The Kindness of Kings

by Chelsea Ballinger

  “Hey! What the hell are you doing?” Louie said, hitting his brother in the back of the head.

  “Just back off Louie! Alright?!!” Sedgwick yelled, pushing his brother away and stomping to the bench to take off his padding gear.

  “Alright. Well, at least your anger is coming out,” Louie said, laughing.

  “You know everything isn’t a fucking joke!” Sedgwick said, throwing his sword across the room.

  Louie’s smile faltered. “I’m sorry. Sedgwick, what’s going on with you?”

  “You don’t want to know,” Sedgwick said.

  “Hey.” Sedgwick looked up at his little brother. “You can tell me. Is it Father?”

  “You would love that, wouldn’t you?” Sedgwick sneered.

  “Well, you know what? If you don’t want to talk about it, I don’t give a shit, sit here and sulk like a baby,” Louie snapped and started to walk away.

  “Mina’s pregnant!” Sedgwick yelled. Louie stopped at his brother’s words, turning back to him.

  “What? She’s pregnant? Are you sure?”

  “Yes, she said she took four tests… four.” Louie walked back to his brother and sat next to him, shocked. It made sense when he thought about Mina’s attitude lately. Louie couldn’t help but think how he had added more to her stress with his cruel words the other day at the match.

  “Did you tell Father?’ Louie asked.

  “No,” Sedgwick wiped his face with his hands. “Louie, I don’t know what to do.”

  Louie was so shocked by the news that he wasn’t aware of the emptiness in his chest. He never thought he had a chance with Mina and would never take it if he did, but still to know and witness something sacred that was about to be shared by her and his brother made the cold, hard reality that she would never be his really sink in.

  “Well, what does she want?” he asked him.

  “I don’t know. I think she wants to keep it.”

  “Well, keep it then.”

  “What?”

  “You love her right?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, marry her.”

  “It’s not that easy, Louie.”

  “Of course it is. You love her, you marry her.”

  “What about the laws? We have to go through the Bishop to even get consent. That means we have to tell people that she’s pregnant, and that the King’s son has a bastard; the press will have a field day.”

  “Okay, don’t tell anyone. Marry her as soon as you can. You can say she got pregnant after the wedding. You’re royalty. You can do whatever the hell you want. You love her, be a man and fight for her.”

  Sedgwick stared in shock at his brother. He pulled Louie in for a hug and sighed. “Thank you.”

  Louie embraced him back and patted him on the back. “No problem.”

  Louie knew right there that he had no choice but to leave. He could not stay and watch Sedgwick and Mina plan a family together. He could not watch it, not only for his sake, but for his brother and Mina’s too.

  +

  “Dad?” Caius turned to see his two sons standing together looking nervous, especially Sedgwick.

  “Yes?” Caius replied.

  When his brother did not say anything, Louie spoke up. “Sedgwick needs to talk to you about something very important.”

  “Okay, close the door behind you.”

  Louie did while Sedgwick walked over and sat on his father’s leather couch. Louie stood by the bookcase. Caius sat in the seat next to the couch facing his son.

  “So, if Louie is here, I take it it’s something serious, maybe something he did?”

  “Sorry to disappoint you, Dad, but I don’t have any entertainment for you today.”

  “Dad,” Sedgwick interrupted. “You know I love Mina, right? Like really love her, like the way you loved Mom.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I would like to marry her.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well what’s the rush?”

  “Nothing… I just feel it’s time to take the next step.”

  “Sedgwick,” Caius spoke more sternly. “Don’t lie to me.”

  “He’s not lying to you,” Louie interjected.

  “You be quiet,” Caius told Louie, pointing at him. “Sedgwick… look at me.” Sedgwick raised his head at his father, staring at him with a scared look. Louie watched and knew his brother was about to cave in.

  “Now you tell me. Why do you want to marry Mina now?”

  “She’s pregnant,” he quietly confessed. Caius closed his eyes for a brief moment and clenched his jaw. He looked at his son and shook his head. Getting up, he headed to the bar and poured a shot of brandy.

