"THE FORMAL announcement for the event that will commence two weeks from now will be spread through the whole kingdom of Mowsland starting today. The messengers for our neighboring country allies already departed yesterday. The program is still being finalized," Lennox Holland explained in a formal tone, as if he was reciting words he memorized.
A minute of silence. The old man sighed and looked at the young man currently soaking in a huge and extravagant bath tub. His head was leaning at the edge of the tub, his long and strong arms were hanging on each side and his eyes were closed.
"Are you listening to me, Crown Prince?" Lennox asked patiently.
Rhys opened his eyes and glanced at his chief royal advisor. The old man almost flinched when he met the Crown Prince's eyes that were so much like the late King Maximus. The father and son have the same forest green eyes but there was a stark difference.
The previous King, despite his authoritative rule, had a softness in his eyes especially when he was not on the throne and doing his duties. Crown Prince Rhys, however, has cold and aloof eyes. People who don't know him personally will think of those eyes as cruel and merciless. Lennox never corrected those people since their fear of the crown prince gets a lot of job done.
Besides, the old man will never admit it to anyone, but compared to King Maximus, he has a slight fear of the Crown Prince, especially when he looks at him straight in the eyes.
"I heard you, Lennox. I already know about that," Rhys finally spoke. His baritone voice rippled in the room.
"That's good then," the old man answered.
Rhys moved and sat straight. He lifted one hand to brush back his wet shoulder-length hair away from his face. Then he stood and went out of the tub, not caring about his nudity. After all, the crown prince has nothing to be ashamed of. He has a body like a sculpture; tall, wide shoulders, firm muscled arms, strong chest and perfect abs. His thighs are also muscled and firm because of his regular training and horseback riding. Rhys' physique is as perfect as his face.
The Crown Prince's valet quickly approached him, a towel and a bathrobe in hand. Lennox watched as Rhys gets dried and covered with the bathrobe. It was only then that the younger man looked at his royal advisor. "Who do you want me to pick? I know you and the other elders already have someone in mind. The upcoming weeks of activities are just formality and to give the people of Mowsland something to throw parties for."
Lennox Holland stared at Rhys. He was not surprised that the Crown Prince knew about that. He also has no doubt that Rhys will really choose the woman the elders chose for him. Since the day Rhys Mospick was formally announced as the Crown Prince when he was thirteen, he has been obedient when he knew that the decisions were for the benefit of the kingdom and the people of Mowsland.
Still, sometimes it bothers Lennox how cold and unfeeling Rhys had become. He was never like this before his father died. He was a kind child. Quiet and unsmiling but never this closed off. It was as if something happened when he was thirteen that Lennox couldn't quite understand.
"I am not going to tell you, royal highness," the old man finally answered.
Rhys arched his brows, the only sign of his surprise. "Why?"
"Because this event will just happen once in your lifetime. I want you to enjoy it."
"I don't need to enjoy it. I just have to do my duty. Isn't that what you all always told me since I was young?"
Lennox knew that he was one of the people who drilled that thought to Rhys even before he could understand it. He should be happy that Rhys remembered all the things he taught him. Instead, he felt slightly worried.
"I will still not tell you. No one will. But you will know who she is when you see her at the event."
Rhys looked like he found that idea bothersome but didn't say anything. He began to walk to get out of his bathing room. Lennox took that as his cue to leave. "You have to appear in the assembly tomorrow. There are issues with some of the provinces in Mowsland that needed your attention. I left the initial reports we have gathered from the earls in the eastern region."
"I will make sure to read everything before the assembly tomorrow," the Crown Prince said without looking back.
"Very well." Lennox bowed his head to show his respect to the Crown Prince. Rhys finally turned his head to look at the royal advisor for a few seconds before he opened the door and went out of the bathing room.
The valet helped Rhys get dressed. "You can leave now. I will not need you until tomorrow morning. I will not leave my room now," Rhys said.
The valet bowed deeply then left. Rhys stayed standing in the middle of his bedroom for a minute before he turned his back on the door. He went to the open window and stared at the maze garden outside the window and beyond the thick and high walls surrounding the castle grounds. Rhys suddenly felt a bitter taste in his mouth, a feeling he thought he has already forgotten. But who really forgets a broken promise?
Apparently, not Rhys. He smirked humorlessly. "How stupid," he whispered to himself.
He looked away from the garden after a few minutes. He knew he should just forget about it and focused on the present. After all, one and a half month from now he will know who the woman he was about to marry. It is part of the tradition when the crown prince turns twenty-three. Whether he likes it or not, or whether he likes the woman the elders chose for him, he will have to do it. That is his duty to the crown and to the people of Mowsland.