[Note: First, give me the chance to thank you for reading the first Chapter. I specially appreciated the nice feedback I got.
This chapter is not a continuation of the first. I know people are aching to know what will happen to our hero. Well, I am afraid to that you probably have to wait months before we get to that. I am planning to narrate the events leading up to where we are now. I am guessing that there are about 5 more chapters to go. So be patient. For now, get to know our hero and the world he is living in.
By the way, I am planning to spin-off our dark angel - Luna. I don't have much free time in my hands. So writing her story will slow the development of this one. Let me know which direction you want me to proceed.
You would notice so far, I'm not good at coming up with people's names. So if you have ideas, let me know.]
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Your life has been so peaceful and void of worries just a week ago. You are lying in your bed, turning and started to awaken. As you open your eyes, your beautiful wife welcomes you to a new dawn with a warm smile. She blew you a kiss and then gave your newborn son another one in the forehead as she gently rocks him in her arms. You smiled back, stood up and walked towards her. As you reached where she was standing, you bend your head down to acknowledge the kiss. It is unfair that this is the best that you can do to show her you love her and that you love her even more as each day passes. But she knows you do and that is all that matters.
Your request for one-week leave from your duties has been approved. Just a couple more days of military planning, training and providing security inside the castle walls. After which, you are going out of the city walls into the countryside to spend time with your wife and your baby. You are going to visit her parents, which is at least a day of travel on horse-drawn carriages over hills and streams. You wife is looking forward to this escape. She never cares much about the convenience and amenities of living inside the castle. She loves the open country, the scent of fresh daisies in her mother's garden, the butterflies scattering as her pet dog chase a squirrel out into the field, and the sky's transition from black to red to blue as the sun tries to peek through the rolling hills.
After breakfast, you put on your uniform and proceed through the great hall towards the chamber of your commander - Frankel. Your fellow knights are already gathered around the bed awaiting instructions from your leader. The commander is old and sick, but the King won't allow him to relinquish his role. The king fears that the only thing that is keeping Frankel alive is his sense of duty. The king regards Frankel as his own father. The former king died very young leaving the boy to rule the kingdom. Frankel raised and trained the prince to be a great king. And a great king he has become, peace and prosperity reigned. After the last people arrived, Frankel revealed the duty roster. You are assigned to the prince β the heir to the throne. You cringed at the role that you are going to play.