  “Dad…”

  “Sedgwick… You will take care of it.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Louie interrupted again.

  “It means we will take care of it. I will call Dr. Daniels to set up an appointment to terminate it.”

  “What?” Sedgwick rose from his seat. “Dad, no… Mina wants the baby.”

  “Then you will explain to her that this is bigger than her. This is about the future. The future King of this country will not have a bastard for a first born.”

  “I’m sorry, did you miss the part where he said he would marry her?” Louie said walking to his brother’s side.

  “You really think I would allow my son to marry the relative of the help?”

  Sedgwick gaped at his father with disbelief. “Dad, I love her, that’s all that matters.”

  “No, Sedgwick, it isn’t. Do you want to be King?”

  “Why can’t things just be different?” Sedgwick pleaded with his father.

  “Do you want to be King?!”

  “YES!”

  “Then be King! A king makes sacrifices; a king does not let anyone or anything stand in his way. She is in the way.”

  “What do you mean she’s in the way?!”

  “She is your weakness. Now maybe a couple of years down the line I will consider it, but now you cannot marry her… if you get rid of it, when you become King, I will consider letting you marry whomever you want.”

  “You have got to be kidding me! Sedgwick, don’t listen to him! When you become King, you can do what you want,” Louie interjected.

  “Do you really think that the Church is going to allow you to marry that girl, knowing she is pregnant?”

  “That’s fucking bullshit, and you know it! Sedgwick, you can go to the Bishop and explain to him how much you love her.”

  “Take your pick, the crown or the woman you love and nothing?”

  Sedgwick looked at the King in disbelief, then at the ground, thinking about what he should do.

  “Sedgwick! You shouldn’t even think about this!” Louie said.

  “Maybe… maybe, she will understand,” Sedgwick said quietly.

  “Are you serious?”Louie looked at him in disbelief. “Don’t do this!”

  “Louie!” Sedgwick turned, facing his brother. “I’m not ready to be a father. And I have to do what’s best for this country. As the future King, I have an obligation to do what is necessary.”

  “And as the guy who has been in love with a woman since he was kid, you have the obligation to do right by her.”

  Louie stared at his brother in shock and disbelief. He couldn’t believe how easily it was for Sedgwick to give in to his father. Sedgwick was shocked himself at how easily it was for him to choose Serenity over Mina. He was shocked at the selfish nature stirring inside of him.

  “I will talk to her,” he told Louie.

  Sedgwick walked out of the King’s office, while Louie continued standing there in sorrow for Mina.

  “Well, I’m sorry that didn’t work out for you,” Caius said.

  “What?” Louie was confused.

  “Clearly you must have some hope that you will become King one day. What more perfect way than for your brother to throw it all away so you can take it?” Louie never thought his father
would think that little of him.

  “Let’s get one thing clear,” Louie said, approaching his father so they were face to face. “I love my brother, and I will love to see him as King, because frankly, I don’t want it. And you, dear Father, are the reason I don’t. I am not as heartless or as conniving as you may perceive me to be… I am not you.” Louie stormed out of his father’s office and watched as his brother exited the castle toward Mina’s cottage.

  +

  Sedgwick knocked on Mina’s door. She answered and stared at a reluctant Sedgwick. She gave him a faint smile, expecting bad news, but in her heart she had confidence that she and Sedgwick could get through anything.

  “Hi,” she greeted.

  “Hey,” Sedgwick said lightly. He walked inside and into the living room.

  “Where is Jezebel and your aunt?”

  “Um, she’s in her room. My aunt is at work, I think.”

  “Okay… Um, Mina, I talked to my father.”

  Mina exhaled. “So what happened?”

  “Well, he said that I can marry you.”

  “What”? Mina said, smiling big.

  “But he said he would consider marriage, if um… ”

  “What do you mean ‘consider,’ Sedgwick? You just said he said ‘yes.’”

  “Mina, this is hard for me, okay?”

  “What is?”

