Eric was coming back to his room. He was surprised to see the crowd in the corridor. The way to his room was blocked by these people, who were carrying furniture.
Eric wasn't informed of any changes in the corridor. He approached the crowd. The guards who were coming back after shifting, recognized him. They saluted as they passed him.
The room next to his was being upgraded, several new beds and chairs were brought. Guards were carrying boxes and bags inside the room.
Everyone was busy, he stopped a guard and asked, "Hey, what's going on here?"
The guard got a little nervous when the prince called him. His mind didn't capture the words said by the prince. Eric saw his panicked expression, he repeated his question.
The guard this time understood what prince said, the guard stammered "y..you.. your h… high… ness-"
Before he could complete his sentence, someone behind Eric said "you have now started bullying others. I had just left for a minute and you are intimidating my soldiers."
Eric found that he had heard this voice somewhere but can't remember where. He could tell that he was familiar with this person. The guard, who was stammering, saluted the man behind Eric.
Eric turned behind and saw nothing. Then again the same voice taunted him from behind, " Hey where are you looking, Do you fear me so much that you don't want to face me."
Eric started recalling his memories. Eric turned back again. This time he saw a tall young man with a perfectly fit body, neither too fat nor too slim, smiling at him.
The memories related to the boy flashed in his mind. He was Evans, one of his best friends. They were together in the training academy.
"You never forget your sneaky ways. I was really confused who the heck dared to play me in my palace. I should have known it was you. You didn't even send any messenger or I would have sent someone to welcome you. By the way, how are you doing?" Eric asked with a smile.
"It's good that you haven't forgotten me. I also wasn't aware that I was coming back to the capital. Chief Kipler arrived at the academy all of a sudden and tasked me to look after a weak little boy in the capital city, who didn't complete his knight training." Evans said, making funny faces. Evans hugged Eric and patted Eric's shoulder.
Eric pushed him away, "Who are you calling weak. Did you forget when we played together, I had beaten you… um.. about a hundred times. One time you even wet your pants, ha ha" Eric laughed as he recalled previous childhood memories.
Evans' face flushed, " humph, during training you have lost to me 99 times. I am just one away from the hundred. Then, I will see how you would make fun of me." Evans said, pointing his finger at Eric.
"As if I am going to give you that chance. Leave jokes aside. So you are the new leader of my bodyguard group." Eric asked.
Evans kneeled on his one leg "Your highness, I am ready to serve the kingdom."
Eric chuckled and said "hmm, I accept you into the service. Please get up Mr. Knight."
"I was serious Eric, you should have done things according to traditions." Evans grumbled.
"Let me be crowned first, then, we will do it as per traditions. Oh, how's our third roommate, I haven't seen him after I left the academy."
"After you left the academy. His grandfather called him back. I thought he would be in the capital with you." Evans paused, then he added, "his grandfather would have sent him somewhere else to train."
Eric, Evans and Robert were childhood friends and got admitted into the knights academy together.
Eric was a lazy student and would always invent new ways to escape the training sessions. Seeing his disinterest his mother called him back to capital.
Evans and Roberts were the hard working type. They would excel in every activity and were each other's rival for the entire training program till Robert was taken back by his grandpa.
"Is your work done here." Eric asked.
"Umm," Evans peeked into the room, "it's almost complete. Moving beds for hundreds of soldiers was really tough." Evans said, wiping the non-existing sweat on his forehead.
"Showy Rascal, you are acting as if you moved all the beds." Eric muttered, he added "Evans, will you also be living here."
"I will be living here, but in a separate room. I am going back to supervise them ."
…
Eric returned to his room and lied on the bed. Just as he was about to close his eyes, System's message came up.
[ mission update:
Increase the yield of crops.
Alvaton imports more than forty percent of grains from other kingdoms.
You can use system store to find suitable seeds and plants.]