Chapter 120 - ALI MINI THEATER Side Story 7

We all were born into this world without knowing our purpose at all. Finding that one special reason why we existed was our lives' journey.

However, sometimes, when the heavens willed it, some were just born knowing why they were here. But when that happened, it would be sad to realize the reason why they came into the world for was not there. They lost their purpose, and they went through life without direction or much interest in the world.

"It's a miracle! The baby is alive! Long live the prince!"

These were the cries that echoed across the land.

The royal family had met a tragedy. The carriage that was carrying the pregnant queen had toppled over when lightning struck out of the blue, startling the unicorns that pulled it, causing them to bolt. The queen had unfortunately been crushed on her chest area, but her abdomen was surprisingly protected. The healers had rushed to her side, and she had miraculously clung to life, willing herself to deliver her son to the world before she passed.

The cries of the child summoned more lightning that painted across the sky. It was as if the heavens itself announced his birth. For the Prince of Ritz, the country of Perun, the Lightning God, this was a good sign. Thus, the birth, in spite of the tragedy behind it was celebrated by all.

Years passed, and as expected, the baby had grown into someone who was a model royalty. Alistair of Ritz even at the age of seven was already famous for his beauty and brilliance. All his tutors praised the boy as he was always so perfect. In their minds, there could be no other person perfect to be the next king.

If there was one thing they could complain about, it was the fact that this beautiful boy, in spite of his young age never smiled. He was never seen with one – ever, even when he was still a baby.

Instead of youthful vigor, the crown prince looked at the world aloofly with his amethyst gaze, as if nothing interested him. Since he could do everything perfectly, everything in this world seemed so mundane for him. If it weren't for the fact that as the future king, he would need to establish friendly relationships with other nations, he would never have attended school to mingle with the other crown princes of other countries when he turned ten.

"You're hiding alone here again," a voice said.

The prince looked up to see a boy around ten, with hair as red as flames and eyes the color of jade, the same age as him standing nearby. It seemed he came looking for Alistair again as this boy always did, and found him lounging under a tree with a book in his hand.

Alistair raised one silver brow towards the boy. He was never friendly towards any of the other kids his age. He saw them as an inferior species and totally foolish. He purposely avoided them, although some of them did bother him at some point. He was after all, androgynous-looking, that the fools mistook him for a girl. After giving one of them a severe beating, that nearly got him in trouble, they finally left him alone. 

But this boy was surprisingly not turned off by his cold demeanor. In fact, he had been treating Alistair like a close friend since the first time they met and was always there for him even if the other kids had told him to leave Alistair alone.

Coincidentally, this boy was also the one who had stopped Alistair when he was pummeling the other kid for kissing him, discovering the Prince of Ritz's well-guarded secret in the end. It was also because of this boy why Alistair was never punished for hitting a noble's son. Kres was the most influential and strongest kingdom currently with their military power. Nobody wanted to be on the Crown Prince of Kres' bad side.

"I'm not hiding," Alistair retorted.

"Of course you are," Ivan, the boy said as he walked towards him and sat by his side without asking for permission.

"Kres, you really have no sense of personal space, do you?" Alistair commented, but his amethyst eyes were amused.

Ivan snorted. "What's the use of sitting so far away from here where I can't hear you?" he countered, and as always, it made Alistair shake his head but didn't get mad.

"You are exactly like your ancestor," Alistair commented, and Ivan laughed.

The Crown Prince of Kres already knew he was talking about Kresnik, the God of Flames – like he knew that he was talking to Perun, the King of Heaven. The closely guarded secret of the Crown Prince of Ritz was that he was a returner to ancestry. It was why, even when he was born without any elemental showing up to announce his birth, there was a lightning storm that welcomed him.

"Anyway, I was looking for you because I heard that your mother had given birth," Ivan said.

He was, of course, talking about the new Queen of Ritz, Alistair's stepmother.

Alistair nodded. "Yes, she has given birth to a baby girl last night," he said, although as usual, his tone of voice was monotonous like the news was of no importance to him.

"Congratulations then!" Ivan exclaimed in glee, before scowling at his friend. "Why don't you seem happy?"

"What's to be happy about? It has nothing to do with me," Alistair retorted nonchalantly.

"What kind of older brother answer is that?"

"The kind that you'll get from me – Kres, it's not like you're ecstatic about your younger siblings as well," Alistair countered. 

Ivan always squabbled with his siblings.

"It's because they're not cute! Smaller siblings should be cute for me to like them," Ivan harrumphed, and for the first time, Alistair laughed.

"Anyway, aren't you at least going home to look?"

Alistair was quiet for a while. Since they lived at a boarding school, he hadn't had the chance to see his younger sister yet – not that he cared. But it seemed he had to go home.

"I had received a summons from the king so I guess I will be going home tonight."

Soon, evening came and the Crown Prince of Ritz returned to the palace. He had never been home since his father remarried more than a year ago. The woman, his new mother was a kind one, he acknowledged, but there was no room in his heart to form a bond with her.

He came into this world because of one reason only. His despair when he realized his reason for being born was not here had filled him to the core. This existence was useless.

When he reached his parents' chamber, the King was waiting for him outside with a fond smile.

"Father," Alistair addressed his sire formally.

"There you are big brother," the King had greeted him, and he was about to bow respectfully when the king took his wrist and pulled him into the room.

The chamber had been aired and was bright. In the middle was a huge bed, where the obviously exhausted queen sat in the middle with a bundle in her arms. The woman quickly smiled upon seeing him with her husband.

"There you are Alistair," she said in delight. "Come and see your sister."

Alistair hesitated before crossing the room. It was best he went through whatever his parents wanted so he could get back to school.

"She's been waiting for you to give her a name," the queen said, and Alistair was surprised he turned to the King.

"Yes, my son, you have the honor of naming your sister," the King said and urged the Prince to go nearer.

The queen shifted the bundle in her hands so Alistair could see the small sleeping baby within. The prince took a peek, but as usual, felt nothing. However, he felt he had to do something so he reached out a hand towards the baby, aiming to touch one small fist.

As soon as he did, however, the baby suddenly opened its lids, and a pair of silver eyes met his amethyst ones, as the fist he touched with his index finger opened as well to grab onto his finger tightly.

The action surprised everyone, and the couple cooed with joy. Alistair however, was shocked to the core as he looked way beyond those silver orbs to the soul within, and his heart reacted – it soared.

"What happened?" the queen asked worriedly seeing as tears started flowing from Alistair's eyes. 

"I-I…"Alistair couldn't explain.

He found her.

The King laughed. "The big brother is overwhelmed by his sister's cuteness, maybe," he said, and Alistair just nodded in agreement.

"May I carry her?" Alistair requested much to his parents' pleasure.

Soon, the baby was in his arms, and it took all his strength to stop himself from crying out loud with joy.

"What's her name big brother?" the queen asked, and the Prince was more than eager to do the task.

"Al-" he stopped as he remembered that this little one's real name was cursed, and so changed it. "Alinea. Her name is Alinea…"