Prologue:

The Reluctant King

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Leopold's Point of View

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The horse galloped, racing across the ground as its hooves clattered against the cobblestones, hardly seeming to notice the weight of its rider. Prince Leopold of Marenta was returning home at last and he couldn't help but let a smile grace his face as he passed a group of his subjects, waving as he passed the children.

He was glad to be home. While he had greatly enjoyed himself at the coronation of the new king and queen of Ecrivenia, he had missed the feeling of being home. The coronation had been a wonderful occasion, and Leopold had been happy to be there to support his best friend, Frederick, the new king of Ecrivenia, but towards the end of his stay he had yearned for the forests and lakes of Marenta, his own country.

Leopold slowed his horse as he reached the gates to the keep, nodding to the guards as they opened the large wooden doors to let him through. As he rode into the main courtyard of the royal family's castle that was situated in the middle of one of Marenta's largest lakes, he noticed a short figure dressed in purple standing on the steps.

Leopold stopped his horse, dismounting fluidly and sending a grateful smile to the stable-hand that took the reins of his horse from him. Adjusting his windswept hair and his rumpled doublet that he hadn't bothered to change out of before riding home, he walked forward, his long legs slightly asleep from riding for eleven hours straight.

Moving up the steps, Leopold squinted in the late afternoon sun until he could see the purple-dressed figure clearly. He fought hard to contain a groan, instead pursing his lips, and giving a decidedly forced smile. It was one of the councilmen, Lord Candery. Candery was one of the social climbers who his father had let on the council to gain the support of wealthy citizens, but the majority of the reforms Candery suggested would only benefit the upper class.

"Lord Candery, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Leopold asked, using his height to his advantage. Maybe if he intimidated Candery he would leave him alone.

"Your highness, I trust your travels were well?" Candery said in his nasally voice that made him sound like he had a cold. Leopold merely nodded in answer. "Good, good, I have some news for you from your parents. They have asked me to inform you that they are on a hunting party with a handful of other noblemen."

Leopold's brow furrowed minutely. Why on earth would his parents leave Candery to deliver him the message? Thankfully he didn't have to ask, as Candery answered his unspoken question.

"I had to decline their invitation to clear up some paperwork, so they thought it would be best if I informed you of there whereabouts should you return before them." Leopold doubted Candery had any paperwork to speak of, unless he had an abrupt personality change within the last two weeks. Candery was the sort to force one of the men in his employ to sort paperwork for him, but Leopold didn't voice this.

"I thank you for your help," Leopold said, inclining his head and then continuing to climb the rest of the steps to the front door of the castle.

"Wait! Your highness! Where are you going?" Candery said, following Leopold, almost having to jog to keep up with him. Leopold tried not to let his annoyance show. Must he always follow behind like a puppy? Or more accurately, a leech that one could not get rid of?

"To my quarters in order to change out of my traveling clothes," Leopold answered, daring Candery to say anything to stop him.

"Oh, well, good day to you, your highness," Candery said, his words broken up by his pants. It was amazing how quickly the noblemen of the court could come undone with just a bit of exercise. Leopold wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason why the council's meeting room was on the ground floor.

"Good day, Lord Candery," Leopold said, taking the stairs leading to the second level two at a time. He would've gone three at a time if he thought his tired legs could manage it, but he would have to settle for the measly two to help him get rid of the pesky Lord. He gave a sigh of relief when he peeked behind him to see that Candery wasn't following him.

Once he was at the top of the stairs, Leopold glanced down at his apparel, frowning slightly, but ultimately satisfied with how he looked. Instead of continuing down the hallway to his chambers, he started to go back up the stairs. A visit to the library was long overdue. Leopold made his way up two flights of stairs, and down a long corridor before finally reaching the door to the library.

As soon as he stepped through the door he cherished the blissful silence. Leopold, while he enjoyed the company of others, could always appreciate the peace and quiet that the royal library offered. From the age of seven he would sneak into the hallowed place to read of the countless adventures of courageous soldiers, heroes in disguise, startling plot twists, and even a few magnificent dragons. There was always some new story to get lost in, and Leopold had done so readily.

