The air was cool, but the sun was out, in the midst of calm lays a tension that clouded the luxurious room. As glorious as it seems, the more responsibility you got, the more people you have to satisfy.
"Father, why do I have to become close with Lady Dulcea?"
Prince Leon was angry with his father's decision. He believed that as crown prince and soon-to-be king, he should at least have the glory of choosing his own queen.
"She's the most suitable to become queen. Many nobles have already supported her to be crowned. I don't want to hear any more from you.
"Get to know her first", his father demanded with a stern voice.
"I am not interested, father. I have many things to accomplish."
"Do you think you are getting younger? You have the responsibility to take care of your people. I don't want to listen anymore. If you want to reject Lady Dulcea, bring someone better than her. If I, King Austen Zeno Quirinus, King of Quirinus, didn't approve your choice, the marriage between you and Lady Dulcea, will proceed as planned. The time limit will be by the end of this year."
"Fine, father. Don't forget your words."
Prince Leon agreed with his father vowed. Even though he was ready to follow what his father said, but for once, he just wanted to choose what he desired.
"You may leave now. I have work to do."
The crown prince was furious about how his fate was written because he knows how his father was like. His father never made a promise that he believed he would lose. In other words, Prince Leon and Lady Dulcea were already engaged unofficially. He wanted to deny his father, but it was how it was. The king needed a supporter for a kingdom to be strong, so my father and the previous king were all sold their love for the place they stood.
The wind seemed stronger as it fought against his body, as his silvery hair waved, followed the currents. He walked aggressively as he tried to show protest. He saw his best friend as he continued walking: Sir Felix Wilhelmus, the one who earned the title of a sword master at merely 15 years old. Sir Felix called multiple times, but he was ignored by the crown prince.
"Leon! Leon! Wait up. Leon!"
As the prince didn't show any sign of stopping, Sir Felix ran as fast as a leopard and smacked the back of a prince. The prince stopped abruptly, as he was still annoyed. His ruby eyes seem redder than usual, though still glimmering beautifully.
"Didn't you hear me calling you? What's wrong? Is this about your meeting just now?"
Sir Felix asked him impatiently.
"Can't you see I'm ignoring you? I don't want to talk about it."
Prince Leon didn't feel like talking as he worried he might lose his temper.
"Sorry. I won't ask anything about the meeting, but are you okay?"
"I am annoyed with how things work, but I don't have the power to change it. Am I only just a prince in the title? Even my knight thinks he's higher than me."
The crown prince couldn't believe he just let his emotion take over him. Hence, he tried to change the mood as he knew he was annoyed at the wrong person.
"I ask for forgiveness as I am sinning, your highness. Let's go, I have an idea to blow your steam off."
"Felix, are you asking me for a sword fight right now?"
"How did you know? I don't think your highness can read minds, or do you?"
"Who wouldn't know? You've never changed. I think you should go to the royal infirmary to check your brain."
Sir Felix and Prince Leon asked each other jokingly. Sir Felix loves to play sword fight since he was a child. Although Sir Felix was a sword master, Prince Leon was on par with him. This is due to they have been playing together since they were little.
"Is it wrong to like it? The sensation of wanting to win is thrilling."
"Sure, it's not wrong. But don't just push the responsibility to your little brother. Luckily, your father is not the same as other noble."
"It's true that both of us have the right to inherit, but don't you think he is more suitable to become the next head of the family. Can you imagine how I would look like behind the desk? It's nightmare."
His father, Marquees Fotios Wilhelmus, is the commander-in-chief during the last war and now he still stands strong as the protector of the border. Marquees Wilhelmus blessed with two sons, Sir Felix Wilhelmus and Sir Finian Wilhelmus. Sir Felix was strong, but his brother Sir Finian was brilliant. No shortcoming can be seen as both were one of the greatest people in the kingdom. As Sir Felix had no desire to inherit, he supported his brother with all his might. Some may seem as Sir Felix left everything to his brother, but Sir Finian still consulted with him frequently regarding any matter.
"For once, I agree with you."
Both of them left together to the training field to have a sword fight.
As the evening passed, the night came with a sprinkle of stars laid all over the sky. Although the map of the bruises on my body was distinctly shown, the pain was not as bad as in the morning. I brought myself up as I couldn't sleep anymore. I went to the kitchen with the hope of a warm cup of tea and vaguely sweet biscuits.
