Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 235: First Life. Alice. (2)

Chapter 235: First Life. Alice. (2)

5 years later.

Like cherry blossoms from the very warmth of the first day of spring, the kingdom is merry. Every man, mother and child is happy that they got to witness the season yet again after many nights spent in hope.

The kingdom itself was dubbed Springton in acknowledgement of what this season meant to them and how it made their fields look. It is rumoured that a strange spirit resides here and awakens every spring to pour out its blessings on the land and which is why this time is received with utmost merriment.

Cheers could be heard from the neighborhood around and even hugs were going round to share in the joys and warmth of spring and to celebrate new beginnings. Almost every home in Springton except one, the home of the king himself, the Castle of Fire.

Formerly called the Castle of Flowers, another spring given name, since the advent of the new king to the throne and the infamous acts that got him there, it was now known as the Castle of fire and everyone trembled at the sight of the structure. The commoners dared not look at it and as for those who lived within its walls, dread was their daily bread.

The Castle did not lose its eeriness even on the first day of spring as the reigning King had ordered that no decorations be made and even went ahead to call for court on such an auspicious day. One by one, the courtiers, nobles and council men arrived all bowing before the one true king of Springton.

Each one bringing their head low out of sheer terror more than admiration and some even almost fell before the king. He just stood there, unfazed, unfeeling, waiting, calculating, cold against the burst of spring.

Each seat was taken before the actual scheduled time, no one dared to be late for fear of their position or worse, their head. One by one, the seats filled up except for one, the one beside him.

The hall was silent, each man weighing their words or simply snuffing them out. They held their breaths at the king’s growing impatience, scared that he was already in a bad mood and it had only been a few minutes after dawn.

The clock ticked, the silence creeped and just when it seemed that death would be pronounced on someone in the room, the door to the court flung open and it was light to a looming darkness, like spring to an unforgiving winter.

At the entrance of the door stood elegance herself. Princess Alice clothed in the richest of red dresses, encamped with jewels all about, throwing more light to the beauty of the dress which was a reflection of the one who wore it.

Hair, a long and glorious black adorned by her mother’s crown, eyes a glittering blue and skin as porcelain and perfect as the one who sat on the throne. Her smile was brief but it did show off a dimpled cheek and a row of pearly white teeth. Grace dripped from the top of her head down to her as she moved her feminine frame from the entrance and into the court.

Eyes stared bewildered, mouth flew agape but she paid her spectators little heed as she walked with practiced steps towards the throne where the king sat waiting to be greeted.

"Pardon my lateness, my Lord" she curtsied better than any courtier could dream of. "I needed time to look like the princess of Springton"

"Indeed you represent us well" the king said through gritted teeth but there was a shadow of a smile escaping his face. "Come up" be ordered.

For the first time, the mask of elegance on Alice threatened to fall off as Alice slightly trembled at her father’s request. She knew what he meant but she just could not see herself taking the place of her mother while the queen still breathed.

"Do not waste my time" the sound was gentle but the warning was clear. The king was doting but it was only revealed in privacy and Alice knew why. The king could not show weakness in front of so many people, not for his daughter, not for anyone.

Alice hurriedly climbed through the steps and arrived next in front her father and took the seat beside him, clutching her heart.

It took her some minutes to regain composure but her father had cleverly taken the spotlight away from her by signaling the court processions to begin.

"My Lord, there is word that some men from the neighboring kingdom, Firseria have snuck into our borders" the head of council read the report, standing before the throne but never daring to make eye contact with the king above.

"And?" Alice looked up at how casually her father took the news. She knew very well that their kingdoms were at war and her father sought to seize their kingdom as his.

"It is suspected that their crown prince may be the one leading the charge" the man continued reading.

At that, gasps escaped the various members of court and even Alice was a little unsettled by this. Shielded all her life and trained only to be the perfect princess and wife, she did not know what war meant or what the other prince could want here.

"And?" The king remained stoic and Alice had to admire him. It seemed that nothing could shake the king of Springton who was battle hardened and had won the throne that way, at least was what people said and he is intending to use this approach on Firseria, their neighbouring kingdom.

The man reading scrambled for yet another thing to report, almost falling down the stacks of papers in his hand. "My apologies my Lord" and then he continued reading.

Alice listened through the meeting with only one thought in her mind and that was to escape into the city and witness the celebrations of spring that her maids would not shut up about. Curiosity was getting the better of her and all she wanted to do was run out of the door.

But she knew better. That would only earn her a stern warning and near imprisonment in her quarters. Alice needed a plan of action, something that would finally get her father to approve of her leaving.

And she found it.

"Does anyone have any suggestion on how we can deal with the prince’s invasion on our lands" the king made it sound like the prince had done something heinous by merely entering their kingdom but that was his usual tactic and during a time of war like this, it was indeed heinous.

"I do" Alice shrieked, the whole was stunned to see Alice rise from her seat in her mother’s chair.

"And what is it?" his calm mask was slipping away too, the king appeared to be frowning.

"I suggest..." Alice raised her shoulders higher, increased her tone and snuffed out every emotion on her face to appear like the strong hearted royal she should be. "I suggest that we put up a brave face," her words.

"Continue speaking," her father nodded when she turned to him.

"With my king’s permission, I will step out into the city" she did not dare look to her father at this point, "It will reassure the people that the crown is with them and will encourage them to fight for us by reporting any strange sights around"

Alice had been holding her breath since she began talking. She knew her plan was sensible enough but knowing how overprotective her father was of her, she was not so sure if anything could convince him.

"And let my crown princess into the streets of Springton where she could be attacked by rebels, traitors or the prince of Firseria himself?" the king glared at her, "Perhaps I should have included war strategy in your teachings" he sounded condescending and she released a breath from under her dress.

This was it. Her last hope of seeing the streets of Springton on the first day of spring was going up in smoke. If only her father could see reason, if only they were not at war.

"But father..." she blurted without realizing "My... my Lord"

"That would be the end of the matter" the king barked and the whole room shook at the thunderous sound of their king’s anger.

"Do you trust your soldiers, my King?" The calmness of her voice surprised everyone, including her.

"What?" the king could not hide his confusion well enough.

"Do you trust the men that fight in your name?" Alice regained herself in time, "because I do. I trust their cause is true and that they shall win this war. I trust that they are strong enough to protect me should any vile prince try to steal me away" she sounded convincing and she had her father cornered.

If the king was not so shocked, he would be impressed by the wits of his daughter who was now smiling confidently. Alice knew it was impossible for her father to say no now.

The knights would be disrespected if so.

But the king said nothing. With every second her father was silent, Alice feared that even her best shot was nowhere near good enough. But she knew her father’s pride and refusing her now could mean that he lacked faith in his soldiers’ ability to win the war

"Very well" the king, Albert finally spoke "But you will take Conrad and a squadron of guards with you"