The Kingdom of Thalpegas was widely known for its formidable military and its strong, stable system of government, more so than any other kingdom. It stood magnificent beneath the midday sun, gleaming white, with blue roofs on nearly every building. Its grandeur and authority seemed to radiate from every corner of the land, reflecting a realm that had long built its strength and held its influence over the other kingdoms.
At the heart of the kingdom stood a grand palace. Its main hall rose high, surrounded by sturdy towers whose peaks seemed to challenge the sky. The palace walls were covered in intricate carvings of war gods riding their winged horses. Each carving had been made with great care, showing the gods in a variety of proud and commanding poses.
Thalpegas's territory stretched far beyond the capital and its settlements. It reached across all kinds of landscapes, from dense forests to mountain ranges in the distance. Some of its lands even bordered the smaller kingdoms nearby.
That day, Gareth, a renowned blacksmith known for his skill and the quality of his work, walked through the main gate of the Thalpegas palace.
In his hands he carried a large, sturdily built wooden box. Inside were several swords ordered by the kingdom's knights. The box clunked softly whenever it shifted with his steps.
Beside him walked his twelve-year-old son, Alden, a little more slowly. The boy kept stealing glances in every direction, trying to take in every corner of a palace he was seeing in person for the first time.
Alden felt like a tiny bird that had accidentally flown into an eagle's nest. Everything around him felt huge, grand, and nothing like what he saw in daily life.
The vast marble hall stretched out before him, reflecting the sunlight that poured through the tall windows until the floor shone. Enormous pillars lined the hall, rising proudly all the way to the ceiling. Some were carved with flying horses, pegasi with their legs raised mid-flight. The walls were covered with ornaments that showed off the glory of the Kingdom of Thalpegas.
Along the corridors, soldiers stood guard, alert and upright. They wore sturdy iron armor, with their weapons neatly arranged on their bodies. The metal flashed now and then as it caught the light, making them look both dashing and intimidating to anyone who passed. Alden even noticed a few soldiers carrying long spears with gleaming metal tips. To him, it felt like stepping into the heroic tales of knights he had heard so many times.
"Don't wander off, Alden," Gareth whispered, his voice low but firm, hardly looking away from his work. He handed the wooden box to a palace guard who had been waiting for them. "This palace is no place for games."
Alden turned to his father at once and nodded to show he understood, though his eyes kept drifting around the hall. Gareth began talking with the guard about the sword order. Their conversation sounded serious, now and then interrupted as they checked the contents of the box and discussed the finished work.
But Alden's curiosity was far stronger than his wish to stand still beside his father. Everywhere he looked in the palace, he found something new. Every corridor seemed to hide something he had never seen before. He wanted to know what lay deeper inside, what the other rooms looked like, and what was behind all those enormous doors along the halls.
While Gareth was absorbed in his serious talk with the guard, Alden's attention slowly drifted to a large door at the end of the corridor. It was slightly open, revealing a glimpse of green beyond. Through the gap he could see leaves swaying gently in the breeze and sunlight breaking through the trees. The sight made him even more curious.
Alden glanced back at his father to make sure Gareth was still busy. The conversation showed no sign of ending, so he started to move, slowly.
At first it was only a few small steps. Then he went farther, since no one seemed to notice him. He tried to keep his footsteps quiet, looking back every so often to make sure no one was following him or calling his name.
At last Alden reached the door. He pushed it open a little wider and slipped through without anyone noticing.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the atmosphere changed. The stiff, formal air of the palace was gone, replaced by something much fresher. The breeze carried the scent of leaves and the flowers growing all around.
He froze for a moment. The view before him was so beautiful that it felt like he had entered a completely different world from the grand corridors he had just walked through. The garden was vast and immaculately kept, with care given to every detail. Paths of white gravel wound between beds of ornamental plants, forming small trails that led to different corners of the garden.
The trees along the paths were well tended. Their branches stretched out to form natural shade, and the thick leaves rustled softly whenever the wind passed through. Some of the trees were so beautifully shaped that they looked as if the palace gardeners had pruned them with special care.
Roses bloomed in every color. There were bright red roses standing out against the green leaves, white roses with soft petals, and pink flowers lining the edges of the paths. The petals swayed gently in the wind, and their sweet scent filled the air. Now and then, small butterflies fluttered between the plants, resting briefly on the petals before taking off again.
Alden walked a few steps into the garden, his eyes taking in the beauty all around him. He even bent down to look closely at the flowers by the path. He had seen gardens and flowerbeds before, but never one this big or this well kept.
Then something else caught his attention.
In the middle of the garden, not far from the path he was on, a girl stood alone. She looked about his age.
Alden's steps slowed to a stop. She wore a clean, elegant white dress. The hem moved softly in the breeze, and her hands rested calmly at her sides. Her golden hair fell loose around her shoulders, catching the sunlight and shining like a crown.
For a while, Alden just stood and watched her from a distance. She seemed so different from everyone else he had seen in the palace. Among the neatly arranged flowers and trees, she looked like a part of the garden's beauty itself. The sunlight falling around her made her look even more graceful.