While Leopold didn't come to the library to read adventure stories anymore, he did come on a similar subject. His love for adventures had eventually spread to a love of military logistics, which was what he was intending on looking up.

Leopold and Frederick had been discussing some different tactics in lieu of the rising tension between the country of Carigan and its neighbors after Frederick's and, his Queen, Clara's coronation. The country and its rulers was becoming increasingly hostile and both of the men were anxious to see what would come of it.

Leopold reached for one of the worn books on battle tactics and sat back in the high back chaired that he normally occupied when he visited the library. He promptly got lost in the large tome, pouring over strategies on dealing with warfare on inclined ground, as Carigan and Marenta were both heavily mountainous.

He was not sure how long he had been reading when suddenly a large bang came from across the room. Jumping to his feet and snapping his book shut, Leopold was surprised to see one of his father's manservants panting desperately and earning a few glares from the library page.

"Your highness, you must come quickly! Your parents- they have been injured," the other man spluttered out before darting back through the door with Leopold hot on his heels.

"Where are they?" Leopold asked as the pair dashed down the hallways.

"They are both in their bedchamber. It took us a while to find you, sir," the manservant said between gasps. Leopold felt his heart clench at those words. It had taken them a while because he hadn't been truthful to Lord Candery.

Leopold and the manservant finally reached the door to the royal bedchamber and Leopold pushed it open. Inside was hectic to say the least. The royal physician, multiple maids, and two manservants were all stuffed into the room.

Leopold stood frozen in the doorway, taking in the sight before him. While the various standing occupants in the room were bustling about in the limited space, the two figures on the bed were frightfully still. As he stood there he realized that none of the other occupants were even touching his mother. It was only his father that was causing the fuss, and Leopold could see him taking shallow breaths, but with a quick glance at his mother, Leopold's heart plummeted.

She wasn't breathing, and her face, a normally subtle pink due to her constantly cheery disposition, was paler than it had ever been. Since no one was on his mother's side of the bed, he walked forward on shaking legs, collapsing onto the edge of the bed beside her, taking one of her delicate hands in his. He did his best to hold back tears, not wanting to seem weak in front of all of the people in the bedchamber, but as he pressed her limp hand to his lips, a single tear slid down his cheek.

If he had told the truth to Lord Candery when he had asked, he might've gotten to say goodbye.

"Your highness," the court physician said gently, causing Leopold to turn his gaze to him. "The others of the hunting party have informed me that it was an ambush."

"An ambush?"

"Yes, by soldiers bearing the Carigan coat of arms." Leopold tightened his grasp on his mother's hand. That was an act of all out war. It seemed that war with Carigan was no longer a question of if, but a question of when.

"Has my father said anything?"

"No, milord. He only woke up briefly to instruct the manservants to tell me to tend to your mother first. Regrettably, it was still too late," the physician looked back to his work of trying to aid his king. "You have my deepest condolences, your highness."

Leopold nodded, not able to find the right words to speak. A couple of the maids left the room, and only one maid and one manservant remained. Leopold normally would ask why they had left, but as he looked down on the bleeding and unconscious form of his father, Percival, the king of Marenta, he knew why they had departed from the room.

His mother was gone and his father was dying.

"How long until...?" Leopold couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

"Not long," the physician answered, not needing clarification of the question. Leopold got up from his mother's side and walked over to sit in a chair next to both his father and the physician.

"Is there anything you can do?" The physician shook his head in answer.

"If there was, I would already be doing it. All we can do now is pray that his passing is peaceful," he said. Leopold nodded stiffly.

"Please leave us," he stated, and the physician, the maid, and the manservant all left the room, leaving Leopold alone with his parents.

For the first time since he was a child, he was honestly scared out of his mind. In all of twenty minutes he had learned of the beginnings of a war with Carigan, he had lost his mother, and now he was watching as his father's last breaths were slipping away.

The royal family of Marenta, Leopold's family, had always figured that Leopold would marry before coming king, and Leopold had agreed. The thought of being a monarch alone without anyone to help him shoulder the burden was a terrifying idea, but as he gently placed his hand over his father's, he realized the idea was about to become a reality.

