Banished Prince Charming

Chapter 12 - A Shocking Revelation.

It had been 4 days since the departure of Frank and Gwen to the next settlement to gather some supplies back. Everyone in the tiny settlement had been anticipating their arrival and good news.

The construction of the shelter with the thatched walls had been completed and everyone in camp contributed in the building of another shelter. Little did I knew that the one with the thatched walls were actually meant for me.

Ni matter how I tried to refuse the offer of getting the shelter, upon their incessant advice, I had finally settled down and made the small shelter as comfortable as possible.

My knapsack and cloak that were hung in the tree branch were brought in and placed at the innermost corner of the shelter.

"This shelter is top class. It felt so homely and comfortable and I don't even think it would be compared to other houses built around the town before. This is much healthier and there plenty of ventilation." I pondered to myself as I inspected the craftsmanship and the tedious workmanship by Jack and the rest.

The construction for another shelter had gone underway and it was much simpler than mine and it takes about a day to set everything up. Even we were short of 2 manpower, the job was done and there are no signs of making another shelter after that.

"Jack... Wouldn't there be another shelter? I mean you have your own, I have mine and the children have their own as well. This shelter that they had done building was for the Chowdry's household right? Do you think we had forgotten about someone else?"

I raised my eyebrows and queried Jack who was sitting at the fireplace and was Poking around the embers. I guess he missed his profession where he deals with a furnace almost 14 hours every day.

"Ahem... We don't think we had forgotten anyone. I mean, when Gardner's return, they would be occupying the shelter that was being occupied by the children. And Heather will move in with you." Jack cleared his throat before replying me. It made sense but when he reached his last sentence I was totally in for a shock.

"H...Heather is going to m... Move-in with m... Me?" I stammered when the last sentence hit me like a guardian Knight tanking with a full-body shield and hit me straight on, paralysing me in the spot for a few seconds.

"The young would surpass the old. My wife and I are the eldest amongst the rest and the rest had already voiced our their agreement for Heather to be part of your companionship from now on."

"Both of you are not strangers anymore so it's best to start now. Don't expect you to be married at the age of 40 and by the time you have your own children, people might think those children of yours are actually your grandchildren."

"So you understand what I am trying to say, young master?" after Jack had completed his lengthy speech, I can't help myself but be like a goldfish with its mouth and eyes gaped open.

"We have no children on our own and both I and my wife regards you as my own. Would you listen to the old King if he would be alive today? I have to put it this way so that you would realise that whatever we had planned for you would be the betterment for the future."

"I...I guess so, Jack. You are the eldest and wisest person who had tasted salt much longer than any of us. I have to forget who I was in the past and would be taking in the role of a new me right now."

"It had already been two weeks since we were banished from our Kingdom. I am actually still readjusting myself to the environment as well as the situation. No matter what, I am still who I am, a Macleod."

Jack nodded his head and remarked, "Just treat us as your royal subjects who served for the old King before. There would be a military advisor, a finance minister and also those high ranking subjects within your kingdom right? At least in this way, even though there's no throne fir you to ascend as the ruler, but we all know who you actually are."

Never in these two weeks, a thought passed through me in making me realise that these settlers that were my former citizens of Darlington had high hopes and expectations from me.

Was it due to my Royal bloodline? Or was it due to how I was able to mingle with the locals and be one of them? No matter what, since they have high regards of me, I try as much as possible not let any of them down. Furthermore, the idea of Heather moving in with me did not even cross my mind one bit, even though she was my childhood friend before.

That was some years back where her parents used to serve us as the Head Servants before they passed on. During that time, Heather would be spending time with me and my late sister, doing all those stuff that children normally do and our favourite pass time would be down in the cellar where we would be sneaking pastries and other sweets there and play-acting.

Those were the carefree days until her parents succ.u.mbed to a certain kind of weird illness and it nearly wiped out half of the commoners' population back then.

"I would like to hold a conference so that we would say what we have in our hearts and mind during that time. One man's future would not be decided by one person only. I would like to have a vote of confidence from everyone else as well." I finally concluded before I even think if cohabiting with Heather.

We were not kids anymore and besides, she might also need to voice out as well. "Well said, young master. This shows that you know how well to handle matters at hand. I am full of praise for you and I know you would not let us down one bit. By the way, have you thought of naming this tiny settlement yet?"

Jack voiced out his suggestion as well since we had settled our basic necessities, and that would be accommodation. As for the sources of food, we do not have to worry since there's bountiful of fish from the river and there's also numerous plants and fruits here in the forest.

"That's settled then. We would wait for Frank and Gwen to return as I can't wait for their good news. Hopefully, we would be able to see what kind of improvements we would be able to bring for our community here right now. It may be tiny, but I am sure it would have hold potential."

"That's true, young master. Let us wait since its a 6 to 7 days journey to and back from the nearest settlement. Alright, I would just wait for the others. Heather and my wife are out finding more roots and herbs to be brought back here and replanted."

"I have done doing the thatching of this covering for the shelter. Ben and Crystal are both looking at the traps to see if there are some more fowls that fall prey to it. Since I am left with nothing much, I would like to have some shut-eye instead." with that, Jack went back to his shelter and tested a while inside.

I was left all alone and I decided to make use of this time to prepare another few more rows of plant beds so that whatever herbs and plants brought back could be replanted immediately. With that, I went over to the riverbank and scooped the sides of it and used a basket to transport the natural fertiliser back.

I had completed making another 5 rows of planting beds of equal length and spacing between one another and decided to join the children who were a bit further from the camp.

These 4 children were having the most carefree time in the world. The eldest would be the twins and they were fishing and cleaning the fishes when they had brought it back to the bank. The other children were assigned to gather some kindling and wood to make a fire so that they would be roasting the fishes thereafter.

I sat down near the fireplace that they had lit and was offered a piece of freshly roasted fish. I took one and used my fingers to pinch the meat and ate slowly while engaging in small talk with them. I was treated not as a royal but more like a big brother to them.

"Arf... Arf"

Sounds of a dog barking broke the silence of the tiny settlement and I tried to locate where the barking sounds were coming from. It's only the 4th day since Frank and the rest had left for their own expedition.

Could it be...