"Is there really a difference between blessings and curses?"
The question caught Minajael off guard a bit. Flickering his dark gaze towards the one who asked it, he took in the sight of Kalim. The younger boy was looking off into the distance, his red hues, usually shining and warm now dimmed and thoughtful. It was a rare sight to see on the eldest Asim, an expression that was more serious and wiser beyond his years. It was unsettling in a way, but Minajael knew these types of moods. Knew that in these moments when Kalim asked such serious questions. It was because he'd felt comfortable enough to do so. It had been this way since they were small, two boys who'd sit in places hidden from the world. Existing and really coming to terms on how their lives weren't normal in the slightest. Moments where they'd ask those questions, where they'd voice their grievances with their lives without the judgment or disapproving looks. It was something Minajael knew quite well, even though it was a rare sight to see.
The older boy remained silent for a moment, thinking about his cousin's question. After a moment Minajael finally spoke up, his own gaze going to stare out into the distance.
"I believe that there are. But that they're also two sides of a coin. Blessings can become curses for others. They can also become that for the people who are blessed."
Kalim let out a small hum, taking in the older boy's words. Turning them over in his head as he thought about things that have been bothering him. Things about his life, about how he never truly felt completely safe. Not with the life he'd been blessed with.
"I had a feeling it was like that heh......there really is a fine line between them."
Minajael just nodded, understanding what was being unsaid. That while both of them were truly lucky to have the lives they did, they were also cursed. Living examples of the very coin in question. The lap of luxury and freedom was only so glamorous until the reality of said life set in. The reality that their freedom had a price. A price that they'd be paying for the rest of their lives unless someone got lucky and ended it. Minajael was taken out of his thoughts by Kalim's grip on his arm. Dark brown met ruby reds, a quiet understanding between them.
"I couldn't help but wonder what it'd be like.....to just exist as a normal person. To not be the heir of my family, to not have to worry about poisoning or assassination attempts. To not have to have the need for bodyguards, like Jamil. And the more I thought about it, the more I couldn't help but ask that question."
Kalim spoke, soft and pondering. A rare moment of entertaining something he usually never did.
"I wonder about those things too. Sometimes I wonder what it's like, to be able to have that freedom. That reassurance that if I step outside my home, that no one would recognize me. To just be a normal person."
Minajael felt Kalim squeeze his arm in comfort. His cousin's hand warm and grounding. It was welcoming, to be able to just exist. A facade of them being normal people in this world. They didn't say much afterwards, their feelings on their lives and such having been spoken. Eventually they would leave their small refuge, refreshed and ready to go back to the lives that they'd been both blessed and cursed with. Back to the lives of Kalim Al-Asim, eldest son of the merchant family and future heir. And Prince Minajael Tealrajah, eldest son of the royal family and future ruler.
Back to the roles they were born into. For better and for worse.