His father suddenly gave a soft gasp, and Leopold's eyes darted to his father's face just in time to see him open his eyes. He blinked a few times before his eyes met Leopold's and Leopold waited, wondering if his father would say anything.

There was always such importance placed on the last words of any man, and Leopold sat there waiting for the words that he hoped would come. However, as he looked down into his father's face, he doubted any words would fall from those trembling and bloodied lips.

"Father, I promise you, that I will do my best to rule as you have. I promise I will rule fairly and with a kind disposition," he said, his voice wavering and based off of his father's expression, he could hear and understand him. "I will try to be what the country needs, I will find a wife. I know that a king is not enough to rule a country," Leopold said, finding that his voice was sounding more urgent with each word. He had to know that his father heard his promises, that the country was in good hands. His father's eyes stared back at him, and Leopold watched as he opened his mouth.

"You are enough," his father said, the words coming out in a gasp. Leopold felt tears prick at his eyes, but he held them back as his father nodded to him, as if seeing that Leopold understood. Moments later a quiet breath left his father's lips and Leopold almost bit through the skin on his own bottom lip as he realized that the King of Marenta, the man who had taught him how to ride a horse, who had taught him how to fence, his father first and king second, was dead.

Leopold stayed in the room with his parents for over three hours, washing their bodies of blood. He did his best to do it as gently as possible, as if they could still feel his touch, even though he knew that they couldn't and never would again. When he was done he could almost trick himself into believing they were only sleeping, though he knew they weren't.

From where he stood at the foot of their bed he could already hear the quiet rumble of voices outside the door. Leopold had a sudden image of the head of each of the councilmen on the bodies of vultures, circling as they waited to feast upon their prey. Unfortunately, in this circumstance, their prey was him.

With a deep breath, Leopold straightened his shoulders and his posture, bringing himself to his full height. Gathering himself, he opened the door, and the voices outside stopped speaking immediately when he came into view.

It was Lord Candery who dared to ask the question while all of the other members of the court simply looked on.

"Does the king live?" It did not surprise Leopold that Candery spoke only of the king. He never had been very respectful towards the women of the court, not even the Queen, but then again, the Queen had never been charmed by Candery's attempts at flattery.

"No," Leopold answered curtly. "We need to start the preparation for their burials, as well as hold a war council meeting," he said, and all of the people around him nodded their heads. It was strange how quickly they had adjusted to following his orders and not his parent's.

"Your highness, aren't you forgetting something?" Lord Candery dared to say, causing everyone to look at him, while he promptly turned red with the attention."The coronation, when will it be?" Leopold paused, his mind racing.

"We will hold my coronation after the burial in nine days time."

"Nine days? That is not nearly enough time to prepare everything! We have to plan the burials and the-"

"We don't have the luxury of time, Lord Candery. We are as of now, at the beginnings of a war," Leopold said sharply, cutting him off. He knew what had to be finished, he didn't need to be reminded.

Exactly nine days later, on a cold and grey-skied morning, the Prince of Marenta, the humorous, adventurous, and kind, Prince, became Leopold, the focused, logical, and cold, twenty-fourth King of Marenta.

His coronation and his parents' death marked the beginning of what would become one of the most terrible wars the countries of Marenta, Ecrivenia, and Carigan had ever seen, reaching far and wide to the very edges of Marenta and into the country of Ecrivenia.

More specifically, it would reach all the way to the home of a girl. A girl who was courageous, quick-witted, tom-boyish, and stubborn. A girl who was looking for her adventure, for her chance to fulfill her dream of being a knight. The girl's name? Harriet.

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You can't see it, but I'm grinning. Who else is as excited for this as I am? Please tell me your thoughts in the comments! Also, this is a sister novel to my story, Glass Slippers, but it is not necessary to read it first. (However, I would recommend it. You'll get to actually meet Harriet as a young girl and get a better idea of who she is as a character before I introduce her in the next chapter.)

Additionally, this chapter takes place a year prior to Harriet's role, so therefore she would be nineteen and Leopold would be twenty-four in this chapter. Next chapter she will be twenty and he will be twenty-five.

The picture above is pretty close to how Leopold would look at his coronation.