A Worried King

[Kingdom Of Joceus, Royal Palace]

Mura, The Current King of Joceus, slumped in his chair, the weight of the peace treaty reports heavy on his shoulders. But it was his daughter's face in the family photo that truly worried him. Her smile, frozen in time, only fueled his worry.

"Ugh, Evelyn," he groaned aloud, running a hand through his unruly Brown hair. "Why must you make a father's life so complicated?"

She was smart, sharp-witted, and possessed of a fiery spirit that reminded him of her mother in her youth.

Yet, a loneliness clung to her like a shroud. He'd hoped the gatherings with the sons of the five great noble families would spark a connection, an avenue to break her out of the sheltered world of the palace.

Instead, each report was filled with Evelyn's dismissive remarks. This one too pompous, that one too focused on trivial matters… "Bunch of puffed-up peacocks," he muttered, mimicking Evelyn's scathing tone with a slight smile. The ache in his heart, however, wasn't so easily brushed aside.

She spoke to servants with a kindness she never extended to those of her age and rank. It was as if the world beyond the gilded walls held no appeal, and fear gnawed at him. Was he failing her, as a king and as a father?

"Now, now, Mura," he scolded himself. "You defeated the Bakian hordes! Parenting can't be harder than that, surely?" Yet, his forced cheerfulness rang hollow. Joceus was a kingdom built on alliances, on the delicate balance of power and loyalty.

Evelyn needed to find her place in that web, for her own sake and for the kingdom's future. But how can he reach a heart so stubbornly closed?

A knock at the door interrupted his self-pity. "Enter!" he called, mustering a semblance of royal authority.

Jose, his royal family's present butler, stepped inside an unreadable expression on his lined face. "Your Majesty, I bring news."

Mura raised an eyebrow. "Well, out with it man! Unless it's about Evelyn getting into yet another argument with a hapless suitor…"

Jose gave a slight bow. "Actually, Sire, it concerns Knight-Captain Lars. He has returned from his…extended leave."

Mura's face brightened. "Lars!" The worry over Evelyn momentarily faded. They hadn't laid eyes on each other since he'd ascended the throne, yet their bond, forged in the crucible of their youthful service, remained strong.

"Seven years…" he muttered, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips. "Has it truly been so long? The last I heard, that stubborn fool was chasing bandits into some godforsaken forest."

He chuckled at the memory. "And that letter of congratulations when I became king… Well, that was enough of a surprise in itself!"

"Shall I arrange a meeting, Sire?" Jose asked.

Mura tapped his fingers on the desk, momentarily torn. Duty beckoned, whispering of pressing matters and the weight of his crown.

Yet, the prospect of reconnecting with a true friend held a siren's call. "Later," he finally decided. "Right now, I need a distraction from stubborn daughters and those puffed-up noble brats!"

Mura's genuine smile remained even after Jose left the room. Lars…now that was a name from the past indeed! But the warmth faded as his gaze landed back on the reports detailing Evelyn's latest social disaster.

He snatched up a fresh piece of parchment, his quill scratching across the page.

"If she doesn't socialize beyond the palace walls, then socialization must come to her," he spoke. His brow furrowed in concentration. An idea, half-formed, began to take shape.

"A program…" he whispered, the words sparking a flicker of hope within him. "Young, eager children, specifically from families already bound by loyalty." Knights with children, or even those from lesser noble houses seeking to gain favor… would provide the ideal pool.

Evelyn needed a companion – a bodyguard, perhaps, or a servant – close enough in age to understand her, yet skilled enough to protect her.

His heart tightened at the thought. War with Bak was heavy on his mind. If the peace talks failed, every soldier might be needed, leaving Evelyn vulnerable.

"She won't be alone," he vowed fiercely. "Not ever." The quill scratched faster now. It wasn't a perfect plan, but it was a start. And, if chosen carefully, this companion could hold more than just friendship, but a deeper loyalty Evelyn may someday need.

He snatched up another fresh piece of parchment, his quill scratching across the page, outlining his plan.

Excitement mingled uneasily with the usual weight of responsibility. "This could work," he murmured, then a frown creased his brow. He was no fool. Evelyn was stubborn, and choosing her bodyguard was a delicate matter. He needed a perspective he could trust, a voice unclouded by ambition or courtly politics.

Suddenly, Lars's face swam into his mind. He hadn't needed an opinion since…well, since before the crown had settled so heavily upon his head. Yet, he and Lars had always been brutally honest with each other, even as Lars's star within the Order had steadily faded.

A wry smile twisted his lips. Ah, but Lars disliked politics even more than he did. Now, as King, Mura held the leverage he'd never possessed as a friend. It wasn't the most…gracious way of reconnecting, but necessity often overruled sentiment.

"Jose!" he screamed, "Summon Knight–"

The heavy door to his office swung open with a force that made him jump. Evelyn stood there, her blue eyes – so like her mother's – blazing with determination.

"Father!"

she declared, a wooden practice sword held high. "I learned a new technique! Brother showed me, now I need you to watch!"

Mura's heart melted, the scrolls and worries scattering in the face of her enthusiasm. He rose with a laugh, tossing aside kingly concerns with surprising ease.

"Well then, young warrior," he rumbled, giving a mock bow, "Lead the way!"