seats were still open. The son of a family friend was to take one of them, once they had located the brat who’d turned and ran away with his mother; They’d find him soon enough. The other was reserved for a prisoner who would trade his freedom in exchange for his loyalty once he weighed his options right. The remaining four seats would be filled in time. For many years, their Kingdom prospered. Riko withstood the daily torment because he knew it was for the sake of his people and his knights. For them, he could muster the responsibilities. He had to. But then the plague came - He’d heard them, the whisperings. That Kevin, his most beloved knight, was out for his throne. He’d not believed it at first. But then Kevin had begun training more fiercely, trying to draw attention to himself, trying to gain the people’s love and affection. Trying to replace Riko. Riko had been merciful in his punishments. Treachery was punishable by death, but Riko loved Kevin too much for such a fate. Instead he broke his sword hand so his knight could never again pick up his sword against him, and he was banished. Jean was a shell of himself as they sat alone at the table, and Riko could do nothing but whimper when he crawled into bed, unable to stand after Master’s beatings. Kevin was the traitor, but the worst of Master’s fury was always Riko’s to bear. He caught himself thinking sometimes, that it was all too much for a little Prince, as he laid alone in his room, the empty bed across from him reminding him every day what he had lost. In those quiet moments, he wished nothing more than to have Kevin back, even if it came with betrayal. Denying his need for Kevin made him a traitor to himself. Win. That was the only purpose now. Win, and get Kevin back. Win, and take the Butcher's son, who was rightfully his to keep who had now joined forces with Kevin and that damned prisoner under a different banner. Win, and make Master happy, make him stop-. Win, and make his family proud, make himself worthy of the role as a King. Then, much too suddenly, his father had succumbed to the plague, and Riko’s brother took the place that he should have been given. Castle Evermore had fallen that summer. Infiltrated and weak, Jean had been stolen away in the dark of the night, and Riko was alone. He was still alone now, his arm put in a cast as he sat in the soft chair in front of the healer that asked him strange questions. About his life up until now, about the burdens he was made to bear by his family. The healer said that abused children are forced to grow up quickly, along with other strange things Riko knew nothing about. After all, Riko was not abused, he was to be a King.