I always loved the river. It reminded me of my Papa's gems that were plastered on his clothes. Dad says they're useless and a waste of money but I beg to differ. It makes Papa different from the other kings around, it gives him a strange identity that only papa has to his name.

It also was the place where Ivan never failed to make me smile. His demeanor would slightly calm from when he picked me up but he was nonetheless happy.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and looked down at the water below us. Both of our legs dangled above the cool water, inches away from splahing right into it.

"I always love this time of the day." He spoke so soft in my ear and rested his chin on my shoulder. He then gave me a gentle peck on my cheek and pinched it, which was quickly stopped by my hand swatting it away.

"What's the matter, Alfie? You've never done that before."

I sighed and looked down. Today was hard. My Dad never seized to yell and screech at me about things I couldn't fix and things I did that he never enjoyed seeing from me. That I needed to be more mature and I'm some idiot. He managed to grab my cheek hard and alongside by my hair threw me in my room and it still hurt like hell.

  What did I really do wrong? I had nothing else to do minus mess around. It was the only way anyone would notice I exist anyway, everyone was always too busy. Too busy for me.

Was I really that big of a fucking deal? Was I really the biggest issue in the kingdom that Arthur had to worry about? I know I won't ever be king anyway, even if I am older hes gonna choose Matthew. He's better then me. He acutally does what he needs to, unlike me. Hell, I could fucking die and my Dad wouldn't care. He'll just complain that he has a bad name for letting the eldest die.
I didn't realize how silent I was being until Ivan pulled me back into his chest, rocking slightly and kissing my head. Being so close to him always, always calmed me. It made me feel safe, secure and away from everyone who could've ever hurt me. Like Dad.

I just burried my face into his chest and lrt the tears stream. He rubbed my back and it soon went up to my neck and rubbed it gently in circles. The movemnts hyponotized me and melted me into his skin, calming me.

Nothing else mattered. No Dad. No Matthew. Nothing. Just Ivan. He was my focus and will always be, he took me in and he's going to be the one I will always live for at this point.

"Let it out." He said and looked down at my tear streamed face. I glanced upward to see a soft, smiling round face.

Ivan's face.
My knight in shining armor. And I don't care how cheesy that is.