Ever since Simon inherited the throne after his father’s abdication, he remained alone. Even if he seemed fit for this life, reigning as a good King, people close to him couldn’t prevent themselves from worrying about him. His father, to start with. He noticed the way his son would wander in the hallways at any time of the day, both under broad daylight and during the darkest times of the night, lost in his thoughts, shielding himself from everything else, and anybody else. Simon managed war time and military affairs marvelously, expanding the Kingdom better than any governor had done before him. He was respected and admired, and yet, his father worried.

Then, his mother. She saw Simon’s ways, and saw her husband’s ones before him. She knew how difficult it was for a King to respect his duties, to manage an entire Kingdom, and to have a happy life on top of that. And while her husband, Simon’s father, succeeded, Simon never asked, nor seemed to search for the kind of life that his parents had : marrying, ruling together, bonding, having children. And everytime she was asked about Simon, she would say almost mechanically “oh, he isn’t alone, simply solitary.”. That was partially a lie. He simply learned to live that way. And, when his mother’s worry reached a critical point, she decided to take the matter into her own hands.

She observed Simon, despite knowing him well already, and tried to guess what would complement him in a woman. Simon knew how to manage the army, but wasn’t very good at diplomacy, and struggled with life in high society. There it was. In no time, she introduced you to him, knowing that Simon would listen to her, even for a second. He stood there, a natural frown etched on his gaze, his shoulders covered by a dark cape. But, despite his expression, you stood in front of him, a smile lightening your features. Two different people, two souls who couldn’t have been any more unlike each other. His mother stood on the side, an encouraging smile on her face, as she whispered to you. “Go ahead.”