4 Chapter 4: Royal Issues

While Lisa was heading over to her job, the prince of Khrisfire is out on the training grounds once again to practice his sword. Defeating multiple opponents at a time. Lucas Khrisfire is the only prince and the heir to the throne of the kingdom and he's already in legal age to find a wife to be his queen and yet no matter how beautiful nor fair the lady is presented at his feet. He always gives them a cold glare that can pierce through the soul. That's why he was nicknamed the cold-hearted prince. Neither man nor woman was able to tame his frozen heart, he's cruel and straightforward, almost cocky to those who look up to him but nevertheless he was a natural-born king. Able to command a group with just his words alone.

The prince continued to prance around, dancing with his sharp blade on the battlefield as he was preparing something, his sharp gaze and his laser focus were able to make him dodge the attacks with agility and speed until suddenly, he hits his opponent and the game was over.

"That was quite an amazing game. You are really skilled you know that?" The prince from another kingdom complimented the young prince.

"Thanks. You are quite skilled yourself." Lucas responded stoically.

"I heard that you're in the legal age to find a wife now. Aren't you excited that you'll have a ball tomorrow with such lo-" The prince was interrupted by Lucas who raises his hand to stop him from talking.

"Are you done now?" Lucas said in a threatening manner making the prince back off and slowly back away from him. "Anyways, I have some important matters to attend to, it was nice that we got to spar. Goodbye." He said as he turned his back to the nosy prince.

POV: Lucas Khisfire

After our match, I headed to a part of the castle where all the potions are made to meet a particular friend that I go to when I feel something. A friend that I've known for a long time ever since childhood. A tiny elf girl with a mushroom cap.

I slowly open the door to her lab and asked "Are you busy?" since I saw her mixing some potions and I don't exactly want to be a bother.

"Clearly, I am but if you want to rant about something then sure. I'm open." She smiled, pulling out a seat, using her magic.

"Wait? How'd you know that I was going to rant about something?" I raised my eyebrow, coming inside and closing the door behind me.

"Every time you come here, you always rant so what is it about now? What has particularly made you annoyed than ever? Is it with your incoming arranged marriage again?" She chuckled as if she already knew it but she's half right.

"Ugh. Another one of these royalties from other countries trying to pry into everything. It's so suffocating, to say the least. All that bastard did during our fight is boast about how many he's slept with and how he plans to have multiple wives. What a shallow individual, it fills me with anger just trying to talk with him." I ranted to her while she carefully put some ingredients in a pot.

"Also you are right about the arranged marriage thing. I don't even want to get married, especially to someone that I don't love. I absolutely dread mother and father for wha-" I paused for a moment to shout louder. "Are you even listening to me?!"

"Yes, I am. Of course." She shook herself. "It's just I'm actually in the middle of a very important potion and this one has precise measurements so I can't exactly mess this one up, you know and this one is a very important task since it's requested by your mother."

"What are you even making? It smells rather musky, to say the least." I cover my nose at the scent terminating from the pot she's stirring.

"That's because this is a strength potion. I used deer musk for this brew so that's probably why. Anyone who drinks this potion will make themselves very muscular and strong. Apparently, the queen needs it for the ball tomorrow since a big event like this can attract very dangerous people so I guess we should be prepared." She explained to me why she was making it. Typical of mother to be very ready.

"I guess I'll just leave you to doing that... anyways do you still have some of that polymorph potion that you gave me the other day?" I asked her, as she raised her eyebrows.

"Why do you need the polymorph potion?"

"Because I want to go outside without feeling the need to be careful of bandits or anyone that might try to target me. I mean for heaven's sake. I've been staying in this castle for such a long time. The least I could do is to go out and explore once in a while." I reasoned with her, telling my motives.

Life in the castle was the most suffocating experience ever. I've always been told what to do without a say on what I want to do. I've always had this pressure on my back to be as good as my mother and father since I'll be the next king. People always keep their eyes on me and condemn me the time I make the slightest mistake. I at least want to spend some time without any of this.

"Fine. I'll give you this polymorph potion. This will work for 3 hours. Make sure to not tell anyone that I gave you this and make sure to not get caught and get into trouble getting it?" She tries to grab one of the bottles from the higher shelf to give it to me but due to her shorter stature, she couldn't reach it. Making me chuckle behind my breath. "Oh shut up, Mr. tall." She disses me as she used her magic to make the bottle fall down.

"Here. Use it wisely got it?"