As two maidens walked leisurely into the castle pool, a teenage boy with an auburn hair joins them afterwards.
"Come over here, prince Rufus." Said one of them as she stretched her arms out to him. The swam to her arms and they both began to rub and pour water on him. After a while, they played together, splashing and swimming while the boy watched.
It was a good sight for his mother, who sat at the edge of the pool area watching them. Her focus was fixed on her son, she was proud of him and the king he will become one day. In three years time, he would be eighteen, and he will be allowed to attend court meetings and rule alongside his father.
"He would be a handsome King, and the princesses of the kingdoms would be unable to get their eyes off him, just as you can't take your eyes off him." Confessed a dark-skinned lady standing beside her. Her favourite maiden, Irene Pulcher. Her words were true; the queen has always had a soft spot for her son, and her heart showed endearing love for the boy.
The Queen smiled fondly. "You are right, my dear, Rufus would be perfect for the crown. He's smart, beautiful, and talented, if it were up to me, I would marry him myself." She said jokingly. Her son Rufus is also the reason why she loves her husband so much.
"I pray the gods would keep him safe from the eyes of the enemies, especially those Plutonian worshippers." She added.
"But the gods don't seem to be on our side, your grace," Irene reminded her, staring at her feet as she wore a depressing look.
The queen didn't respond, she knew what Irene meant. She knows Mediopolis is the only kingdom opposing the Plutonian rule, and her husband is out there in the battleground fighting for it. Now, watching the pool play was running out of interest for her, and her mood was gradually swinging into pessimism. She watched the maiden bath with her son and had not responded to Irene yet, she just was out of earth searching for answers on why her husband haven't returned. It was getting colder as the day gets darker and darker, and it has become a different day for queen Valeria, she couldn't smile any more, putting an uneasy look on her face.
"It doesn't feel right." She commented quietly. Her face is devoid of emotion and her hands tremble slightly as she speaks. Her expression showed pain and grief lurking around.
"I am having a feeling, something is going wrong with Lucius and the others on the battlefield"
"Your grace, you just need to hope and pray to the gods that he comes back victorious as he had instructed you in those letters," Irene said soothingly, trying to ease her majesty's worries.
Irene was right, Valeria needed to believe that her husband is alive, or else she will end up in despair and anger.
Her body ached as she tried sitting herself up, Irene helped her.
"You know, you are right," -She admitted, clearing her throat- "but you said it yourself earlier, the gods have been throwing deaf ears at us."
Irene sat beside her and answered, "Maybe you just need to believe, I mean you have been praying to the gods and that's why we have come out victorious in so many battles, this one is no less alike."
Valeria thought for a moment and sighed,
she had to stop thinking like this. She wasn't going to find peace until Lucius came home victorious, as he had stated he would. "I should return to my chambers and rest" she asserts, standing up.
"Rest will help you sleep more easily, your majesty," Irene reassured her.
"Thank you."
She turned to leave, Irene accompanied her.
***
Rufus exited the pool as he watched his mother leave with her favourite maid. He had been listening to their conversation while he was in the pool playing with the girls. Her sad expression wasn't helping his mood, and he knew she would not want to share her grief with him. He picked his robe from the floor and puts it on, following the direction of his chamber.
***
"Someone's coming." One of the watchmen alerted his partner as he points down the watchtower. His partner quickly looks in the direction pointed at.
"It's a man…on a horse."
Cameron gallops towards the city gate, he looked up and noticed the watchmen. He dismounts his horse, with his armour clanking loudly.
The watchman who saw him first recognized him immediately, it was Cameron, the King's boy.
"Open the gates." He announced.
Cameron sighs looking at the huge gate waiting for it to be open. He taps his girdle to feel the scroll, and it was right there strapped. His body shivers as the scenario keeps playing like a film in his head. He was sure he had seen Naevus strangled and stabbed Lucius, he felt guilt like cold and wish he could rewind the time.
The gate opens, revealing the guards inside the walls. The sky is as dark as the night and the air is freezing. He mounts his steed and rides through the gate as it heads for the castle.