Best Swordsmen in Ashbourne

Asher Dankworth, Second Prince of Ashbourne. An intelligent young man with a lot of virtue. He was the calm and loving Prince who was so intelligent. His nickname was 'Young granny.'

He was young but had the brain of a grandfather who had seen everything life could offer.

He was quite different from his older brother, he was different in so many aspects, especially when it came to decision-making.

Harvey was the kind that made a decision based on his feelings. He'd surely make a great King, but first, he had to stop making decisions based on how he felt.

Asher went straight to his chamber, he lay on his bed before he stood to his feet and heaved a sigh. He was supposed to get ready for class, but here he was. There was a reason why he was avoiding classes, and he was shy to even think of it again.

He could learn in the palace, but he chose to learn with others as he wanted to have a free life, and most importantly, because of a person.

He walked out of his room and walked to the training center.

"Your Highness," called his closest subordinate.

"Mikael, let's have a duel," uttered Asher.

"You should probably do something else, Your Highness," said Mikael.

"What are you getting at?"

"Nothing," said Mikael as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't believe you and I know what you mean already," said Asher, making Mikael laugh.

"If you do know, then why are you still here instead of there?" asked Mikael. Mikael was more than a subordinate, he might be his closest subordinate that knew everything about him, but he was his friend. A friend that he can't trade for someone else.

A friend who supports him and was and always there for him. He was someone who knew all and more about him than anyone else.

"I just can't. I'm so shy about what happened the other day," said Asher as the both of them brought out their swords, joining the others at the training center.

"You should probably not bother about it," uttered Mikael before striking at Asher.

"It's not easy," muttered Asher as he blocked the attack.

"You are such a shy Youngman, Your Highness," mumbled Mikael.

'I know," said Asher.

**

"What are the things you are good at doing? Maybe I can organize it for you to avoid boredom," said the Queen.

"I'm not good at doing anything, My Queen," uttered Moon.

"Really? Then I can teach you some little thing I know," said the Queen

"I'm good at Arithmetic, though," uttered Moon.

'Hmm, numbers. Then, you can work in the court," said Eleanor.

"Court?" asked Moon. Wasn't it known that the Ladies in the palace didn't work? Or was it just rumors? How was she going to work in the court knowing arithmetic only, her brain was like that of a fish.

Someone like her who couldn't learn the simple method of knitting was going to work in court?

"You can help Harvey in doing little, little things," said Eleanor.

"I'm not good at doing anything, Mama," said Moon which made the Queen smile.

"You never had a governess?' asked Eleanor.

"I did, but I never understood anything," said Moon. 'If possible, the Queen could I'm not fitted to be her son's bride, thought Moon in her mind.

"Oh… I was the same when I was your age," uttered the Queen before laughing.

"You were?" inquired Moon.

"Yes,' replied Eleanor as she reminisced on the past.

…

A long time ago, she was brought to the palace to wed Prince Hardin who had taken quite an interest in her. She had been brought to him by her parents who hadn't made her choose who she would like to wed as this was a kind of opportunity for them to be powerful.

She was from a neighboring village with wealthy parents and had received a letter on one faithful day, stating that the Prince of Ashbourne had taken an interest in her.

She had cried, screamed, and opposed when she was forced to marry him, she didn't know why his parent had made him marry someone like her who couldn't bring benefits to the kingdom but it was like, his parents wanted his happiness.

She had been the lazy type who didn't like doing anything except sleeping and eating. But after marrying Hardin, she had been given tasks to do. She was brain dull to be honest, with no idea of how to do anything and it had taken her up to a year and a half to two years before she acknowledged him as her husband. So to make him happy and gain the love he had shown her always before he gave up, she learned how to cook. As the adage had said, the way to a man's heart was his stomach.

…

"You love him so much that it'd be hard to know there was once a time that you despised him," said Moon with a smile

"True, and when I started showing interest in him, he was so happy and I knew that I shouldn't lose him," said Eleanor.

"That's nice," mumbled Moon.

"This is the training center. You mightn't be interested in this, so let's go," said the Queen.

"Isn't that Asher?" questioned Moon

"Oh, Asher is one of the best swordsmen in the Kingdom of Ashbourne," said the Queen, proudly.

"That's nice."

"He's the fourth best," said the Queen.

"Who are the first, second and third?" asked Moon

"The First best Swordman is King Hardin Dankworth of Ashbourne," said the Queen with a grin.

"Nice."

"The Second is Harvey Dankworth of Ashbourne and the third, is Mikael Skyway," said the Queen.

"Mikael? General Commander Mikael?"

"Yes, you know him?' asked the Queen.

"Not really, his name is quite popular among the ladies," said Moon

"Mikael is a darling," said Eleanor before looking in their direction. That's him over there."

"Asher's opponent? His skills are smooth," mumbled Moon,