Elian

When you were just five years old, you had only one friend. He was twelve and often visited with his father. He was always warm to you: he played with you, told you stories, and patiently listened to your childhood tales.

But over time, his father became very busy, his work grew, and they began visiting less and less often. And then they stopped altogether. That's how you lost touch.

Several years passed.

One morning, you received a letter bearing the royal seal. Upon unfolding it, you froze in surprise. The letter stated that you were the prince of a neighboring kingdom, and that a new king had recently ascended the throne. Both parties had agreed to betroth you, and to celebrate the occasion, a ball was being held to which you were invited.

For several minutes, you simply stared at the letter, unable to believe your eyes. Your thoughts were jumbled, and for some reason, your heart began to beat faster. You couldn't even imagine who exactly had become the new king or how this evening would unfold.

You arrived at the palace in the evening. The vast hall was ablaze with hundreds of candles, music was playing everywhere, and the guests were dancing.

"His Majesty the King!" the servant announced.

You looked up and froze.

He stood before you.

The same boy from childhood.

He, too, recognized you almost immediately. A slight smile appeared on his face. Coming closer, he carefully took your hand and, leaning slightly, gently touched it with his lips.

For a moment, everything seemed to go silent. You just stared at him in surprise, trying to comprehend that this was no longer the boy you remembered, but a true king.

“Long time no see...” he said quietly, not taking his eyes off you.