I am Lancelot. I belong to an extremely wealthy family. What's more is that I am the sole heir to all the wealth of my family. But,...I feel I don't belong here.
These extravagant clothes, accessories, mansions and luxuries aren't meant for me. These all things are passed down to our family as ancestral heritage. Our forefathers earned this fame and fortune by their sweat and blood.
My parents died in an accident plotted by our vicious relatives to snatch our property. They even tried to obtain it through the means of being my guardians but luckily, I was able to take over our family business at a young age due to the special business classes my parents arranged for me before they died. Maybe...they saw it coming so they were well prepared for the critical moment. They were already aware of the schemes of our cold-blooded relatives. That's something not to be surprised about my parents as they gave it their all to protect the heritage of our family. They were always capable and loyal. I still remember...the last words that my father uttered in my ears when he was on his deathbed. I was barely 16 back then.
With his weak and trembling hand, he put his palm on my cheek. With his dull, pale and shaking lips, he uttered, "Son, if possible...I wouldn't have entangled you in the family politics but I have no choice now. Please protect the heritage of our family and above all take care of yourself for I can't bear to see my successor be oppressed and the efforts of my forefathers go in vain. My dear son, if it was possible, I would have never left you alone and spent my life protecting you. I was aware that this day would come so I have arranged everything for you beforehand. Your friend Louis will be your right hand man and his father who is currently my right hand man will assist you. I and your mother give you our blessings before going to heaven. May God always protect you and your happiness." With these words being said his soul left his body and my mother also left after my dad leaving me all alone in this big and chaotic world. With my heart broken, tears rolling out of my eyes and my mind in a state of helplessness, I cried as hard and loud as I could.
After their funeral, I refused to eat for 3 consecutive days. I was traumatized by their sudden death. I had never imagined that they would leave me all alone in this world. My only home, my parents, was completely crushed. I didn't know where to go or what to do. I lost hope. I would have revenged them...but they always had taught me to forgive others and not to bear a grudge because revenge does no good to anyone. So, … I was lost in the deep abyss of misery. I lost my purpose of life … but my friend Louis's words … touched my heart.
He slowly opened the door of my room and entered with silent steps. Turned on my room lights. Worried about my traumatic mind, insomnia and falling health, he hesitantly reminded me a few things to move on with my life.
"Is this what you promised your father?"
With a weak and tired voice, I lifted my puffed and purple eyes.
"Louis! Please! Leave me alone. I don't want to talk to anyone for the moment."
Keeping in mind my situation, he cautiously continued the conversation.
"Although you don't want fame and fortune but you are shackled by the promise you made to your father. And … You can only free yourself if the promise is fulfilled. I know that you are a freedom persuader. So … This is the only way."
"Heh! If the promise is fulfilled?" Ironically, I spoke. " What do 'you' know? This is a meaningless promise that caged me for my entire life. I can't escape until I die. What is the meaning of freedom when I lost my beloved parents? Is it worth losing ones own life protecting the heritage? All I wanted was to live peacefully with them and pursue my dream. And dream? What dream now if I lost, my parents, my sole motivation to that dream."
"Lancelot, never forget that your dream was also their dream. They also wanted to add meaning in other people's lives and help the nation get better. They were extremely patriotic just like you. And heritage? Protecting it is also like protecting and achieving your dream. This wealth is to help the people. If it falls into selfish hands, there would be a huge misuse of authority and people would suffer. Would you be happy and peaceful then? My father and I are here to assist you. You must make your parent's wishes come true. Please do think carefully. I would support you no matter what decision you make."
He left the room and shut the door. Louis enlightened me. I realized that there is no use in sitting idle and doing nothing. I must be responsible for the decisions I make. And once I make those decisions, there is no room for regret. I must bear all the consequences.I felt that something different was waiting for me, that I was born to do something different, not to waste my life by indulging myself in these extravagant luxuries, regrets, sorrows or be the victim of the schemes and plots. But, I was unaware of one thing and it was that I didn't know how to do it. So, the first thing that came to mind was expanding family business to provide means for my goal.
I took over the family business at the age of 17, a year after the death of my parents. It took me great efforts and I expanded the business to three cities with the aid of Louis and his father.
If it weren't for the promise, I would have fled to a far off isolated island to find my freedom, where nobody would have known me and I would have lived a simple and quiet life. I would have pursued my dream of becoming a well known painter. I wished to enlighten people through my paintings as my parents enlightened them through literature.
Our family business is basically a literature material manufacturing company. Books, stories, comics, songs, music, libraries, schools, colleges and universities … We invest in them and manufacture such materials through which people can get enlightenment and deal with their psychic miseries. Many people were relieved from their despair through our company products and investments. They found their purposes and meaning to their life. That is why we have a huge mass of supporters and fame.
After 10 years, my company became well known world wide. Seeing all the people coming out of their depression, I felt relieved. I finally understood why my parents and forefathers risked their lives for the accomplishment of this dream. It is because happiness obtained by making others happy is irreplaceable by any luxury or cruellest revenge of this world. It took me 10 years to understand that there is no need to change goals but the ways that lead to goals. Your dreams can never be crushed, it's just the strategy you have to change. The happiness that I had always desired and searched for on the horizon was right by my side and I only had to realize it.
I can finally face my forefathers and parents in the afterlife. I have finally fulfilled my promise but this whole journey gave me my meaning to life.
