• The Prouds 26

Chapter Four

The long-awaited viceroy grew up and started walking and
talking. Prince Matthew was dark skinned, had thick black
hair, and was tall and big, compared to his peers.
The king loved his son with all his heart and gave
him everything that would make him happy. He gave him
the best food and drink, nicest clothes, thoroughbred
horses, most obedient slaves, and best teachers to teach
him. He gave him anything he asked for. Everyone avoided
making the young prince mad because they knew that his
anger would be the key to his father’s eternal hell. Even his
mother, Queen Wenonah, who became queen because of
him, was afraid of his anger.
In spite of all of that, the king was not very good at
playing with his son and treating him the way a child
should be treated. He was not very good at expressing his
strong feelings for him with words. When it came to his
son, the king was like a solid rock that tried very hard to
move, but could not. The king was used to firmness in
dealing with everyone, because of his position as the king.
That had been his character for over sixty-six years. How
could he change then? The heir to the throne feared the
inherited one a lot, which caused the king so much pain
because he felt that there was a barrier between him and his
son.
His mother, Queen Wenonah, on the other hand,
knew that Prince Matthew was the horse that would take
her to the gardens of luxury and happiness. She, too, loved