บท 4: Grand Banquet pt.1
At the castle training grounds, three boys were firing arrows and bolts at training dummies.
The oldest appeared to be around 13 or 14 years old and fairly chunky with light-blonde hair. Edward held a crossbow in his hand as that did not require the same strength of using a bow.
His aim was decent with the weapon, constantly hitting the target but nowhere close to the center.
The 2nd child looked to be around 11 years old with a similar hair color but he was much leaner than the older boy. Cedric was using a short bow and his skill with it was much more confusing.
His shots were wild, most of them completely missing the target. The few times that he did hit the target, he would strike it dead center.
Baldur was the last of the children who were firing arrows. In the 6 months since his arrival, he had grown rapidly. From looking like only a 5-year-old child when he first arrived, the boy had grown to look like he was around 8-years-old.
Baldur was using a compound bow and firing each shot accurately, never missing the bullseye. But the most interesting part that had shocked everyone when he first used it was his strength.
He was using a compound bow that had a 100 pound draw weight. That was one of the heaviest weights behind compound bows that even adults struggled to fire more than 10 times without becoming exhausted.
But Baldur was a monster in child form. His target had over 30 arrows within it but there was only a single drop of sweat on his forehead.
Cedric and Edward looked at their younger brother in shock and dismay.
"Bal," Edward called out after he sat on the ground and wiped the sweat from his head. "Can't you show us some mercy? Lord Tillion keeps comparing us to you and your inhuman skills."
Baldur didn't answer him with words but nocked another and fired it at the target, splitting one of the arrows that had already struck the target in half.
He turned to look at his brothers with a deadpan expression but they could see the smugness and taunting in his eyes.
"Bah!" Cedric threw his bow to the ground and walked away, not wanting to continue training any longer.
'Damn, bastard! He's not even a true member of the house yet he is making me look so bad. Mother said I only had to deal with that pig but now this demon comes out of nowhere?!?!'
Cedric's goal of becoming the crown prince and next king of Feluc had been threatened thanks to Baldur's arrival. He had ruined their initial assassination plan and then acted as Jendi's backup plan. Even if they killed off Edward, she could replace him with Baldur due to how excellent the boy was.
Even if he didn't have any royal blood in him, his exceptional talents would make it so many nobles who favored martial skills would praise him for his combat abilities while those that wanted a wise king would also love him due to how quickly he learned topics.
Seeing Cedric run off, Edward shrugged his shoulders and figured that it was about time for them to end their training and prepare for the Grand Banquet.
"Come on, Bal," Edward called out to him. "Let's go hit the showers and get prepared for the party."
He didn't even give Baldur a chance to respond before he ran off to escape, surprising the young boy.
'He can run that fast despite being so fat? If he lost weight, he might actually have some better results during sword training.'
Baldur shook his head before putting away the weapons that his brothers had dropped as well as picking up any undamaged arrow and placing them all back into the armory.
Several servants tried to stop him but a cold glare from him prevented them from getting too close. They could only watch as he did their duties.
"Prince Baldur is very different than most people say," one of the guards spoke aloud
"I know. He may be very quiet and come off as cold but he is doing a servant's job right now."
"Hmm. Did you hear about the guards he beat up last week who were harassing a maid?" a third man added himself to the conversation
"Beat up? Is that what the rumor said?" the first guard laughed when he heard that. "He killed all 3 with their own weapons before walking away. The maid who was assaulted was found surrounded by the dead bodies and she had to explain everything that occurred."
The two guards were surprised that he had managed to kill them with their own weapons. That was a complete show of domination.
Once Baldur was finished putting away the items, he returned to his room where a bath had been prepared for him. All of the maids left, leaving Baldur to disrobe and bathe alone.
The young boy entered the bath and let out a sigh of relief as the warm water covered his body.
He allowed himself to just lay in the tub until the water started to noticeably cool itself. When he felt that, he quickly scrubbed his body clean before exiting the bath and picking up the clothes left on his bed.
Once he was fully dressed, the blue tailcoat went well with the black trousers and black undershirt. His boots were shiny and looked as if they were freshly polished.
Baldur was fixing his handcuffs when he heard a knock on his door.
"Come in," the boy spoke clearly, unlike when he first arrived
Jendi entered the room and let out a squeal when she saw Baldur in his outfit. She had been trying to fit him in clothes fit for a prince but he always ran around in training clothes since they were 'easier to move in'. Seeing him dressed up made all of the charm he usually hid come out in full force.
"Good boy. You are looking so handsome!" Jendi complimented Baldur while rubbing his head, messing up his carefully combed and brushed hair.
Baldur glared at his mother before looking her up and down. "Your dress looks pretty on you."
Jendi heard her son compliment her and couldn't hold back anymore. She pulled him into her arms and rained down kisses on his face, staining it with the purple lipstick that she wore.
Once he carefully pried himself from his mother's arms, Baldur grabbed a handkerchief and wiped his face in the mirror until all the purple was cleaned off.
He turned and glared at his mother who just laughed at his annoyed face.
"My bad, baby," Jendi apologized while her shoulders couldn't help but shake.
"Are you supposed to bring me over?" Baldur asked, positive that was why his mother had come. Besides getting the chance to get a preview of what he would look like.
"Hmm. It is your first social event so tradition dictates that one of us escorts you. And since Frederick is the king, he had to bring the crown prince while mothers usually bring the other princes to their first even."
Baldur nodded and held out his hand for his mother. Jendi happily took it and brought Baldur out of his room in order to bring him to the main ballroom.
When the duo reached the room, they stood at the top of the stairs, taking in the sight of the party while waiting for to be announced.
"Now presenting, her royal highness, Queen Jendi Canek and the 3rd Prince, Baldur Canek!" a man to the side announced
Everyone looked over to see the pair at the top of the stairs with many looking on in surprise. Only the highest ranking nobles had heard about Baldur over the past few months so many didn't know that the Canek family had adopted a son.
Each of them was mesmerized by the duo as they slowly descended down the stairs. Jendi looked enchanting in her purple dress while the slit up her leg added a level of sexiness that most of the other women would not show during such an event. Meanwhile, Baldur looked imposing standing next to her, even though he was only a child.
The pair may have looked very different but their auras wouldn't allow anyone to question if they were a queen and her prince son.
Alice and Cedric frowned when they saw the pair's arrival. They hadn't expected for Baldur to have such charisma and an intimidating aura when he was only was only a child.
With the arrival of Jendi and Baldur, the party had officially begun
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