Introduction
In the heart of the kingdom of Eldoria, nestled among rolling hills and lush forests, lies the majestic castle of the royal family. With its towering spires and imposing walls, the castle stands as a symbol of strength and power, overlooking the bustling streets of the capital city below.
The people of Eldoria are known far and wide for their resilience and spirit, embodying the values of courage, loyalty, and honor. Despite the challenges they face, they remain steadfast in their devotion to their kingdom and its rulers.
At the helm of Eldoria's royal family sits King Alexander and Queen Isabella, revered by their subjects for their wisdom and compassion. Together, they have ruled with a firm yet fair hand, ensuring the prosperity and well-being of their people.
Yet, amidst the warmth and kindness of the royal family, there lurks a shadow of darkness. Within the walls of the castle resides the enigmatic Prince Aric, known for his icy demeanor and ruthless nature. Though born into a life of privilege and luxury, Prince Aric is feared by all who cross his path, his reputation as a cold-blooded ruler preceding him.
Despite his position as the king's son, Prince Aric is a figure shrouded in mystery, his motives and intentions known only to himself. With his piercing gaze and steely resolve, he commands respect and obedience from those around him, his word law within the kingdom. In the heart of the kingdom of Eldoria, nestled among rolling hills and lush forests, lies the majestic castle of the royal family. With its towering spires and imposing walls, the castle stands as a symbol of strength and power, overlooking the bustling streets of the capital city below.
The people of Eldoria are known far and wide for their resilience and spirit, embodying the values of courage, loyalty, and honor. Despite the challenges they face, they remain steadfast in their devotion to their kingdom and its rulers.
At the helm of Eldoria's royal family sits King Alexander and Queen Isabella, revered by their subjects for their wisdom and compassion. Together, they have ruled with a firm yet fair hand, ensuring the prosperity and well-being of their people.
Yet, amidst the warmth and kindness of the royal family, there lurks a shadow of darkness. Within the walls of the castle resides the enigmatic Prince Aric, known for his icy demeanor and ruthless nature. Though born into a life of privilege and luxury, Prince Aric is feared by all who cross his path, his reputation as a cold-blooded ruler preceding him.
Despite his position as the king's son, Prince Aric is a figure shrouded in mystery, his motives and intentions known only to himself. With his piercing gaze and steely resolve, he commands respect and obedience from those around him, his word law within the kingdom.
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In the quaint village of Oakridge, nestled in the outskirts of Eldoria, there resides a young man named Lucas. With his rugged appearance and calloused hands, Lucas is a familiar figure among the villagers, known for his tireless dedication to caring for his ailing mother.
For years, Lucas has shouldered the responsibility of providing for his mother, who suffers from a debilitating illness that requires costly treatments. Despite the hardships that come with their situation, Lucas remains steadfast in his resolve to ensure his mother receives the care she needs, sacrificing his own wants and needs in the process.
Each day, Lucas rises with the sun, embarking on long hours of work in the fields to earn what little coin he can. With every harvest and every sale, he holds onto the hope that he will one day have enough to afford his mother's treatment, to alleviate her pain and suffering.
But the path ahead is fraught with challenges, as the burden of caring for his mother weighs heavy on Lucas's shoulders. With each passing day, the cost of her treatments grows ever higher, leaving him to grapple with the harsh reality of their situation.
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Lucas's POV:
On a hot afternoon, as I was cleaning outside of the house, Elysia came out of nowhere out of breath and holding the newspaper in her hand. "Oh my god, you won't believe what I just found out!" She said as she tried to catch her breath, "What?" "The royal family is holding a ceremony in two days to find a suitable candidate to give birth to Prince Aric." She explained, "Who would want to give birth to a prince like him?" I questioned as I continued sweeping.
She suddenly opened the newspaper in my face and showed me the article,
"For the person who's picked and Successfully bares the Prince's child will be rewarded $ 1 million dollars and will possibly get married to Prince Aric?" She stated, I slowly pulled down the newspaper and slightly smiled. "If you're going to be part of it I wish you great luck my friend," I remarked as I followed through with the sweeping. "It's for both genders, you can try it out and maybe you can get your mom treatment with the money." She blurted out.
I didn't need any filthy money from the royal family to treat my mom, I was capable of doing work and getting the money to get my mom some treatment.
"I'm not interested, I don't want to be used as an object for sex and pop out kids whenever they want." I replied, "But…" "No but's, I've made my decision already," I said.
