Richard junior, the oldest son of duke Richard, descendants of an ancient family, Toradik family, a family well known for their loyalty to the king, and their long line of prideful knights, a pride that was now tainted by this unfilial son of the treacherous father.
When I was twelve, I remember I once decided, in a rush of my hormones, to announce to the public about the truth. I couldn't forget what that Richard, the great duke of my own kingdom, did to stop me. a blood of many good knights rested on his blade that night, a night I learnt one of my most shocking facts in my miserable life…
I was alone!
I stood alone!
No one could help me, and ironically, I couldn't help myself either. I lived in this cage, surrounded by every wolf in the town, and the dream of my freedom was shattered in front of my own eyes.
Either I chose my freedom, and deemed this man dead, or I chose him, and lived in this agony forever.
Either way I was cursed to live a life I would never be grateful for!
"Our king, our merciful king, may you announce your decision to the people, your people, and bless them all with your words?"
My father ended his speech, passing the ball to me. I looked at him, then at the guards surrounding both of us, the masses cheering for me, fooled by thinking I was their king, and sighed.
How did things get this far?
If I could, I would rather raise my sword high, claim my own right to the crown, cry for all those loyal to me and my house, rallying all knights to cut the head of all traitors inside my palace, freeing myself, and my own lover from it.
However I couldn't, simply because once I would announce my true identity, no one would stand beside me, not a knight, not even a beggar.
A queen would never touch her foot over the throne hall, not to be recognized by any. I couldn't use my own right to take what was mine, rightfully mine!
"My love, just say the words you know, and let the bad pass."
Let the bad pass? How could the bad end by your presence? There was no good to come, no, no, it was the other way around. I should open my mouth, and let the good pass, god blessed me if I did that right now.
I glanced over to see her toxic smile, and sighed. I was already deep, really deep, inside their trap. All I could think of was how to secure my own safety, and my love safety, regardless of what price I should pay!
"Hear me out," I started addressing the people gathered here in this wide plaza. My voice, that was affected by the spell on me, echoed in a strong vibrant that was heard in every corner here.
It was heard even by my man, Harry, as he lifted his head, finally, looking at me with eyes full of life, love, longing, and passion.
His short gaze hurt me, pained me deeply that I had to look away again, trying to control my tears not to flow, not here, not at this moment.
"This man had done the most hideous of all crimes, but I'm a merciful king. In the day of my coronation, I won't allow anything to be remembered except for my benevolence. So, I announce, right here, that this man would live his entire life as a servant, a slave to his master, he and his children and theirs as well. Who among you wants to claim this man and help me in this favor?"
My last words were my own addition to the speech I was given to remember. Though I didn't say much, helped much, I had addressed the nobles standing here, those who were blind to the truth, asking their help in exchange for a favor from me.
Which noble wouldn't crave for a favor from his king?
"We didn't agree on that!" Anna, tightened slightly her fingers over my hand, trying to control her anger, which was my pleasant. "But this won't change anything, as we already informed the nobles about whom will take this man into her care," she added, with a sweet smile that was so bitter to my eyes.
I sighed, as I didn't put much hope on this last act of defiance from me. if I learnt anything from all those years, that my father was such a cunning man, didn't let anything to be ruled over by chances. He would cut any loose ends, block any path away from his control, no matter how insignificant of slim it was.
I sighed, as no one opened his mouth to ask for my favor, as this serpent beside me just said.
"I will be honored to claim him under my care, my love."
Finally she said it, as her soft voice was heard all over the place. the masses reacted with hot applause, marveling their kind king, and his kind hearted queen, however I stood there, feeling like the whole world was rolling above my head, ready to fall over and crush me.
"The seal, your highness!"
The loud request from Richard junior awakened me from my momentarily daze. I glanced at him, and tightened my grip over my rod. If this knight was just loyal to me as he was supposed to, things would be different, much different, now.
"The seal is here, your highness."
I turned to look behind, to see Ronald. Ronald was someone that deserved to be on the third position in my hate list. He was one of the old assistants in my house, if not the oldest, but so far he always treated me ill whenever we were away from everyone.
He loved to scold me as a loser, which I totally agree with, but I only had the right to call myself that. he, who was just a head of the advisors in the kingdom, had no right to scold me, or treat me the way he always did.
I glanced him, hatefully, in the eye, as he looked me back the same way. His hand stretched out, giving me a small rolled paper, with a small black metal there beside it.
This was the seal, the mark that would be branded forever on any traitor, so even if he was released, this shame would stick with him forever.
It was also enchanted, as whenever the traitor would have kids, they would be born by the same mark. A cruel fate fitted for a grave crime, but it pained me now when I took the paper and the seal from Ronald's hand, and pained much more when I saw the smile over his face, a smile that meant everything would be fine, and the bad would pass!
I held the cold seal in hand, as I noticed the paper. I was supposed be handed a handkerchief, purely white to test the seal on it. the poor handkerchief would be burnt down, when the seal touched it, as a test of its validity to be used.
I just shrugged as I didn't care about any of these, and opened the paper in a spontaneous move, to be met with a fine handwriting, a handwriting I was very familiar with.
"The bad and evil will pass."
Simple line, a familiar handwriting, and six words only, but I felt like I was splashed with a bucket of frozen water at this moment
My heart accelerated, as I turned sharply to look at my back, to find Ronald was gone. Suddenly the sound of my late mother sounded in my ears, with her memorable words to me:
"One day, when time is right, my right hand would move. He will always be there for you, in a place you might not foresee, and identity you won't be able to guess. When time comes, he will hand you my words, my orders, and know it my child, that you will be saved, and this moment will be the moment when you will stand, leading all our loyal knights, to crush all our enemies, and set you free. Always believe, the bad and evil will pass."
I crushed the paper under the tension in my fingers, as my body quivered for the third time today. This time, I raised my head, looked at my people, my knights, my love, and my enemies, and wondered to myself:
'How did things get this far?'
As far as I knew, it all started one year ago…