He had no idea who she was, why she was alone in the garden, or whether she was connected to the royal family. All he knew was that the sight of her had captured his full attention. The curiosity that had led him through the palace was now fixed entirely on the golden-haired girl.
He could not look away. Maybe it was her elegant white dress, or her hair shimmering in the sun, or simply how much she stood out against a garden that had held nothing but trees and flowers a moment ago. For a moment, Alden even forgot that he was somewhere he wasn't supposed to be without permission.
Then, as if she had sensed she was being watched, the girl slowly turned toward him. Her clear green eyes met his. Alden was startled to realize she had noticed him. He thought about backing away, or pretending to study the flowers, but it was too late.
"Who are you?" she asked firmly.
Her voice carried authority, but the look in her green eyes showed more curiosity than anger. She looked Alden over from head to toe, as if trying to work out who this boy was, appearing suddenly in the palace garden. It was clear she wasn't used to finding strangers wandering there, especially a boy who wore neither a servant's clothes nor a soldier's uniform.
Alden quickly lowered his head. He felt awkward, and his hands clasped together in front of him without his noticing. Just moments ago he had been enjoying the garden, and now he was face to face with someone who clearly belonged to the royal family.
"I... I'm Alden, son of Gareth the blacksmith," he answered, stammering a little. "My father came to deliver the swords the knights ordered."
He lifted his head again after he finished. He was still nervous, but he tried to answer politely. He didn't want to seem like a boy with no manners, especially now that he realized the girl might hold a high position in the palace.
The girl tilted her head slightly. She kept her eyes on him, as if weighing whether his answer was true. After a moment, her expression changed. The corner of her mouth lifted into a small smile, softening the sternness from before.
"I'm Princess Estella," she said, introducing herself. "So, you're a blacksmith's son? Do you know how to use a sword?"
Alden's eyes widened at her name and title. He realized the girl in front of him was no ordinary girl, but a princess. He was silent for a moment, trying to take it in, before turning his attention back to her question. He shook his head gently with a shy smile.
"No. I only help my father make them. But I do know one thing: a sword is like a person's soul. If it's forged well, it'll be strong and it'll last."
The words came out on their own. To Alden, they were nothing special. He was only repeating what his father always said when he gave him advice.
Estella looked at him with slightly widened eyes. She seemed quite surprised.
"That's..." Estella paused, as if searching for the right words. "Quite a deep thing to say for a blacksmith's son. You must be a poet in disguise, aren't you?"
Alden blushed at once. He scratched the back of his head with one hand and looked away for a moment, not knowing how to respond to the princess's praise.
"I'm just saying what my father taught me," he answered simply.
Estella's smile grew wider. She started walking toward him, and the distance between them, which had been so great a moment ago, shrank until she stood only a few steps away. She crossed her arms and studied his face with obvious interest.
"You're different," she said.
Alden raised an eyebrow slightly, not quite understanding what she meant.
"I've never met a boy like you. Usually everyone here only talks about war and politics."
She said it casually, though a hint of weariness crept into her voice. She had heard the adults in the palace talk many times. The royal advisors were always coming with reports, discussing government affairs, diplomatic relations, and the strength of the army. Even when she walked around the palace, talk like that never seemed far from her ears.
That was why Alden felt different to her. He hadn't come to talk about royal affairs, and he didn't try to win her attention by bragging. He simply talked about ordinary things he knew from everyday life.
Alden didn't know what to say. He was still baffled that a princess could be interested in listening to a blacksmith's son like him. But seeing how relaxed Estella was, his nervousness slowly began to fade.
He was about to open his mouth to reply when a deep voice suddenly broke the quiet of the garden, before he could say a single word.
"Alden!"
The voice was loud enough that Alden turned toward it at once. Gareth was hurrying along the path that connected the garden to the main palace building. His face was flushed with worry, and his strides grew longer when he saw his son standing with a girl he didn't know.
"What are you doing here?" Gareth scolded as soon as he reached him. "I told you not to wander off!"
Alden straightened up immediately. The small smile on his face faded, replaced by the look of a boy who knew he had done wrong. He bowed his head slightly, and his hands clasped together again. He knew very well that his father would be unhappy to find out he had wandered off without permission.
Gareth looked ready to continue the scolding. But before he could say another word, Estella stepped forward and stood slightly between him and Alden.
"Master Gareth," she said, gentle but firm. "Please allow him to keep me company a little longer. I promise he will return safely."
Gareth stopped mid-sentence and turned to look at the girl who had spoken to him. At first he seemed a little confused, since he didn't know who she was. But then he noticed her white dress, and the way the guards kept their distance from the garden, and he began to understand who stood before him.
He bowed his head respectfully at once.
"Your Highness, I would not want to trouble you," he replied carefully. "My son can be too curious at times. Please forgive me if his presence has disturbed you."
