While Aelrin and Lyra were taken to the chief butler Gérard, who was a strict and healthy old man with white hair and a white mustache, he took care of them and taught them how the palace worked by giving them tasks.
Lucas, who was forced to spend his day in his room, began to get bored and began to look for entertainment by looking and thinking deeply. He had an idea.
"Maya!! ", screamed Lucas with a happy look while swinging slightly on one of the chairs in his room.
A few minutes after calling Maya, she entered Lucas' room.
"Yes, Your Highness, do you need anything? She said, tilting her head slightly and watching Lucas swing on his chair.
Then Lucas stood up with a smile and said confidently:
"Maya, go to Gérard and tell him that Prince Lucas wants a piano installed in his room. "
Maya, surprised by Lucas' request, began to stare at Lucas with a spiteful look.
"Are you serious, Your Highness? She said, holding her head and sighing.
Then she took a serious look and began to look at Lucas with an intimidating look and said:
"I hope you are joking, Your Highness. Because it will go against the ordinances of His Majesty the King. "
Then Lucas began to look at Maya with a sad look of a beaten dog and said:
"But Maya, please, I'm bored. "
"It hasn't even been a day, Your Highness," says Maya, sighing while having her arms crossed.
"But I think I have an idea that will help you spend your time," she said, staring at Lucas with a mischievous smile.
Lucas, having seen Maya's smile, stepped back slightly and began to shudder with fear.
"No, Maya, I think it's good, I prefer to admire the sky and the birds," he said in a trembling voice.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, you're bored, aren't you? I will immediately solve this problem," says Maya, leaning close to Lucas' face while looking threatening.
And before Lucas could answer, Maya left the room and went to the palace library.
"No, Maya!! It's okay, you don't need to do that," he said, extending his arms to Maya who left the room without paying attention to him.
After Maya left the room, Lucas collapsed to the ground, full of grief, and shed a few tears.
"I want to have fun, I don't want to study at all. "
A few moments after Maya had left, Lucas, worried about what Maya might bring back to him, began to walk around his room, thinking of a way to escape Maya.
"Why did I open my mouth? ", he whispered, running a hand through his hair.
"She will surely bring me back endless books or worse... bring me books on the label," he said with a frightened look.
Meanwhile, Maya crossed the corridors of the palace with imperturbable determination.
Arriving at the library, she quickly greeted the librarian, an elderly and discreet man, and went to a very specific section: books on the history of the kingdom, diplomatic treaties and... royal etiquette manuals.
Arriving in front of this section, she began to have a small smile.
"Perfect. If His Highness is bored, I will make sure he is not bored," she said mischievously, rubbing her hands lightly.
The librarian began to look at Maya strangely after feeling her mischievous aura.
After taking a stack of books, Maya went to Lucas' room and suddenly entered his room without knocking on the door.
"I have found a solution for your boredom, Your Highness," she announced in a triumphant tone.
Lucas, who had sat by the window, admiring the garden while hoping that Maya would not come back, turned slowly when he heard Maya's voice.
His eyes immediately fell on the pile of books that Maya was carrying.
As he stared at Maya, his eyes wide, Lucas began to have a spiteful and sad look.
Maya put the pile of books on Lucas' table.
"Please come closer, Your Highness, these books will help you pass the time," she said in a soft but threatening voice.
So Lucas slowly approached the pile of books that were on the table and, reading the title of the first book:
"The... 1000 lessons of royal etiquette for beginners," he said in a trembling and scared voice.
So he immediately turned his gaze to Maya, his eyes wide and his face frightened, accompanied by a few drops of sweat.
Lucas, his eyes still wide and his face pale, stared at Maya with a mixture of fear and disbelief. He pointed to the pile of books, as if he hoped that they would magically disappear.
"Maya... don't you seriously think about making me read this? ", he asked in a trembling voice, trying to keep a calm tone despite his growing panic.
Maya, imperturbable, crossed her arms and gave him a benevolent smile, but which hid a hint of malice.
"Of course, Your Highness. You said you were bored, didn't you? These books are perfect for occupying your mind. "
Lucas felt his stomach knot. He glanced desperately at the window, as if he was looking for an escape.
"But... but it's not fair! And then, look at this: The 1000 lessons of royal etiquette for beginners?! It's... it's pure and simple torture! "
Maya didn't flinch. She took the first book of the pile and handed it to Lucas with a firm gesture.
"Start with this one, Your Highness. I will spend every hour to discuss the chapters with you, Your Highness. "
Lucas took the book with an exaggerated slowness, as if his hands refused to cooperate.
He looked at the title once more, then Maya, then the book again.
"An hour?! Maya, are you serious? I can't even read ten pages in an hour! "
Maya tilted her head slightly, her smile widening.
"So I guess you'll have to hurry, won't you? "
She turned around and went to the door, leaving Lucas alone with his stack of books and his growing despair.
Before going out, she turned around one last time.
"Oh, and Your Highness... don't even think about inventing subjects. I know these books like the back of my hand. So study them assiduously," she said with a smile on her lips.
The door closed with a sound "click", leaving Lucas in an oppressive silence. He looked at the pile of books, then the door, then the books again.
"I'm doomed..." he whispered as he collapsed on the ground.
