Piece Of Mind

Chapter 4


After an entire day of research, a plan was born. The family was, again, confident when Alexander desperately attempted words like "guess" and "probability" as if their ears refused to function. Still, when he looked at Rosella whooping like at a savage sporting event and Vee letting Graham swoop her up and spin her around never mind the negative implication about Alexander's weight in that situation, Alexander himself was shocked he hadn't rolled his eyes.

He knew why; his mother's face... Any face would be trying to smile because their enthusiasm was like a contagious illness. So much so he was failing the battle to keep emotions at bay, though the moment he felt the smile he frantically packed everything up and bolted like a normal person. He barely had a moment to compose himself when three figures chased after still giddy.

No one could deny accomplishment: Rosella never explained that outburst, but no one else drilled for details so Alexander kept quiet suspicions to himself. Besides, she and Graham returned with twigs caught in their hair, clothes covered in the deepest grass stains and eagerly took turns being impressed with the athletic feats they accomplished. When Vee suggested they were testing out the new bodies to make sure Graham didn't embarrass himself tripping over the new legs like she had unfortunately been doing, whether anyone else knew or not, both eagerly clung to that narrative.

But even before they returned, Vee was successfully conjuring the white sparkles. She, however, couldn't move past them although when Alexander asked her to really focus on the rune the outline actually begun to shine. He rushed to attempt his own sparkle show, and that filled more. When Graham and Rosella returned, they followed suit in the next attempt and every shape on that rune was aglow with the active spell at least for one special moment before everyone damn near passed out.

The unfairly titled Absorb Spell, because the unknown hero who could alter a powerful to a novice wasn't good at names, had to save them. Alexander had to explain that random citizens would be participating whether they knew or not once they were ready to cast. Well, the magic users would feel their energy being removed and fuel a rune, but it was harmless otherwise.

It was unrealistic to assume only four people could combine their varying levels of magic to overpower a stronger active spell even with bonds out of theoretical... Thread? If they were going to reverse this, they needed so much energy they would have to travel to as many residential areas and draw this same rune as many times as it would take. Until their hands memorized the shapes. Until they were pulling splinters out for countless nights.

That was the plan. One massive collection of magic all rushing to the ground they stood on, removing any active spell to affected people in its path.

"Help me cast Absence Of Creativity, or whatever." Alexander said, barely a whisper. "I was never going to be an all-powerful wizard. And if I can't identify runes after reading that book religiously, I don't think I have faith in myself to even try casting anything above medium for a while. I-"

He opened his eyes, flinching or fidgeting as the location turned to dead silence now that he was done. Seriously, a soft breeze had been rustling leaves before but even that decided to give up.

His family were still radiating hope and cheer, having a delayed reaction to his unrehearsed and nervous words. After saying what he did to Vee, just that little bit, he almost thought he could get away with being more open with these people but... But he bolted.

Thank goodness he couldn't see himself lying awake at night, haunted by this eventual memory.

By the time they arrived back at the castle, that bell Alexander made a note to bury in the garden rang merrily and brought the family to a wholesome dinner as a means to ease them into psychological horror.

The female guard who helped break the lock that morning was notably good at humming. It was lovely.

Also, she was adding the final touches for a bath fit for a queen. Queen Valanice, Alexander couldn't stress without the rather spontaneous pounding headache.

He tried to protest; he really did. Apparently, his mother NEVER deviated from her bath schedule let alone ALTERED soap type or duration. Alexander only had a moment to marvel at the existence of multiple soaps. He attempted to use excuses of tiredness, desiring change and even being in love mode for Graham. It was almost like she saw right through that wine story after all, that this guard was somehow pulling strings behind the curtain and was waiting to deliver that plot twist at the appropriate moment.

If not that, at least a prank or experiment.

Everyone else washed off and changed again as chaotic as one might assume with closed eyes, which was what Alexander expected until he felt more tranquil than he had in his entire existence thanks to the scented soap. And with his eyes already closed, they relaxed... And the warm water consumed him to shoulder level rather pleasantly.

He didn't know how he was developing a love/hate relationship with the bath, but that was the reality he was trapped in.


Rosella imagined the image of a grown man sulking with nothing but an old stuffed bunny to embrace for comfort was just the state of her father on many a Saturday night, so she only had one thing to kick herself for.

The body swap didn't upset her; she was sure life could get weirder than this.

