Kayden opened his eyes to an unfamiliar environment; the room was larger than his house, and everything appeared rather expensive. "Where am I? I remember pulling out the sword and then... wait... I did pull out the sword." He thought this must be a dream and was about to slap his cheek to wake himself when a man's voice was heard.
"You are not dreaming, Your Highness," said a knight of imposing stature. The knight's attire was far from common; his armor shone brilliantly, adorned with a subtle golden floral motif. Kayden surmised this man must be a noble.
"Your Highness? Good sir, you are mistaken. Why would you call me by such a name?" Kayden inquired.
"I apologize if you are startled. May I introduce myself again? I am Ardain De Lancelot."
Kayden was taken aback. The House of Lancelot? One of the five houses guarding the kingdom—what business did he have here?
"You have not yet answered me. Why do you call me 'Your Highness'?" Kayden pressed.
"Am I wrong to address my king?" the knight replied. Kayden was bewildered—a king?
"You are the prophesied one, the truest heir to this kingdom, the sole wielder of Excalibur, the Sword of Genesis, the final heir to the great Arthur Pendragon. You are Kayden Pendragon." The man said clearly with a serious face.
I don't think he's joking. Truly, I thought that test was just a nonsensical thing they do to spend taxpayers' money, but is it actually true? And where exactly am I? Where is Lia? He must know something; perhaps I will ask him.
"Where am I?" I asked him, waiting for an answer.
"You're at Pendragon Castle, the place that is now your home. Once you're good to go, the chief maid will guide you through the palace," he answered.
Isn't that the main castle? And what kind of trickery is this to say that this castle is mine? And most importantly, where the hell is Lia?
"Where is my friend?" I ask again.
"Your friend has been sent home, Your Highness, three days ago after you passed out," he answered.
Three days? That is ridiculously long. I was out for three days? I have never been sick my entire life, let alone pass out, but three days at that.
"Then, may I inquire about her well-being?" I need to be assured that she is fine, especially since I don't know when I'll be able to return. This has all been a huge mistake, and I intend to come back later if that's the case.
"Whatever you say is a command for us; consider it done. Meanwhile, please feel free to explore the palace to your heart's content." After saying that, he walked out of the room. What a beautiful room it was; everything seemed lavish enough to support Lia's family and me for a lifetime. Truly, I can't imagine myself as the owner of any of this. After all, my place is in the village, with everyone there.
Shortly after, an old man dressed as a butler entered my room and stood beside my bed, motionless for a full hour, as if he were a soulless doll.
"Mister," I addressed him, unable to remain in bed doing nothing, and with him there, I couldn't sleep either; his eyes watched me like an eagle monitoring every move.
"Yes, Your Highness," he immediately responded, his stern face swiftly transforming into a smile as if he had been eagerly awaiting my words for a long time. It reminded me of a dog wagging its tail for its owner.
"Take me outside; I want to see the palace," I requested, thinking it wouldn't hurt to explore, even if I planned to leave soon.
He proceeded to introduce me to the palace workers. "This is our king, and from this day forth, you shall all serve him within these walls. Consider it an honor for you and your families," he declared.
It sounded a bit too much, I thought for a moment, but that thought vanished as the butler began showing me around. The palace boasted twelve bedrooms, four gardens filled with flowers, a dining room large enough to accommodate half the village's population, and a library as large as three village houses, with books nearly touching the ceiling. Then there was the alchemy room, where everything looked slightly odd. I was informed that the palace mage resided there, within the lab. Apparently, he was in charge of all magic within the palace, though I don't think he had a good relationship with my butler.
After a while, the butler escorted me back to the dining room to eat. The chef had prepared so much food, and although I found everything delicious, it seemed excessive. The meal could easily feed three people and still leave leftovers, which I felt would be wasteful. So, I asked the butler, "Can't you give the remaining food to the homeless? I don't think I can finish it."
"Oh, our king is so generous, even at a young age he cares for our citizens. God has blessed us with such an understanding ruler," the butler exclaimed. I thought he was a bit over the top, but since he didn't dismiss my suggestion, I encouraged him to go ahead.
The influence of the Kingdom of England is vast, probably the largest on the continent. They have absolute control over certain resources, and the innovations created by the empire's mages also contribute to its glory. At the heart of it all are five great houses, each led by a patriarch powerful enough to single-handedly challenge legions of knights. They are at least of sword master level, and their families are renowned for their prestige and power.
As I pondered, a servant hurried into the dining room, her expression fraught with anxiety. She announced, "Your Highness, Sir Ardain has completed your order. The friend you spoke of... she is to be executed tomorrow."
Amelia is to be executed tomorrow? What is she talking about?
"What did you say?" Kayden's gaze fell upon the servant, his previously joyful demeanor gone, even the butler stood in fear.
"Yes, Your Highness, the report states that the girl's mother refused to serve the lord, and as a result, he executed the mother. The next in line would be her daughter," the servant explained. Upon hearing this, Kayden's eyes blazed red with a rage so pure it was malevolent, and he knew well what Amelia's mother had refused.
"Convey to Sir Ardain that if I am indeed his king, he is to ready his knight and meet me at the gate. Butler, prepare the carriage." It would be on that day that the entirety of the Baron family tree would be eradicated from the face of this earth.