"I underestimated you. Who would've thought that a poisonous spider would be sitting on top of my crown this entire while? You're very observant. Let me reward you," the queen remarked, her voice filled with surprise and admiration.
Neil hesitated for a moment before responding, "I don't need a reward; let me walk away as a free man and cancel the debts Mr. Knight's family owes you, your highness. That'll suffice."
A thoughtful expression crossed the queen's face. "That can be arranged. I can also offer you a job here in the royal army. And for saving my life today, I wanted to award you the royal medallion. It carries great prestige."
Neil, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease, bowed awkwardly. "Thank you, your highness."
"Before you leave, I'll be honoring you at the Season-Ending Festival. Meanwhile, I want you to train with the royal guard. Commander, I want you to pay special attention to this lad," she commanded, turning to the commander. "After receiving the medallion, come meet me. I have a very special assignment for you."
She clapped twice, summoning a maid who hurried toward her. Whispering something in the maid's ear, she sent her off. Within moments, the maid returned with a letter. The queen sealed it with Cascadia's official stamp, her smile betraying a business-like demeanor that made Neil shift uncomfortably on his feet.
Handing him the letter, the queen declared, "This is your official invitation to the festival. Make sure to attend. Now, I must attend to other matters." With a flick of her robe's sleeves, she exited the court, her head held high.
As the puzzle of events settled in Neil's mind, he expressed his gratitude to Mr. Knight and his family, a wave of relief washing over him. He let go of his tension as if releasing a lantern into the sky.
Time flew by, and before he knew it, the month had ended, and the annual Seasons Festival was upon them. Neil continued living with the Knights, who were overjoyed to hear that their debts had been cleared. Mr. Knight, in particular, felt immense relief knowing that his children wouldn't be trapped in perpetual servitude.
During this time, Neil continued his training with the Knights and frequently visited the castle in the afternoons, where he received instruction in archery and swordsmanship. The commander-in-chief paid special attention to him, often engaging in duels to sharpen Neil's combat skills beyond those of the other guards in training.
Despite the commander's age, his movements resembled a fly trapped in a spider's web. Sticky joints and a trembling right arm made his parries clumsy defenses against Neil's attacks. While still a novice, Neil's actions were wild and unpredictable, steadily improving with each day of intense training.
As their swords clashed, all eyes were fixed on them. They moved with flawless footwork, employing common defense techniques.
By the end of their intense hour-long duel, the commander's energy began to wane while Neil decided to unleash a relentless assault. Eventually, Neil disarmed the commander, catching the sword in mid-air before it landed in his waiting hand. The commander smiled and graciously patted him on the back, signifying the end of the duel.
As Neil entered the castle to quench his thirst, he noticed the bustling activity. Carts filled with long lanterns, merchants with rolls of white lace, and colorful ribbons flooding the courtyard indicated the preparations for the upcoming festival. Neil was delighted that the Knights would accompany him for the night's festivities.
The festival was a grand affair, and the castle gates opened to the public. The outdoor spaces were adorned with decorations showcasing the prosperity of the nation. Excitement permeated the major cities, such as Kestramore, Finder, and Vostein, as news of the festival spread.
During his visits to the marketplaces with Azealia, Neil had heard various rumors about the prince. Gossip from hairdressers burdened with secrets and bored noble ladies sipping tea suggested that the prince was soon coming of age and would inherit the incredibly wealthy empire. It seemed someone would have to dazzle him with a dowry or astounding beauty to win his favor and the queen's.
Though Neil hadn't paid much attention to the rumors, they piqued his curiosity about the prince's whereabouts. Why wasn't he present in the royal court? Did he have a strained relationship with the queen? Was he in exile?
Shaking off his thoughts, Neil hurried into the kitchen to request a glass of water. With the festival approaching, he carried the envelope the queen had granted him, granting him access that others didn't have. While the festival was open to all citizens, only a select few, including Neil, were allowed inside the inner ring of the palace.
As the time for the festival arrived, Neil prepared himself. Standing in the corner of the courtyard, he watched aristocrats enjoying the dance, his feet growing weary from the hour of idle observation. Shifting his position, he noticed a small figure behind the auburn curtains, skillfully playing a melodious tune on the piano.