I took a peek into the kitchen before I walked in. Not a soul I could see, yet the smell of the bread still lingers across the room. I thought to myself, what a comfortable room. I brewed myself a tea before I sat down. I might be daydreaming to some people, and it might be true to some extent. I could almost saw it in front of me. The smile of happy children playing in a beautiful park and enjoying their life without a barrier due to their status. Every child deserves to be happy. It's a shame how a child has been treated as the same as where their status stands. I remembered when I was small, the taste of delightful home-baked cookies from my mother could warm me up during a bad day, and with that thought, I brought myself up to look for the ingredients. I planned to visit the children tomorrow. As a day loss, a piece of their painful memories gained.
I gathered all the ingredients with the thought of cookies and muffins in mind. Although I was seldom baked in my past life, I felt like the tastes were delicious. I am grateful to my sister, who always nagged me to bake for her every time she was not in a good mood. I left a few cookies and muffins for the kitchen staff to enjoy as gratitude for allowing me to use the kitchen. As the utensils were washed and the kitchen was cleaned, I when back to my room and laid on the bed. The night seems slow, as waiting for the sun to greet me with excitement and with feeling impatient, I forced myself to sleep.
The mornings came as the lush green meadow sparkled when it touched the sunlight. A cup of tea and a full breakfast served as weapons for my fight. I finished my food rather quickly today, like a little kid who was in a rush to play. Before Laura starts her tasks for today, I told her my plans. Since everything seems alright in her eyes, when I went out last time today, I got her approval without any debating. I was thrilled to the point I felt I was ready to conquer the world.
During the same morning in one of the luxurious rooms in the palace held a secret council meeting among the great lord and their secretary. Among them were Duke Evander Remus, Marquees Fotios Wilhelmus, Viscount Rufus Fulgencio, and Count Silvanus Maxim. They gathered here with the same aim that was to stop the farmer's protest.
"Duke Remus, I have calculated as requested. I can't believe we spent countless nights searching for the solution. If we increase up to 40%, it still didn't affect the high-noble class."
Viscount Fulgencio said to Duke Remus as they all gathered with glad showed all over their faces, despite the dark circles under his eyes and signs of overworked. Viscount Fulgencio was the Lord High Treasurer and Duke Remus was the Lord High Chancellor.
As said that a pot of milk will be ruined by a drop of poison. The protested that befall this kingdom caused some of the angry farmers to burst into the courtroom with contemn, while some were kept on struggling to buy coal to keep away from the cold nights.
"It's true we can increase up to 40%, but the high-noble would be the next to protest of how unfair it is to them. Moreover, they may find any devious way to hide their income from the kingdom. So I wanted to stop any corruption that comes with this cause," Duke Remus said.
"Hence, I suggested on increasing the tax for the luxury goods not their income. We can use these to increase our kingdom's economy," he continued.
All the nobles nodded to show their approval.
"What a clever way of thinking, Duke Remus. As suggested prior, some money would go to education, right? And military as well?"
Ask the Dean of Quirinus, Count Maxim to Duke Remus who confidently handled the meeting.
"Yes. These funds will be used to strengthen our kingdom, both our military and education."
"It's a good time for me to raise my proposal to hire a knight, not only from the noble but also the commoner. This was proposed by my son Felix Wilhelmus."
Marquees Wilhelmus raised his proposal to the table as the Lord High Constable. The proposal was made by Sir Felix out of a whim, as he was joking with his father. During that day, he was bored because, as the swordmaster himself, no other knights could defeat him or fought head-to-head, and the prince was too busy with his works rather than to entertain his childlike temperament. This happened multiple times as he held the prince captive to fight against him until he was satisfied. Although some who didn't know him would call him childish, but does who knew respected him as he was wise and a strong person.
"It was a good cause, Marquees. Investigate further."
"Yes, Duke Remus."
All smiled up to the ear as they were pleased with the progress of the meeting. As the host of this secret council meeting, Sir Evander ended it with a more thoroughly planned as he knew what and how should be prepared.
During a morning rush hour, the maids were bustling here and there to complete the tasks. The new gossip among the maids nowadays was about me. Many still couldn't grasp the change in my attitude. Some would say I came like rain during drought season, full of hope yet apprehensive. They didn't know for how long the rain would water the land, whether it would turn the land prosperous or poverty. However, there were also some who were excited and some didn't care enough. Despite all the gossip and views against me, the day moved as usual in the Duke's mansion.