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The Next Day
Emily: "Good morning, my little lord~"
Reishel slowly opened his eyes, his body heavy, and his mind still tangled in the remnants of his nightmare
The strange feeling it left still surrounded him, as if the shadows that visited him in his dream hadn't quite left
Reishel: "Good morning, Emily"
He said it in a soft voice, accompanied by a long yawn
Emily: "You still seem sleepy, Didn't you sleep well?" She asked with concern, watching his state
His eyes met hers for a moment, and he thought she noticed his confusion
But he quickly regained his composure and replied coldly: "I'm fine"
Emily didn't comment, though she didn't seem entirely convinced
"Well then, your father is waiting for you in his room"
Reishel: "I'll go now"
Reishel stood, and Emily helped him adjust his clothes before he headed toward his father's room
He stood before the door and knocked three times
Voice from inside: "Enter"
He slowly pushed the door open, walked in, and sat in the chair across from his father's desk
Sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the room
Reishel: "Good morning, Father"
Davford: "Good morning, how are you feeling?" He asked as he lifted his gaze from his papers, his cold eyes always observing every movement of his son
Reishel: "I'm feeling fine" he said, trying to appear better than he actually felt
"...What did you want to talk to me about?"
His father responded seriously, setting his pen aside
"It's about handing you the throne... Do you know why I did that?"
Reishel looked at him for a moment
There was a clear answer, but he wasn't sure if it was the answer his father was seeking
Reishel: "Because I'm your only son, and the rightful heir?"
Davford: "Yes, that's one reason But the reason I decided to hand you the throne at such a young age is that I want you to get rid of this weak character of yours"
The coldness in his voice made it harsher than any reprimand
Reishel felt his hands growing cold, but his eyes remained fixed on his father
Reishel: "But..."
Davford: "No room for objections"
His father interrupted him sharply and continued in a low tone, but one that carried an implicit threat:
"I'll be traveling soon, The palace will be yours. You will need to learn the affairs of the kingdom, and you'll start learning how to be a king, how to rule, You'll live here, and you'll learn that there is no place for weakness... Is that clear?"
He had no choice but to reply: "Yes, Father"
The king's gaze lingered on him for a few more seconds before he leaned back in his chair, as if the matter was settled for him
Davford: "Good, Prepare yourself, Soon, some people will come to start teaching you political lessons and about the neighboring kingdoms"
Reishel nodded, then stood slowly
His steps weren't as steady as he had hoped. He left the room, but felt as though his weight had doubled, as if the words his father had spoken had placed a heavy stone on his chest
But he didn't know that this was only the beginning
Hours passed since he left his father's room, and his words still echoed in his ears:
"You'll begin learning how to be a king"
But he didn't know that the start would be this quick!
The door knocked, and his servant, Silas, entered quietly and bowed
Silas: "My lord, the gentlemen are waiting for you in the Eastern Hall"
Reishel stood slowly, his heart racing. His hand gripped the edge of his robe without him noticing. He wasn't afraid... but he wasn't ready either
In the Eastern Hall...
The hall was spacious, with a vaulted ceiling decorated with golden engravings and large crystal chandeliers
A long table covered with maps, books, and ancient manuscripts awaited, with a grand seat at its head, reserved just for him
Three men were standing, waiting for him
They were of middle age, their features calm but imposing
As he entered, they gave a slight bow in respect, followed by Silas
The eldest approached with steady steps and spoke in a deep tone:
"Lord Galferhad, we are here to condense what would take a lifetime... into mere months, Do not worry, we will not throw you into a whirlpool of knowledge, but guide you step by step... It is also my honor to introduce myself. I am Louis Harlow"
The second man spoke, "And I am Eliot Krin"
The last man introduced himself, "And I am Alfie Warner"
Silas stood behind his master, while Reishel sat calmly in his chair
Reishel: "I am honored to meet you, Mr. Harlow, Mr. Krin, and Mr. Warner"
Krin stepped forward, speaking politely: "We will begin today with the basics of ruling, from understanding the layers of the kingdom to knowing its history, We are not here to test you, but to build a solid path for you, so that when you sit on the throne... you will be worthy of it"
Warner, the shortest and most gentle in speech, smiled: "You are not alone, my lord, Every step you take... we will be with you"
Reishel felt a bit of relief, and breathed more confidently
Just then, the door opened softly, and a man who wasn't part of the group entered
He was tall, handsome, with calm eyes, wearing a gray cloak with silver edges
Harlow said kindly: "This is Minister Michael Lucius, one of the pillars of the court, He will oversee your lessons in political relations and diplomacy"
Minister Lucius bowed respectfully and said: "My lord, it is my honor to be part of this journey, The future is in your hands, and we will ensure that future stands on strength... and understanding"
He sat beside the table, not imposing his presence, but his gaze, though polite, held a depth that was hard to read
Harlow took an ancient map and gently began pointing to it: "Let's begin here, This is the border of the Kingdom of Arkadius, We will memorize it together today, not as a drawing on paper... but as a pulse that lives inside you"
As they explained, Reishel noticed that the teaching style was more like a well-told story than a harsh test,
There were no condescending glances, no strict evaluations, just respect, trust, and an expectation for what he would prove with time
At the end of the day, when the maps were folded and the books returned to their places, Minister Lucius stood and said: "Every king has a moment when he stops being taught... and begins teaching himself. That day will come, my lord, And when it does... everything you've learned today will be your first weapon"
Reishel smiled for the first time with genuine confidence, He began to feel, even if just a little... that the path to the throne might not be easy, but he was not alone in it
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