The boy, around Neil's age, settled his fingers on the keys, adjusting to the surroundings. A smile adorned his face, his eyes sparking with a sense of exhilaration akin to diving into the depths of an ocean.
His fingertips continued caressing a chord from the piano, kissing the keys as a lover might after a long separation. Full of longing, passion, and love. As he continued playing, which eventually made him more confident, he finally loosened the tension gathered around his stiff shoulders.
His fingers knew exactly where to land now, and the keys accepted them as though they were always there. The emerging moon coated his ivory skin in a pale luminescence, highlighting the small contours in his raven locks and the sweat glistening on his forehead.
A few minutes later, he stood up, and another man sat down to take his place.
Neil unconsciously followed the boy to the buffet, his curiosity getting the better of him. As they reached the food table, the boy finally turned and faced him, their eyes locking for a brief moment that made Neil feel embarrassed. He wondered if the boy knew he had been followed.
Fortunately, it seemed the boy didn't suspect anything as his face twitched, forming a crescent smile. "Hello, my lord," he greeted, bowing politely.
Neil returned the bow, reasoning awkwardly to himself, 'My lord? He must think I'm a noble.'
Returning his attention to the boy, Neil said, "Greetings to you as well, my lord. I must say, you're exceptionally skilled with the piano."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," the boy replied, maintaining eye contact with Neil while absentmindedly picking up a porcelain plate.
Neil followed suit, filling his plate with a small portion of mashed potatoes from the buffet. The spread featured numerous sophisticated dishes, some of which Neil hadn't even heard of before.
The dinner was a lavish feast, starting with oysters and ending with plum pudding, encompassing roast turkey, baked potatoes, chicken salad, squash pie, and ice cream. Neil stood there, gorged, surveying the world with post-dinner contentment.
Suddenly, the boy in front of him stopped. "I understand you might be confused by all these extravagant dishes, but trust me, you need to try this piece of bread. Here, open your mouth," he said, elegantly picking up a fork and placing the bread in Neil's mouth before he could react.
The bread had a delightful texture, and its warm flavor melted in his mouth. It was scrumptious, to say the least. Neil smiled warmly as he savored the last remnants of the bread.
Observing the boy continuing to gather more items on his plate, Neil took a few long strides to catch up with him. Curiosity getting the better of him, he asked, "What's your name?"
"I'm Dove," the boy replied with a merry smile, offering his hand to shake.
Neil's eyes widened significantly. 'Dove? As in the mysterious prince Dove?' A series of questions flooded Neil's mind, but before he could ask the prince for further clarification, his collar was suddenly grabbed, yanking him back.
Startled, Neil gasped, "Wha--"
It was Eryx. Annoyed, Neil glared at him until he released his collar. "I've been calling your name. You could've answered me once. So, did someone finally ask your grumpy ass to a dance?"
Rolling his eyes, Neil stayed silent. A couple of noble ladies might have glanced his way, but he wouldn't dare dance with them. His heart still belonged to Pia.
After a few more seconds of silence, Eryx sighed. "I'll take that as a no. Don't worry, I'll teach you all the tricks you need to woo the ladies. For now, hand over that plate of gourmet to me. I'm starving."
Eryx snatched the plate from Neil's hands and plopped down on a nearby chair. Neil glanced around, hoping to spot Dove in the crowd, but he had seemingly disappeared again. Neil pulled out the adjacent chair and sat down, joining Eryx.
They engaged in idle chatter about trivial matters for some time until Neil felt a tap on his shoulder. It was a royal guard. "The queen has requested to meet you in private. Please follow me to her chamber."
Neil stood up to follow the guard, who led him to a small, secluded room adjacent to the court.
He bowed in front of the queen, who gestured for him to sit in front of her.
"Do you know why you're here?" She asked.
"You told me to meet you after I was handed the medallion. So this must be about the special assignment I was going to receive."
"Yes, observant and smart. Your list of qualities keeps increasing each time we meet."
'Why was the queen trying to use flattery with me? How bad is the assignment going to be?' He thought.
"But I'll come straight to the point. You've impressed me. And now I need you to kill the traitor to the throne."
"Who?" He asked hesitantly.
"The crowned prince, Dove."
A/N
Hi thanks so much for the read! If you enjoyed please leave a vote or a comment that's the best way to support me! Thanks so much xx, Anne.