No, the real problem was that seeing a happy Graham felt so perfect. She spent years hoping to see genuine happiness even if he never turned the tables on depression. Just having the thinnest streams of light in the dark would do him a world of good, and Alexander probably didn't fully understand why he was the cause. It was just a shame they lost so much time, and there was no certainty how long they all had to be a family together.

How long did Rosella herself have with her parents? It sounded selfish.

A nervous knock on the door interrupted her. The broken hinge meant the door was barely functional, but Graham didn't come in until Rosella gave an audible yes. She sat up just as he entered, seeing he was dressed for bed too except he clutched a few parchments.

"I'm sorry." Graham said immediately, perfect downer of a start as he gave the parchments a regretful glance. "With this spell problem, I completely forgot I have to settle a dispute between the farmers again tomorrow."

He gave her a moment to take in that information, looked like he expected her to freak out. But why? Disputes between the farmers were common.

Look, the Daventry farmer lore ran deep for reasons that probably go back a few reigns. Rosella had old friends who were either born into it or allowed themselves to be labeled outsiders even within the community despite tilling a mean field. There were families one would swear were bound by contract to live this life, despising the neighbors for increasingly minor reasons because the path to providing for your kingdom must be paved by your ability to work and sacrifice luxuries like social lives.

"Even after all this time, I haven't given up on Eli and Sybil." Graham told her, claiming a seat. "Tomorrow is supposed to be when they finally realize their behavior is hurting themselves, I hoped, but I can't attend. Your mother can't attend. It's too late to cancel, it's too soon to throw Alexander into even minor duties but..."

Rosella sighed, carefully placing the bunny aside to sit up and take one of his hands that was sickly pale clenching the parchments. She squeezed it, looking right in his eyes with an instant beam.

"You, of all people, should know Mom's stubbornness has prepared me for dealing with the farmers."

Graham gave her a long, contemplating look where the light abandoned his eyes. "It's that simple?"

Rosella didn't think she had to say anything, just rested her head on his shoulder. She felt the body underneath shudder with doom.

"But you still need to read this, Rosella." Graham told her flatly, slipping the parchments into her closest hand. "I wrote an account of all the last five sessions with them, I mean, the ink might be smeared because I was rushing in places, but I think it should cover enough. You don't have to memorize the whole thing; it's okay to keep it with you."

"Yeah, who's going to call out the king for referring back to his notes?" Rosella chuckled about it, but only received a lifeless sigh in return.

Somehow, that sigh said what both of them had been thinking in different ways. Which could be deep with the proper context.

"I'll look it over tonight." Rosella assured him a little more seriously, however. "If you want to hide and watch the encounter to provide distraction or tips in a pinch, the little storage closet is right-"

There was a flinch and some useless sputtering before Graham managed to say anything coherent. "I'm going to trust you to handle this yourself! I might use the chance to relax again, who knows!"

"Okay, but you haven't relaxed a day in your life." Rosella reminded him more affectionately.

They never had discussed what could happen if Daventry was in Rosella's hands, so of course it was too late now. No mind-reading was necessary for her to see her dad contemplate if now was a good time to make a personal comment on that scenario one way or the other.

Rosella knew what the crown felt like; she'd tried it on in secret when thirteen and bored. It would have been the same time she gathered up her old toys like this specific bunny, doubting her own maturity. At that time, everyone would have been telling her she was going to grow out of certain things and realize she had been born into and lived with comforts most worked for. Her life goal should have switched to making sure her parents knew their last resort of a daughter was capable.

But as for how the crown felt physically, at the time it slipped down over her forehead too much and there was this constant thought something wasn't right. There was a reason she found the idea of jumping over rooftops, hacking and slashing while the tide has gone beyond a kingdom's shore sounded stress-free. When she thought of telling her parents all of this, she could have tried harder to overcome hesitation but didn't. She sounded like she never grew up past that loud, hyper girl who never took anything except combat training seriously.

She already knew it was the fear of the unknown reeling her back in, all of that "what if". In perhaps the most tenacious family possible, she could see herself too overwhelmed to find any way of proceeding. She would have to give up, although even imagining that stung. She had no business playing a ruler even for one day.

Dad separated suddenly, leaving her to limply land on her side while he stood a short distance away mumbling to himself. When Rosella attempted to ask him to share, he quickly pointed to the pillow on Mom's side of the bed and asked if he could take it with no subtlety. Rosella let herself roll her eyes, at least smirking as she tossed it to him, and her reflexes activated to make him catch like a pro.

