The boy looked up at the man, eyes now full of curiosity. The boy had never heard of this story, because it had happened before he was born. The boy looked at the man, who after speaking did not seem as evil as before and innocently asked. "Are you the king from the story?" The man hung his head and sighed. "Once. Long ago. Many lifetimes ago it feels like, I am a king no more though child." The boy seemed a little lost, but didn't pursue the question further. He asked instead, "What happened next?" The man seemed to smile a little, but the boy couldn't really tell from where he sat. "Where was I... ah yes, becoming king. A few years after I had gotten married, to Nyx. What started as a interest became an obsession. I started seeing her privately, we would sit and stare at the stars. Her presence calmed me, her voice soothed my soul..."
"Stop that!" Nyx's laughter sounded like bells ringing bouncing off the walls in the small courtyard. "You are the most childish king I have ever met!" Nyx and Josiah sat in the palaces courtyard at dusk, waiting for the stars to show themselves. Josiah had been entertaining himself tickling Nyx every time she called him 'Lord' they had been speaking in private for quite some time he had given her permission to call him Josiah. "My lor- I mean Josiah, why do you watch the stars with me?" Nyx asked quietly. "Does my being here bother you?" Josiah began to stand but Nyx grabbed his wrist before he could get far. "N-no it's only.. I'm but a commoner, why spend your time with me?" Josiah smiled at her. If she could see what he saw she wouldn't ask such a question. Nyx may have been a commoner by birth, but her beauty rivals that of the gods. "Because your the only commoner that is brave enough to lay hands on me." Josiah gesture to his wrist Nyx was still holding. Nyx jerked her hand back and started to apologize, but Josiah cut her off in the only way that felt right. His lips brushed gently against hers, as a shooting star streams across the sky. He started to pull away but Nyx pulled him in closer. Josiah lost track of time as the pair sat embraced, body to body, lips to lips. Breathing in each other's scent and staring deep into one another's eyes. But by the time they both pulled away, thousands of stars had lit up the night sky...
Eventually the pair stopped hiding their relationship, which caused quite a stir amongst the other four nobles. During one annual meeting in particular they fully expressed their dislike for Josiah's choices. "She's a commoner" Thalorin said. The Duke of Wolfhaven to the north. Josiah did his best to calm the older man. But Thalorin dismissed him and left the meeting hall. Muttering curses and calling him a disgrace to the kingdom. "Surely you jest, the king would not stoop down to a commoners level." Eldric, the Duke of Elderfen asked with a troubled expression on his face. "If you intend to take her as a concubine you must find a suitable wife first." But Josiah simply nodded his head, causing Eldric to go pale. "I-I have other matters to attend to my lord. I apologize for my rude leave." He then gathered his things and left the chamber room as well. The other two nobles present Kaori Duchess of Mistwilde, and Gwynn Duke of Sunvale. They had said nothing amidst all of this. But even they eventually shook their heads and took their leave. Leaving Josiah completely alone with his thoughts. Some time later when the other nobles heard that Josiah had committed to getting married to Nyx, they threatened to withdraw support to the capital. The thought troubled Josiah. He wished to lead his people well but his heart was leading him down a path that the other nobles did not accept. Josiah had decided after walking and seeing Nyx once more, becoming enveloped in her and feeling all his stress disappear. That his love for her was nonnegotiable...
The man seemed sad after finishing. Making the boy look at him, his expression betraying his age. As if the young boy had been there himself and felt all the conflict in his heart. The man paused. Then began to slowly say, "When I think about it, all really started going to hell, during the summer festival..."