The Exiled King | ✔

Prologue

"I'll be heading out now," Kuban Whiterose said to his younger brother and mother.

They stood in the large entrance hall of Whiterose Castle—a large room that was dominated by a grand staircase in the back and empty tabletops by the windows along the sides that had once held lavish decorations and now merely gathered dust.

He crouched down to his brother's level and looked his brother solemnly in the eyes.

In a voice that echoed faintly in the large hall, Kuban said softly, "Halian, when I'm gone, you're the man in the house, okay? You need to take care of your mother while I'm gone."

Halian gripped his mother's skirt, but nodded, his wide blue eyes trained on his brother.

Kuban grinned and ruffled Halian's dark hair—the same shade as his own, saying, "I'll only be gone for a few years, I promise. Four at most, and I'll study hard and try to get home sooner, okay? And I'll bring you a gift when I get back..."

Halian will be much older when I return... I should pick a gift he'll like when he's older, Kuban mused.

Halian reached forward and grabbed Kuban's crimson cape as he stood up, whispering, "I want a gem... from Anhua. The prettiest you can find."

Kuban smiled and agreed, then pulled his mother into a gentle hug. He pulled away and looked into her eyes, smiling softly.

"Don't cry, mother. I'm not going away forever."

The corners of her eyes were glistening with barely concealed tears.

At his words, she ducked her head slightly and whispered, "All mothers will worry about their children. You are still so young... I cannot understand how the other high nobles can so happily send off their sons for so many years!"

He shook his head slightly and responded with a small smile, "I know, mother. But we are of House Whiterose... and so I must go. I have delayed long enough now and the sooner I get knighted, the sooner I can take over as the head of the household so you and Halian won't have to worry anymore. Our status doesn't mean a thing unless I graduate from the academy."

I do still wish that stupid rule wasn't still in place. My father died when I was only ten... I couldn't be knighted at that age. The estate was in shambles and it all fell to me...

A Mantle from the prestigious academy in Anhua was a rite of passage for the heirs of high noble houses—one that opened up all the doors of opportunity in the noble society, but the young boys could not go until they were fourteen and they would not return until they were of age.

Though Kuban was unofficially the head of the house, he was looked down upon by the other high nobles and would not have a seat on the royal council until he graduated from the academy.

It was an archaic rule from a time long past, when commoners were given lesser noble titles and the high nobility sought to cement their status as an upper class, but the king had refused to make an exception, even for his cousin house.

I may be going later than other boys, but if I excel at my studies I may be able to graduate earlier... and once I have my title, I'll be officially recognised. Rowan Throeyns and Darron Ravenstorm will not dare look down upon me then.

The crown had gone further and forbidden Kuban from enrolling in the academy at fourteen, for the Whiterose estate had been in turmoil over Tevian Whiterose's death. Only when Kuban had stabilised their estate, had he finally been granted the leave to enroll.

She gripped his arm a little tighter, but did not protest and let him go.

"Be safe, Kuban, and come home soon," She said quietly.