Chereads / THE HIDDEN PRINCE / Chapter 3 - Good bye my son

Chapter 3 - Good bye my son

" My sincere condolences for your loss. I wish I could provide you with another option so that you can mourn your wife and father's depature but you must hit the road now. There can be an uprising if the throne stays empty. You must take the throne as soon as possible."
" My son!" sighs " what about my son what will happen to him"
" Even if she was your wife you couldn't prevent her exile."
" If it is known that you had a son with her it would not only bring chaos within the dynasty but also the state. his existence must remain a secret. As you know the son of an exiled woman is not a legitimate member of the dynasty." He stretch his hand for Leon to hand him the child but he retracts his hands further.
" Leon... Give him to me" the baby cooes in his hands while being handed over to his tutor. Unexpectedly Richard unsheathes his sword. This sends chills through Leon's spine.
" On one hand I have a sword representing the state and on one your son. There are two path you can take. You can choose just one. A son who will help soothe the pain and the ache in your heart, but it would throw thousands of hearts into pain and ache in return. Now tell me! your son or your country!"
Leon wishes to go for his precious son but stops in his truck when the sword is placed on its head.
" If you don't care about this sword( state), it will fall into the enemy's hand. Then, there would be no country, and you will have no son."

" Remember the promise you made to your father on the battlefield."
*Flashback*
King Edward and Prince leon are on horse back and general Richard and Antonio are on their sides each, overlooking their army camp.
"When our blade stroke the Grandanians at Stoneshield plains . We paved a way to the conquest of the west. When we take the Bergen castle, we will pave the way for an eastern conquest. When you get to be a king one day, you should not be contented with what you have. It is our custom when a son takes the flag from his father, he shall move it forward and expand the realm."
"I swear to you and our nation, that I shall expand our borders untill the end of the world, my lord." said the energetic young prince.
* End of flashback*
With a heavy heart he picks the sword as he is left with no other option.
" what will happen to my son then."
" I shall take Harry under my wing. No one will know he is your son. You will never see him. You will never ask for him...
You will become the king of the Molivians. Your every move will be kept track of by your enemies. If you visit Harry, someone will one day find out about it. If that happens, both Harry's life and the stability of the state will be endangered.
Don't worry. Your son is part of this dynasty."
"We will have official papers proving that he is your son. If the dynasty ever faces extinction, then we will do what is needed to be done."
" If it is the best... for my son and state... even though it pains me, I will do what I must."
He took his son held him tenderly as he was the most precious thing to him on this earth.
" My son, the apple of my eye. This is not a final good bye. I will keep you in my heart. The further you get from me... The closer I'll keep you in my heart."
Painful tears dripped from his eyes as he returned his son to the prime minister. He tried his best not to turn back to get his son from them.
Before he could climb on his horse Harry started crying. He ran back and picked his son soothing him he kissed him on his chubby cheeks, painful tears flowing from his eyes to his son's feather like hair, "May you stay alive and be strong so that we can at least meet in the future even though I can't give you the fatherly warmth you deserve. I am sorry my sweet little Harry." And with that he mounted his horse and stared at his son with a lot of pain visible from his face.
King Leon is galloping majestically across the forest to the palace to be officially crowned as the king of Morivia. He left his little prince behind so that Richard can find a way to protect him and keep his identity hidden.
The prime minister turned to the state secretary turning his tone more serious. " No one will know his name is Harry. From now on he will live a new life with a new name."
He turned to the little prince,
" May you grow up to be a great warrior, a wise and a benevolent prince. From now on, you will be known as Arthur. The brave son of the molivian bloodline. The grandson of the conqueror, Edward, the son of Leon, Arthur.