#1: Oreomania

In the kingdom of Oreomania where the forty-first birthday of the king Amarok was being celebrated, they had a serious conversation with high-ranking officials and well-known rich families in different countries.

“I'm sorry, king Amarok, if I didn't bring you a present. I know you already have everything. Throne, power, wealth, the palace and delicious foods. I'm still confused about what I should buy for you. So, I just thought that you should choose the gift you want from me. Just tell me and name the land you want to receive from me.” Don Ferrer said that some mayors and officials agreed. The king nodded his head and he thought carefully about what the gentleman offered him at the same time he turned to look at him.

“As you said, I already have everything. But you know, Don Ferrer, I don't need land because I am satisfied with this palace and the things I have. All I need in my life now is a wife that I will spend my life with forever. I hear you have two daughters as beautiful as your wife, am I right?” When the gentleman heard what the king said, he briefly stopped drinking the hot tea and slowly put his cup down on the table while he turned to where the king was. “I'm forty-one. At my age, I don't need material things to make me happy. What I require is a wife. I need to produce my heir. What do you say about it, Don Ferrer?” He added that it made him more speechless where he looked away from the king, and he did not know what he would answer to him, as he did not expect what he would ask of him. He just swallowed deeply, and suddenly, he was so nervous that all their attention was focused on him, besides that, he couldn't wait for the king because he would rather not spoil their fun because of him. So, he had no other choice but to draw a forced smile on his lips and agree with what the king said.

“I heard that his eldest daughter is smart and good at using sword. The two of them will surely be a perfect couple, and many women will be jealous of her.” An officer said that everyone agreed except for Don Ferrer who just drank hot tea while clenching a fist hidden under the table.

“She is not only smart and good at using the sword, but she is also beautiful, where many men are awed by her. My son saw her once, and even he was dazzled by her beauty.” Everyone was filled with happy chatter where they couldn't stop themselves from admiring and praising the eldest daughter of Don Ferrer while his true feelings were the opposite where he didn't want to hear his two daughters being talked about.

“Then you must introduce me to your greatest eldest daughter right, Don Ferrer?”

He suddenly looked up and turned when he heard the king mention his name. His two eyebrows rose with a trace of astonishment on his face. It seems that he did not hear what the king said to him because he was deep in thought, so he turned around and did not respond to him immediately.

“The king asks when you intend to bring your daughter here to the palace?” Said the gentleman sitting to his left. Although he heard what he said, he still couldn't speak, instead he looked down at his cup that was on the table. The king seemed to notice that he was having second thoughts, so he suddenly stood up and brought a bottle of red wine where he approached where Don Ferrer was. Everyone was surprised when the king approached him, and then he opened a bottle of wine, where he filled up his empty glass. Don Ferrer slowly looked up at the king with a look of astonishment on his face, especially when the king placed one of his hands on the gentleman's left shoulder.

“I'm sorry if I was blasphemous.” What the king said made everyone's eyes widen in shock because they couldn't believe that the king was apologizing to him because it was equivalent to his humility towards him. Even Don Ferrer couldn't believe it, so he stood up and bowed before the king to ask for his forgiveness. But the king just laughed and gently tapped him twice on the shoulder.

“You haven't even heard the reason for my apologizing to you yet, but here you are, bowing in front of me as if you're just embarrassing me more to all of them.” The king added that he was more surprised, but he could not fully understand why the king was doing this to him.

“I will clarify it for all of you that Don Ferrer has done me no wrong. You see? I have said something wrong again.” After he said that, all the gentlemen exchanged glances at each other with a trace of curiosity on their faces. “Since I called him as Don Ferrer when I should have called him my father-in-law, am I not right?” He added at the same time he walked towards him and place one's arm over his shoulders which made him turned to the King that only besides him. 

Don Ferrer didn't respond to him, but he just bowed, and then the king went to his throne. The gentleman did not know what he would say in front of everyone, so he had no right to object to what the king asked of him.

After the fun was over, everyone still couldn't forget the last words the king said to Don Ferrer.

