CHILDHOOD FRIEND

                        Commander Wesley and his squad were responsible for this year's hunting.

"Your highness, for tomorrow's hunting, we have prepared about five bows and lots of arrows and some guns. We also have prepared five horses and another extra five horses which will carry carriages filled with food and tents."

           King Raleigh was listening to the commander attentively with his right palm placed under his chin. "What about my Midnight?"

 

          "Your highness, he is still not well and the doctor had told us to give him some time to recover."

Midnight was the name of king Raleigh's personal horse. It was gifted to him by his father when he was just thirteen years old. When he first got his horse, the horse was also still a baby. It was a black horse and its mane was long and silky. Because the horse was as dark as the night, king Raleigh named him Midnight. It was the horse with whom he was most comfortable and was closest. Midnight had been with him through his hardest and easiest times. Midnight had accompanied him in every battle he went to. Unfortunately, his horse got sick a week ago and was still recovering.

      Because king Raleigh had no Midnight, he had to use other horses. He frowned in annoyance. Commander Wesley was silent for a while and then again spoke.

       "Your highness, Me and my squad will be accompanying you in the hunting for your safety. Chief maid Lilith and some other maids will also be there for your food and lodging."

   "Hmm... the plan looks good. Have you patrolled those nearby areas?"

  Commander Weshly raised his head and answered, "Yes, your highness. We have looked at the nearby areas in search of dangers but there were none. That place is extremely remote. The mountain is very steep and large cliffs are everywhere. I wonder any humans would live there, let's not even think about mountain bandits. That place is only full of snow and wild animals which makes it a perfect destination of hunting for your highness."

   "You did well, commander. Then we'll be leaving tomorrow early in the morning. In my absence, my royal uncle Oswald will be handling the palace matters. If any of you have problems, you can consult with him. The court is dismissed for today."

    King Raleigh stood up and walked away from the hall followed by his knights. Soon queen dowager Avon and Oswald also exited the hall after king Raleigh. Everyone present inside the hall breathed in relief after the king went away. It looked like they were holding their breath the entire time and were just given oxygen.

   "Our king really does give off that dominating aura." One of the ministers said.

   "I think today was the most dangerous morning court I have ever attended." The next one said.

   "I don't even want to think about it. It gives me chills."

   "It's okay. We just have to be sure not to trigger him."

   "His highness really lives up to his rumour of being ruthless, ah." One of them sighed.

   "His highness is our king after all." The next one said proudly.

   "And this year's hunting is going to be the best one. I can feel it."

   "You are right."

            Going for a hunt once every year was the tradition of the royal family of the Raven kingdom. Every year the kings went for a hunt and hunted the wild animals like bison, roe deers, peregrine falcons, weasels, red pandas, golden pheasants, polar bears, and snow leopards. Polar bears and snow leopards were extremely hard to find while the others were pretty much easy to find and hunt. In the history of the Raven kingdom and the Kianz family, only one king had succeeded to hunt polar bears while none had hunted snow leopards. And this year, king Raleigh's main aim was to hunt snow leopard and decorate it in his palace. This year's destination was also the best one as it was very very far from human civilizations and was rumoured as the most dangerous mountain of the Raven kingdom. Its speciality was it was called the home of the snow leopards. So, king Raleigh had decided to go there and had ordered the commander to explore the nearby areas as he didn't want any disturbance.

             After king Raleigh finished his morning court, he directly walked towards the pavilion where he was supposed to have breakfast with lady Blaine. Lady Blaine was the only daughter of the Sherwood family. They were the aristocrats who had lived in the capital since the Raven kingdom was found. The members of the Sherwood family had also contributed a lot to the foundation of the Raven kingdom. There were at least five members of the Sherwood family always present in the court in the position of the ministers. The royal family also had a close relationship with the Sherwood family. For example, the former king aka father of King Raleigh and father of lady Blaine were childhood friends and were best friends. Her father had helped the king's father a lot during his rule. Lady Blaine's father was his father's most loyal friend. If king Raleigh wanted to be the strongest one, he needed the support of the Sherwood family.

                  Lady Blaine Sherwood was also said to be the most beautiful woman in the Raven kingdom. The citizens even said she was the most beautiful woman in the land even king Raleigh himself agreed. How could anyone say that the princess of the Wallace kingdom was most beautiful? For your information, they hadn't even seen her. Lady Blaine was what every man dreamed to be in their partner. She had strawberry-coloured hair with sharp brown eyes. Her face was oval with a small nose and pouty lips. She was fair-skinned with a perfect body and perfect smile. When she smiled, everyone's heart would melt. She was not only beautiful but also highly talented. She excelled at everyone in dance and music. She was kind, gentle, and very endearing. Overall, she was perfect.

