New King

He stared at the letter he placed at the table and sat at the bed while freezing. As he sat there and slowly bending his body and placed his hand to support his head.

He could feel his heart aching as time passes and could predict the content written in the letter. His wife looked at him in confusion and stood up from the bed and went around the bed before grabbing that letter.

She opened the letter in front of him as Arden still freezing at his place. She read the content of the letter with full attention to it.

As her eyes scroll words afterwards, finishing the reading without a single word escaping her eyes. Every second went on, her heart began hurting inside her chest, she quickly dropped down to the bed and didn't say anything.

Arden looked at her as the letter escapes from her hand and onto the floor. He saw it happen in front of him and quickly snatch the letter from the floor while his wife is trying to calm herself down and quickly stood up.

He holds the letter firm in front of his eyes before reading it in his mind, 'To lord Arden, Baron of Aselwey, Owner of the city of Ailreh, etc. Unfortunately, a disaster has struck this kingdom, King Astria died in his 53 age because of some sort of poison found in his food. We would like to tell you to come to the capital city in 15th days, 9th month and year 555th, 15 days from now. The throne will be passed to the rightful heir of the deceased king, King Astria the Second, long live the king!'

After he saw the content of the letter, he quickly covered his eye not believing what he saw just now. His dream came true, and he already knew what will happen.

'I'll need to prepare for the journey to the capital city' he said to himself and then he stood up from his bed and began walking toward the wardrobe.

Time passes as he changes his clothes to the normal one he usually uses while working. After he has done changing, he turns around and words come out of his mouth, "I'll go to the capital city, can you take care the situation here for me while I'm gone?"

His wife looked at him with her moody expression and quietly say "yes"

Arden just nodded as the room becomes silent. No one wanted to start the conversation after hearing the news about the death of the king. He was a great ruler, with wisdom, he appointed the best people for the position important in the kingdom.

'I hope the new king could rule this land without any problem in the future' He let out his hope in his thought as he began walking out of the room and began making his way toward the various places he needed to visit.

He walked down the hall of his castle as his thought wanders around his own mind, 'What will the king do?' 'What would he become like? Good or Bad'

This is not even 1/10 the question that came up in his mind. He was about to continue about his thought, but his mind got disrupted by a person.

It was the stableman, just a normal person appointed by his spouse to take care of the stable. He ran toward Arden and quickly stopped before saying something while his breath hasn't recovered yet.

Arden saw this and said to him, "Calm yourself, let your breath rest and your mind think about what to say to me"

The stableman placed his hand on the wall and looked at the floor after he heard this and didn't do anything. After a minute of him catching his breath, the stableman raised his head before saying anything.

It was an inch away from his mouth to open, that's when he saw Arden's expression. He already knew it would be a disaster for himself if he didn't choose his word wisely.

He thought about it for a few seconds before saying, "Sir, I'm afraid I have a bad new for you, the horse you call Cisco got sick, it is already a few days since it got sick but I couldn't find you"

Arden looked at him and sighed. Every bad incident starts coming toward. His face became moodier, and he continuously sighed while closing his eyes with his hand.

He said to the stableman while he was at that posture, "Take care of it as best as you could, I'll try finding medicine for it"

The stableman nod and Arden saw it as he was returning back to his normal posture. He began continuing on his way toward his office and the stableman moves aside to let him pass.

As Arden went pass the stableman, he said, "prepare a horse for me in 7 days, I need to go to the capital"

"…" The stableman didn't respond, but Arden took it as a yes from him and went on his way.

Once Arden was in his office, he began opening the book he found a while ago containing the list of nobles from across the kingdom. He thought to himself, 'I would need to know these nobles better if I were to improve my relationships in the kingdom, my feeling says I would need it in the future"

…

15 days before his need to go to the capital, he read the book with full focus and tried to remember all the lists of nobles in the kingdom. Unfortunately, he couldn't remember all the information there and decided to continue at the next day.

14 days before he needs to go to the capital. He still read the book and almost remembered all the information listed in there before his mind took over his body and move his body to bed.

10 days before he needs to go to the capital, by this time, he has perfected his memory about all the nobles including about the "Prince of Lightning" the brother of the deceased king and the current king himself.

9 days before he needs to go to the capital, he began preparing the things he needed including his armour and supplies. As his squire and page, he will be bringing Maverick and Austin with him to the capital city.

8 days before he needs to go to the capital, 7 days ago, Arden told the stableman to prepare a horse for him at this day, he planned to make his journey today. He is starting his way toward the capital city now.

…

He is now on his journey toward the capital city, using the road he remembered using in the past. He is showing and teaching the young boys from the younger generation to remember the roads and become a knowledgeable knight.

It was about 2 and a half-day journey from Arden's settlement to the capital city of Atlan. Arden's squire was happy and excited about the journey.

But Arden is not the same, he is moody and sad about it. The effect is not only because of the death of the previous king. The situation would be very awkward for nobles to meet the new king that they haven't known.

The new king now is at the same age as Arden. There is no senior between them, but because of the position, Arden must pay respect to the person.

Arden cusses his luck a few times before continue focusing on the journey. The three of them rest at night and continued at day till the afternoon.

2 and a half days later, they reached their destination no less, no more. There is no problem on the road and no fortune as well.

The city was surrounded by colourful tents outside the city walls. The nobles that lived near the capital city travel faster than the others.

The people that nobles brought with them came out of the tents to see the noble coming with 2 people beside him. The nobles stayed in the tent and didn't want to trouble their self to see nobles weaker than them.

They were wrong. It was the war hero, young and would be successful in the future. The nobles immediately came out of their tents after their servant notified them about Arden.

They approached Arden and greeted him, 'these guys…' he sighed as he continues his thought, 'it would be disrespectful if I didn't go down from my horse, I need to proceed on foot'

He come down from his horse to show respect to the nobles and greeted them back. After all, the nobles have greeted Arden and his squire and page. They all give way for him and waved at him as he disappears into the city.

Right after that, all the nobles went back to their own tents and continue what they were doing. While Arden ventures around the city and went to the local pub his old friend work at.