My father was a king.
After that discovery, I did what any curious child would do.
I asked questions.
A lot of questions.
I asked until my mother started laughing, until my father began sighing, until both of them realized I wasn't going to stop.
And that was how I discovered that my idea of a king was completely wrong.
Elves didn't live surrounded by gold.
They didn't wear heavy crowns.
They didn't live in giant castles.
Elves lived… simply.
In harmony with nature.
Wooden houses.
Simple clothes.
Food grown with their own hands.
They didn't accumulate wealth because they saw no point in it.
Being an elven king didn't mean being rich.
It meant being responsible.
His word was law—not because he commanded people…
…but because he carried the duty of always choosing what was best for his people.
He did not seek conflict.
But he did not run from it either.
He was the first to carry the burden…
…and the last to rest.
That changed something inside me.
But it also gave me a unique opportunity.
A wonderful opportunity.
To tease my father.
The first time, I waited for the perfect moment.
He was sitting down, drinking water after returning from "work."
I walked up to him with all the dignity a one-year-old could gather.
Then I bowed.
A perfect bow.
Exactly like the one Drak had done.
"Yes, my king," I said with all the seriousness I could fake.
Silence.
My father froze.
My mother stayed quiet for a second…
…and then exploded with laughter.
Loud laughter.
Uncontrollable.
Tears forming in her eyes.
My father looked completely embarrassed.
"Erond…" he murmured, unsure whether to scold me or laugh.
That was priceless.
I had discovered a new source of entertainment.
I started doing it whenever possible.
Bow.
"Yes, my king."
Bow.
"As you wish, my king."
Bow.
"I am at your service, my king."
My mother laughed every single time.
My father… not so much.
Over time, the joke stopped being funny.
At least for him.
He started giving me that tired—but patient—look.
"Don't do that."
Of course, that only encouraged me more.
Because deep down, I knew.
Before being a king…
He was still my father.