The bright yellow sun rose gently over the island kingdom of Ednia, bathing the royal palace in golden light and warming its white stone walls.
In my private chamber, I stood before a grand mirror framed in gold.
Dressed in a simple blue shirt with my messy black hair, I carefully adjusted the clothes I was about to wear scrutinizing my reflection with an almost comical intensity.
"Now this is the look of a monarch" I murmured striking a straight, imposing posture almost theatrically.
I rehearsed ceremonial gestures I had learned during my early lessons in royalty—elegant bows, a firm gaze, measured movements.
Despite my newfound status as a monarch, these mirror exercises brought me an odd sense of calm a reminder of how much my life had changed from an anonymous student to the heavy responsibility of a king.
A playful smile stretched across my lips.
Not so long ago, I was just a carefree young man, juggling classes, friends.
Now, the weight of an entire kingdom rested on my shoulders.
I let out a light sigh and lay down on my bed, gazing at the richly decorated ceiling above.
"Being a monarch is no easy task,but I won't let the people's hopes down,"
I murmured softly, as if promising myself. A fleeting thought of my grandmother crossed my mind, and I smiled gently.
"What would Grandmother say if she saw me like this? She would surely say, 'Take care of those around you, Jonady.'
Yes, she would be proud. I'm certain of it I must keep walking this path."
After a moment of introspection i sat up, filled with renewed determination.
Adjusting my outfit one last time.I left my chamber to begin another royal day.
The palace corridors echoed with an almost solemn calm, broken only by the rhythmic sound of my footsteps.
As I approached the royal office in Regalia Castle, a burst of childish laughter suddenly shattered the quiet.
A boy around six years old, with light brown hair and bright eyes, dressed in a white shirt and a summery blue skirt, darted past at full speed, running like a streak of lightning, his laughter echoing through the halls.
— "Sorry dear subordinate ! You'll never catch me!" he shouted as he dashed by.
I froze, caught off guard. Before I could react two guards appeared, visibly winded and struggling to keep up with the boy's energy.
"W-Wait Sir Ben!" one of them panted, out of breath.
I frowned, puzzled.
"Who is that?" I murmured to myself, watching the boy disappear around a corner.
The commotion caught the attention of Raelia, who was descending a nearby staircase. Her long emerald dress flowed gracefully behind her contrasting with the surrounding chaos.
"Good morning Jonady," she said warmly as she approached.
"Good morning" I replied politely, glancing toward the guards who were still chasing the boy.
Raelia followed my gaze, and upon seeing the chaos, she let out an exasperated sigh placing a hand on her forehead.
— "I see Ben is at it again," she said with a mix of weariness and affection.
I raised a curious eyebrow.
"Ben?"
Raelia shook her head, looking both amused and resigned.
"My little brother" she explained. "He's the palace's little troublemaker.
He loves playing tricks on everyone. His favorite pranks? Adding chili to people's plates or pouring water on the floor so they'll slip."
I couldn't help but smile slightly.
The boy's energy and mischievousness seemed, though annoying, irresistibly charming.
"So, he's the little prankster causing all this commotion?" I asked, clearly intrigued.
Raelia nodded, visibly embarrassed by her younger brother's antics.
"Yes, and I'm sorry if he's caused you any trouble already.
I'll go find him and take care of him."
She took a step forward, but I raised a hand to stop her.
"No, let me handle this. It'll be a good opportunity to get to know him," I said with a confident smile.
Raelia hesitated for a moment but then relented, nodding at my resolve.
"Good luck" she replied with a knowing smile.