His Kingdom

Chapter 1

2 years later....

   Lancelot drew his bow one more time looking straight at the target- the apple on a servant's head,and once again he shot right on target.
He dropped his bow and arrows, and settled on the grass beside them,the servants long forgotten, he looked at the sky,it was the colour of the brightest blue and the clouds kept forming funny shapes,he remembered as a child he always came here with his mother,and they laughed together at the funny shapes of the clouds, that was until she left to become a star in the sky,that was what his father had told him ,but he knew better. she had died.
His father also left him,and now he was alone save for his Uncle  Leonhard ,  Edward the butler,and his son Damian who was also his best friend and numerous servants, he wished he could go the market and see the commoners ,he wondered how they lived without servants and luxury, and perhaps he will make new friends,the thought of that made him smile,he would visit today,but no .if he went as the prince the truth about how commoners lived will be sugarcoated, he needed a disguise and only one person could help him....

He was so lost in thought ,he didn't even notice another presence settle beside him on the grass.

"Hey Lance, I have been looking for you everywhere, Lance can you hear me?,and why are you smiling"Damian was bewildered as to the reason why Lancelot was smiling, it had been weeks since he had smiled last, could it be a woman?  ,no Lancelot didn't have interest in them,did he receive some good news ? ,no the entire castle would have been aware,then why was he smiling?, he shrugged hoping that he kept smiling forever if possible,
"Hey Lance,your Royal Majesty please answer my plea"Damian said sarcastically ,that always did the trick ,and sure it worked again, because Lancelot snapped out of his trance, to glare at him, before he broke into another smile,the sudden change of moods,made Damian jump away from him "who are you,and what have you done to Lancelot".

Lancelot chuckled,"just the person I was looking for ,don't be silly,of course its me,I need your help,I plan to go to market and see the commoners,and how they are faring,I need a disguise".
Damian laughed"just the person you were looking for?", he repeated,"Do you know how long I've been standing here looking at you and wondering why you were smiling, I tried calling you,but unfortunately you were lost in thought and didn't answer" he pointed out.  "But yes I will help you with the disguise, but you have to be back by evening, the council members want to talk to you".
Lancelot's smile faded and his eyebrows furrowed "why do they want to see me?",Damian shrugged, "your uncle- I mean his Royal Majesty did something scandalous again,so the council members want to see his nephew". Lancelot blew a raspberry and sighed "what did he do this time around?".
"I don't know,something along the lines of improper allocation of funds,".was the given reply. "Fine I'll be back by evening"Lancelot said walking back towards the castle ,while Damian ran after him carrying his bow and arrows.

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Elena looked at the floor,she had just cleaned,it was so clean that she was sure she could see her reflection ,she remembered the long list of chores her stepmother Noelle,had given her earlier.
Clean the windows.
Dust the furniture.
Polish the floor.
Clean the mirrors.
Do the laundry.
Do the dishes.
Sort the bad rice grains from the good.
Clean the stables.
Feed the cat and the dog.
Prepare lunch.
Collect Courtney's dress from the seamstress.
Fluff mother Noelle's furs.
Clean Courtney's room.
Make the beds........

Elena sighed ,the same old routine,and she still wondered how the floors,windows,and mirrors became dirty the next day,when she had cleaned them the day before,she had long given up on investigating, the source of the dirt. Now that she had polished the floor what was next on the list...

Elena wiped the sweat off her brows with the sleeve of her gown,she stood facing the door to Courtney's room , to supposedly clean up her room,she took a deep breath and pushed open the doors,and her eyes widened at the sight before her.