Chapter 1
Coronation Anniversary

Just another day in the kingdom of the Frozen Sand, however,
this is a special day for its citizens, a festive event to celebrate their
king’s coronation annually which started five years ago.  

 Such tradition started once the new king sat on the throne;
however, this is not practiced by other kingdoms or other civilizations.
The thought on most minds is, ‘why would people celebrate this?’ ‘Celebrating
the coronation of a monarch who dictates them against their will?’ ‘Such a
peculiar kingdom…’  

 These questions might be answered if one digs in who is the
one being celebrated… 

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 The bells ring from a temple just meters away from King
Ehiptia’s bedroom waking the king from his slumber, the king opened his eyes
and took himself out of the bed, did some stretching, and proceeded to take a
bath and prepare himself for the occasion. One of his attending staff presents
him with his crown and medals as he puts on his coat yet they refused to wear such
items even how much the assistant persuade the king. Ever since he was crowned,
he refused to wear medals and pins to venerate his greatness.  

 He sees that wearing such items on his body is a sign of
corruption and spending tax payer’s money on undeserving mortals like him. As
he brushes his blond and burgundy locks he spoke; “I honestly didn’t like this
tradition made by our subjects.”  

“Why your highness?”
His assistant asked. “I’m not worthy to be celebrated as if I’m some sort of
God. I just did what I think is the best for our kingdom, is the world so
corrupted to the point that when a good public servant is treated like a saint
just because they do their job?” the king spoke with concern in his voice. 

The assistant frowned and said; “Unfortunately, yes, your highness…
The world of Cyra has come to that point… that is why you cannot blame
your subjects for holding a celebration in your honor…”  

The king bites his lips in dismay, however, he doesn’t want to disappoint his
subjects so he goes along with it. He announced multiple times over the past five
years to the people to stop this kind of celebration yet they never listen, the celebration gets more
festive every year. He always prays to the Gods to forgive him and his people
for such idolatry for he, a mere mortal does not deserve such celebration.  

As he walks into the hallway one of his attending staff chased him holding a fabric made out of
polar bear hide and purple velvet. “Your highness! Your cape! You forgot your cape!” 

He turned and smiled;
“I don’t need to wear that.” “But you need this when you go out in the public!”
the attending staff insisted. “Would it be harder for me to interact with the
people if I wear this? You can put it back, and if you’re done you can join me
for breakfast.” The king resisted and turns away.  

As the king entered the dining room, he was greeted with a feast-like setting with different types of
food on its long table, there are bread, juice, fruits, different preparation
of meat, fowl, poultry, and beef, as well as a variety of cooked vegetables on the
side as if the food pyramid is presented to the king in a single feast. 

The king is overwhelmed by such a huge breakfast, he looks around as the kitchen staff is standing around
waiting for him to take a seat and do his orders. He sheepishly walks to his
seat and sat. Without skipping a beat, he spoke; “You all know that I have a
huge appetite but I believe this is too much for me to eat in one sitting.
Since we celebrate my coronation today, why won’t you all join me to eat this
feast you tirelessly prepared?”  

“Your highness it’s all for you!” Lhynn, the head Chef said. “But I insist.” The king snapped back. The
kitchen staff and attending staff aren’t surprised and without a word took their
seats around the long table. This is a normal occurrence every morning. The
king always invites his staff to eat with him every morning and asks how are
they doing.  

As they started to dig in, the door slammed open as they see a panting Prince Memphis with his coat
half buttoned enter the room as he was late for breakfast. “Sorry, I’m late
brother, I overslept!” “You’re not late yet, we’re just about to start, fix
your coat and take a seat, I see you haven’t bothered to comb your hair at
least.” The king commented with a smile. 

The young prince sat beside the king and said; “oh, happy coronation bro~” “Ah, thank you.” He
replied sheepishly. 

After breakfast the King and the Prince are walking to the throne hall, the prince asked the king
where will he do his speech if it’s around the people or on the castle’s
balcony,

“I want to be with our people, I want to be with the crowd as always.” He
replied sweetly “—And I won’t wear any crown.” He added.  

“Forgive me for the interruption, Your Highness.” One of his guards spoke. “What seems to be the
problem?” The king asks with concern. “Lady Alexandria is here to see you.” He
spoke. “Ugh! Our Karen of an aunt is here to disturb you again!” Memphis
complained as if he is having a tantrum. “She’s about to give us an aneurism
again!” he added. 

The King sighs in disappointment yet he can’t shoo their nosy aunt away for he will be labeled
as a disrespectful person for standing his ground, so he reluctantly told the
guard to let her in the throne room. The king annoyed, sat on the throne
contemplating what tarnation their aunt got in her mind to visit him at this
time.  

A well-dressed woman in her 40s with a Karen haircut, thick makeup, and huge loop earrings has entered
the room, the hall is so silent that only the tapping of her stiletto can only
be heard. The prince is on his stand as if he was about to fight someone as the
king displays his most empty expression as this lady approaches.  

“Happy coronation, Your highness.” She greeted. “Thank you, auntie. Why the sudden visit?” He replied.
“Now that you’re five years sitting on your throne, I guess you will finally do
a favor for the family…?” she asked with malice. 

“Ah, let me guess, you want me to put my cousin somewhere in the government with a high position and
pay?” The king predicts. “To be one of your ministers or council perhaps…?” The
aunt demands.  

“Um, REALLY?!” Memphis objected violently. “Memphis! I will handle this. Calm down.” The king stops
the seething prince. The king turns to his aunt; “What are the grounds that one
of my cousins deserves to be in such a high position? Do they have enough
experience in their field? Have they finished their degrees? Did they pay their
taxes annually? Have they achieved a level of public service to be granted
this position?”  

“They’re your flesh and blood, you have to help the family! Come on Ehiptia, I know you’re a kind boy who
will help his family when in a tough place.” She spoke as he tries to
manipulate the kind king.  

“I might be kind, but I don’t condone nepotism. I give people employment but it’s up to them if they deserve
to be promoted or not. Forgive me auntie, but if you want my cousin to have a
bright future ahead of them, they should lift their weight, I can give them
employment, but they should start at the bottom like the rest of us.” He
explained calmly. “Even for myself and Memphis, we studied hard and make sure
to do our contribution to society before we feel worthy to hold this position,
we are in,” he added with a serious voice.  

“How dare you refuse your family! You’re a disgrace! Your mother and father didn’t die just for you
to deny your cousins and your family!” she screeched. 

“Hey! Don’t get Ma’ and Pa’ into this!” Memphis screamed in anger. 

The king remained silent, then he reached into his pocket and took his phone. He tapped the square
red button on the screen. Then spoke quite loudly that it echoes in the throne
hall; “Auntie, As I said, I do not condone nepotism. If that’s all you want to
ask of me, I recommend you to take your leave.”  

“I might be a disgrace in your eyes, but I’m just being fair to the hardworking citizens of our
kingdom.” He added as she stomped away in anger. 

“Damn, I think you damaged her ego, brother…” the prince said as he’s scratching his head. “Ego is
fine, but not in large doses…” the king advised.  

“Let’s not allow this encounter to ruin the chance we will have a chat with the people, Memphis.” The
king optimistically said. “That’s right, let’s get ready then!” the prince
agreed.  

-To be Continued-