Arthur the Exiled

A grand castle stands tall in the middle of the Capital City. The Windshire Castle spans an hectare of land and a height of at most fifty meters. This is the official residence of the Royal Family and a symbol of hope and prosperity for the kingdom.

Snow starts to fall. It is that time again where people have to leave their house with heavy clothing to keep them warm. The kingdom is said to be the safest place to be during winter. There is no food shortage and attacks from beasts and thieves are easily dealt with.

Many residents outside and even inside their houses wear a face of conflicted emotions. Some are crying while looking at the castle that is supposed to be a grand symbol of hope and even happiness as citizens of the kingdom.

Today is the last day of mourning for the late King Harry Windshire. As residents, they are witnesses of incredible feat that the kingdom has reached because of the late king. Scholars even insist that it is during his reign that the kingdom attained its golden era.

After this day of mourning and before the sun for next day rises, a new king will have to be crowned. This is necessary to continue the operations of the kingdom and to show no weakness to enemy kingdoms.

A gossip also circulates around the city and mostly to nobles residing in the Capital. Arthur, the Crown Prince, has no talent in both swordsmanship and magic, a political secret of the Royal Family.

A supposedly peaceful mourning for the citizens of the kingdom has become a day to satiate greedy people's political and self interests. Nobles gather mobs of citizens to denounce the Crown Prince if ever he was to sit in the throne, a perfect chance to put under their control a prosperous and wealthy kingdom.

The streets of the kingdom and even the roofs of the houses are now filled with snow. Suddenly, a horse rushes toward the direction of the Windshire Castle, pulling a carriage bearing the insignia of the Crown Prince.

When the carriage reached the entrance of the castle, a young man, that is around fifteen years of age, appears from within the carriage and he is greeted by the middle-aged man in front of the castle. "Your Majesty!"

"Uncle Ernest, why are you outside?" The young man's eyes are wide open. "You should be resting for the coronation later."

Ernest heaves a sigh of relief but his eyes show conflicted emotions. "Arthur, we need to talk."

Arthur and Ernest walk together toward the throne room. Arthur looks at his uncle as he wonders what they need to talk about so cautiously. As he sees his nervous uncle, he understands that it is not a simple matter.

"Duke Carl plans to takeover the throne and they are not willing to have a talentless King. I know your interest is reading books and you have commendable achievements using your knowledge but..." Ernest pauses as if trying to find the proper words without offending Arthur.

Arthur's eyes are fixated to his uncle as he tries to read what his intentions are. Even so, he understand that Ernest only wants to safeguard the Royal Family and that his father has been so astounding that it will be hard for anyone in the family to catch up. What more can they expect from a talentless king?

"I understand, Uncle." Arthur tries to understand the situation.

He is in a dangerous position. Even if he safely gets coronated, this news will spread even to the enemy kingdoms and countries, and even some nobles will use this knowledge to threaten the throne. The kingdom is already unstable because of the passing of a great King and it will be more unstable because of this political scandal.

Arthur thinks thoroughly if there is another way to solve this problem without the risk of putting his father's achievements in vain. There is none that he can think of. Frustration and anger and sadness. He only wants to mourn peacefully and safeguard what his father has left with him but it seems like he is not yet capable.

In a world ruled by the strong, it is a curse to be weak and talentless.

Tears fall down from Arthur's cheeks and his uncle wipes it with his hands. "Arthur, I know you don't want to lose what your father has left behind."

Arthur continues to cry loudly. Will it really be hard for me to protect anything without strength and power?

Arthur wipes his tears and decides to consult his uncle. "Uncle, do you have any plan?"

Ernest nods his head. "This is the reason I want to consult this plan to you. Currently, your life is in danger. I don't know who leaked the information about you but there is nothing we can do. If Your Majesty approves, I can put you in exile for harming the Royal Family but this is for protection. I will tell in the Royal verdict that you will be thrown in the prison island but you will be going elsewhere. I will safeguard the throne for our family."

The prison island is a place for notorious criminals. Even if there is food and shelter there, a lot of criminals are prideful and will not bat an eye to kill. Luckily, Arthur is not really going to be thrown there.

"Then, where will you send me?" Arthur stares at his uncle with red eyes.

"I have bought an autonomous city before as I plan to integrate it with the kingdom but because of the events, I will pass the lordship to you and make it stay independent from any countries." Ernest replies with confidence.

The young prince is deep in thought. He wonders the city is safe as there are many countries and kingdoms that want to merge independent cities with them.

"It is relatively safe from people and the danger from beasts are on a normal level." Ernest assures his nephew.

Arthur agrees and has followed his uncle's instructions to pack all that he needs. A carriage has been prepared for him but now it no longer bears the insignia of the Crown Prince. It is now a normal carriage used by most nobles.

Arthur is about to go inside when he felt a slight tug to his sleeve. He looks back and sees a young woman who is almost the same age as him. She has a porcelain-like skin and a pretty cute face. Above your average fifteen year-old kids. She is the daughter of kingdom's Minister of Finance.

"So you will be going?" The young woman asks with a melancholic voice.

"I will be back, Joan." Arthur rides the carriage and it immediately sets off to the independent city of Camelot.