Two weeks before the Regel Festivity, within the hallowed halls of Xeida's grand castle, a secret was born, shrouded in the delicate cry of an infant. The palace maids whispered in hushed tones about the arrival, their words laced with both excitement and trepidation.
In a small, dimly lit chamber, away from the opulent splendor of the royal chambers, a humble maid named Adeline had just given birth. Her child, a boy with curious, bright eyes, cried for the first time, announcing his arrival to the world.
Adeline clutched her newborn son to her chest, her heart heavy with both love and fear. She knew that this child carried a destiny far weightier than the crown jewels, a destiny that could alter the course of Xeida's history. For this child, born of forbidden love, was none other than Gideon, the blood of both a maid and the king flowing through his veins.
The king's trusted royal guard, Seraphin, stood nearby, his solemn presence a testament to the gravity of the situation. He had been assigned by King Aldric himself to safeguard the child and the secret that could unravel their kingdom.
As the cries of the infant filled the chamber, Seraphin and Adeline exchanged a knowing glance. Theirs was a burden shared, a secret that bound them in a pact of silence. The world could never know the truth, for the repercussions would be catastrophic.
In those early moments of Gideon's life, as he took his first breaths, he was marked by destiny. Unbeknownst to him, he had been thrust into a world of secrecy, hidden away from the kingdom that would one day call him its own.
The weeks passed quickly, and the preparations for the Regel Festivity continued in full swing throughout the castle. Queen Lysandra remained oblivious to the existence of her husband's hidden child, meanwhile, King Aldric with a heart heavy with the weight of a secret that could shatter their world.
Adeline, the maid who had brought Gideon into the world, continued to care for him in the utmost secrecy. She watched over the child with a mixture of maternal love and apprehension, knowing that the day of reckoning would inevitably come.
Seraphin, the royal guard, stood as a silent sentinel, his unwavering dedication to the crown and the child he had sworn to protect never faltering. His loyalty knew no bounds, and he would stop at nothing to ensure Gideon's safety.
As the Regel Festivity drew nearer, the kingdom of Xeida remained blissfully ignorant of the storm brewing beneath the surface. In just a matter of days, the fate of Gideon, the hidden prince, would become inexorably intertwined with the grand celebration that would either cement their unity or tear their world apart.