Blood & Crown

CHAPTER 2: Lantern Fair

(CHARLES POV)

“Father. I'll be okay.” I said as he, King Silas, commanded his men to accompany me in setting up the upcoming fair to commemorate my birthday.

“My son of 23 years has become stubborn.” As he always said, though I was just the same baby raised by a man who refused to retire even after serving as a king for all these years.

I'm not complaining as becoming a king would be a task that I'm still a bit unprepared for.

I know that there's still tension between the surrounding kingdoms outside of ours so everything seemed a bit too heavy to take on at the moment as I still needed time to learn more on how to handle a kingdom for the good of the people.

“Take at least five of them." My father urged as he pointed to the hesitant men in front of us.

I declined once again and explained to him that the common people had already set up the fair and everything's in

order. I don't need any more hands.

But he was insisting so I gave in and accepted one of them. Opal.

—---

“Prince Charles!” Opal called, catching his breath for a moment. ”The lanterns had been set up. The food was being prepared at the moment, the stalls are all in good condition. There were several guards stationed at—.” Opal was just going off with the information that I was already informed of earlier so I cut him off.

“Thank you. You could rest now.” I said as the man could barely walk.

“No. Check on the guards first.” My father ordered, to the man's dismay.

I sighed and grabbed Opal before he could fruitlessly run around again.

“I've checked it and it's fine. He could rest.”

My father argued with me and told me that I should've gotten the remaining six men with me to help. As we're going in circles, I just let him talk himself to tiredness and made my point afterwards.

“I wouldn't be able to learn how to rule a kingdom if you're not allowing me to make decisions of my own.” I said as

my father rested on a chair.

His mouth was shaping words that were about to be argumentative again but he just sighed, breathed everything

out of his system and finally agreed with me.

He was getting old and weak and yet, his stern and headstrong personality remained untainted, even more so when

the topic was with me or included me.

I get what he was trying to do. It's better to prepare for something less likely to happen than to lose everything in

one fell swoop but at this point, we're just being redundant here.

As my father retired to his temporary room, I went to the front gate of the gathering.

“There’s werewolves coming about but they're mostly curious.” Said one of the guards at the front gate as I

gathered information. “They seemed to be harmless as most of them were children and women.”

“Still, don't let your guard down, men.” I commanded. “We're once their mortal enemies, chances are—after all

these years—we're still the same in their eyes.”

My father was already in talks with the alpha of the werewolves clan nearby, though I really wouldn't call it a peace

treaty, rather, a talk of passiveness, as it was apparent that my father was still wary of them based on his insistence that I take his men on my venture.

My father has taken the stance of my grandfather—the late king before him— that it would be senseless and a

waste of time and resources to kill if it's unnecessary. Ever since we have conquered a kingdom good enough for the humans to stay safe, away from the outside clans like the vampires that feed on us and werewolves that rival us when it comes to resources, we've been on the defensive rather than offensive.

And as we expand upon our kingdom, I will make sure that once the throne was in my hands, I'll never let anyone die under my reign.

—----

As the night rolled around and the moonlight replaced the sun above, the party had just begun.

The food was enjoyed freely by the guests, from peasants to royals. Everybody was socializing with each other, regardless of status.

After all, these kinds of events only happen once a year. And even then, I needed to convince my father to let me plan the event myself as if it was up to him, this gathering would strictly be, between the aristocrats and the nobles and unfairness was not in my vocabulary.

As the performance by the young children, dancing in the open square commenced, the other adults indulged

themselves in ales and wine away from the young ones.

They were mostly farmers and peasants so most of the audience of the performance were affluent.

I was busy going around, greeting each and every one of them, accompanied by my father. And once he got tired

and went to bed, I could finally take some much needed rest.

The farmers then offered me to drink with them and I happily accepted.

A few drinks in and I excused myself.

After using the communal latrines, I planned to go back to the makeshift tavern but I was stopped in my tracks when

I saw someone’s head poking out of the brush.

It was dark so I couldn't make out her face but I knew that she was a woman.

Then she stepped out, seemingly gathering courage by breathing deep as I could see her shoulder rise up and fall

down.

She stood for a moment to fix her shawl and her dress.

I talked. “The celebration is open to everyone, if you're wondering.”

She glanced at me, baring a petrified expression then quickly looked away.

I stood back. “I apologize for scaring you. It was not my intention.” I held out my hand. “I could accompany you to

the main area if you are having cold feet.”

But instead of taking my invitation, she just pulled her shawl down to obscure her face even more.

Though barely noticeable, her eyes looked at mine for a fraction of a second before she looked down again.

It was quick but I caught it. Her eyes. It was unnaturally bright red.

Before I could say even more, the voice of a couple of children caught my attention.

“Prince Charles!” They called. “We've got something prepared for you!”

I smiled and walked to them after taking one last glance at the mysterious woman in front of me.

I bowed. “What is it?” I asked and the giddiness of the children doubled. They gestured for me to level with them

and closed my eyes, so I did.

“Open them!”

They made me a flower crown. I smiled and patted each of their heads. They dispersed happily.

When I turned back around, the woman was gone.