As the weeks passed, the state of the kingdom continued to deteriorate.
Rumors of unrest in other regions reached Greythorne Manor, and even Luke could sense the growing tension.
It was after lunch, when a knock came at the door of the manor.
A courier, dressed in the royal colors of Eldoria, stood at the entrance, his expression serious.
He handed Cedric a sealed letter, bearing the official crest of the royal family.
Cedric broke the seal, his eyes scanning the parchment quickly.
His face, normally so composed, tightened slightly as he read the contents.
Luke, standing nearby, could feel the shift in the room's atmosphere.
"What is it, Father?" Luke asked, sensing that whatever news the letter contained was of great importance.
Cedric folded the letter and set it down on the table, his expression unreadable.
"It is a summons from the royal capital," he said, his voice low.
"There is to be a grand ball to celebrate the coming of age of Prince Aldric and they are also holding court. All the noble houses of Eldoria are required to attend."
Selene, who had been sitting quietly by the hearth, looked up with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"A ball?"
Cedric nodded.
"Yes. But it is more than a simple celebration. The kingdom is in turmoil, and this gathering will bring together all the lords and ladies of Eldoria. The High Queen wishes to hold court and seeks to solidify alliances since the passing of the king last year and to ensure the stability of the realm," Cedric finished, his voice trailing with a tone Luke had rarely heard from his father: concern.
Luke's young mind whirred with possibilities.
A grand ball sounded like something out of the stories Arielle loved so much—filled with dancing, laughter, and fine gowns.
But the look on his father's face told him there was more at stake.
"When is the ball?" Selene asked, her voice calm but knowing.
Cedric glanced at the letter again.
"In three months' time. We will need to prepare. The journey to the capital is long, and we cannot arrive ill-prepared."
Selene stood, her soft footsteps barely audible on the stone floor as she moved to stand beside her husband.
She placed a gentle hand on his arm.
"It will be a test for all of us."
Cedric gave her a nod before looking at Luke.
"You'll come with us, Luke. You're old enough to represent our house now."
Luke's heart quickened at the words.
He had long dreamed of visiting the capital, the heart of the kingdom, where the royal family and where only the best of anything resided.
But the weight of his father's gaze reminded him that this would be no simple visit.
This ball, this gathering of the kingdom's lords, could change the course of the future for all of Eldoria.
"I won't let you down, Father," Luke said, his young voice steady with determination.
Cedric gave a rare smile, though it was brief. "I know you won't."
Arielle, who had been quietly listening from the corner of the room, suddenly piped up.
"Does this mean I get to wear a pretty dress?"
Luke and his parents exchanged a glance, and for a moment, the tension in the room lifted as Lady Selene let out a soft laugh.
"Yes, my darling. You'll have the finest dress in all of Eldoria."
Arielle clapped her hands in delight, already spinning in imagined circles as if she were at the ball.
Luke couldn't help but smile at his sister's excitement, but as he looked back to his father, he knew that the months ahead would be far more complicated than Arielle could understand.
The kingdom was in trouble. And even at his young age, Luke could feel the storm brewing.
...
The days following the letter were filled with preparations.
Tailors arrived at the manor, measuring Luke, Arielle, and their parents for the fine garments they would wear to the royal capital.
Merchants brought in supplies for the journey—food, horses, and everything necessary for the long trek across the kingdom.
Greythorne's staff was abuzz with activity.
Luke and Arielle found themselves getting strict etiquette classes from their mother, even learning how to dance.
But even amid the excitement, Luke found himself returning to Oakendale.
He visited the town often, taking time with the townspeople, helping where they need it, and checking on the crops that had grown thanks to his suggestions and speaking with the farmers who had begun to trust his young, but sharp, mind.
He could see the improvements—healthier harvests, fuller tables in some homes—he had became very beloved by the people, but the underlying struggles of the town remained.
One day, Luke sat on a fence overlooking a field of winter barley, after helping an older famer with some tasks, deep in thought.
His ideas had helped, but they weren't enough.
He could see that now.
The kingdom's problems went beyond the fields of Oakendale.
Poverty, hunger, and instability were spreading, and no amount of crop rotation would fix it.
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
"What's on your mind, son?"
Luke turned to see his father approaching, his posture straight as ever.
Cedric was not a man prone to small talk, but Luke could sense that his father understood the weight that sat on his shoulders, even at his young age.
"The crops are doing better," Luke said, nodding toward the fields.
"But it's not enough, is it?"
Cedric stood beside him, his eyes scanning the horizon.
"No," he said after a moment.
"It's not. You've done well. Better than most grown men could have. But the kingdom's problems run deeper than the soil."
Luke nodded, though the words still stung.
He wanted to fix things, to make life better for the people of Oakendale.
But the truth was, even as a prodigy, he couldn't solve everything.
Not yet.
"Tomorrow, we'll start your advanced sword training," Cedric said, his voice shifting to the familiar, firm tone of instruction.
"The royal capital is full of dangers. And arrogant people. You'll need more than a sharp mind to survive."
Luke's thoughts drifted to the sword training sessions they had already done.
He was quick, and he did get his occasional hits in, but still not nearly strong enough to match his father's skill.
The coming months would be a challenge, not just for his mind but for his body as well.
"I'm ready," Luke replied, standing a little taller.
Cedric placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder.
"I know you are."
...
The weeks passed quickly.
Luke spent every morning training with his father, honing his skills with the sword and learning more about strategy and governance.
The afternoons were filled with study—etiquette, history, politics, and the intricacies of the kingdom's various houses.
But even with all the preparation, Luke knew that nothing could fully prepare him for what awaited them in the capital.
On the morning of their departure, the courtyard of Greythorne Manor was alive with activity.
Horses were saddled, and carriages were loaded with supplies for the long journey.
The crisp autumn air was filled with the scent of leaves and the sound of the servants hurrying to and fro.
Luke stood near the stable, fastening the straps of his riding cloak.
His hands moved with practiced ease, but his mind was elsewhere, filled with thoughts of the capital, the royal family, and what this summons might mean for the future of Eldoria.
"Luke!"
Arielle's voice called from behind him.
He turned to see his sister running toward him, her face flushed with excitement.
She was dressed in a light traveling gown, her hair braided neatly down her back.
"Are you ready?" she asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
Luke nodded, though his own excitement was tempered by a sense of responsibility.
"As ready as I can be."
Arielle grinned and twirled in a circle.
"I can't wait to see the capital! Do you think there will be dragons? Or knights? Or—"
"Calm down," Luke said with a chuckle, resting a hand on her head.
"There won't be any dragons. But knights? Definitely."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Lord Cedric's voice.
"Time to go, Luke. Arielle."
The family gathered at the carriage.
Selene was already seated inside, her calm presence a reassuring constant in the whirlwind of activity.
Cedric stood beside the carriage, his sword at his side, ever the figure of authority and control.
As Luke and Arielle climbed into the carriage, Luke couldn't help but glance back at Greythorne Manor.
The journey ahead felt like the beginning of something much larger, and the weight of it settled on his young shoulders.
The carriage began to move, the wheels crunching against the gravel as they left the estate behind.
The road to the royal capital stretched out before them, winding through the forests and fields of Eldoria.
Luke looked out the window, watching the landscape pass by, his thoughts already on what awaited them in the heart of the kingdom.
A grand ball.
A royal summons.
And the storm of trouble that was brewing over Eldoria.
Only he didn't know when it was coming.