Then Lucas began to read each book Maya gave him with an air of boredom.
ONE WEEK LATER:
On a sunny morning, accompanied by the birdsong, Maya entered Lucas' room and began to open the curtains in the room.
"It's time to wake you up, Your Highness. "
Following his words, Lucas closed himself back in his blankets.
"Wake Up, Your Highness. Today is a special day," says Maya while opening the curtains of the room.
Following his words, Lucas straightened up on his bed and, rubbing his eyes, he said:
"What's special today, Maya? "
Then Maya began to smile slightly, turned to Lucas and said:
"Today, Your Highness, your punishment has come to an end, and you are free to do what you want. "
"Also, today, an instructor arrived at the palace especially for you. "
"Really! ", said Lucas with an amazed look and a happy air.
"Yes, Your Highness," said Maya, nodding her head slightly.
Then Lucas hurriedly got up from his bed and, in an enthusiastic voice, he said:
"Maya, quickly! Help me get ready. "
"All right, Your Highness," said Maya, sighing slightly with a smile on her lips.
So Maya finished preparing Lucas' bath, and Lucas, having finished his bath, began to prepare with Maya's help.
While Lucas was getting ready with Maya's help, he said:
"Finally. I don't need to read all these boring books anymore. "
"My body will be able to get back into action again," he exclaimed, unable to hold back his excitement and enthusiasm.
Maya, who was adjusting the folds of Lucas' outfit, could not help but smile when she saw Lucas overflowing with energy.
"Don't forget to have your lunch before going to practice, Your Highness," she said, adjusting the last points of Lucas' outfit.
"Yes, Maya," said Lucas, sighing slightly.
"It's good, Your Highness," says Maya with a smile.
Lucas, knowing that behind Maya's smile was a threat, accepted Maya's offer to eat before her training, because he knew he could not win this battle.
30 MINUTES LATER:
Lucas, having finished his meal, dressed in a gray training outfit with golden borders, wearing black boots and a sword belt with which he carried the sword that his mother had given him, went to the training ground reserved for the royal family, which was in the inner courtyard of the palace, while giving off a noble aura.
As Lucas crossed the corridors of the castle to go to the court, he heard steps echoing behind him.
He turned around and saw his big brother, Dayvon, who was approaching with an amused smile.
Dayvon, with his black hair except those above his left eye which were always white, which contrasted with his red eyes. He wore a simple but elegant outfit, adapted to his responsibilities within the palace.
"Lucas, I see that you are already ready for your first sword lesson with the instructor," Dayvon said with a smile as he stopped next to his brother.
Lucas, a little surprised but happy to see his brother, replied:
"Yes, I can't wait to start. And you, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in a meeting with father? "
Dayvon shrugged his shoulders, a smile on his lips.
"Meetings can wait. Lately, I've been so overwhelmed that I hardly have time to sleep. "
Lucas laughed slightly.
"It's true what you say, I just noticed the dark circles under your eyes," he said mockingly, pointing the dark circles under Dayvon's eyes.
Dayvon put his hand on Lucas' shoulder and sighed slightly.
"I can't wait to see you at the end of your training today," he said with a threatening look and a mischievous smile.
Lucas raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Dayvon's smile.
"You talk as if you knew how my training will go," he said with an intrigued air.
Dayvon laughed.
"Of course I already know what kind of training you might have. I had the same instructor as you in the past, a few years ago, before going to the Academy. And believe me, he doesn't give gifts."
Lucas, a little worried now, asked:
"I mean? "
Dayvon leaned slightly, as if to share a secret.
"I don't want to spoil the surprise to my brother of love," he said with a smirk.
Lucas swallowed his saliva and, with a determined air, he said:
"No need to worry, brother. These trainings, I will make it my business, "he said with a doubtful and courageous air.
Dayvon straightened up, proud of his brother.
"I can't wait to see you at the end of the day," he says with a smile.
"Come on, come, I'll accompany you today for your first lesson," he said with a smile.
After this discussion, Lucas and Dayvon went to the training ground.
DURING THIS TIME:
Raphael and Hallan had both gathered in Raphael's office.
"Hallan? Do you think Darius will be tender with Lucas? ", says Raphael while inspecting documents.
"You know Darius, as I know him, Your Majesty. I don't think he will give Sieur Lucas a preferential treatment. I rather think he will force him to give everything he can," says Hallan, sorting documents on another table in the room.
So Raphaël stopped inspecting the documents and leaned on his chair while looking at the ceiling of his desk.
"I hope Lucas gets used to it quickly," he said, sighing.
A FEW MINUTES LATER:
Arriving in the courtyard, Lucas saw a handsome man looking young but imposing, with black hair and blue eyes, dressed in a black outfit and light armor, waiting near the weapons.
The instructor, having seen the two princes coming, turned to them and bowed slightly.
"I salute Your Royal Highnesses," he said in a respectful voice.
"Your Highness, I, Duke Darius Lawrence, am honored to have you as a student. "
Duke Darius Lawrence is a powerful man who reigns over much of the west kingdom, being a supporter of King Raphael and one of his closest friends.
"I can't wait for our lessons to begin," he said with a smile on his lips while staring at Lucas.
TO BE FOLLOWED...