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I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, Gale.”
He leaned over the bed and kissed my lips. “Calm and boring for now. I know. Don’t worry. We are going to be fine. Now, I’m going to take a shower. Care to join me?”
I gave him a look. “Are we just taking a shower?”
“Of course not.” He smirked. “We are going to be admiring each other.”
“Admiring? That’s what you are calling it now?” I grinned as he helped me off the bed.
“What else would you call it—”
Knock.
Knock.
“What now?” he groaned, hanging his head. “I was so close.”
“I thought we were admiring?” I teased.
Before he could get in another word…
Knock.
Knock.
“We are closed for the night. Please come again tomorrow!” he called out, and I smacked his arm.
“Stop! If they are coming this late, it has to be important,” I said, stepping away from him and moving to the door. I waited for him to put on his shirt before calling out to the door, “Come in.”
The door opened, and I expected Gelula since it was so late. But instead, before us was Balduin.
“What is it, Balduin? Couldn’t you have just sent a message?” Gale asked, stepping up as well.
“Sir, it is my deepest regret to inform you…your father, King Lionel III, has just passed.” It was like the world had stopped.
Gale stood still as we stared at him. Quickly, I grabbed his arm.
“Balduin, please leave us!” I ordered, my eyes focused on him. Even when the door closed and it was just us again, he stood there. “Gale, come on, let’s sit.”
He let me move him back until he was sitting on the front of the bed. I remembered how brokenhearted he was with Arty. I expected tears, screaming, his pain…but instead, he was still and silent, and that actually worried me so much more because I understood how deep this pain was. To just be crushed so completely that your brain has to shut down in order to spare you from feeling. There was nothing I could say, there was nothing I could do, but hold him and wait.
The Morning Eagle
Wednesday, April 9th
“King Lionel III Is Dead”
The palace has informed us that King Lionel III passed in his sleep last night.
Our deepest sympathies go out to the royal family as once again they suffer another tragic loss.
King Lionel III was a man of great compassion and was known for his constancy in belief and action.
He will be missed.
My shoulders were heavy.
I was carrying him on my shoulders…literally.
