Chapter 3
The evening air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth as Leo rode through the royal gardens, the soft sound of hooves echoing across the quiet grounds. It had been a long day filled with council meetings, strategies, and a lingering sense of unease that he could not shake. The weight of the crown still felt foreign on his brow, as though it belonged to someone else. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, the feeling of isolation grew stronger, pushing him to seek solace in the quiet of the royal grounds.
His trusted horse, Vale, was a steady companion, moving with the ease of years of training, yet Leo felt detached from the world around him. The gardens, once a place of peace and serenity, now felt like a gilded cage. It was his prison, and the kingdom that waited beyond those walls was full of challenges he had yet to face. He was king now, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to rule.
As Leo rode deeper into the garden, his thoughts turned back to the council meeting. The faces of the nobles, the way their eyes had scrutinized him, waiting for him to slip up, to show weakness. His father had never had to endure such doubt. Valtoros had been a man of action, a man of strength. And now, Leo was expected to fill those shoes.
The soft sound of footsteps broke through his thoughts. Leo turned his head to find Mira standing by the stone archway, her figure barely visible in the twilight shadows. She had always been able to find him when he needed her most.
"You've been avoiding them," Mira remarked with a small, knowing smile, stepping forward.
Leo pulled Vale to a stop, letting out a long breath. "I didn't mean to. But I'm not sure I'm ready for all of this, Mira. It feels... too much."
Mira was silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she approached, placing a hand on Vale's reins, offering a quiet reassurance. "No one is ever truly ready. But that doesn't mean you're not capable, Leo. You're stronger than you think."
Leo met her gaze. "But am I strong enough? There are so many people waiting for me to fail. To show that I'm not my father. That I can't handle the weight of this crown."
"You are your father's son," Mira replied, her voice firm. "And that is what they fear the most. They fear that you will rise to become a king of your own making. Not just a shadow of what your father was."
Leo looked down at his hands, the weight of his uncertainty pressing in on him. "I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to rule a kingdom that's falling apart beneath its own weight."
Mira's hand on his arm was gentle, a quiet anchor in the chaos swirling in his mind. "Then start with what you know. Start with the people who have always stood by you. The kingdom doesn't need you to be perfect, Leo. It just needs you to be brave."
Leo nodded slowly, trying to take in her words. But there was still a lingering doubt. His first test had come too quickly, and he wasn't sure he was prepared for what lay ahead.
The sound of shouting reached his ears, sharp and sudden. His heart skipped a beat.
"What's that?" Leo asked, turning quickly toward the noise.
Mira's eyes narrowed. "Trouble."
Without another word, she took off at a run toward the source of the commotion. Leo followed closely behind, his mind racing. The royal grounds were supposed to be safe, protected by the elite guard. What could possibly be happening?
As they rounded the corner of the garden, they found a small crowd gathered around two figures, both struggling against the hands that held them. One of them was a soldier, his armor dirtied and torn, his face contorted with pain. The other was a young woman, her clothing plain and unremarkable, yet her posture was defiant, a fire in her eyes.
"Let go of her!" the soldier shouted, struggling against the hands that held him back. "She's a criminal! She's stolen from the royal vault!"
Leo's gaze flicked between the soldier and the young woman. "What's going on here?" he demanded, his voice carrying authority, despite the uncertainty that simmered beneath it.
The crowd parted as Mira stepped forward, standing at Leo's side. The soldier looked up, his eyes filled with anger and frustration. "Your Highness, this woman is guilty of theft," he spat. "She has stolen from the royal vault, and I was tasked with apprehending her."
Leo's brow furrowed. Theft was not a crime to be taken lightly, especially when it involved the royal treasury. But something about the young woman's demeanor struck him as odd. She didn't look like a common thief. There was an air of confidence in her stance, as if she wasn't afraid of the consequences.
The woman, her hair disheveled and her face bruised, glared at the soldier. "I didn't steal anything," she said, her voice rough. "The people have been starving. I only took what was needed to feed my family."
Leo's eyes softened for a moment, the words catching in his throat. He had heard of the growing unrest in the outer villages, of families struggling to survive under the pressure of harsh taxes and dwindling crops. The crown had promised help, but many believed it was a lie. And now this woman was standing before him, accused of theft, but speaking with the fire of someone who had nothing left to lose.
"Enough!" Leo commanded, stepping forward. The crowd fell silent, all eyes now on him. "Release her. I will decide her fate."
The soldier hesitated, but upon seeing Leo's commanding presence, he stepped back, allowing the woman to stand free. She straightened, meeting Leo's gaze with a mixture of defiance and exhaustion.
"Thank you," she muttered, though her voice was shaky. She still had the look of someone who was prepared to run at any moment.
Leo turned his attention to the soldier. "You will report to me, not the council, regarding this matter. This woman will have a fair trial, and we will see if the charges are true. If not…" He let the words hang in the air, his eyes hardening. "If not, there will be consequences for those who seek to punish the innocent."
The soldier bowed stiffly. "As you command, Your Highness."
Leo's gaze shifted back to the young woman. "What's your name?"
"Asha," she replied, her voice quiet now, though there was still a fire in her eyes. "Asha Dovira."
Leo studied her for a moment. She wasn't a common criminal—there was something about her that piqued his interest. Something that told him this was just the beginning.
"Go," Leo said, motioning for her to leave. "We will speak later."
Asha hesitated before nodding and disappearing into the night, her steps quick and light, like someone who knew how to escape trouble.
As Leo watched her go, Mira stepped closer, her eyes questioning. "What will you do with her?"
Leo didn't answer immediately. He could feel the eyes of the kingdom upon him, even in this quiet moment. He had made his first decision as king, and it felt heavier than the crown ever could.
"I don't know," he said softly, his voice filled with uncertainty. "But I will find out."
The first test had come swiftly. The kingdom had already begun to show its cracks, its flaws. And Leo had made his first choice—whether it was right or wrong, only time would tell. But in that moment, he understood something more: being king wasn't just about ruling—it was about making choices, even when they weren't easy.
And this was only the beginning.
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End of Chapter 3