Chapter Text
not a lot, just forever
adrianne lenker
00:26 ━━━━●───── 4:10
not a lot, just forever
intertwined, sewn together
Jason Grace of Imperium.
Each day that passes, Jason grows more scared.
Of his reflection, of his future. Of the crown, sitting there, waiting to rest on his head. Following the King's death, the whole castle was thrust into planning. Jupiter’s wife, Juno, was long gone by then. A relief, some may say, as she ruled with the elegance of a peacock and the stabbing eyes of a hawk.
Now, they want him. The bastard child. The second choice to Thalia. To become king, get married, rule Imperium.
He’s not sure if he can.
~~~
“The sun has been very nice lately. Good for the plants.” Percy crouches down next to the flowerbeds in the courtyard, the breeze ruffling his hair.
“Hm.” I’m not completely listening, drumming my fingers on the armrest of the bench. These courtyards are the only place where we’re ever alone. Obviously, I’m not allowed to take gardening staff into the palace, much less my chamber, or they’d think I’m up to something suspicious. Then Percy’d be fired and I’d never see him again.
“Are you listening to me?” Percy places his hand on mine. “You seem out of it.”
He’s right.
For now, Arcadia is sort of ruling for us, but in time, I will have to become king. I will have to do everything. In turn, I won’t be able to see Percy as much anymore. I could make him my formal companion, but he doesn’t have the connections or the status necessary.
Percy sits next to me, his shoulder brushing mine. For a second, we just sit there. Close, but nowhere near as close as we’ve been before.
“What will happen? When you become king, I mean.”
“I’ll miss you every second I’m gone,” I reply on instinct.
“You can still visit me. As far as I’m aware, I won’t be fired as soon as you sit on that throne.” his hand travels up my arm and lands on my bicep, resting it there. He sighs then. “I’ll miss you too.”
The sun starts to dip below the horizon, causing the fountain water to lose its shine. Percy stands up at the sound of footsteps, scrambling over to his watering can and shears.
A boy, meek and small, stands at the doorway. I recognise him as one of the knights-in-training. It’s difficult to see such a small kid spend his time at the castle training to die in horrific bloodshed. He looks like a baby, for gods’ sake.
“Uhm.. Jason. They wanted me to fetch you for dinner.”
I sigh, standing up. “Of course.”
Percy glances at me through the corner of his eye, nodding slightly. I don’t see him for the rest of the night.
The palace hallways are grand and wide, sometimes jarring. Chandeliers hang down, glass reflecting onto the opulent tiled floor. Some walls are lined with windows looking out onto the gardens. The corridor to the dining hall doesn’t have them, though, so I’m stuck looking down at the floor.
The boy pushes open the doors and scurries away, leaving me alone to face the council, who are ruling with Arcadia until I’m ready to take over their position and become king.
The council are a group of old people that my mother and father trusted to help run Imperium. In time, when people my age have enough status, I’ll have to choose one too.
Dinner tonight is simple; roast chicken and vegetables. The chefs are busy preparing for the wedding, after all. I throw up in my mouth a bit at that thought.
“Good evening, Jason.” The oldest council member speaks first. I don’t know his name; I suppose I blocked it out. He was a close friend of Mother and Father.
“Good evening.” The food in front of me looks like the most unappealing thing in the world right now, and I would do anything to be outside with Percy again. That was nice, even though we weren’t really saying anything.
“Well. How are you feeling? Arcadia’s princess, your fianceé, is arriving in just a few days,” Another council member pipes up. This one is younger, but still possesses a stern eye.
I don’t answer at first, but she snaps her fingers.
“I’m not sure yet. I’m sure I'll find out when I meet her.” A well-prepared answer, not unlike the many I have stored in my notebook. This one, though, has truth in it.
The council members nod, returning to their dinner as I pretend to do the same to mine. By now, the sun has completely set, casting a lamplit sheen to the cutlery.
“Are you prepared?” The older man asks. “This transition will come with much responsibility.”
I don’t answer again. He seems at peace with this, and continues on with his meal until everyone's plate except mine was cleaned.
“Are you not going to eat your food?”
“I’m not very hungry tonight, I suppose,” I reply, and dash off to my chambers as soon as possible after that.
~~~
Percy Jackson.
“You’re home!” Ma pats me on the back as I take off my coat. “Come sit. I made dinner for us.”
“Percy!” Estelle looks up from her toys and runs over to hug my legs.
When I first ran away, I was lost in the woods for weeks; barely eating nor drinking. Then Ma found me. Her name is Sally Jackson, and she was an Imperium local who brought me in and treated me as her own son. She taught me how to garden and hooked me up with a gardening job at the palace. Good pay, she said. Great for when you need to sustain yourself.
I ruffle Estelle’s hair, leading her over to the table. Estelle is four years old, and she was born one year after I fled Thalassia. Ma adopted her from unwilling parents, and since then she’s been a shining light in the house.
“Mama, did you see my tower?” Estelle says. Ma turns around and sets a pot of vegetable stew on the table.
“Yes I did, sweetheart. It was very impressive.”
As we eat, the curtains ripple from the wind and the air hangs quietly.
I wonder what I would be doing if I hadn’t run away. I would probably be miserable, buried in my bed for most of the day. Nowadays, I feel lighter, freer; but that feeling still comes back every now and then to taunt me.
Things won’t be like this forever.
And that is becoming apparent, more than ever.