It's getting late. The middle-aged Flare was unable to get herself some rest.
Flare was touching the throne, which had been cleaned so meticulously for the event for next morning. She sighed as she touched the armrest of the throne.
After his father, King Lino En Kuldes's passed away a year ago, Flare was supposed to be the ruler of Obel. But she kept delaying the ceremony even though the mourning period had passed for long. It's not until the Obel Maritime Council and the whole Island Nation Federation pleaded, she later reluctantly accepted her fate to be a ruler of Obel Kingdom and the chairman of Island Nation Federation.
But in fact, she was still waiting, for the true heir to come back. The Island Nation had waited for him, but knowing he wasn't going to take the throne, they had given up.
"… ah…"
Flare removed her hand from the throne, as she slowly turned her head. She got a company. Normally, she would call for guards if someone sneaked in to the palace. But she couldn't do it for this particular person.
"… finally…"
She gave him a small smile.
"You're here…"
That person was entering the throne room, and lowered his hood. It's a face Flare had not seen for decades. It didn't change at all.
Her younger brother.
Flare's shoulder relaxed. "You've decided to come."
The young man with red headband gave her a thin smile. "It's been a while."
Flare's lips curled into a sad smile. A while. But she was getting old. Their father had passed away due to his age.
"How have you been?" Flare asked to him, while taking few steps closer to him.
"Good." A swift and short reply. It's just like his personality. "What about you?"
"Could be better if you're here." An honest reply from Flare. She gave him the smile of relieve and looked at the throne as she stood beside him. "I've been waiting for you."
To inherit the throne, of course. Flare had waited for the rightful person to come back. His younger brother. The most capable person to rule after Obel and island nation.
That person just quietly smiled to her, knowing the princess' hidden meaning in her words. He too, joining her to glance towards the throne, where their father used to sit at.
The throne that their father had planned to give him. The young man quietly closed his blue eyes. The ocean blue eyes he had inherited as a member of Obel royal family.
"You already know, I didn't come to claim it."
"Don't say that."
"Flare."
The gentle smile of her brother had gone, just a quiet look from his eyes. A longing look on his eyes. He wasn't longing for the throne, but their father who had been a great ruler for his entire life.
"You're the one who is able to rule."
To continue the peace and stability to the island nation they had fought so much.
Yet, Flare disagreed. "You're the hero of the island nation."
"The hero has died."
"Father had always wanted you to be his heir."
"I can only bring disaster."
"… Idiot…"
Flare sighed. Her brother still blamed himself over something he couldn't have the control.
But the young man gave her his smile again, not offended at all. But he was serious with his words. He had never been after the throne. He came just to ensure the next ruler of the Obel kingdom wasn't running away. Nothing more.
"Come." The young man stretched his left hand, to the princess of Obel.
The princess, looking quietly over his left hand, where the rune which had given him the harsh fate embedded. She gave him her right hand, and the young man slowly led his sister to the throne.
Her throne.
She felt like she's going to cry. Not because she had aware how heavy the responsibility was to become a ruler, but because of her brother.
Her poor little brother, whose life had been so hard.
Looking at his smile which hinting her to give it a try, Flare gave in. She slowly settled herself onto the throne. It's only the two of them, but she could already feel the pressure.
Her younger brother stood before her, and lowered his body, onto his knees. Flare wanted to stop him, but finally stopped her hand and settled on the armrest after knowing his intention. The young man had wished to attend her coronation, but he couldn't. He had severed his ties with the family…
… in order to protect all of them, and the island nation.
He slowly took the hem of her dress, and kissed it, acknowledging the heir of the throne. "Congratulation, 'ane-ue'."
She covered her mouth with her hands, trying to hold down her tears. How long had it been since she heard him calling her 'sister'?
He raised his head again, with a sincere smile on his face. He had declared himself as a loyal vassal of the new ruler of the Obel Kingdom.
"Queen of Obel."
'Let's promise each other.'
'I'll take this throne, to ensure the peace you've given to us will continue on. And to ensure, we will never take this peace for granted.'
'So promise me, you will never give up. Me and the Obel royal family will also never give up.'
'I know you've been quietly protecting us, and the island nation, alone. So, I, too, and the next of the line along with the rest of the family, will try to be stronger, so nothing will come to harm us.'
'And you will come back to us, though quietly.'
'We will always welcome you with open arms, no matter how many generations to come.'
'Oh, Lazlo.'
'The unsung hero of the Island Nation.'
'The bearer of the most cursed rune.'
'The sleeping sea dragon, our guardian from the sea.'
'The lonely prince of Obel.'
'And also…'
Lazlo gripped the insignia ring Flare had given him, while watching the coronation took place, from a far place.
'… my beloved little brother.'
-End-
Side note - If you're wondering what 'ane-ue' means, it is older sister, but in honorific or respectful term.
It's me, F.4.7.3. After in a total block for years, I come back to finish what I've started. But since I can't recover my old account (I know it sounds stupid lol), I made a new account. I'll also continue 'The forgotten knight' in this account. It's finished, but i didn't have enough time to edit it. I'm feeling so ashamed for not finishing of what I've started. Believe me, it's stuck in my mind for YEARS. *cry*
this fic is counted as a kickstart, and written in more simplified version.
After so many years, weirdly enough, Lazlo's still my favorite. Seems like it has never changed! Since his timeline is more than hundred years before suikoden, it's the most interesting one to be written as well. Lol
please, do pardon my english. I've tried my best to improve looool