"Did you already studied what I taught you last time?"
There are two people inside the room, one was standing while facing the bright windows looking at the people chattering through the streets and one was sitting on his chair with his books on the table.
"Yes, teacher, unfortunately I can not put these lessons into use. I need to go outside and learn..."
But Master Koben interrupted him. "Do not speak of nonsense! We are in times of turbulence, and the people from another kingdom is seeking to kill you. We can not afford to let you be seen on broad daylight." He said sternly.
The moment Prince Jerald heard this, his face showed some disappointment and sorrow. What can he do, the war between Luciano Kingdom and the Vernal Empire just ended seven months ago. It may seem that the war has ended but the cold war is still in gear. Just last year, he was nearly assassinated by the opposing kingdom's forces, fortunately he was saved by a traveling hermit that passed by his area. Talk about luck.
"As much as I want to let you be free and learn about things in this world, I can't let you go as of the moment. Things are very dangerous, and the people's feelings are still sensitive."
Master Koben went to him and rubbed his soft blonde head. "You know that I care for you. As long as you remember what I taught you, it is still equivalent to having some real life experience."
Prince Jerald looked at him and smiled. Although he is dissatisfied with his current arrangement, he still followed his instructions. Prince Jerald is also happy with Master Koben. The King of Vernal Empire may show outmost care and support to him, but he did not feel the fatherly love that he wanted. Master Koben gave him that feeling, so this teacher became his father in his heart, although not in blood.
"Let us start with the lessons."
And with that, the two of them are started to interact with each other throughout the day.
Night came, Prince Jerald was sitting on his bed while writing on his book. The room he was in gave him some cozy feeling, it may not be extravagant like the ones in the imperial palace but it is not so shabby to be called a rundown place. The wooden furniture inside is just perfect for this kind of setting.
Some commotion outside their house occurred and he heard it. Prince Jerald was curious so he walked to the main window in his room and saw some soldiers approximately three hundred meters approaching their residence at a very fast pace. The horses' sound echoed through the streets and all the people sidestepped to give way. This situation is normal to them as the streets of Magnolia can be sometimes chaotic.
"Make way! Make way!" The soldiers shouted while rushing to the white residence of the Imperial Prince Jerald. There are four of them, donned with light silver armor while one of them was holding a white triangular flag. A white flag may be out of place but here in Irsadal, it symbolizes neutrality. Being neutral means you can not intervene in the affairs of the place, but you can do anything as long as it is not illegal.
As for the question of why are they holding a white flag here in the State of Magnolia, it is because the situation between the empire and the state is not yet that harmonious. The State of Magnolia was once a rich province of Vernal Empire, but it separated with the empire when the war happened. There are some slight hostility towards the people of the empire, especially to a prince. The people did not know that the imperial prince has been living in it, what they heard is that a rich teacher was the one that inhabited it.
With that, the people inside the residence came out and Master Koben greeted them.
"Good evening, Sir Dagen. What seems to be the situation as for why is your group in a hurry? Come inside and let us talk." He said with a monotonous tone.
"Master Koben, it concerns the affair of the whole empire. There is a possibility that we may departure tonight."
Master Koben was taken aback slightly with what he said. "Then hurry up and come inside, at least you need to have a rest for a while."
Sir Dagen nodded and followed Master Koben inside the residence. The remaining soldiers put their horses in the stable and let the servants attend to it. Prince Jerald heard what they had talked outside so he went out of this room and came to the lobby of the house.
When he saw Sir Dagen, he was glad. Sir Dagen is also one of his trusted aides. With his tall and big stature, it naturally gave a sense of security. Sir Dagen also saw Prince Jerald approaching him and reached to his left chest and said, "I greet His Royal Highness, Prince Jerald."
"What is the matter, Sir Dagen, that you hurriedly come to this place?" Prince Jerald asked.
"A big matter." He replied.
Prince Jerald saw the serious expression of his beloved knight. "It must be that important. Come, you need rest. Servants, provide some drinks for Sir Dagen and his companions."
"There is no need for that, Prince Jerald. In fact, we really need to set out tonight."
Prince Jerald immediately looked at him in confusion, he is already doing fine here in Magnolia.
"What seems to be the problem, Sir Dagen?" Prince Jerald asked.
Sir Dagen drank the water served to him by the servants and said, "The king got Kaster's curse, and there is a possibility that he may only live for at least two to three years."
When he said that, everyone in the residence was stunned. They did not expect this big news that is revealed to them. The air became sour and sadness was permitted in their hearts.
"Is that true? I can not believe it, he was doing fine when I last saw him three months ago. What is the reason with the curse?" Master Koben asked.
"Those bloody bastards!" Sir Dagen shouted. He was also devastated and angry when he heard the news. "He got it during the war, someone on the kingdom hired some assassins to kill the king. The king did not die but something did happen at that time. At first, the curse can not be detected as it only grows in time. For weeks, his royal highness got weaker and weaker. We all thought that it is because of the war with all of his accumulated injuries. Alas, it is already too late as we have detected it after he was coughing black blood." Sir Dagen said with sadness.
Prince Jerald did not properly process the information that he received. This concerns his father, the king. He was now already in distress as to what happened, and to think that chaos will ensure in the empire when everyone will know of this.
"Prince Jerald, we need set out immediately. The king wants to recall all of the prince and princess back to the empire. I think that he may give some news regarding this."
The moment everyone heard this, Master Koben said, "Everyone, finish what you are doing and prepare for the departure tonight."
Suddenly, everyone dispersed from the lobby and prepared for the trip. Prince Jerald immediately went back to his room and Sir Dagen sits on a chair.
'Crazy days are coming.' He thought.