They never had serious talks anymore. Or, if they tried, the topic was always allowed to drift, or they distracted themselves with their surroundings. At least Graham needing that pillow would have come up eventually; he had no problem admitting he forgot how to enjoy a single bed. And the single life.

Rosella did her best to lounge while she could, dreading debating how the bed situation with Alexander was going to play out. The recap of the dispute nearby, however, was less concerning if she put both situations on a mental scale. She didn't know why Dad's exit halted in the doorway facing away from her as he spoke loud enough for her to hear.

"Nothing is ever simple." Rosella didn't think she ever heard her voice express such certainty.

Graham made sure to leave then, not give an opportunity for her to assure him this would work out and miss another sort of magic that was him enjoying being wrong.


Graham's dreams took him on a tour of past failure with Rosella, specifically replies to questions of what they actually did around here. What made her different from the kids she had elaborate narrated play fights with? He'd always answered questions honestly, so why was that labeled as a failure?

Everyone except Alexander gathered for breakfast, which raised questions. Rosella would eventually tell her parents he came back from an actual bath mortified because the usual guard at the door had to help him out of the tub when he started to lose consciousness staying in too long. She suspected it was the rune still drawing energy from him. To the guards, it looked like their queen was having a rough year and they could be heard rallying to prove how dependable they were being extra attentive to her needs. If Alexander had any injury from all this, it would be composure.

After breakfast, Graham realized he had a choice between joining Vee for spreading runes and magic training or eavesdropping on royal business. He told himself he was choosing the latter because if alone with Vee, he would subconsciously smooch her with no regard for their appearances and risk the world purging itself with holy fire. But, in reality, he knew watching Rosella trade cap for crown made him uneasy.

Vee's eyes sparkled just as he turned away, she reached out and pulled Graham in a clumsy embrace. Just week ago, he had been holding Vee as she'd wordlessly drop herself in his lap not wanting to let slip she was getting too emotional. And he never asked why, just did what he could to help.

Alexander's arms seemed to be resistant to the gesture as if it was all new to them, but Vee managed to tighten the hold at least for Graham's sake. She whispered to his ear soothing comments like nothing bad would happen if they spent a day apart. It was okay to be concerned about Rosella – even she was. That Rosella probably anticipated he was going to be watching, and she always wanted an audience to prove herself to. All of it did help.

Graham didn't tell her all of this magic traveling around the castle still bothered him a bit, he still believed learning it anyhow was his best chance of bonding with Alexander and that was a large goal in place of actually breaking the spell, he didn't believe Rosella loved him despite the pile of evidence otherwise and overall he felt bad he still needed to be comforted when she was the one who still needed to heal from loss. There was no way to prioritize admitting that stuff.

Spell or not, Vee still knew what he was thinking all the time. She didn't need him to admit any of that... It just seemed like he'd feel better if he did, someday. This spell, while unexpected and strange, could be used as a chance to improve something. When they pulled back, it was as if they challenged the other to go out and find a real term.

Graham didn't recognize himself, back perfectly straight on the throne and legs spaced apart at the best distance to not slouch or stumble if needing to stand for whatever reason. He didn't hear the normal, quick struggle of getting his tone of voice to land neutral immediately addressing a guard. That person was someone's idealized interpretation, because the real thing resorted to the storage closet.

Specifically: he was pressed to the crack in the door while Alexander curled up in the corner being calmer than he had since this went down armed with a steaming beverage and constantly spawning and dying light orb as he looked over the notes from yesterday.

Rosella made sure to be that thorough with the generous highlights of the dispute, right? Solving their problems meant helping not only their motivation to work, but the quality of life of their neighbors. Every rivalry among farmers wouldn't cool down overnight, but maybe it would cause others to re-evaluate themselves.

Eli and Sybil were specifically given attention because the former, despite being man with over fifty years of life experience, took every chance to put her down for having left Daventry and making a bit of scene about needing new lifestyle. She returned after two years of going through gaining wealth, now missing community and providing for it... Never mind her having lost skills in farming while gone; she was willing to relearn.

They had many disputes; they all made sense and were at least resolved within weeks. This one, however, had gone on for a month and was disturbing the peace by a competition to humiliate the other. And neither of them seemed deeply affected, just surface level annoyed while even other people stopped by the castle with complaints.

