Constant knocking on the front door could be heard, Carlos felt like the situation currently was much worse than a monster busting into the hut.
Just from their presence, he could tell that they were the imperial knights from the Vuiton, it confirmed his theory when he heard a familiar voice.
"We are to check your home for a missing figure, either by you accepting our entry or we shall enter by force." one of the knights said in a strict tone, as if threatening the people staying in the hut.
Just then, the old couple opened their bedroom doors and yawned, turning to the panicked Carlos and giving him a comforting smile. He had no reaction as he attempted to come up with a plan, taking the sword beside him, he stood up but was stopped by the old man.
"Hide." the old man said with a gentle smile as he gently pushed Carlo's hand that was holding the weapon away.
Carlos then came to a sudden realization, he reluctantly nodded and put his sword away and hid.
The women opened the door right about when the knight was about to bust the door down. "Oh my, my apologies.. My husband and I were sleeping." the women said in shock when she witness a sword right at her throat as it slowly retreated.
"We are permitted to check your homes for we are searching for someone." the man said getting straight to the point, still gripping his sword threateningly.
"Please do come in and make yourself comfortable." the women replied with a gentle smile, gesturing into the building.
The knights went in, they looked around as they inspected every nook and cranny. Searching for the young prince in every room the small home had.
The chances of their prince being in such a unruly area was little but they saw mutiple slaughtered monsters with brutal clean swipes that vaguely reminded them of their young prince.
If Carlos had not been in the hut, he must have passed by here, the knights concluded after not finding him.
Just then, an item fell off the grandfather clock. The knights immediately turned their head and walked towards the clock.
The couples gulped and attempted to remain calm while they rush over to the knights claiming that the clock was an antique not to be messed with. However, the knights ignored the couple's warning.
Suddenly, a large crystallizing sound could be heard from outside. Ice started forming on the trees in the distant outside at a terrifying pace, the temperature immediately dropped, making the knights shiver due to the sudden change in temperature. It felt cold even though they were used to the city that had always been snowing and low in temperature.
The knights immediately forgot about the grandfather clock and turned their attentions to the far outside of the hut, they rushed out of the doors at the speed of light, racing towards the formation of ice to locate their prince who was most likely near the location.
However, unknown to them, Carlos had completely mastered control over his magic, making it possible for him to cast his magic from an extremely far distance.
The old couple in the hut didn't move and make any suspicious movements such as checking up on Carlos whatsoever, just in case the knights came back. The couple sat on the couch and waited for the knights to return.
Eventually, the knights failed in their search and returned back to the hut, apologizing to the old couple for bothering them at such wee hours.
They handed the couple a small letter, indicating that the house has been thoroughly checked.
They turned their backs and left, heading in the direction they had seen the ice form. Carlos waited for a while before opening the small cabinet door of the clock.
The old women rushed over and dusted Carlos off. "Are you fine dear? Can you breathe?" she was rather concerned for the well-being of the little boy that she had already known was the youngest prince of Vuiton.
It was all an act to make the boy feel safe, they had always recieve such guests that ran away from their homes due to their stress and longing for freedom. They always welcomed such guests that stumbled upon their humble abode but they would have never expected the prince of Vuiton to escape from home.
"Why did you lie?" Carlos said, he was still absolutely fine being trapped in the cabinet for hours. He was also fine with the old couple lying to him. Afterall, it was common for him to be facing such situations.
When Carlos was young, he had stayed in the same room as his mother due to his discontent and tantrums when he had switched over to a new bedroom.
Everybody advised against Carlos moving back in with his mother. Including his siblings and father himself. The king would always shot him nasty glares that scared him to the bone, however, he still insisted staying with mother.
The king would always visit Carlo's mother, not to shower and spoil her with love, but to direct all his fustration and anger on her. Saying spiteful words, slapping her with no remorse.
Mother's fragile body was always full of bruises, from her pale face to her thin legs. Sometimes, she would also come out of her bedroom bleeding.
The servants pay her no mind as they knew about the treatment she recieved, if they had followed and served her, they would be considered one of the more lowly servants of the palace.
Carlo's mother was truly a kind woman who cared about Carlos with all her heart, she would always prioritize him over anything, including her safety and happiness.
Whenever father visited mother, she would always beg Carlos to hide and stay away from the king's view.
She was so scared to taint her son's eyes with such violence and have a possibility that Carlos would be the next victim to the violence. She begged her son with tears in her eyes to not cause any trouble and hide from father's sight.
Unbeknownst to his mother, Carlos had always known everything that was happening. That was the reason he had always wanted to stay with his mother, but what was even the point if he couldn't even protect her.
Carlos would always criticize himself for being such a coward, not being able to stand up for his mother. He even blamed himself for his mother's eyesight that was lost a few years after.
It happened continuously for years until Carlos reached the age of 7. The feelings of pity built up on him, causing him to snap. Speaking all the thoughts he had on his mind to father. He shouted, he cried and criticized about his father evildoings.
As Carlos had expected, he faced mutiple consequences. Being seperated from his mother, him being locked in an empty room for weeks with barely enough food to suffice him. After the punishment, he was forced to apologize to father even though he wasn't in the wrong.
It didn't hurt Carlos's pride at all, instead he regretted not being able to stop all the abuse in the end. He couldn't have stopped it now either, as the king filed an order for him to not have any interaction with his mother. The only time he could speak and see mother was only during mealtimes.
Until now, Carlos regretted not being able to do anything. Everyone thinks he's been treated well all his life as he was the only child in the Vuiton Family to have all their prominent traits and features.
The king couldn't bear for his reputation to go downhill when outsiders see how unruly his son acted, so he made a deal with Carlos.
The king wouldn't hurt mother ever again if Carlos promised that he would uphold a good reputation in everything. His skills for magic and swordsmanship needed to be polished, his manners had to be perfect at all time and he was forced to resemble father. His studies needed to be top-notch, he was also not allowed to defy father ever.
All the responsibilities stacked and stacked as the years go on, making Carlos extremely miserable, he had always wished that he was free from such depressing duties that chained him to the palace.
Carlos didn't want to rule and become king, he didn't want to be praised highly for being an excellent child that is meant to succeed the ice throne in the future.
All Carlos had ever wanted was to be free from the duties that chained him to the throne, he wanted to live a happy childhood like other children had.