The Heir

Prologue

King Vachilos ascended to the throne when he was just 15 years old. However, when he turned 20, his advisors told him, 'My king, it's time for you to get married.'

The young king had refused many times to marry because he had his eyes on a unique girl, the red-haired daughter of his guard's officer, Eva. She was only 18, and they had known each other all their lives.

As soon as she learned that the king had appointed her as his bride, she ran to the palace as fast as she could.

Within three months, Vachilos and Eva were married. Soon, Eva became pregnant with their first child. Everyone waited to see if it would be a boy or a girl, eager to know who would be the heir to the throne.

After months of waiting, Eva gave birth to a blonde girl. They named their first child Maria Angelica and affectionately called her Mariangela, combining her mother and Vachilos' names as they both passed away early.

Their firstborn was beautiful, but she wasn't the right person to be the heir to the throne.

After a year, Eva became pregnant again, and this time, everyone hoped for a boy. However, she gave birth to another girl, with the same hair color as her mother. She was sweet and calm, so they named her Melopi, as sweet as honey.

Having two daughters didn't discourage the king and queen from trying for a son and an heir. None of them wanted the throne to fall into the hands of someone who hadn't been well-prepared, a distant relative who might exploit the power for personal gain.

Two years passed before the queen became pregnant again, and this time, they were blessed with a boy, Achilles.

Achilles was exceptionally handsome, with curly black hair, deep blue eyes that sparkled, and olive skin. He showed signs of remarkable intelligence from a young age, always speaking calmly and never submitting to anyone, not even his own father.

They had faith in his abilities, his potential, and, above all, his education. He had his own moral code that he faithfully followed, always ensuring that justice prevailed. He tried to be diplomatic, but when needed, he could use force in a way that no one would dare to oppose him.

Having shown this strong character from a young age, his father felt proud to have such a successor. However, his older sister, Maria Angelica, felt that he had stolen her right to the throne as the firstborn.

To protect him from enemies within the family, his father decided to send him to live in a house on the central square of the capital city, where he could be close to his subjects and away from people who might plot against him.

Accompanying the young prince was the faithful advisor to the king, Sam. Sam had been the king's assistant since Vachilos was a child. He was there to oversee the prince's upbringing, and Vachilos considered him both a father and a brother.

Thus, the young heir to the throne and the king's loyal advisor left the palace to ensure the prince's education without any other thoughts in his mind than his training and his future as a king.