The Kindness of Kings

by Chelsea Ballinger

  “Do you love me?”

  “Yes, I love you so much.” She ran up to him and melded her mouth with his and their kiss lasted for a moment until Louie broke it to speak. His eyes closed and his forehead pressed against hers, as he grabbed her hands and held them close to his chest.

  “I love you so much, Mina.”

  Mina looked at him. “What are we doing here, Louie?”

  “I’ve made my decision, Mina… and this decision changes everything.”

  “I understand what you need to do.”

  Louie shook his head in disbelief and placed his hands on her face. “You still don’t know me, do you?”

  Mina laughed. “I’m sorry.”

  “No… no more sorrys, no more what ifs and heartache. It’s about now, and right now… right now is us, right here and right here, Mina is where I want to declare my love to you. Mina… I want you to be my wife.”

  Mina’s mouth dropped. “Louie… no, you will already have enough trouble getting respect from the people, I can’t add to that.”

  “I. Don’t. Care.” Louie kissed her gently before continuing. “I love you Mina.”

  Mina got ready to protest before she heard the side door to throne room open and saw the Bishop, Jezebel, Christina, and Bartleby walk in.

  “What is going on?” Mina questioned.

  “A wedding!” Christina jumped up and down.

  Mina looked back at Louie, eyes wide, speechless.

  “I want you to be my wife.”

  “What? No Louie, this is insane.”

  “So what?”

  “But Louie, if we get married that means… I,I,” she stuttered. “I… I can’t do that. We need blessing and…”

  The Bishop approached the lovers, placed his hands on them, and smiled. “I give you my blessing. Now hurry up, I need my sleep.”

  “Louie, you’re asking me to marry you? At 3:45 a.m.? In the throne room? And rule a country with you?!”

  Louie laughed. “Yes! Never in my life have I ever been so sure.”

  “Louie, I don’t even know if I want this.”

  Louie’s face dropped. “You don’t want to marry me?”

  “Of course I want to marry you. I didn’t know for sure, but I know now that I want to marry you and have a future with you more than anything… but people won’t accept me like they did your mother.”

  Louie reached in his back pocket, pulled out his mother’s diamond wedding ring, and held it up to Mina.

  “You… are strong, kind, beautiful, magnificent, and no matter what you say, no matter what your aunt has ever said about the negative aspects of royalty, no matter what you do, no matter where you came from… to me, to the people that love you, and to the people who don’t even know it yet… you, Mina Farren, are the epitome of a woman of royalty. Not only are you worthy of a crown, but Heaven and Earth combined.”

  “I think, Your Highness, you have stated your vows,” the Bishop said as he stood before them.

  Mina’s eyes filled with tears as Christina passed her a bouquet of sunflowers Louie had Bartleby find. Bartleby stood behind Louie and Mina and Louie faced each other. Jezebel stood to the side next to Wesley who had joined them, and as Serenity slept, Mina and Louie exchanged vows and their hearts. They cried, they laughed, and they flourished, attracting all the love anyone could ever imagine. And after the Bishop ended the ceremony with his lasting words of God and devotion, Mina and Louie sealed it with a kiss. After, they faced the stage in the throne room and glimpsed their united future.

  Chapter 30

  Great Kindness

  Louie entered the jail where his father was being held. He saw his father in the waiting room handcuffed with his orange jumpsuit on. He sat in the seat across from him and stared at him, observing the hurt inside of him that was masked by anger.

  “So why are you here?” Caius asked him, still with an attitude.

  “I’m here to see you one last time.”

  “Really?” Caius’ laughed bitterly. “Right before your big announcement?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So what is your answer?”

  “I think you know what my answer is.”

  “Don’t expect a congratulations after what you did. Because of you my son is dead.”

  “No… because of you he is. You and your rage, pride, greed… and stupidity. I know you knew, but you didn’t care. I use to care about being good enough for you. So much that it made me crazy, but I realize now that I wasted my time being angry with you. I don’t need you, never did. I just wanted a father. I deserved a father who loved me… but I got something better. I got a mother who loved me, a brother who loved me, friends who have my back… and a wife.” Caius’ eyes widened. “A wife who has given me her heart, and when we have sons, they will have all my love. I will keep tradition, but I will not shut out my other children because of what you did. They will love me. I don’t know if you have or ever will love me, but it’s okay… because I forgive you.”

  Caius was silent.

  “I forgive you, Dad… Because if I don’t forgive you, I won’t be able to do what I need to become the man you never wanted me to be.”

  Caius clenched his jaw with red eyes and leaned over the table, sneering at him.

  “And what is that?”

  “One of the greatest men that ever lived.”

  Caius’ face faltered along with his dented heart.

