Part 28 – I Accept!

"Thank you, Father! I am honored and proud to become a crown prince candidate!" Simon said, facing King Morel. "Thank you for giving me this chance to further prove myself! Does this mean that I am taking brother Largo's place?" he asked rather innocently, which earned him a poisonous glare from his older brother.

"I have already vacated the palace assigned to me," Prince Largos snarled. "You can move to the 2nd prince's residence this afternoon."

"Oh, thank you, brother Largos!" Simon happily replied, his insensitive remark, pissing off Largos even more. "I thank you too, father, Your Highness, for putting your trust and believing in me!"

"That's really nice, father!" Juno said rather cheerfully. "But don't you think that our younger sibling still has a lot to prove?"

"Exactly," Largos piped in.

"That is why I would like to suggest something to you, Father," Juno continued.

"And what might that be?" the king asked.

"A royal summons had just arrived from the empire," Juno informed them.

"A letter from the Emperor himself?" King Morel looked surprised.

Juno took a scroll from underneath his cloak and handed it to the king.

"News of our heroic brother's deeds have reached as far as the Emperor's ears," he told King Morel, even before their father could unroll the parchment. "They have requested for the 'Hero' to come to the capital to visit the royal family as soon as he is able."

"T-to the royal capital?!" Simon stuttered.

"But it would take a month at least to journey to the capital..." the king said thoughtfully, "and your brother's injuries have not fully recovered yet..."

"T-that's right!" Simon quickly agreed.

"Father, haven't you noticed, Simon did not bring his walking stick today," Largos pointed out, "also, he doesn't seem to be limping anymore. Besides," he added with a smirk, "doesn't he have that healer that the Stone Temple priests lent him?"

"You do have a point there..." The king frowned and rubbed his bearded chin. "Simon, how is your leg? Do you think you can make the journey if your healer accompanies you?"

Simon couldn't help but confess the truth.

"Y-yes, Father," he replied, "i-in fact, I hardly feel any pain anymore. Nell is an excellent healer."

"Then I shall prepare for your departure tomorrow!" the King proclaimed.

"Of course, father," Juno said with a sly smile.

"This is perfect after all," continued their father, "since I have also decided to send you to the Royal Maralict Imperial University."

"What?" Juno and Largos asked in unison.

"I heard from the royal tutors that your brother here is quite capable in his studies," King Morel explained, "thus, I have decided to send him to University with you, Juno," he went on. "I want you to help your brother be a more capable leader in the future."

Things went as planned.

As was scheduled, Simon met with Countess Ruby and her daughter, Lady Rose that afternoon. She turned out to be another marriage candidate, this one, five years younger than he was.

Simon was then escorted to the 'former' 2nd crown prince's palace, where he would be staying from then on out.

The next day was the visit to the West Kingdom.

Simon was woken quite early to prepare for the

luncheon event.

"Shall we leave for the luncheon now, your highness?" Rode asked him as soon as his new attendants finished dressing him up.

"Yes, it would be better to leave early," Simon replied.

As he left his room, he saw Nell standing by the doorway.

"Ah, Nell, there you are!" he greeted him brightly. "I don't think I'll be needing your help today," he told the healer. "I am feeling so much better, that I think it would be just a waste of your talent to heal me any further, you can just stay here for the rest of the day. After all, we'll be traveling to the Empire's capital later this afternoon."

Upon the mention of the empire, Nell suddenly raised his head. His veiled face, though hidden, showed alarm.

He reached out a hand to touch Simon's arm.

"Don't worry, Nell," Simon reassured him, "Like I said, I'm much better now!"

Saying this, Simon did a small jig to prove that he was now capable of walking on his own.

"Just pack your essentials for our departure," he said hurriedly, "for now, I need to visit my uncle, King Maurice Jobert Krems of the West Kingdom. I'll see you later!"

Simon rode a charger on their way to the West Kingdom. He was accompanied by his brother, Prince Juno and several royal guards.

The citizens were all happy to see him again.

Like yesterday's festivities, they were throwing flowers upon his path while singing him praises.

"Long live the Hero of the Twin Kingdoms!" they cried.

"Hurrah to the 9th Prince!"

"Cheers to the Behemoth slayer!"

Simon waved back to the crowd as he passed, his face bright with pride.

Even more people welcomed him as their entourage entered the West kingdom. A choir of children sang of his glory, while performers danced on the streets. There were even trained beasts who lowered their heads as he passed by.

