A Story From Zinnia

Section 12: Falling

"Good morning everyone. The news came from Cassania Palace. Prince Nathaniel Ashton Rayton, better known as the crown prince of Zinnia, was killed in the Calendula attack yesterday at 15:57 local time. He died at a very young age of 22. Prince Nathaniel, known as a special member of the Zinnia Air Force, served as commander of the air force for the first and last time in the fateful incident. Calendula initially sent 3 warships in the waters of the Nirwana Sea, the warship successfully intercepted and returned to their country. However, 2 out of 6 of their fighters were involved in a chase with a plane carrying Prince Nathaniel, causing the plane to crash in the western forest. He was about to be rushed to the hospital, but his condition was too critical so that his life was no longer helped. Until now, the original motive of the actions carried out by Calendula has not been known. With the situation still grieving, the head of staff of Cassania Palace was still hesitant to give his response to this fateful incident. With the death of Prince Nathaniel Ashton Rayton as the rightful heir to the throne of Zinnia, the throne of Zinnia will fall to his younger brother, Prince Xavier Hellen Rayton as heir to the throne of Zinnia in second place. On behalf of the mass media and the people of Zinnia, we offer our deepest condolences for this incident. Goodbye Prince Nathaniel, your service will always be remembered, your soul is immortal in the skies of Zinnia. From ZNN reporting."

That's how every television channel this morning, ranging from radio, television, the internet or even newspapers. Zinnia is now shrouded in grief. The sky, which normally looked blue, now turned gray as if it knew what had happened. Including Cassania Palace which feels darker than usual. No one believes the shocking events of yesterday, how not the crown prince who loved his people is known to be very friendly to anyone, especially the palace staff who now feel very lost Nathaniel who went from their side.

After his body was returned to the palace, the embalming process was carried out on Nathaniel's body. The palace procedures that have existed for a long time. In all black clothes King Arthur saw the process from beginning to end, very heart-wrenching.

The powerless Xavier saw the process just quietly outside Nathaniel's room. His eyes had been wailing all night, a look of disbelief and an unaccepting heart. He wanted to be angry, but to whom? Nothing's gonna change.

King Arthur came out of the embalming room. Just then he faced Xavier who was standing outside Nathaniel's room. He could see the tears at the end of his son's eyes. No one opened their mouths, just the silence between them. After that Xavier went in the opposite direction from the father without saying a word.

"Your Majesty, the embalming process is complete." Elthon.

"Continue the next process."

After the funeral ceremony began. A series of military funerals were held, escorted by more than 700 Zinnia service personnel as a final tribute to Prince Nathaniel, who had devoted himself to Zinnia.

The funeral was conducted according to royal tradition and was attended by members of the military and parliament as well as the royal family. Nor did they forget the Zinnia people who had gathered outside the fence of Cassania Palace to pay their last respects. They carried a lot of white Zinnia flowers and piled them up along the way.

Nathaniel's convoy of coffins will be carried past the residents to head to the cemetery. Nathaniel will be interred in the royal family burial ground, next to the tomb of his mother, Queen Issabela. This process took place solemnly led by the great priest. Until the time when the audience there went home one by one, there was King Arthur and Xavier who stood side by side with a distance far enough apart to look at Nathaniel's tomb with a blank look.

As if the sky knew of their grief, the rain began to fall.

"If only father hadn't told him to wear his military uniform back then, Big Brother would still be with us now." Said Xavier who just went straight to the royal car that was waiting for him.

King Arthur heard Xavier's words. What he said was true, if only he could turn back the clock.

"Issabella...." King Arthur said in front of his wife's grave.

"I can't even keep my promise to you to always protect our family. What kind of father am I." King Arthur couldn't hold back his tears. He was crying at that moment.

"Nathaniel left before me. Now he's gone next to you, and... I can't take care of her anymore." Under a speck of rain, King Arthur shed his tears, showing his sadness.

"Isabella... Take care of it for me. Ii'm sorry. Forgive your father this is Nathaniel."

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Xavier has now arrived at the palace. He sat pensively beside the window of his room looking at the rainwater slowly coming down the window of his room. A thread of tears involuntarily trickled down from his eye patch.

Many questions popped into his head. Why and why did he have to leave so soon? Sadness mixed with disbelief, only yesterday he invited his brother to go undercover to the night market. Now, there is no longer a loving and patient figure in Xavier's life.

In the middle of his daydream, his room was knocked from outside.

"Your Majesty, are you inside?" Liam's familiar voice.

Xavier quickly wiped his tears,

"Come in." Xavier

"Your Majesty, there's something I have to say."

"What's wrong? Just tell me."

"It." Liam thrusts a brown envelope at Xavier, where Nathaniel's signature is on the front. Xavier who received it looked confused.

"The police found this letter in the pocket of His Royal Highness Prince Nathaniel's uniform. According to his personal bodyguard, this is the last letter that Prince Nathaniel wrote in the car while on his way to the airbase." Obviously Liam.

Xavier. In a hurry he opened the envelope. A letter with very familiar handwriting belonging to the brother.

"I'm sorry, Your Honor." Said Liam who went to give Xavier some privacy.

Xavier began to read the letter with a tickle

"For my dear brother, Xavier.

If this letter is already in your hands, it means something bad has happened to me. Through this letter you want to apologize and express things that you have not been able to convey.

Xavier's. All this time you've grown into a very different figure from me. You're brave, jolly, sociable, and very confident. Things that I don't have and make your brother very envious.

Xavier, just keep being yourself. You are a powerful figure more than I imagined. I'm sure you'll stay strong and fine without my brother, right? Forgive big brother who left suddenly, I know the royal task is not something you like but this time hold on. Sorry for making you carry such a heavy burden on your shoulders. I know you are not someone who easily shows your emotions to others, but if you feel tired, there is no harm in crying.

Forgive the brother who couldn't take care of you for longer. But brother will always pray for and support you from up there, brother will always be in your heart. I wish I could see you wearing a crown, but it won't be possible anymore.

My one message. When you become king one day and you get scared. Remember that it is natural. Courage is not to do something without fear, but you know that there is more important and important thing to do than your fear. You'll be Xavier's wise king, I'm pretty sure of that.

Again, I'm sorry I can't be by your side. I can no longer see you grow up. I'll wait to see you and Dad again.

Say hello to my love to my father, tell him not to forget to take his favorite vitamins and ginger tea. Even if it's been 1,000 years, you'll still be my sweet little sister. And also to Uncle Elthon thank me, tell Liam that I left you to him.

Until the day we meet again, remember that I love you both so much.

Greetings dear, dear,

Nathaniel Ashton Rayton."

This is what Nathaniel wrote. The letter made Xavier cry. Why is it that only now is her brother saying things like this?

"Sister Ashton.... Now how should I?"