The Different Treatment
Traakkk ....
The arrow shot quickly towards the target point.
"Good! Prince Samuel is great!" said Merlin, the archery coach of Prince Samuel and Prince Xavier.
Seraphina was dumbfounded, Samuel's archery skills were really great. She looked at the arrow in her hand which was trembling a little, she knew its weakness. This will only make the observer more and more compare the two of them.
Yes, Samuel was superior in every way. He is smart, strong and talented. At the age of 16, Samuel has a special charm that makes him look amazing. Calm and charismatic, not a few nobles regretted that Xavier was the crown prince, not Samuel.
Even though she has been training for five years, Seraphina's abilities are still very weak. She is neither smart nor strong nor talented. Her childhood soul was filled with happiness and a positive aura, as she grew older and felt the pressure she felt, she began to feel insecure.
Treek ...
The arrow that she fired missed its target.
"Shit! missed!" She muttered irritably. Even though she has been practicing every day and can almost count the number of times her shots are on target.
Samuel smiled sarcastically, not expecting the crown prince to be this old. She will soon be 15 years old, but she has not shown any signs of progress. Meanwhile, from a distance, King Roderick was watching Prince Xavier's practice and his face showed exasperation.
"Looks like Prince Nathan still needs a lot of training, but as a good brother, Prince Samuel will be happy to help Prince Nathan's training!" said Valerie who was standing beside the king.
King Roderick paid no heed, it had been five years since the great storm hit Lithonia, but Nathan did not show any signs that his strength would return. King Roderick left Valerie, right now what the king had in mind was what mysterious power his son would have who would lead Lithonia.
***
"You failed again?" asked Prince Nathan who was forced to close the book he had just read.
"Yes, I do not know why my abilities change like that and I'm sure father saw me from a distance," said Nathania while lying on the bed.
"If you already know that His Majesty the King will be watching, why don't you try harder?"
"Precisely because I was being watched, so I couldn't concentrate. You shouldn't have to supervise my practice almost every day like that right? huh, annoying!"
"Then, how about our 15th anniversary celebration? I heard, this year there will be a big party as well as a blessing for the heir to the throne!"
"Really? who said it? why don't I know?
"Mother told me this morning. Actually, she want me to receive the blessing, but I don't think that's possible!"
"Why not? you should have done it!"
"I don't know, I'm just not sure ..." Nathan's face was sad. His mind filled with a lot of guilt towards Nathania. Nine years must replace his position, pretend to be someone else and do many things that she doesn't like, it must have made Nathania receive a lot of trouble.
Nathan looked at Nathania who was lying looking at the ceiling, her face looked so pure, a face that longed for freedom. No matter how much pressure and trouble she faced, that face always showed that she was fine.
"You're not studying?"
"Ah ... yeah right, I have to go immediately, otherwise Kenny must be angry!"
"You still call him Kenny?"
"Of course, it feels like the nickname suits him better. By the way, you've never met him, have you?"
"Yes, I've never been. I became curious about your teacher. Why did he survive teaching naughty students like you for five years, I admire him!" said Nathan with a laugh. He knew exactly how stubborn Nathania was really difficult to teach.
"Don't make fun of me, do you? Kenny says I am very talented, my painting is very good. For my 15th birthday, I want to ask mother to give me a gallery to display my paintings!"
"Are you sure mother give it?"
"It must be given, otherwise I will rebel!"
"How will you revolt?"
"Um ... like, I'll tell mother if I'm not given a gallery, I won't study for a month!"
"Hahaha ... will you be affected?"
"She must! just have to give, otherwise I ..."
"I'm sure it won't be given, last year was like that too. On our 14th birthday, you ask to be allowed to raise a dog and if not allowed, you will strike archery practice. But in the end, you will listen to Mother's words too!"
"Huh annoying! Mother can always trick me to follow all her wishes. But this time, I will just sue, if not given, I will run away from the palace!"
"Who wants to run away?" asked Queen Alexandra who was standing behind Nathania. Prince Nathan tried to hold back his laughter, seeing Nathania's ridiculous expression when she saw his mother's scary face.
"I ... Mother? when will you come?" asked Nathania nervously, while Nathan laughed with satisfaction.
"Why are you still here? shouldn't you already be in class?"
"Th ... that's ... that's because, Nathan! why didn't you tell me there was Mother behind me? did you do that?"
"Hahaha ... sorry!" Nathan's laughter grew louder whenever Nathania's emotions were provoked.
"Nathan, you are annoying!
"Nathania, you better go to your class now because your teacher is waiting!" the Queen ordered.
"It's okay to be a little late, mother. It's just Kenny, other than that what's more important about my birthday present, um ... there's something I want!"
"Say what you want, then immediately go to your class!"
"I asked the gallery to display my painting, ma'am. Can I ask for a special room?"
"Nathania, you heard what His Majesty said for yourself that a crown prince does not need talent like that. There are more important things you can do besides painting, do you understand?"
"Bu ... but, Mother ..."
"I don't want to hear refusal! you can ask for anything as long as it's useful for you!"
"It's important to me, maybe not important to you, but for me ... I really want it. Please Mom, just this once, after that I won't ask anything more ..."
"If I say no, it means no! You have to understand that!"
Princess Nathania was very disappointed, whatever she wanted was never given. While she had to do a lot of things she didn't like, it seemed to her very unfair.
"Mother, just give what Nathania wants. I don't need any gifts, in exchange, give everything Nathania wants!" said Nathan.
"But Nathan, if there was that room Nathania would be lazy studying and just drawing all day long!"
"There's nothing wrong with someone doing what she likes, moreover it doesn't harm anyone. After all, Nathania doesn't live just to do everything you want!"
"Nathan, but ..."
"Just do it! If not, I'll tell the King what really happened. I don't care how angry the King will be if we find out that we tricked him!"
"Very well, I understand if that's what you want. Nathania, go to your class. I will order some workers to prepare a gallery for you!"
"Fine, I'll go first!" Nathania immediately ran leaving her mother and brother who seemed to be continuing their conversation.
All this time, Nathania didn't really think about her mother's tough and firm attitude towards her. However, what happened earlier made Nathania realize one thing that they had been treated very differently.
The gentle voice that the mother had aimed at Nathan was very rarely directed at her. This made Nathania feel that she was not as loved as Nathan. Everyone praised her because they knew she was the precious Prince Nathan.
***