Chapter 35 - 5 Times
Prince Eric smiled at his trainer, Roald, feeling a bit more normal after the strangeness of the night and the System Window’s explanation.
But as he looked closer, he noticed Roald wasn’t quite meeting his eyes. The sturdy man shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his usually cheerful face looking a little troubled. Something was clearly on Roald’s mind.
Eric stepped closer to him, his own smile fading slightly into a look of concern. "Roald?" he asked gently. "Is something wrong? What is it?" Roald was more than just a guard; he was the one who had taught Eric swordsmanship since he was small, his main sparring partner. It was unlike him to seem hesitant.
Roald finally looked up, meeting the Prince’s gaze. He seemed unsure how to say what he needed to say. "Prince Eric," Roald began, his voice a bit lower than usual. "Actually... yes. The King... your father... he gave me a special task just a short while ago."
Eric raised his eyebrows in surprise. A special task from his father, the King? That was unusual. The King himself had assigned Roald to be Eric’s personal trainer years ago, recognizing Roald’s skill and loyalty. It was rare for Roald to be pulled away from training Eric, especially for secret tasks. "A special task?" Eric repeated, curious. "What kind of task?"
Roald took a small breath. "Well, Your Highness," he explained, "the King has ordered me, along with a squad of other Royal Guards, to go and... investigate one of the noble families."
He didn’t say which family, and Eric didn’t ask. He understood immediately this was connected to the King’s shocking announcement from the night before – the kingdom-wide check-up on all the nobles.
"It means," Roald continued, looking genuinely apologetic, "that I won’t be able to train with you for several days, depending on how the investigation goes."
Hearing this, Eric didn’t feel disappointed about missing training sessions. He understood the King’s orders were the most important thing. Instead, he gave Roald a reassuring smile.
"Don’t worry about it, Roald," Eric said kindly. "Your duty to the King comes first. You go do what you need to do." He puffed his chest out slightly, trying to look confident. "And don’t worry about me slacking off. By the time you get back, I’ll be even stronger! You’ll have a hard time keeping up when we spar next."
Roald looked at the Prince for a few seconds, his expression thoughtful. Then, a wide, genuine smile broke out across his face, chasing away his earlier worry. He chuckled softly. "I don’t doubt it for a second, Your Highness," Roald said warmly. "I look forward to seeing just how much stronger you’ve become. I will look forward to our next sparring match very much." He gave Eric a crisp bow. "Until then, stay safe, Prince Eric."