Even as they passed by the storage room, Sybil and Eli got in their last quiet bickering, both dressed in their usual formal outfits for this occasion. Graham had gotten so used to Eli's pure white hair not slick and stuck to his head after a full day in the sun, and Sybil's jewelry swishing or catching the light with each anxious move. Look good for the king, they must have thought, quality is always reflected by looks. Humans are terrible, shallow creatures and they could totally prove the person on their side was the worst about it and win the competition.

"I'm sure you have new stories of tormenting each other, but I was hoping we could do something different today." Rosella said as soon as greetings were finished, crossing a leg over the other and pressing her palms together like a storybook villain.

Everything was thrown off.

It's highly advised not to introduce change to farmers so soon. They valued routine, something familiar. Yes, the goal was to stop these two before they ruined their lives but to open with that...

"You're okay with that, aren't you?" Rosella kept his voice at a calm level, lower face partially obscured as the connected hands were brought closer.

"Forgive me if I'm inappropriate, King Graham... Are you well?" Eli asked cautiously, though his sunken eyes were very obviously observing to swoop in before Sybil realized there was an upper hand to be gained.

Hands landed on the knees, and Rosella stood and made her presence instantly draw eyes to her. Graham wasn't entirely sure what an identity crisis was, but he might have been close to learning as he couldn't believe he was capable of making Eli and Sybil lean together though both shuddered with disgust. They had no one but each other against the presence of an actually dignified ruler without training long into the night in front of the mirror.

"I want to know what methods your families used to convince you take up your farm tools. The more backstory, the better." Rosella explained. "Years ago, two children were born. Years ago, those two children cultivated their own identities and somehow felt that cultivating to give back to the kingdom that supported them even with an ailing King Edward. And now they stand here, asking if I'm unwell because I spring change on them... Never mind one of them searching for it herself." There was just something ominous about it. Graham couldn't stop cringing even after she finished, folding her arms and waiting for the two.

"Rosella didn't sleep last night; she was too busy cramming." Alexander's comment nearly made him jump out of his skin. When Graham turned, he saw Alexander not making the effort to look above the notes as he talked.

"She wanted me to help, so I did what I could. I asked her to quote certain parts, gave my opinions on different methods of dealing with the farmers. And when my energy finally dropped, before my eyes shut I thought her teasing about how proud you'd be had a deeper layer." Alexander explained.

"Alexander, I'm not sure it's okay for you to tell me that." Graham murmured, coming closer and catching the fading light orb in his palm. "What if Rosella didn't want-"

"Why am I tempted to believe she's just like me wanting to ensure we're not disappointments?" Alexander's question was wrapped up in bitterness.

There was a short moment of neither knowing what to do. During that time, Eli and Sybil were talking over each other attempting to avoid reopening old wounds while Rosella sternly directed them back to the original topic each time. Each time she didn't get mad at them, just recapped all their past attempts to turn a negative focus on each other and suggested brief but healthier alternatives.

At least, they sounded that way to Graham. Maybe that was why she took that route.

Alexander made some stalling noises, and with him reaching for the light there was just a flash of worry on his face before it was extinguished.

Graham carefully reached out and hovered a hand at his arm. "Neither of you kids were a disappointment." He didn't have to say it, but as someone who craved specifically not being a disappointment himself...

"Oh! That's... Good." Alexander failed miserably at sounding relieved, but he kept going with a self-conscious tone. "It would have been better for Rosella to hear that too, but this is fine."

"I wanted to tell her for years." Graham admitted while he had the chance, now wrapping arms around himself as if that would block out the negative emotions. "Although I don't know where to even begin. I mean, I need to plan it perfectly, so my tongue doesn't knot, and I skip the passing out from exhaustion part."

His eyes must have been adjusting to the dark, because he swore he saw Alexander's eyes gleam like Vee might when she had an idea. Souls getting moved around or no, it wasn't out of place. But just as Alexander opened his mouth, the voices outside were booming.

"The family farm has been going strong for generations!" Eli blustered. "We barely struggled and always proved the most for Daventry; I'm pretty sure all of you would have starved or never survived winter if it weren't for my family's bleeding hearts! I remember being just a boy, I watched my father mend clothes for some stranger while my mother prepared a space in our already cramped two room house! Then this stranger, she- She just lingers like a bad sickness eating all our food and whining and ranting about how the world never gave her anything! Are you kidding me?! The world doesn't owe you anything; you work until you die because that formula's never been proven wrong! Do you know who that stranger was?! Does anyone want to know?!"