  “I talked to the Republic and you will not be hanged. You will stay here and listen as people talk about Prince Sedgwick, the Prince who would have made a great King if not for the tyranny of his father… and his brother… the King who ruled with kindness.”

  Louie faintly smiled at his father, standing up, and with one last nod, he walked away.

  Caius trembled and flinched, standing up from his chair and screaming.

  “You can’t be King! You’re weak! You can’t rule with kindness! You’re stupid if you think you can ever be as great as me!”

  Louie kept walking, not angry or shocked at his father’s words, but relieved that there was a reaction. Louie knew the reaction meant that his father truly believed Louie could be the best.

  +

  The crowd rallied around 4th Street to see Louie at the podium. He stood tall in his suit, staring out at the crowd and clearing his throat.

  “I know you’ve all been impatiently waiting for me to announce my decision. All my life, I have been taught that Kings are Kings, and that’s it. They’re powerful above all others. Well, I don’t believe that. I believe in order to lead, you must learn to follow, to work together, and to have passion and love for what you do. I believe together this country can go farther than ever. I know I am not the ideal candidate for the position, but I can promise that I will not let this country go into the ground. There will be no war, no more higher taxes for people that can barely meet their rent, no more the rich is rich and the poor is poor, accept it. There will be equality; it won’t be an easy road, but we can achieve it. I also know you have heard that I have taken a common woman as my wife… and you are correct.”

  The crowd chattered in shock, some in acceptance, others in disgust.

  “And unlike many marriages in royalty, obviously I didn’t marry her for her title. I married her…” Louie glanced back at Mina who was on stage behind him, nervous to the core, but calmed by the smile on his face. “I married her for love, and you will accept her and love her because she is, and I swear to you, the woman my mother was. Your Aphrodite has returned, Serenians. Embrace her and embrace me because we will never achieve perfection, but damn it if we don’t try to. This country will no longer suffer and with that being said, you can conclude my decision. I, Prince Louie Alexander Perry, announce on this day, that I will be the new King of Serenity.”

  The crowd applauded at Louie’s announcement, and his nerves faltered, knowing there were people who loved the change.

  “This,” he paused, “is the New Age. This is Serenity.” The crowd roare
d and the news spread throughout the world about stories of Louie, Mina, and the future of Serenity.

  Reporter: “Well, folks, you heard it, today is the day Prince Louie officially announced that he will not only be taking over as King of Serenity, but that he has already given us a Queen. Sources say that our future Queen is Mina Farren, who was last seen with Prince Sedgwick, and is rumored to have dated him. Regardless of how these two ended up together, how will these two do running Serenity? Bob Gust, SN Reporter already has opinions from Serenians.”

  Serenian 1: “I think this is stupid. I think that Mina chick is a gold digger.”

  Serenian 2: “I think it’s amazing. Especially after the thing with the guy who tried to blow them up. The guy is going to be a great King.”

  Serenian 3: “I think Princess, I mean, Queen Mina, well, I think she is gorgeous and my cousin said he went to college with her and that she was really sweet. Besides why not a Queen from outside of royalty? Think about it. Royalty and non royalty… being royalty together is a perfect balance.”

  Serenian 4: “I don’t care who he married, anybody is better than Caius.”

  +

  Louie and Mina knew there would be talk, but surprisingly to them, it didn’t matter.

  “With every good thing comes something trying to bother it, like a gnat,” Jezebel said.

  “Whatever man, they don’t know shit,” Bartleby opined, referring to the magazine article about the epic love triangle between Mina and the Princes.

  “Don’t worry about it guys,” Mina said, pacing in her white mid-length dress with a gold ribbon tied around the waist.

  “Mina’s right,” Christina said. “I mean already Louie is starting off right. He got Michael Tabbith’s sentence reduced and destroyed all ties to Gibbeth.”

  They waited for Louie in the wardrobe room down the hall from the throne room. Today was the day of the crowning and Mina couldn’t help but be nervous. She was about to be Queen, for Christ’s sake.

  Louie entered in his dark green suit and gold tie. He scanned the crowd, saying “Hi” and looked at a nervous Mina.

  “You guys go ahead. It’s about to start soon,” he told them.

  After their family left, Louie grabbed Mina by the wrist, stopping her pacing and facing her towards him.

  “You okay?”

  She laughed. “No. You?”

  “Hell no,” Louie said, then laughed.

  “You can’t be nervous, Louie!”

  “Mina, I’m about to be King… and I hope a good one at that.”

  “Hey,” Mina said, pressing her hand against his cheek. “You are going to be more than a good King… you are going to be an amazing King. I believe in you, Louie.”

  “And I believe in you.” He grabbed her face and kissed her gently and slowly. Then he pressed his forehead against hers and she rubbed the back of his freshly shaved head.

  “We look after each other, right?” he asked her.

