A Quiet Departure
In the weeks that followed Gideon's birth, a clandestine operation unfolded within the confines of Xeida's grand castle. It was a carefully orchestrated plan to safeguard the kingdom's most closely guarded secret – the existence of King Aldric's son, Gideon, born of forbidden love with a humble maid.
As the Regel Festivity loomed ever closer, the pressure to keep Gideon hidden grew exponentially. Seraphin, the king's trusted royal guard, knew that the time had come to enact the next phase of the plan. His duty was clear: to ensure the safety of Gideon and the preservation of the kingdom's fragile peace.
Under the cover of night, the castle's labyrinthine passages became Seraphin's domain. He moved with the precision of a shadow, silent and invisible. The kingdom slept, blissfully unaware of the events unfolding in the dark.
Seraphin reached the small chamber where Gideon had been hidden since birth. Adeline, the maid who had brought the child into the world, stood there, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and resolve. She cradled Gideon in her arms, whispering soft lullabies to soothe him.
"It is time," Seraphin murmured, his voice barely audible. Adeline nodded, tears glistening in her eyes, as she handed over the precious burden of Gideon to the royal guard.
With utmost care, Seraphin wrapped the infant in a soft, warm blanket, ensuring his comfort. Gideon, unaware of the gravity of the moment, blinked up at Seraphin with innocent curiosity.
The plan was simple, yet perilous. Gideon would be taken far from the kingdom, to a place where his existence could remain a closely guarded secret. It was a necessary sacrifice, one that King Aldric had reluctantly accepted to protect the peace between him and his beloved Queen Lysandra.
Silently, Seraphin and Adeline slipped through hidden passages, avoiding the prying eyes of the castle's inhabitants. They moved like phantoms, leaving behind the world they knew.
As they reached the castle's hidden exit, the night air greeted them with a cool, refreshing breeze. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow upon the land.
With Gideon cradled securely in his arms, Seraphin gazed back at the castle one last time. It was a poignant farewell to the life he had known, the life he had sworn to protect.
The journey ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but it was a journey that had to be undertaken. The fate of Gideon, the kingdom of Xeida, and the Regel Festivity itself hung in the balance. As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Seraphin, Adeline, and the hidden prince embarked on their quiet departure, leaving behind the only home they had ever known.
The stage was set, and the shadows of secrecy had grown longer. The Regel Festivity drew near, and the fate of the kingdom teetered on the precipice of destiny.