Side Story: The Future Woven
THE door opened quietly, and a boy peeked through the gap.
After confirming the coast was clear, he opened the door a little wider and stuck his head out. Checking the hallway from end to end with big eyes, he boldly stepped out.
He walked down the hallway with tottering steps. Once he reached the courtyard, someone cried out, dry wood smacked together, and he hurried to look.
“Ow… Oi, Robert! Can’t you be a little gentler?!”
“What do you mean, Riddhe boy? Weren’t you the one eager to learn some self-defense so you could travel freely around Sheraford to oversee its development? Besides, if I have to teach swordsmanship to a lordling, isn’t this the best way to do it?”
“True,” Riddhe pouted as he sat heavily on the ground. In contrast to his exhaustion, Robert stood nearby, leaning on a wooden sword, relaxed. Then Robert noticed the boy and frowned.
“Out on a stroll alone, Your Highness?”
“Your Highness? …Whoa! Hope you are well today, Your Highness!”
As the men watched, the boy made his way out into the courtyard, heading for Riddhe’s dropped wooden sword. Robert smiled before handing him a thinner, lighter stick.
“That one’s too heavy, Your Highness. Come! Shall we have a little fun?”
“Oi, oi, you’d better not hurt His Highness,” Riddhe warned worriedly.
In response, Robert drew a beautiful arc with his wooden sword and swung it lightly. As the boy raised his stick and hit the sword, Robert grinned back at Riddhe.
“See, Riddhe boy? His Highness is already a better swordsman than you.”
“Seriously… Can’t you be a little nicer to me?”
“I am nice, but I won’t spoil you. Don’t worry, though. When the time comes, I’ll train up your kid too, along with His Highness here, of course.”
After clashing their swords for a while, the boy waved to the two men and left the courtyard.
Before leaving, Riddhe promised the boy he’d bring his son along the next time he visited the castle. The news delighted him, as he loved playing with the boy with hair as red as his father’s. He skipped down the hallway excitedly, looking forward to their next meeting.
Then, someone beckoned to him as he passed by a large door. He approached, seeing King James with his almond-colored eyes sparkling as he invited the boy into his office.
“Hoho, you came at a good time. Shall we have some snacks together?”
“But Your Majesty, the documents are still… Oh dear.”
Nigel sighed as he watched his master happily summon a maid to prepare snacks and tea. The boy climbed onto the king’s lap as the tea items were set up, prompting the old man to poke at his chubby cheek with a finger as he opened up the registry of nobles.
“Come now; let’s do a revision of yesterday’s lesson. Which house does this crest belong to? They often write letters to your parents… Yes, it’s House Nicol’s! How about this one? …Oh, that’s not right. This one’s a good friend of Riddhe’s… Yes, it’s House Hobbs! Whatever shall we do, Nigel? This child may be a genius.”
“You’re truly a besotted grandfather, Your Majesty,” Nigel responded from where he sat on the opposite sofa, sipping at his tea. Then he leaned over and pointed at the registry. “So, here’s a question from me. Which of these crests belongs to House Chester? Yes, Your Highness is also part of the Chester heritage… Yes, that’s right. Your Majesty, His Highness does seem to possess a unique memory.”
“See?”
As a reward for his performance, the boy received a slice of his favorite pie and took a big bite. The sweet taste of marmalade spread across his tongue, and he broke out in a smile. It was a secret the king kept from the boy’s parents that he’d ordered his head chef to prepare such pastries every day so he could see his grandson’s smile.
“By the way, can you call me that again today? Come, say Grandp—”
“Your Majesty, his parents are going to get mad again,” Chief Adviser Nigel interrupted, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Your Majesty in public, Grandfather in private. His Highness will be confused if you get him to break the rules.”
“Don’t be stubborn. He can call me Your Majesty in public, Grandfather when Cia is around, and Grandpapa when it’s just us. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Is Your Majesty not going to heed my advice?”
“Yes, yes, you’re the expert.”
As the banter continued, the boy, sleepy with a full stomach, soon began to nod off, but before he could really fall asleep, Lady Fourier arrived at the king’s office, summoned by Nigel.
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“YOUR Highness is just like your mother, always sneaking out of your room.”
The boy walked along slowly, holding on to the chief lady-in-waiting’s hand. His steps were a little unsteady, probably due to his tiredness.
“I think I’ve mentioned before, but your mother, Her Highness, was such a tomboy as a child. She hated studying and would play tag with her maids all day long… So I guess Your Highness does resemble your father more in terms of your attitude toward learning.”
Though she spoke in a matter-of-fact way, Lady Fourier’s tone carried a hint of nostalgia. Pulling on her hand, the boy requested to be brought to his parents.
Lady Fourier raised a brow and thought for a moment.
“Your parents must be busy… Oh, but maybe they’ll have some free time now… All right. Let’s go see them, but just for a while.”
With a new destination in mind, the pair headed in a different direction. Rounding a corner, they came across the maids, Annie and Martha, pushing a trolley.
“Oh, Lady Fourier. Are you taking a stroll with His Highness?”
“I’m bringing His Highness to see his parents at their office. That tea set… I guess they’re about to take a break?”
“Hello, Your Highness. You’re as cute as always.” Martha smiled as she bent to look at him.
Because of his age, he didn’t mind being called cute and smiled happily as the maid ruffled his hair.
“Oh, what an angel! He’s truly Her Highness’s child,” Annie gushed.
“He has his father’s hair but his mother’s eyes,” Martha added.
“As for his features, I guess he looks more like Her Highness?”
“He’s honest like Her Highness but neat and proper like his father…”
Then, the maids gasped and looked at each other before holding hands and continuing in trembling voices.
“Oh, no. The castle is going to be filled with suitors for His Highness…!”
“No more nonsense. Let’s go.” With a sharp reprimand, Lady Fourier cut the maids’ ramblings short and pulled on the boy’s hand. Annie and Martha hurried after them.
As they arrived outside the office, the chief lady-in-waiting called out to the occupants within.
“Lord Clovis, Your Highness. Your tea is ready.”
“Thank you…” Clovis said as he opened the door, and his eyes widened when he saw the boy. “Oh!”
Gesturing for the group to enter, they came upon Alicia seated at her desk, who also gasped in surprise.
“Hmm? What’s the matter? Oh dear!”
Letting go of Lady Fourier’s hand, the boy turned to embrace his father. Clovis frowned as the child clutched at the hem of his robe and buried his face in the fabric, unwilling to let go.
“Apologies, Lady Fourier,” he sighed. “Was he bothering His Majesty in his office again?”
“They had some snacks together, and I went to fetch him back to his room, but he said he wanted to see you.”
“So that’s why he’s here. Thank you, Lady Fourier,” Alicia smiled teasingly as she crouched down to pat the boy on the head. “But you’re such a spoiled child. I wonder who you got that from?”
“Who knows?” Clovis responded. Alicia was the only one who noticed the emotion in her husband’s eyes.
For now, the boy was back with his beloved parents.