Sword of the Chosen
South?" Freya asks with a
y not a pleasant memory to remember. "I was serving a noble family. They treated me like noth
ou stay?" Atheris asks, a small crease forming betwee
watches her with sympathy and sadness in her eyes. "I was planning
atalina's stories, you've learned much about Southern people. They are not as hospitable as Northerners are. According to Catalina, they dislike letting strang
m the couch, realizing the time. "Go to your chambers."But I don't want
our mother reminds you. "You're not a ch
ng. Your room looks empty. Nothing is hanging on your walls, and it makes your c
empty your head. You shake away the thoug
t off to sleep. The
lings sit across from you, each lost in different thoughts. None of them
rard finally asks. You remember Atheris answering this question."Lor
'm glad you have paid
hree Brothers?" Atheris asks. Gerard frow
one," the adviser says. "I will tell y
of the biggest wars in the history of
isted that I shouldn't tell you about the War of Th
? He doesn't even know what you look like.
age is not th
Richard seems confused. "Why d
rd shrugs. "The War of Three Brothers is a complex s
's your father's order, then Ger
," Gerard says after the lecture is over
st time you've seen him complaining about som
sponds. "It's an esse
leave the room, making
the c
r life would be if she served the king and queens as they do. Of course, her life is peaceful, a
" one handmaiden w
ause of her father's position. I can barely feed my children becau
he window, pretendin
the other one asks as she gives Cl
a good friend of Prince Richard. I see them s
ecome friends with the heirs at such a young age, I can't
rrying Prince Richard." She grins. "She w
uite understand what they mean, but she knows it's not a compliment. She looks down
the room, not wishing to
ke Pr
ris and Freya are excited to learn how to swim while Richard is anxious. He
ared," Atheris chides, n
s always catches him in hi
we must learn swimming." Rich
or, even worse, the sea?" Atheris asks. "Anyth
t's unnecessary,
ld him. Atheris lifts her brows, wat
r is braver than y
sists as he crosses his arms
ut you will enjoy its feeling when you
inks in amazement. Atheris narrows her
s." Freya smiles sheepishly as Ric
ringing a towel for each heir. She sets them
r sisters nod while Richard lo
is gives her a questioning look as s
de your siblings. You notice the scar on Atheris's shoulder. Since she's never been in a fight before, you ass
alina says softly. "The wa
ris grins devilishly. "However, I
e's standing behind her. Before she notices his presence, R
with a shriek. The lake is indeed shallo
ructs, biting inside of her che
ollowing the instructions."Float on your stomach," Cata
confused look. "How am I su
hile the other pushes the water back
slowly. You observe her moves, keeping them
." Catalina glances at the three of yo
he lake and to swim without instructions. The water indeed feels refreshing, as Freya said it
lieved chuckle escaping his lips as he floats on his
hing dangerously. "I won't forget what y
er." Richard smirks. "Rhivenia wi
her," your sister scoffs. Freya huffs,
nterrupting your arguing sibling
e in the
ld feel to dip his feet into the cold water. But he will not. The cold killed his mother.
r her death, the boy thinks as an imag
es is also
boy was lucky that his mother managed to escape before Rhivenians could find her
andle it. She became ill.
the boy, but she lost her li
is. "Erwan!" a girl calls ou
nner today. But tomorrow? ...Tom
of r
leven ye
officially became a successor.For the past four years, you mainly focused on improving your swordsmans
ove your hunting skills and bond with the soldiers.Every day is the same; you wake up early with your sibli
ou-except for Richard-have seen him in person, today will be a special day.You and your siblings sit around the table, listening to Gerard's lecture attentively. He sp
tens in their chairs as their interest is piqued. "After the Sword chose King Charles, his brothers were displeased. Each brother wanted the t
Rhivenia we are speaking about. He should'v
, sister," Freya notes. "Som
fs. "It doesn't exist unless yo
is brothers had accepted it as Uncle Francis did, the wa
ter the delightful victory, King Charles ordered his brothers' execution,"
s the room f
is didn't want the throne," he recalls. "He wasn'
er explains again. "King Charles didn't want to risk his leadership being questioned ever again."It wasn't
ve married a princess from another
with a deep frown between her brows."We all remember the day King Charles touched the Sword," Gerard says. "Its crystal stone shone like the sun. That's when we k
hadn't shone?" Atheris asks curiously.
f his brothers," says the adviser. "It
u know everyone is thinking the same thing: The Sword will choose one of
"I've heard the king is planning to take you to hunt," the adviser s
Richard smiles smugly. Luck
ought our father would really take us to hunt," Atheris tells Freya, who doesn't se
room, uninvited, the same smug smile on his
Atheris glares at him. Your half-brothe
winks at her. "Maybe yo
pecially about your father. But she loves talking about the crown.
about the Sword or the crown. She tries to ignore their existence, even though she knows that Judgement Day is inevita
terested in art. You think it's good that she has found an activity
you. "If you want to jo
aving you alone with your sister and half-brother."Richard, do you
mpatiently. "Clara is wai
her lately." Your sister smiles teasin
hat," Richard says and leaves the room in a
she sighs, shifting her gaze to yo