Chapter 78 - I will wait for you (1/2)

Anne answered the phone to hear the voice of Henry one last time until he went into seclusion for his training. She was sad but made him repeat her name and everything he had been doing the last few days they were separated. Though, it was not enough.

”I want to go with you,” she said, but she knew it was just a silly dream. She cannot disturb him when the tradition of his family didn't let them.​​

”I have to go now, Anne,” he said again for one last time waiting for her to answer back with the words he wished more to hear.

”I will wait for you,” she said, and then the line cut.

It was the signal that the carriage had passed through the Mansion of the Dukedom of Mills, that was a place protected by a huge barrier of magic, strong enough to bear any attack or cut any communication. It was a custom that the next heir of the Duke had to enter the training halls and go through several tests to be able to inherit the Dukedom.

Henry knew that he had to go through it, but he didn't think that it will have to be that fast.

His father was made to enter the tests when he graduated from the Academy. It lasted a year just before he met his mother.

However, this time, it was required for him to enter many years before. That only could mean something bad, a difficult decision the Duke, his father has to make in the near future and that is not good.

”You have to be strong for what will happen, Henry,” his father told him while they were alone in his study in the Mansion of the Capital, ”the house of Mills has a duty to protect his Majesty from any enemy, and we must be prepared to face anyone, even those dear to use to achieve that purpose. Do you understand, Henry?”

”I know,” the young boy with emerald eyes looked at the Academy letter in his hands. It was a request for a leave. He had already prepared it from the day he had his combat with his father.

”There is someone trying to bring harm to our country, he did that many years ago and he is starting again.”

The Duke looked at the young boy with a serious gaze, ”You are not strong to fight against him, and to protect her you must go through all those tests even before it is your time. I am sorry, son.”

The Duke didn't wish to make his son spent the most beautiful days of his life in a cold castle in the north. However, the duty of the family had called them. Even he, the Duke, and he was not sure what would be the result this time. He had to protect his family and his heir in case something happened, but most importantly, he had to prepare him for the future.

”Who is him? What does he want?”

Henry knew that someone was lurking around, sending red cards and invitations to join them. However, she was still in the dark.

”You will know everything when you start your training,” the Duke gave his son a key, ”the library and the study of the main castle is yours now, study everything inside there, you will find your answers and get your conclusions.”

”…” Henry took the key and nodded. He knew that something was not right. That his always easy-going father was worried, and it was not normal.

Even if his silly nature could confuse the people of the Kingdom of Lith, they may say the Duke was a strange man, with strange and gentle nature. They will also say that he was a henpecked husband that will die for his wife at any time. Others will say that the birth of his daughter brought down his intelligence several points too.

However, they won't deny that the Duke of Mills was a figure of extreme importance to the Kingdom, not just because he was the Minister of Revenue, the most important institution in the Kingdom, but because he was the leader of the Shadow Knights.

They only were loyal to the instructions of the heirs of the Mills family and the King. No one else. They were a force to be reckoned in the world and their strength was more than what a simple army can detain. Many countries and Kingdoms of big caliber had tried to tempt the Duke of Mills to join them, however, he would never betray his vow to Lith.

No heir of the House of Mills had ever betrayed the vow to the Kingdom and they will never be or a curse would descend on themselves. A gruesome curse.

”Be prepared, Henry,” the Duke accompanied his son till the doors of the training house. However, he could not step further as the magic barrier only received one heir at a time.

”Yes, I won't disappoint you, father,” Henry looked at the man that was shedding some tears. He was a strong man but when it came to his family, the fluffy thing he called heart would take a glance to the outside. ”Sigh… I will do it right. I will call you after a week.”

He was about to push the doors and walk inside his destiny like a brave young man when a big pair of arms enwrapped him in a tight hug.

”My boy, I will wait for you.”

The same words his dear fiancée had told him were shoved to him from his father and he could only feel a bit… strange.

”I have to go,” he said as he tried to push his father from making him go into more embarrassment than before.

”I know…”