Chapter Two

Mr Jude swallowed hard all he had wanted to say next, he knew how curny his fellow meeting men could be, and they were also eager to become the next king plotting behind the king's back while discussing another thing in front of the king, he decided to let the matter be as he wouldn't like to be thrown into the dungeon.

Mr Steward then askes him, "How about your son?, I heard is back to the village."

"Hmm, yes, Almond is back but his not interested in working in the palace either." Mr Jude shrugged.

"Why?... You know it important that all make first child in any household submit themselves to the palace to work for the king and royal household or become a soldier to protect our land." Mr Steward added

"You are right, but Almond is my only son, I can't bae to see anything happen to him." Mr Jude said faintly.

"Are you trying to say that others whom allow their first son to work in the King's Army are fools?"

"No don't get me wrong, none of them is a fool, I never mean to say that, but am not potent enough to get my wife pregnant, and is no fault of hers either, Almond is the only child that I have and if anything is to happen to him now , then I will remain childless for the rest of my life with no one to bring forth more generations." Mr Jude tried explaining.

"Hmph.." Mr Steward sighed, not saying anything more. They both went home in silence and departed when they got to their various street.

Mr Steward never like Mr Jude son as the guy was very handsome, and has more potential, and he knows to well that Mr Jude couldn't impregnate his wife again, after he fell and had back issues, but he wasn't a fool either. Since the king hasn't remarried and if any thing where to happen to the king, or the king dies, then Mr Jude son, might be among the men chosen to be next in line for becoming the next king.

Mr Steward smiled wickedly and decided he will report Almond to the palace for disobeying the king's orders, he wouldn't want anything to block his own son, Peter chances of becoming the next king. They might be planning for King Marcus to remarry, but that's to only tear the royal family apart.

Mr Jude arrive inside and say down thinking, he didn't trust Mr Steward at all as most of the council of elders men were greedy, he had sent his son way since he was a child and now his son had stubbornly return, claiming he wants to work in the village and build a hospital in the village.

"Father! What are you thinking about, why do you seem so lost in deep thoughts?" Almond ask, as he took an opposite seat across to his father as he observe his father was in deep thoughts and didn't even notice him to be around him.

"Hmph..." Mr Jude sighed

"How did the meeting go father?"Almond questioned

"Fine" Mr Jude faintly replied.

"What troubles you father, are you still thinking about what I told you, you shouldn't worry much about where to get the money, I and some of my friends from the city are planning on it" Almond said as he smiled to his father.

"Son is not about that, you know what our custom demand of you from these village, you can't work or serve else where other than the palace, is compulsory and mandatory by the king." Mr Jude said

"Never father! I will not be a slave just because am the first son doesn't mean I do not have my own intention or plans of what I want to become, that's so absurd of the king and.."

"Enough son.. shush and keep your voice low" Mr Jude panicked, "If anyone is to hear you speak ill of the king, you will be thrown into the dungeon" Mr Jude calmed and breathe a sigh of relief.

"I don't care Father!" Almond yelled as he stood up.

"Almond!..." Mr Jude became angry, "Off course you wouldn't care because you do not value your life but I do, oh!.. I made a terrible huge mistake in sending you away before, now you don't know or seem to have forgotten what our custom and tradition look like"

"..." Almond frowned.

"Father I haven't forgotten, even if I don't know about it" Almond turned and left the Parlor leaving his father there, he went into his room.

Almond was 20 years old, he want to become a medical doctor and he was still in the university in the city studying.

His father has been supportive and fond of him becoming someone great in life before, that was why his father had took him away to the city and now the old man is back to disturbing him about the same sicken tradition of their village, Almond bang the door hard and he retired to his chamber. He had returned last month and still most of the young guys in their village keep staring at him as to why he wasn't yet in the palace training to become the king Army.

Almond wants to flee back to the city, he didn't want to stay in the village any more, he had missed his parent and returned home, while his school was on vacation but seem he shouldn't have.

First he had disobeyed his father by returning after leaving the village Teen years ago and now he understood better why his father didn't want him back. The pressure was beginning to arise, even if he didn't go out to see if he can make new friends, the gossips get to their home as some so called elders still find their way to his father's house asking his father about him and when he will be sent to the palace to become a palace guard or soldier.

Almond shook his head in irritation and lie back on the bed, stretching his leg, he took out his mobile phone to play some games, their village was very outdated, even if there was power supply, there wasn't any one whom own a television, phone or any electric gadget. Sometimes he feels his on a different planet with aliens around him. Almond closes his eyes to catch some sleep. Just then he heard a sharp knock on his room door .

Almond wanted to pretend like he was in deed sleep, but the knock continued with a lovely slender voice calling him to come open the door.

Almond shrugs his feet as he drag himself to go open the door, he stood up back and kept his phone back in the local cabinet his father had bought for him.

"Who's there?" Almond ask, standing behind the door.

"Almond open up , is me Clara James."

"..." Almond frowned, hearing the lovely slender voice, he cursed, why will his father allow Clara into their house, talk more of allowing her navigate her way to his room, he ask "What do you want?"

"Open the door first" Clara responded.

"Hmph ." Almond sighed and opened the door slowly, seeing the pretty black teen girl whom lazily behind the door.

"Can I come in?" Clara asked him again.