1 I Will Rather Die

Lucio smiled when he heard the knock on the door and saw it opening without his acceptance.

It could only be his mother. The bells of his father's death were still ringing yet the woman was already here with a crown in her hands to announce him as the new ruler.

Why wouldn't she! She had waited all her life for this moment only. But did she ever try to know what he wanted in his life!

He looked out of the window, not because he was distressed about the death of his father, he hated him more than his mother, but he did not want his mother to see him, not yet. There is still time for the result. What if she realize what he had done? Wouldn't his hard work go to a waste then!

No, he could not afford to make a mistake this time. This was his last chance.

"Lucio! What are you doing in your room? I was looking for you everywhere. You should have gone for the mourning of your father, even if it was a formality, you should not give chances to nobles to speak ill about you. After all, you are going to be the emperor tomorrow.'' Though she was chiding, Lucio could hear the glee in the voice of a woman whose husband died just a few hours ago.

He could not blame her for her hatred towards her cold husband. But that did not mean he accepted her hypocrisy! What difference did they have then?

"You are not here to chide me. Are you?" he replied through a strained voice, holding the best of his emotions, he did not want to show his weak side to her, not even now. She did not deserve it.

He heard the sound of footsteps coming closer and his hold on the glass tightened. A dark ray of light passed his eyes as he prepared himself for the end. Just a few more seconds and then he would gain his long awaited freedom.

"You know me too well." The woman had an amused smile on her face as she placed her hands on the shoulder of Lucio whose whole body turned straighter and rigid.

An involuntary reaction that comes out every time she touches him. The image of her face that was full of anger flashes past his eyes every time.

"I am here to be the first person who will congratulate you to be the emperor. Would you like to have your first celebratory wine?" Finally he tilted his head to see her face.

Her eyes that had looked dead since the time he remembered, were full of life. Too bad, it was too late for him.

"You know mother, I always wanted to see you happy and smiling like that." her eyes softened as this was the first time her son was talking to her this sweetly. Mostly he just nodded or shook his head at her coldly.

She wanted to tell him that he was the source of her happiness and she would stay happy as long as he was with her but he continued,

"Who would have known that you would only be happy after standing on the piles of bones and drinking the blood of thousands of innocents." a frown formed on her lips as she felt there was something amiss.

Though he had always been cold, this time his cold eyes were bone chilling.

"Luci, I know that you blame your mother. But I have done everything for only you. I did all this so that you can be the emperor!" she moved her hands towards his cheeks to hold them but he took a step back.

"Luci! This is not the time to throw tantrums. We have things to do. Everyone's waiting for you." a smile formed on his face but there was no humour in it while his eyes turned colder.

"When did I have the right to throw tantrums? You said that you did everything for me. So that I could be the emperor, but have you ever asked me if I wanted to be one?" he raised his head and stared at her when her eyes widened and her face filled with horror!

"Luci! Blood!" she ran towards him as he staggered. She fell on her knees to hold his head and place it on her lap.

"Who did this? Luci! Do not worry, nothing will happen to you! Mother is here!" caressing her cheeks softly as tears started to form in her eyes, she looked around for help. Only then did she remembered that everyone was going to pay their final tribute to her husband.

"Guards, knights! Is there someone! Anyone" she shouted on the top of her lungs as she wiped the blood from her son's face who was laughing while staring deep into her eyes.

"This must be done by marquees! He had gone blind since his nephew died! I am not going to leave him.. i .."

"I did it!" he whispered but he knew that her mother heard him well and her head snapped back to him, "I did it because I was tired of your traps and tricks. I did not want to be their part anymore." shock filled her eyes as she stared at her son for whom she had sacrificed all her life.

"I did not want to be a prize of chess all my life. I tried for your happiness but I can not do it anymore. I am sorry mother, but I want to sleep. Cough cough. I want to sleep forever."

"Luci wait! We will talk about it later. I am going to call the physician, you will be fine, I promise then we will… we will." tears choked her as she knew there was no way that she would be able to drag the physicians from the mourning place when she didn't even know where they were.

"If only I would have a second life, I pray from God that you would not be my mother!!"