King Maurice Jobert Krems of the West Kingdom stood waiting by the Palace gates when Simon arrived. He welcomed Simon with open arms as soon as the prince got off his charger, and ushered him inside their palace.

"Welcome, dear nephew!" he said with a wide grin on his bearded face. "I welcome the Twin Kingdom's Hero into my humble abode!"

"I am most delighted with your invitation, your majesty, King Maurice," replied Simon with a deep bow.

"Oh, please drop the formalities, just call me Uncle Maurice!" said the King with a loud laugh.

"T-then, I thank you for the invite, Uncle Maurice," said Simon with a shy smile.

This was the first time he had seen this uncle up close.

During royal events, the younger princes are assigned on a table separate from the kings and the first two sons, as well as the queens and royal consorts or concubines.

King Maurice, as his father's twin, does have a lot in common with King Morel.

Their eyes were both as blue as the sky, and both have the same golden hair as Simon's, though theirs already had a lot of gray mixed into it. In fact, even their beards were about the same length.

But that's where the similarities end.

King Maurice, unlike Simon's father, is much fatter, as he has let himself go through the years.

He is well known as a very lax ruler who prefers to go to parties and hunting expeditions, rather than attend political meetings.

That is why he has left all the responsibility of governing the kingdom to his wise queen.

She was educated in the capital, after all.

"You do know my twins, Lucy and Skye?" the king asked his nephew.

Two young lovely blonde princesses stepped forward and gave Simon a curtsy. "And my two eldest sons, Hayle and Jude?" two princes in grand blue coats gave him a curt bow.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all," greeted Simon with his own bow.

"The pleasure is ours, oh, great hero," replied West Twin Kingdom's eldest Prince, Hayle." He looked about the same age as Largos, and acted the same, with the same sarcastic tone.

"For today's special guest, we had prepared a hunt in the Royal Woods," said the king as they led Simon inside the palace, and out a back door, towards a vast open area. "Alas, your father informed me that you cannot stay too long since you would be leaving for the capital later this afternoon."

"That is right, Uncle Maurice," said Simon.

"Ah, but isn't that such a shame?" said Prince Hayle with a disappointed pout on his face. "We were so looking forward to seeing the Twin Kingdom's Hero in action!"

"I-I guess so..." said Simon, not really knowing how to react to his words.

"Then why not hold a short hunting game instead?" said Prince Jude.

"A short hunting game?" Simon asked.

He had never gone hunting before, since his father only brings his brothers Juno and Largos when he wants to go hunting.

He looked at his brother Prince Juno who has been quiet since they left their own kingdom.

"Brother, is it okay to go on a short hunt?" he asked him.

"But of course!" Prince Juno replied, standing next to Prince Hayle. "We still have enough time to do so."

"Good, since we have been dying to see the hero in action!" said Prince Hayle, his smile widening.

Two attendants came when he clapped his hands twice, carrying crossbows of black wood and silver. Several others followed, towing in crates with rabbits inside them.

"Wonderful!" King Maurice bellowed with a jolly laugh. "It's a blessing that you are now completely healed!"

"Well, it is true that I'm feeling much better now," Simon answered with a smile. He was feeling quite elated from all the praise.

He took a crossbow from one of the servants and checked it out.

He had never actually used one before, but he's been taught how to use a bow since he was 8, and decided it had the same principle.

"Let me show you how to use that, cousin." Prince Jude went closer and armed the crossbow. "All you have to do is aim and click the trigger."

"Oh, it's so much more easier to use than a composite bow!"

"Exactly, all you have to do is pull this lever back to set the bow string, and place the arrow like so," said Prince Jude.

"Thank you for teaching me!"

Again, the prince grinned at him.

"Anything, for the kingdom's Hero!" replied Prince Jude.

"Now, we can see firsthand how good you are at hunting!" said his brother Prince Hayle.

Simon smiled back at his two cousins.

Their voices were so full of awe and admiration that he felt like he could do anything!

'I guess I shouldn't disappoint them,' he thought to himself, 'I mean, how hard could it be to hunt a rabbit with a weapon like this?'

"If you are ready, brother, we should enter the enclosed woods where the animals have been released," Juno told him.

"Of course, brother!" Simon answered with a big grin of his own. "Lead the way."

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Go to Part 30

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