Chapter 3

Robert walked through the large halls in deep thought. Two maidens passed, bowing their heads slightly as a sign of respect. He walked past them, not saying a word, his exhausted mind filled with elaborate impressions he couldn’t detect. He got to his chamber. His servant opened the door as he walked into the room, the door closing after him.

He sauntered toward his bed and sat on it as he removed his outer cloak with tired eyes. Slowly, he lay on the bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. He ran his fingers through his dark hair as he sighed in frustration.

Being a king won’t be easy, but he should get used to it. It’s his destiny and right to rule after his father’s dismissal. His father, King Harrison, was a tough man who led the people of Linerdo with a stern hand. He was fierce, and the people who he ruled feared him. He was a powerful king who created fear in the heart of his subjects. He never takes no for an answer and executes anyone who dares to come his way. The kings of the neighboring kingdoms could not match up to his strength, and the number of wars King Harrison fought and won easily was uncountable.

Robert tossed around his bed, his eyes fixed out the window. A loud cry of wild birds reminded him of the night he dreaded; a night filled with bad memories, the night of the persecution of the last witch, her screams piercing his heart as she burned on the stake… That night was a terrible memory to him. His eyes fixed on the burning body of the witch. He glanced at his father, who smiled, looking pleased as he watched the dying witch.

He watched his father’s blazing eyes filled with rage as he ordered his soldiers to go into the woods and get more witches to get assassinated. This incident happened five years ago, but the memory lay fresh on his mind — he couldn’t forget the furious look on his father’s face when the guards reported the escape of the surviving witches. The king’s outrage surprised him and brought a feeling of unsettledness in him, which he couldn’t assert.

Deep inside him, he knew that he was nothing like his father. He never wanted war but peace, although it was his responsibility to protect his subjects and go to war with his soldiers, and he was willing to do that as long as it kept the kingdom safe. Killing never ran through his veins, but as the next king, killing was part of his duties.

Prince Robert got down from his bed. He couldn’t sleep with all these on his mind. He paced around, brushing his hair uneasily. His knees grew weak as beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

A gentle knock at his door brought him back into reality. He looked up, his eyes fixed on the door.

The door opened, and his mother walked in, her eyes on her son.

“My son,” Queen Arundel called out with worry written on her face. “You don’t look good.” She narrowed her eyes, staring at him, her black hair resting on her shoulder. Her beauty showed forth elegantly. Her full eyebrows and lashes made her blue eyes sparkle in delight. She had a white gown with pink laces, which added more beauty to her.

“The king of Gladion has arrived. He seeks to see you,” she announced, staring at him.

Prince Robert glanced at his bed and back at her. “Alright, Mother, I will be there soon. Give me time to change,” he replied and walked toward his bed.

Queen Arundel glared at her son with softened eyes. Deep inside, she knew she was worried about something she couldn’t detect.

“My son,” she called out softly, walking toward him.

Robert turned his gaze at her, his eyes tensed.

Getting close to him, she held his face as she managed to smile. “What borders you?” she inquired softly.

Robert stared at her. “Mother, you know this isn’t my dream,” he let out, his eyes still fixed on her.

Queen Arundel let out a sigh. “I know, but this is your responsibility. You can’t run from it. You are the first son of your father, the first son of his legal wife, and you know that.”

“That is the problem, Mother!” Prince Robert let out moving away from her, his fingers on his hair again. He turned to his mother, who looked confused.

“Being a king comes with a lot of responsibilities. I have to go to wars, hunt down witches, and even get married to my father’s wives except for my mother. That is so absurd, Mother!” he spoke out with anger in his eyes. Prince Robert walked closer to his mother, his face hardened in resentment. “This is not how I want my life to be, bound by the laws and walls of this kingdom. I have hopes of exploring, not ruling,” he spat out, walking away from his mother.

Queen Arundel sighed with a quiet expression. She walked up to him and held his hand as he turned to look at her.

“I understand how you feel, but it is your duty, Robert. Apart from the normal wars, the hunt of witches stopped five years ago after your father killed the last witch. We all witnessed it. You know that humans and witches have nothing in common, and we can never relate. Witches and humans are sworn enemies right in the days of our past kings. The surviving ones can never think of returning after they ran into extinction,” she explained, staring at him.

“You don’t have to worry about that, Son. Your other duty of getting married to your father’s wives is a tradition you should keep, but that doesn’t stop you from getting married to your wife, who will produce your heir. Your father did that before he got married to me, and gradually, he married more wives. This is part of what makes you a king. I know you will do better than your father,” she concluded with a smile on her face. “Now hurry up. The king awaits you,” Queen Arundel said walking out of his chamber.