There was a merciful pause.

Graham shared an uncomfortable look with Alexander, before both stood and crowded around the door. They could see Rosella at the bottom of the steps to the throne, standing between two glowering farmers with fists ready to fight at a moment's notice. Everyone's hearing was probably going to pay later.

"The stranger was my great grandmother." Sybil coldly said like that was the greatest plot twist. "She was having the hardest year of her life, but these wonderful people took her into their home and might as well have welcomed her into the family. I fail to see why that's such a sour memory for you. And, if you don't mind, please don't tear down the better people in my family."

Rosella had no choice but to push both away; they had been trying to lean into each other's faces and had been breathing all in hers. Ultimately, she stepped back so she was a bit taller than them even with Eli having the height advantage normally.

"Are you suggesting your entire dispute goes back to Sybil's grandmother? Maybe, if things happened differently, you wouldn't be here today?" When Rosella asked, making Graham's voice completely toneless, neither had an answer.

Rosella rubbed the back of her neck thoughtfully as the notes didn't include any of that. It seemed like she was stuck, until she calmly exhaled and loosened her shoulders before she tried something else.

"Eli, you claim you decided to be a farmer at ten when Daventry had its first major harvest festival since you were born." She set her eyes only on him, and for a farmer he had a near flawless stance and salute like a knight. Seeing, this she allowed a small smile on her lips before giving him a gesture to relax. He seemed reluctant to take it, but eventually did.

"Sybil, you claim you decided to be a farmer when the family members who cared about you the most passed away." She set her eyes on her, and Sybil's face refused to not be exaggeratedly scrunched while the folded arms were trembling in contrast. Rosella gave her a smile, only stopping when she ducked her head from the attention.

In the end, both farmers had been subdued...? Graham could only remember two occasions they were totally silent in a room together and couldn't help if his exhaling echoed in that space. Alexander was radiating a positive emotion not so easily identified for him, as well.

This would have been a nice place to end it for now-

"I believe we've found a good stopping point to ponder what happened today." Rosella explained passionately. "However, I need you to hear why I've allowed you to come back over and over despite never getting anywhere. That's because I might have missed a lot of solvable problems over the years as I can't be everywhere at once, but I'm still invested. I've learned that people are stronger when they can unite, even if you've had bad experiences with them in the past. Life feels like it lasts, until it doesn't... And regrets don't always completely heal, but if you have a chance to settle past issues with someone else you should try. Just don't waste your time."

The room was dead silent until the guard waiting to escort them back coughed.

Some of the candles in the room went out.

The inside of the storage closet had noise, at least, Graham's back hitting the door as he slumped down in despair. Alexander had a mild crisis as always, seemingly unaware there was no helping him.

"Ah, our wise king is back at it again." Eli said warmly, though his smile was the loudest.

"You really shouldn't have to put up with us!" Sybil added frantically. "We all only have so much time to enjoy the life we're given; it's no good lingering!"

"It was never my- Our... I don't believe either of us want to miss out on the good because we can't let go of the bad."

"I'm not fully comfortable saying it out loud, but... I can do better if Eli works with me!"

"Eh... Maybe."

"The atmosphere is good, you two." Rosella encouraged them less like their ruler, more like their parent now. "Let's aim for just three days of teamwork – you can start with holding doors open while the other carries out a heavy object, repairing fences together or even cooking. But those are just examples, and feel free to experiment with tasks you're most comfortable with."

Everything ended with the resounding smack of palms in a handshake, especially realism.

Graham picked himself up, dust and all, knowing he was smiling. Don't get him wrong; he couldn't believe what just happened and would be completely content if all the walls dropped and showed that the entire scenario out there had been a show to not give him reason number (?) to plunge into despair.

He threw the door open after the formal farewells were over, consumed in what he was slowly learning was fatherly pride.

Alexander followed, clutching his notes and drink with renewed sanity for undisclosed reasons.

And the first sight that greeted them was a hazard of a rolled-up section of carpet, the guard lifting a shoe as if it had been used it an assassination attempt with Eli practically jumping onto his back to confirm his eyes, and Sybil wrapped up oddly romantic in the arms of Rosella with the face of total bliss under magical influence.

Graham heard nothing but his own internal screaming until Eli cackled maniacally.

"Married men all over again, Sybil! And the scandal's right in front of his wife and daughter this time! Good luck recovering, if you can!"


TBC