The Royal Highness

Prologue...

The battlefield was at its worst, a young man on horseback standing in the middle of the battlefield, with fire all around him, that fire from the explodes, his army was throwing on the opposite army.

It was all over, the king of the other land lying down under his horse's feet and his sword bathed red from the king's blood.

"Prince Alan.."

a man came riding the horse, calling his name,

"Luis, what is it?"

the young man says in a bold and commanding voice.

"We need to return, we got news... King Marcus, your grandfather is..."

whispered the man with a letter in his hands and stopped when Alan gave him a serious glare,

he handed over the letter bowing to him, Alan grabbed the letter and read it,

"To Prince Alan,

requesting your return as soon as you get this letter,

King Markus Edward ll is seriously ill, and wishes your presence."

He gave an immense look, with a frown on his forehead.

"Get prepared" he commanded the men, he raised his hand and turned back to the domain.

Alan ordered his men to take control over the throne of the land he had just defeated and prepared for his glorious journey back to his kingdom, the great empire of Verona, famous for their most ruthless warriors.

He was welcomed with all the grand royalties.

The moment he stepped on his land after spending one year on the battlefield, he rushed to see his grandfather,

"Alan..." the old man lying on the king's bed elated blissfully,

"Come here, let me see you" ordering him to take a look at his only grandson coming home after a victory after a year.

Alan stepped forward and bowed to him,

"Greetings, King Markus," he said lifting his hands in respect, kneeling with his head down.

"Come here, my boy" his grandfather mumbled in a rather weak voice,

Alan got up and went to his bed, looking at him, his anger subsided, as he saw those red weak eyes of his grandfather, begging to get closed.

"Grandpa," he said in a painful voice,

The old man chuckled,

"So, you are pitying me now",

Alan gazed at him,

Yes, he pitied, but it's not the time to show that,

" Do you think I am?" he announced,

" That's my boy..." King Markus said coughing out vigorously,

Alan realized how bad the situation was here,

Meanwhile, a middle-aged man came in with three men following him,

That middle-aged man was Alan's father and one of the men following him was the royal doctor who attended his grandfather.

"Alan, I am glad you're here," said his father in excitement,

The doctor moved forward greeted them all with a bow and went to check the king, the other two men stood aside with their heads down,

" what do you have to say doctor?" asked King Markus,

he nodded his head in grief,

" I am sorry Your Highness, I can't give any explanation," he said in a heavy voice as if he was begging his pardon.

" what do you mean?" yelled Alan grabbing the colour of the doctor's shirt,

he kneeled immediately with his head bowing,

"I deserve death, my Prince, I am useless" Alan was glaring at him with anger,

"Alan, I know my health, leave him, he tried everything," commanded his grandfather.

King Markus was a strong man but as he aged his weakness started exploring, and now he was bedridden, the doctor gave him all those medications to prolong his life, but it seemed to be of no use, so he called Alan. He was eager to pass the throne to him, as he was the only one his grandfather believed, had the strength to retain his empire, but there were some conditions to attain the throne.

The other two men came forward near the king and said clearing his throat

"Your Highness, Are you sure you want the announcement now?" He got out a bunch of papers from his suitcase.

The King nodded his head, and the one with the papers handed over the first paper to the other one, he came forward and cleared his throat again with a grunt,

"Let me have the pleasure of announcing, the will of King Markus"

Alan was sure about the will, no one else was his rival when it came to attaining the throne, so he stood casually, as the will was announced.

"I, the king of this honorable Empire of Verona, hereby declare that the next successor of the throne will be my mighty grandson..."

"Is this something to be declared, I knew it, from the beginning," said Alan interrupting them,

"Shut up prince, don't disrespect the King's will," said his father clenching his arm,

"let me continue, Your Highness", said the man fluttering the paper,

" The next successor of the throne will be my mighty grandson, Alan Markus Edward, if and only if he obeys the terms and conditions of the will,"

Alan frowned at him in shock,

"What the rubbish!!, terms and conditions...??" he shirked,

The man holding the papers gave another one to the one, who was announcing,

"the terms and conditions are as follows,

*He must sincerely obey the laws written in the Book of laws.

*He must love his people wholeheartedly.

*He must..." Alan interrupted again,

"of course, I know that, I have been learning these from my childhood, is this something to be stated"

The man added very politely,

"Please let me finish my lord,

*He must be loyal to his people.

*He must put his kingdom before his personal life.

These were the casual clause that was stated, and now I am going to read the personal conditions", Alan raised his eyebrows in confusion, and that man continued reading the other paper,

"Hmm...

*He must go into exile for five years...."

"What...!!" Alan screamed out of shock,

"Exile...what the heck? is it about becoming a king or he is trying to boycott me?"

"shut up Alan, you are insulting the king," yelled his father,

King Markus grunted,

" you can continue Wilson and those who are not interested can leave" he ordered

Alan turned to the door rudely but was stopped by his father,

the man with the papers continued,

"*He must keep his identity a secret, no matter how hard it becomes for him.

*He can become a slave or a servant but should never be rude to his master.

*He can beg if he wants but revealing his identity is not allowed.

*He must not be involved in any kind of fights or disputes.

*Whatever may be the situation, he must endure it.

When the period is finished, he will be attaining the throne without any further delay, supported by his father as a reagent"

"Is there anything else to torture me? I would never do any of this,"

he turned back and left without even greeting the king,

"Prince Alan... stay there... others may leave,"

ordered the King,

Everyone but the Prince left the King's room.

Alan came near and asked,

"What...?? you want to punish me, ok kill me if you want but I would never do anything like this" he stated rudely without caring that he is a king, and he can punish him to death, but King Markus looked at him affectionately and held his hand to make him sit on his bed near him, "I know you are angry, for punishing you, but my punishment made you a great and brave warrior, isn't it?"

Alan looked at his eyes and cooled down, his grandfather continued,

"You are not the first one to do this, there was a man who was even ruder than you, but these were the conditions he was made to follow, and that made him a great King, for more than seventy years, he was a flawless king, a king who was able to expand his kingdom to a huge empire," said the old man looking straight to Alan's brown widened eyes,

"Who...?? Who are you talking about?" he asked immersed in those words,

"your grandfather...!!" said the king,

Alan was surprised, he kept his head down while in a daze, he now understood why he was always punished with weird punishments, those were part of his training to become a successful king. His grandfather added,

"Take it as a challenge, my boy, this will make you an unbeatable King, like how I was... your kingdom needs you, don't let them regret being your people"

The king's words left a great impact on Alan, and after a brief thought, he accepted the challenge and his mysterious journey started the next day...he left all his possessions in the palace, with a simple attire on his body left all the comforts behind him... but before stepping out, he went to see his grandfather one last time,

"wait, until I came back....!!" he declared to his grandfather.

The King nodded his head but his eyes filled with tears he wanted to hide from Alan, because it may be the last time he is seeing his dearest grandson.