Many people I passed kept their heads down. They knew who I was and I wasn’t trying to hide it. I wanted my people to know me, but most of them seemed too afraid to approach. The king was known for ruling with an iron fist and I was his heir. It was how he kept this kingdom safe and untouched by other powers. It wasn’t how I wished to rule, but I needed to set my own feelings aside out of necessity. How could I look these people in the eyes if I couldn’t promise them basic protection when I became king?
