Chapter 6:The King's Discussion
London, England, May 2, 1735
Prince Shizuo was quietly sitting outside with a cup of tea watching the rose bushes move along with the direction of the wind. He stood up and handed his butler the cup, "Please leave me be for a moment, I wish to think without any disturbance." The butler bowed to him, "Certainly your majesty." As the butler walked away Shizuo walked over to one of the rose bushes and sniffed one of the flowers. Suddenly he heard footsteps coming his direction, Shizuo turned to see his father coming to stand next to him.
"Hello father," Shizuo said flatly. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" His father sighed slightly, "Son might I ask you what kind of woman you are looking for?" Shizuo inhaled sharply, "Why do you want to know that?" The king turned to his son, "Shizuo I want you to have the choice to marry whom you choose. I am only concerned about the woman you have in mind, if she is suited to rule the kingdom as princess and soon to be queen." Shizuo turned to his father, "If you really want to know what kind of woman I am looking for then I will tell you." The king cleared his throat, "Go on then my son." Shizuo exhaled deeply, "I am looking for a woman who is calm and kind, who is slow to anger, who is intelligent and talented, who makes my heart long to see her, to have her as my wife, princess, and queen." The king shifted and smiled, "Well then son, I have nothing to worry about." He put his arm around Shizuo and they began walking to the front of the castle. "Son, I want the woman you choose to be everything you dream. However I want her to be a queen who is humble, gracious, and thoughtful." Shizuo nodded his head, "Of course father, I wish those things as well." They walked to the front of the castle.
It was a marvelous masterpiece of gothic architecture, there was a large open arc indicating that it was the entrance to the castle with grand stairs leading to the doorway, the castle was made of stone and was tall with flying buttresses, there were more arcs for the south, east, and west of the castle each of them decorated with angels praying. In the courtyard there was a grand fountain that had two angels playing instruments with water coming out of them majestically.
The king held out his hand, "Son, Everyn Castle is a place where powerful rulers have ruled before, it is a treasure to me and your mother." Shizuo shuttered when his father mentioned his mother, "Father do not speak as if mother was still alive, you know that makes me angry." The king frowned, "I am sorry son I know her death still haunts you. To be honest, it haunts me as well." Shizuo shook off the bad feelings and put his arm around his father, "I will find a woman that reminds me of her." His father looked at him in shock, but then relaxed, "I'm happy you've made such a decision." "Mother was a great queen and I want my wife to be the same," Shizuo said. The king chuckled slightly, "I hope you will find that perfect woman at the ball," he said while walking to the castle entrance.
Shizuo looked up at the sky and spoke aloud, "Mother, I need you to be here at the ball to help me find the woman of my dreams too. After all, I want her to be a lot like you." He put his head back down and began to walk back into the castle.