As Elysia continued to talk about the opportunity presented by the royal family, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. The idea of being used as a pawn in their game reduced to nothing more than a means to an end, filled me with disgust.
But beneath my outward resolve lay a flicker of doubt, a voice whispering in the back of my mind, reminding me of the desperate situation my mother faced. With each passing day, her condition grew worse, her pain becoming more unbearable, and yet, despite my best efforts, I was no closer to finding a solution.
As Elysia's words echoed in my mind, I couldn't help but entertain the possibility of what the reward money could mean for my mother. With $1 million, I could afford the best treatments, the finest doctors, and perhaps, just perhaps, give her a chance at a better life.
But the thought of sacrificing my dignity, of becoming little more than a vessel for the prince's desires, made my blood boil with anger. I refused to be a pawn in their twisted game, to betray my principles for the sake of money and power.
With a heavy heart, I turned away from Elysia and focused on my work.
"Well if you change let me, I'll go with you." She said as she walked away.
I sighed as I leaned on the broom looking at my mother who was lying sick in the house, even if I did do it I would barely get to see Mom.
"What a stupid idea." I chuckled as I continued.
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Inside the Eldoria palace: the royal family is having a conversation about the upcoming event as they eat dinner.
"In two days the ceremony of finding a suitor for you will be in section, so I would love if you were there to attend." The king stated, "I've told you so many times father, I don't need kids nor a wife." Prince Aric added his tone so cold, "and I've said so many times that if you are going to take over this kingdom you need a family of your own." The king added, "I don't want your throne, you can actually give it to someone who actually wants it."
Prince Aric's words hung heavy in the air, the tension palpable as the king sighed, a weariness etched into his features. Queen Isabella, ever the peacemaker, interjected softly, her voice a gentle melody amidst the discord.
"My dear, we only wish for your happiness and the continuity of our lineage. But if it is not your desire to take a spouse, perhaps we can find another solution that suits us all," she suggested, her eyes searching Prince Aric's for any sign of acquiescence.
But the prince remained unmoved, his resolve unyielding as he stared back at his parents with a steely gaze. "I have no interest in playing house, nor do I see the necessity of siring an heir. My duty lies in serving Eldoria, not in succumbing to the whims of tradition," he declared, his words cutting through the air like a blade.
The king's brow furrowed in frustration, his patience wearing thin as he regarded his son with a mixture of concern and disappointment. "Aric, you cannot deny the importance of securing the future of our kingdom. It is your responsibility as our heir," he implored, his voice tinged with urgency.
But Prince Aric remained resolute, his mind made up as he pushed back against his father's expectations. "You have an heir and it's not me, like I said you should give the throne to the rightful owner." "Plus I will not be coerced into a life that I do not desire."
"Father please come down." Prince Dorian the oldest son said as he placed his hand on his father's arm, "I'm willing to take the throne father, after all, I am the rightful owner of the throne." He added, the king turned to Dorian as he gave him a cold look, and looked back at Aric, "Don't get involved in this conversation," "I'm done talking." Aric slammed his tableware on the table and walked out.
"Father I don't understand why can't I take the throne after you, I'm the rightful owner of it anyway." Dorian remarked, "your not capable enough to be king, it doesn't matter if you are first or not." The king added as he walked out.
"Ha, such entertainment." Princess Valeria chuckled as she took a bite of her food.
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Aric's pov:
"Stop here!" I ordered the driver, as he stopped next to the beach side I stood from afar admiring the beach and letting fresh air cross my face. "Have you ever thought how your life would be if you didn't serve me Elenor?" I asked, "To tell the truth, Your Royal Highness, I wouldn't know what to do in my life if I wasn't serving you." "You're funny." I slightly chuckled.
A few minutes later passed and as we were about to leave someone on a bike suddenly collapsed to the floor, "god!" The guy groaned as he got up and looked at the food that was spilled on the floor, "this is the worst thing that can happen." He added as he started picking up his bike.
He suddenly looked over at us confused, "are you okay sir?" Elenor asked. The guy looked so skinny that the only thing you could see on his body was bones, he wasn't very pleasant to look at. The guy slightly smiled and nodded his head and suddenly walked away leaving the spilled food on the floor.
"Who was that?" I asked, curious despite myself.
"A villager, Your Highness," Elenor replied. "He seemed to be delivering food, likely to make ends meet."
I watched the figure disappear into the distance, a pang of something unfamiliar tugging at my chest. There was a resilience in the way he carried himself, a determination I couldn't ignore.
"Return to the palace," I ordered, my mind lingering on the encounter.
To be continued