  “He said he would consider marriage one day when I’m close to being declared King… if you terminate the pregnancy.”

  “What?... what!?”

  “Listen Mina, I know this is difficult.”

  “No! No. If you knew, you would not ask this of me… Of ME, SEDGWICK!”

  “We can be together!”

  “What the hell is wrong with you?! This isn’t you.”

  “My father is just looking at the bigger picture, Mina.”

  “The bigger picture?! Sedgwick, stop being so naïve! Your father is protecting himself!”

  “I’m naïve? You’re the one being naïve! People already have trouble with me dating a commoner, you really think the women of the power elite are going to accept you now?!”

  “Wow!” Mina’s mouth dropped. “I never thought you actually cared what people thought about you… Or maybe it’s just your father’s opinion of you that you care about?”

  “I am the future leader of this country! What am I supposed to do? Give up the crown to be with a woman I love?”

  “That’s always been the problem with the law of this country. Rich marry rich, poor marry poor.”

  “My father said he would consider it!”

  “He is lying, Sedgwick! Your father is not going to let you be with me for the long haul.”

  “You knew this was a possibility when we got together! So how is this more my fault?”

  “You’re right, I did. But at that time I decided to be a stupid fifteen-year-old girl in love. Maybe I truly believed we could have a happily ever after.”

  “And we can, Mina. We can. So, let’s be together. It’s just one thing.”

  “That’s what you don’t get. It’s not, it’s a baby! It’s my baby.”

  “So you choose the baby?”

  “No, I choose me.” Sedgwick reached for her. “No, don’t touch me, just get out.”

  “Mina…”

  “Get out!” Mina stared at Sedgwick with disgust while his eyes watered. He bit his lip and nodded his head. After he slammed the door behind him, Mina fell to the floor, bursting with tears and pain from the shock of the man she loved treating her like what she was: a commoner.

  +

  Sedgwick returned to his father with tears in his eyes. He father did not show emotion as he watched his son in pain and sorrow. It was for the best, he believed.

  “Stop your whimpering, Sedgwick,” Caius said as he went back to his work.

  “I can’t believe you made me do this,” Sedgwick said, lowering his head.

  “I didn’t make you do anything. You made a choice. That is what happens when you’re a leader of a country. You will have to make a choice for the better good and not let your emotions or kindness influence that decision. This is the real world, Son. Mina can stay here with her aunt if she wants, but you, you are going to Loren City.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because it’s time for you to have bigger responsibilities. You will report to Rick. You will be the new Co-CEO.”

  “Dad, that’s a big deal. This means I will be overseeing the country’s Treasury.”

  “I know. It’s a great deal of responsibility, which is why you are going. You need this, Sedgwick.”

  Caius walked up to his son and placed his hands on his shoulders. “I believe in you, Son.”

  “How can I do this without Mina?”

  “Ruling a country is a lonely world, Sedgwick. You will adjust… like I did.”

  +

  Two days later, Caius wasted no time booking Sedgwick’s departure from the Capitol and Louie continued wasting his breath, pleading with his brother to stay.

  “So, that’s it? You’re just gonna leave, huh?” Louie said to his brother as he packed his stuff.

  “She wants to keep the baby, and I can’t stay here. I need to go and handle my duties. Okay?”

  “No, not okay. What about her? What about the baby?”

  “I just need some time to think. She’ll be fine here; she has Jezebel.”

  “That’s not enough.”

  “You know what? Why do you even care? You love to torture Mina all the damn time.”

  “Because by doing this Sedgwick, you’re not only hurting her… you’re hurting yourself.”

  “Well, you know, that’s life. It’s about sacrifices. Besides, you’re leaving. You’re going to travel the world, so don’t worry about it.”

  “Your Highness,” said Ethan, Sedgwick’s bodyguard, appearing in the doorway. “The limo is waiting.”

  Sedgwick grabbed his duffel bag and headed for the limo.