“Look at how lucky Don Ferrer is with his family. Apart from marrying a gorgeous woman, he also blessed two beautiful daughters who inherited from their mothers. I thought, what if Lucia became my wife? (The name of Don Ferrer's wife) the king will surely favor at me too. What can you say, Maestro Rigador?” The one who spoke was Valir, one of the well-known rich nobles in their town and owner of jewelry shops. Whereas, Rigador is recognized as the second richest and has the most land in different cities. He is one of Don Ferrer's competitors because he is still at the top of the list with the highest level among them and the richest person in the entire kingdom. That is why he is closer to the king than Rigador.

Rigador stopped walking for a moment and turned to where Don Ferrer was with a look of judgment in his eyes. He could not accept that the eldest daughter of Don Ferrer would become the king's wife, as he also had an only child whom he was planning to marry to the king. But since the king himself made the decision, he didn't do anything, but his envy of him grew even stronger.

“Don Ferrer!” When he heard the familiar voice that called him he immediately stopped and turned behind him where Agustin approached him smiling, he is a lawyer and last on the list with a rich family. Agustin is ten years younger than him, but they treat each other like friends.

“Congratulations to you.” Agustin said to him with a wide smile on his lips. He took a deep breath and then turned his back on him, which surprised him.

“What's the matter, Don Ferrer? Aren't you happy that your eldest daughter, Jade, will be soon the queen of the palace?” He added, but the gentleman did not answer him, instead he frowned while he was thinking deeply.

“Are you afraid to send your daughter to the king?” He whispered to him that Don Ferrer stopped for a moment, and then he turned to Agustin with one of his fists clenched. However, he stopped himself, and then he looked around him with a sigh.

“I'm sorry, I'm just too tired tonight that I've run out of energy to talk to you. It's better if we meet again tomorrow morning, and then we can talk about it again.” He replied to him, who in turn he just nodded his head. Don Ferrer turned his back on him and then rode to his carriage to their home. As soon as he entered the door, his wife Lucia immediately noticed the heavy shoulders of Don Ferrer as well as the sadness in his eyes.

“What happened to the occasion? Didn't you enjoy it? Why does it look like you're carrying a giant rock on your back?” His wife was curious, with a trace of concern on her face. Don Ferrer sat in his rest chair, where he closed his eyes for a moment and leaned his back. Lucia went to the kitchen for a while to get him a glass of water and placed it on her husband's table.

“Did something happen at the palace that you didn't like?” She asked, and Don Ferrer's eyes opened, and he drank some water before he told his wife everything that happened inside the palace as well as what the king asked of him. In Lucia's shock, she was stunned and sat down on the sofa, until they heard the breaking of a dish where they both turned around outside the door of their room.

“Jade!” The couple's eyes widened when they saw their eldest daughter standing there where she heard everything they talk about the king.

“Tell me that I'm not really going to marry the king.” Said the girl with tears in her eyes. Don Ferrer stood up and was about to approach her, but the girl suddenly ran out of their house, so he couldn't stop her to explain to her everything.

“You know one of Jade's dreams is to become a soldier. What will happen to her if she marries the king? What about her dreams? Please find a way to change the king's mind. There are many beautiful girls out there who come from noble families, but why did he choose your eldest daughter?” Lucia could hardly stop being angry and tearful when she heard about the arranged marriage of the king and his daughter. Even Don Ferrer didn't know what to do, but just took a deep breath and sat in his rest chair.

“We can't stop the king's wishes. Whether we like it or not, Jade will still marry him.” After he said that, Lucia turned to him with a frown and a look of surprise on her face.

“How can you say all that when you are Jade's father? Don't you feel sorry for her? She is only nineteen years old, and you want the king to destroy her dreams and future? Think for yourself, Ferrer. Our daughter's life and dreams depend on this. If we have to break the king's order for our children, I will not hesitate to abandon him as our king.” After Lucia said that, she stood up and walked out of their room and slammed the door shut. Don Ferrer let out a deep breath and then rested his two arms on the table as he's carefully staring at their family frame resting on his table.