Mere excuses

Despite all that had happened recently, the grand castle stood as a formidable symbol of power and history. Its stone walls echoed with tales of love, betrayal, and duty, and within those ancient walls, a family's legacy unraveled amidst a tumultuous struggle for the throne.

Prince Harold's heart weighed heavy with the burden of his father's choices as he cautiously approached the King's chamber. The air inside was thick with the scent of aged wood and flickering candles, casting a warm and somber glow. It wasn't as if the room had once been filled with laughter and counsel, but it felt even stranger now, unlike the previous times he had been here. It seemed to carry an air of melancholy.

As Harold stepped inside, his eyes fell upon the sight of his father lying on the opulent bed, his once-mighty frame now frail and vulnerable. The King's face bore the marks of time, etched with lines of experience, but it was evident that illness had taken its toll.