  Louie followed him and continued pleading with his brother to stay. “Dad just wants to be in control of you, you know that, right? I won’t be shocked if he announces an early coronation. He will probably make you King so he can control you.”

  “Shut up, Louie,” Sedgwick said as they stood outside. He passed his bag to the limo driver, Bartleby’s father, Max.

  Ethan opened the door for Sedgwick to get in. As he started to get in, Louie pushed Ethan out of the way and grabbed the door, blocking Sedgwick from getting in.

  “Just listen to me for one second.” Sedgwick shook his head and sighed. He looked his brother in the eye and waited for him to speak.

  “Just… ” Louie thought long and hard about what he was going to say. He realized he had to give Sedgwick his point of view. “Just picture a world, an existence beyond belief… without her. A world where you know she is there, but you can’t have her.”

  Sedgwick stared at his brother strangely, confused at where Louie was going with this. He almost felt as if Louie was speaking from experience, but immediately dismissed it as his brother continued.

  “That world is not as good as it gets. Mina is as good as it gets… for you.”

  For a moment, Sedgwick considered this. He thought of the pain of losing the only girl he had ever loved. But the King’s words were too far embedded into his brain. Sedgwick really believed he was doing the right thing. He gave his brother a half smile and hugged him.

  “It will be okay. We’ll be back together. We’re meant to be,” Sedgwick said. “Just before you leave, check on her from time to time for me, okay?”

  “Yeah,” Louie promised.

  Sedgwick got into the limo and Louie watched it drive off. He turned to see Mina standing near the steps, her eyes red and bloodshot from crying. She stared at the runaway limo and Louie for a moment before turning and heading back towards her home. She was just hoping Sedgwick wouldn’t give up too easily.

  Louie went to his room and watched her from his window as she took the long wa
lk to her cottage. Bartleby watched from behind him and sighed. He knew this changed everything.

  “So, I’m guessing we’re not going on that trip anytime soon, huh?” Louie looked back at his friend and gave him a small smile.

  Bartleby shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll unpack… no first, I’ll do some shots. Then I’ll unpack. Either way, we’re drinking!”

  Louie chuckled and stared out the window. He knew he couldn’t leave Mina here. She was going through so much, and even if he had to continue doing it from a distance, he would watch over her. He would stay in the caged prison he called home for her. He would sacrifice his happiness and freedom from his father’s wrath… for her.

  Chapter 6

  Still Here

  “So, have you talked to him at all?” Christina asked Mina.

  “He calls. We talk. It’s short,” Mina said. Sedgwick did call, but it would just be to say “Hi. How is the baby? I would love for you to come here.”

  “So I don’t get it, why do you still stay here? I’m pretty sure you and the King aren’t buddies.”

  “No but I don’t really have anywhere else to go and Jezebel is helping me, besides I’m pretty sure King Caius doesn’t want me out and about for the world to see when I start really showing.” Deep down, she also hoped Sedgwick would come to his senses and come there, stand up to his father, and whisk her away to live happily ever after. Pathetic, I know, she thought.

  “Well, you could have stayed with me,” her friend assured her.

  “Yeah, Christina, you, your dad, four brothers, and stepmom from hell, plus a grandmother from somewhere worse than hell.”

  Christina cringed. “Don’t remind me. I’m just waiting for them to kill each other already!”

  “My money is on your grandmother poisoning Cynthia’s dinner.”

  “My trust fund is on my father killing himself if he has to choose between his mother, the bitter old yuppie, and Cynthia, the evil stepmother from Planet Silicon.”

  Mina broke into laughter. “She’s always saying, ’I used to be a ballerina,’” Christina spoke in a baby voice, mocking her stepmother. “Please, give me a break! My father found you in West Village in the strip club, sweetheart.”

  If there was anyone who could cheer Mina up, it was her best friend Christina. Christina was a girl with strength, having been one of the few brown-skinned girls in their junior high, she didn’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone. She and Mina met when Mina was being teased for being the niece of the help. Christina stood up for her and slapped the bully, who happened to be Ivy. Since that day, they were the best of friends.