          As their fathers were also best friends, they both had promised each other that their son and daughter would marry each other in the future to convert their relationship from best friends to a family members. Both of the fathers had declared early that their son and daughter would be marrying each other in the future to every citizen in the kingdom. And who would even oppose it? The two strongest families in the kingdom wanted to tie a relationship and they were happy about it. Since then lady Blaine was known as the fiance of his highness Raleigh. Everyone envied how lucky they both were. In the future, they were going to be the most perfect couple.

        Because of that promise and declaration, lady Blaine was the regular visitor of the palace. It was like her second home. She and king Raleigh were acquainted since their childhood. King Raleigh was said by his queen mother that lady Blaine was his fiance and he must treat her right and properly. He was just a child and didn't understand the meaning of the fiance at that time. He just thought he was a pretty girl and treated her nicely. King Raleigh, lady Blaine, and commander Weshly were best friends since childhood. He always treated both lady Blaine and commander Weshly equally. There was not any preferential treatment for lady Blaine. But as he grew up, king Raleigh slowly understood the meaning of the word 'fiance'. He also discovered he didn't like lady Blaine in a romantic way. He couldn't see her more than his best friend. Yes, lady Blaine was an attractive lady but he just couldn't develop any romantic feelings towards her. He just loved her as his closest friend.

         But the promise and declaration were already made. In everyone's eyes, they were already seen as a promising couple as they were close since their childhood. Since both of their fathers had promised, king Raleigh also didn't oppose the decision after he became an adult. Lady Blaine was preserved and talented lady. She was a good candidate to be a queen. After he marries lady Blaine, he would even get more support from the Sherwood family and he would become more powerful. King Raleigh knew he was using lady Blaine for his advantage and it was also to fulfil his late father's promise and last wish after all he was a filial son. It was like hitting two birds with one stone. He didn't think about what would happen after his marriage to her. He just had to produce an heir, right. He would treat her right and give her the respect she deserved. He just couldn't love her. Even others said feelings will gradually start growing once after you married them but it wasn't such a matter for him. If he could fall in love with lady Blaine, he would have fallen a long time ago.  

        Sometimes king Raleigh wondered if he had feelings or emotions at all. He had never cried nor was attracted to anyone. Falling in love was a far feeling for him. Even now he was behaving normally as if he hadn't killed and burnt two people. Yes, he was emotionless. For him, this love or any romantic relationship didn't matter. He was alright as long as he and his kingdom were most powerful. Love would make one weak. They would completely surrender to that person. King Raleigh didn't want that. He was too prideful and couldn't even think of saying sorry and thank you to someone and he didn't want to have any weakness. It was better to not have any emotion and just marry lady Blaine.

      On the other side, lady Blaine has also known her future husband since childhood. Everyone envied her and she was proud of that. Who wouldn't be proud if they had king Raleigh Kianz as their fiance? It was her biggest flex. She was trained on how to be a proper queen since her childhood. She was taught how to talk, how to eat, how to dress... everything according to king Raleigh's preferences. It was like she was a human doll who was just made for king Raleigh according to his preferences and lady Blaine didn't find anything strange in that. She just wanted to look perfect in front of king Raleigh's eyes after all she was deeply and madly in love with the king- more like she was obsessed with the king.

       King Raleigh reached the royal garden. The royal garden was the most beautiful place in the royal palace. It was large and green with a beautiful fountain in the centre. Different flowers like red roses, daisies, tulips, and poppies were grown in the royal garden. At the end corner, there was a small pavilion where he saw lady Blaine sitting on a chair with a small table. He then gently plucked a red rose in front of him and walked towards her.

      "A beautiful rose for a beautiful lady." King Raleigh said as he reached in front of her and kissed her left land. Lady Blaine deeply blushed and stood up to greet him. "Thank you, your highness. Please have a seat."

      Lady Blaine offered a chair to him and sat after that- shyly looking down. She also put the red rose in the flower vase which was on the table. She had always heard the word beautiful from the king's mouth to her but it always made her shy. She didn't know why. She slowly served the breakfast to the king which was on the table.

   They both were having their breakfast in peace as king Raleigh said, "Tomorrow I am going for a hunt. It may take a couple of days for me to return back. I also know our engagement is going to take place after a week. Till I return you may stay inside the palace."

    Lady Blaine shyly answered, "Yes, your highness." And the thing was king Raleigh was always irritated by seeing her shy face but he managed to not expose it. He just wondered why was she always shy. What did he do to make her shy? He knew he was handsome and everyone wanted him but lady Blaine was with him since childhood, she must be already used to it, right. He couldn't understand women.