  “Yeah… and inspire each other.”

  “And trust.”

  “And love.”

  They kissed again, quickly.

  “This is our time,” He told her.

  “Our time.” They heard a knock on the wardrobe door and Wesley spoke against it.

  “Your Highness, we’re ready.”

  “Okay!” Louie said, reaching into his jacket pocket. “Before I forget, we received a gift from Kenneth and Arianna.”

  He pulled his hand out and revealed two gold wedding bands.

  “What?” Mina stared at the gleaming beautiful engraved bands.

  Due to their last minute wedding, Louie and Mina did not bother with marriage rings, but after speaking to Louie about his choice, King Kenneth and Queen Arianna decided to grant them wedding bands with an inscription.

  “Thou shall love each other with everlasting love,” Mina read out loud and placed the ring on her finger. “There. Beautiful.”

  “Yeah…” Louie looked at her. “And so are you… my Queen.”

  Mina blushed and smiled at him. “And you, my King… are amazing.”

  Louie smiled and sighed. “Alright, let’s do this.”

  +

  The red doors opened and everyone in the throne room looked in awe as Louie and Mina walked hand in hand down the red carpet. The closer they got, the faster their hearts raced, but once they approached the stage and saw the Bishop standing in front of the King and Queen thrones, everything seemed to finally fall into place. The Bishop had dreamed of this day, and he was astounded by the love between them. He never expected Mina, but he always loved surprises. Everyone watched as the Bishop started the ceremony and watched as Louie and Mina accepted their destinies. First came Mina as the Bishop retrieved the Queen’s crown, which had not been worn since Serene. Mina felt even more grateful and honored to wear it. It was the same as the King’s crown, but smaller. Mina closed her eyes and as tears fell, she felt the heavy, but most fulfilling and wonderful headpiece ever seated on her head. Then there was Louie. Mina was still as she waited for her husband to be crowned. The Bishop retrieved the King’s crown, and with a smile on his face, gently placed it on Louie’s head.

  “Rise… Your Majesties.” On his command, they rose and faced each other, seeing one another in their new light. Louie reached for her hand and bowed his head to her, symbolizing the equality and respect he and Mina would share with each other; she did so by curtseying for him. They slowly faced everyone, and like a wave starting from the right to the left, the crowd bowed to their new King and Queen.

  “ALL HAIL KING LOUIE AND QUEEN MINA!!!!” the Bishop cheered.

  The royal court and the Republic followed, repeating the words. Louie and Mina’s friends watched proudly, Jezebel and Christina with tears in their eyes, and Bartleby applauding, trying hard not to cry himself.

  “Your Majesties.” Louie and Mina turned towards the Bishop to see him pointing towards the balcony. “Your people are waiting.”

  Louie looked back at Mina who mouthed “I love you.” He held tighter to her hand, interlocking his fingers with hers, and they stepped out onto the balcony in grace and love, seeing thousands of Serenians in the streets, watching them in awe. The cheers soared as Serenians, if they had any doubts, could not deny the genuine aura that surrounded their new King and Queen. Louie and Mina laughed, raising their arms and waving to their people.

  If there was ever a great King, it was the King known for his kindness, the King whose name was whispered through the streets and in homes, along with his wife’s. Louie and Mina did what they were meant to do. They led their people to peace and prosperity, never losing touch with one another, and as the years went by, their love grew and never dissolved, never losing its passion. They had three sons and two daughters. First came the eldest, Serene, followed by their first-born son, who they named Sedgwick in honor of Louie’s brother and to give the name a chance to become great. Although they had two more boys close to Sedgwick’s age, bad blood was never spilled because Louie did what he promised his father, he loved his children with all his heart and taught them not just the ways of royalty, but of just being people. As Caius listened from his prison cell to the whispers of guards and inmates, he knew, and had known since the day he last saw his son, he had achieved something far greater than Caius ever could. He proved that the kindness of a King… could conquer all.

  The End.

  Acknowledgments

  Kindness of Kings is originally the first book I ever finished, but it was not ready to be released two years ago. Since then it has evolved into something entirely more and I am deeply proud of it. I just want to thank everyone in my life that has inspired and supported me through this journey.

  I Love You Guys.

  And of course to my readers who truly let themselves fall into my story and bless me with great words of kindness and truth about my books.

  You Guys Are My Muse.

  Published Work

  Love and Hate (The Pierce Family Trilogy)

>   Love and Sacrifice (The Pierce Family Trilogy #2)

  First Blood: Rise of the True Immortal

  Upcoming Work

  Imperfections

  Roman (A Pierce Family Novella)

  Love and Redemption (The Pierce Family Trilogy #3)

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  Author Chelsea Ballinger

  Website:

  www.chelseaballinger.com

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  Chelsea Ballinger