Kit1 entered his fathers bedroom. His heart pounded in his ears, and his vision blurred2 as his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. The curtains had been drawn3 on the windows of the round chamber4. The royal physician was kneeling by the kings bed, finishing his examination. Hearing Kit, the doctor stood up and moved toward the door. Kit saw the expression on the doctors face, and he knew what it meant: the king had little time left.
When they were alone, Kit strode to his fathers bedside. The older man struggled to open his eyes. Upon seeing Kit, King Frederick smiled. Youve come, he said weakly. Good.
Kit gulped5. He had known his father was ill, but he had never allowed himself to believe that their time together would be so limited. Father, Kit started, sounding like a young boy. Whats happened?
What happens to us all in time, my boy, King Frederick replied.
Not to you, Kit said, trying to boost his fathers spirits, even though they both knew it was futile6. Not to my king. Not to my father. You will recover.
The king smiled. You must learn to lie better than that if you will be a good statesman.
Overwhelmed, Kit sank down on the bed, taking his fathers hand in his. The hand he held was frail7, the fingers thin and trembling. This was the hand that had held him when he was little. The hand that had signed peace treaties and the hand that had carried a sword. And now Father, Kit pleaded, tears welling in his eyes, dont go.
I must, the king said. But you neednt be alone. Take a bride. When Kit began to shake his head, the king went on. What if I commanded you to do so?
That is unfair, Kit thought. But he had no desire to argue with his father on the mans deathbed. I know that you want me to marry for advantage, Kit began.
And ? his father said.
And I will not. The words came out in a rush. Im sorry. I love and respect you, but I wont. I believe we need not look outside of our borders for strength or guidance. What we need is right before us. We need only . . . He paused, remembering what the mystery princess had said to him when they first met. We need only have courage and be kind to see it.
Silence filled the chamber. King Frederick closed his eyes, and for one moment of panic, Kit worried he had said too much. Then King Fredericks eyes opened again. And to Kits surprise, he nodded. Just so, the king said, pride in his voice. You have become your own man. Good. And perhaps, in the little time left to me, I can become the father you deserve.
This was not what Kit had expected. What did his father mean, become the father he deserved? While they didnt always see eye to eye, the king had been a loving and good father.
You must not marry for advantage, the king said. You must marry for love. Find that girl they are all talking about. The forgetful one who loses her shoes.
Kit broke into a sad smile. But the Grand Duke
He will never rule so long as you are not mastered by him, King Frederick said, his voice growing weaker. Be cheerful, my boy. Have courage, and be kind.
Kit smiled at the familiar words. He had just been given the greatest giftfreedom. Freedom to choose and freedom to love. He didnt know what to say except Thank you, Father.
With great effort, King Frederick pushed himself up on the bed so he could look his son in the eye. I love you.
As night fell beyond the curtains, father and son, king and prince, sat together in silence, happy to have this moment and aware they needed to cherish it for as long as they both could.
基特走进爸爸的卧室。他的双耳充斥着心脏狂跳的声音，双眼一时适应不了房间的黑暗所以视线有的模糊，由于圆形的房间里每一个窗帘都拉得严严实实。御医跪在国王床前，他已经做完了检查。听见基特进去，大夫站起身向门口走去。基特看见他脸上的表情，了解了他的意思：国王已时日无多了。
当房间里只剩下基特和爸爸时，基特大步走到爸爸床边。老国王弗雷德里克努力睁开眼睛，一看到基特就笑了。你来了，他虚弱地说道，真好。
基特吸了一口气。他了解爸爸病了，但不敢相信他们相处的时间只剩这么短了。爸爸，你如何了？基特像个孩子一样问道。
孩子，这是每一个人早晚都要面临的。弗雷德里克回答。
可不该是你，不该是我的国王、我的爸爸。你会好起来的。基特想让爸爸打起精神来，可他们都了解这是徒劳。
国王笑了：要想当一名成功的政治家，你说谎的本领可得再高中一年级点儿。
基特无力地坐在床边，不知所措地握着爸爸的手。那只手那样无力，瘦小的手指颤抖着。就是这只手，曾在他年幼时牵着他，曾签下一纸纸和平条款，也曾高举着刀剑。可目前爸爸，别走。基特眼睛噙泪，哀求着。
国王说：我需要走了。但你不会孤单的，你该娶妻了。看见基特摇头，国王接着说：假如我说这是命令呢？
基特心想，这不公平。但他无意在病榻前同爸爸争辩。我了解你期望我的婚姻能带来些好处。他开始说道。
而你？国王问道。
而我不想如此。他冲口而出。我非常抱歉，我爱你、敬重你，但我不想。我觉得大家不必向他国寻求支持或帮助，大家需要的就在眼前，大家只须他顿了顿，想起了那位神秘公主初见他时对他说过的话。大家只须坚强勇敢、仁慈善良，所有都会迎刃而解。
房间里一片沉默，弗雷德里克国王闭上了双眼。一时间，基特不禁有的惊慌，担忧自己说得过火了。接着，国王的双眼又睁开了。让基特出人预料的是，他点点头，用骄傲的口气说：说得对，你是个有主见的人了，非常不错。或许在我剩下的这点时间里，我可以做个称职的爸爸了。
这是基特万万没想到的。做个真的称职的爸爸？这话的意思是？虽然父子两个的想法时有相左，国王一直都是位慈爱的好爸爸。
国王说：你不该为了什么好处而结婚，你该和你爱的人结婚。去找大家都在议论的那个女生吧，那个把鞋子都跑丢了的小迷糊。
基特不禁笑了，却笑得有的伤感。可是公爵他
只须你不被他左右，他就没办法做主。弗雷德里克国王说道，声音越发虚弱了。孩子，振作起来。要坚强勇敢，仁慈善良。
听着这熟知的话语，基特笑了。他刚刚获得了一件最宝贵的礼物自由。自由去选择，自由去爱。谢谢你，爸爸。此外，他不了解还能说些什么了。
国王硬撑着从床上坐了起来，如此才能看着儿子的双眼。我爱你。
窗外夜幕即将来临，这对父子国王和王子，静静地坐在一块享受这个时刻。他们彼此都了解，只须时间允许，他们就该珍惜在一块的每分每秒。