Gareth spoke with great courtesy. As a blacksmith who often took orders from the royal court, he understood how important it was to show proper manners before a member of the royal family. He also didn't want his son's carelessness to cause a misunderstanding or any needless trouble.
But Estella only smiled and shook her head.
"It's no trouble at all," she said casually. "Besides, I'm bored, and I'd rather have a friend than a guard. Your son is much more fun."
Gareth fell silent for a moment. He glanced at Alden, then back at the princess. He didn't seem to have a strong enough reason to refuse, especially since the request came from the princess herself.
"Very well, Your Highness. If that is what you wish."
Alden looked at his father with mixed feelings. He felt a little guilty for making Gareth worry, but he was also happy to have the chance to stay in the garden with Princess Estella. He could hardly hide the small smile that crept back onto his face.
Estella reached out and took Alden's hand lightly.
"Come on," she said.
Without waiting for an answer, she led him to a corner of the garden a little farther from the main path. Gareth watched them for a moment before finally letting his son go. Still, he stayed not too far away, making sure Alden didn't do anything reckless again.
After a while, Estella pointed into the distance.
"Have you ever seen the view from the top of a hill?" she asked.
Alden followed the direction of her finger. From where they stood, he could see part of the palace rising above the trees. But the hill Estella meant seemed to be outside the garden, somewhere higher, from where the whole palace might be seen more clearly.
Alden shook his head.
"No. I've never left my village."
Estella turned to him, even more interested now.
"Then you must tell me about your village," she said, walking toward a stone bench in the shade of a tree. "Life outside the palace always sounds fascinating to me."
She sat down on the bench. Its surface was smooth and clean, with a few simple carvings on the backrest, and she waited for the boy to begin. Alden hesitated for a moment. He had never imagined a princess would ask him to talk about village life. To him, the life he shared with his father was nothing special.
But seeing that Estella was truly waiting for his story, Alden began to speak, more eagerly now.
He told her about his village, which wasn't very big, with houses standing close together along dirt roads. In the morning the village was already bustling as people began their work. Farmers headed out to the fields, merchants prepared their goods, and children ran between the houses before gathering to play.
He told her about a small stream that flowed not far from the village. The water was clear, and you could see the stones on the bottom when the surface was calm. The village children often played there, especially when the sun was hot. They ran along the bank, splashed each other, or tried to catch the tiny fish swimming among the rocks.
He also told her about the village market, which was always busy on certain days. It was packed with merchants selling all kinds of things, from fresh vegetables and harvested crops to cloth and spices. The smell of spices from the stalls often mixed with the smell of food being cooked, creating an atmosphere that Alden thought you couldn't find anywhere else.
He talked about his life in his father's smithy, too. Since he was little, he had been used to watching Gareth work in front of the furnace, shaping hot iron with a hammer and anvil. The sound of the hammer striking iron over and over had become part of his daily life. Sometimes he could even tell what his father was making just by listening to the blows coming from the smithy.
Alden explained how he often helped Gareth with simple tasks, like preparing tools, fetching materials, sweeping up scraps of metal, and watching how weapons were made. He wasn't yet allowed to handle anything too difficult, but he was always happy whenever he got the chance to help his father.
Estella listened to the whole story with great attention. Now and then she asked about things she didn't understand, which made Alden even more eager to go on. She even laughed a few times when he described the funny things that had happened to him.
One of the stories that made Estella laugh the most was about the time Alden almost hit himself with a forging hammer.
He had been too young then to know how to use the tools properly. He had tried to help his father strike a piece of metal, but he was so excited and paid so little attention to where his hand was that the hammer swung toward his own body. Gareth saw it, stopped his work at once, and scolded him sharply.
Alden told the story with an embarrassed look, even acting out how he had been startled and nearly fallen over when he realized his own mistake.
Estella couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Hahaha! So you almost hit yourself with the hammer?" she asked between laughs.
"Yes. Father scolded me right after. He said if I wasn't careful, it wouldn't be the iron that changed shape, but my hand."
Estella laughed again at his answer. For a while, the usually quiet palace garden was filled with the sound of their talking and laughter. Alden began to feel more comfortable around the princess. He no longer thought much about the difference in their status, at least for as long as they were talking.
Time passed without them noticing. The sun still shone over the garden, and the wind occasionally rustled through the trees, stirring the flowers around the stone bench. Estella kept listening to Alden's stories, as if she still wanted to know more about the simple life she could only imagine from afar.
"Alden! It's time to go back!"
Alden turned to his father. Gareth was standing not far away, gesturing for his son to come over. It seemed the sword delivery and their other business in the palace were finished, and they had to leave.
Alden turned back to Estella, and his expression changed a little. He still wanted to sit there longer and listen to the princess's stories, or maybe tell her the other things he hadn't had a chance to share. But he also understood that he couldn't stay in the palace garden forever.
With some reluctance, he stood up from the stone bench.
Estella stood up too and smiled at him. She raised a hand and gave a light wave.
"I'm glad I met you, Alden. Maybe next time you can tell me more about your village."
Alden waved back with a wide smile.
"I'm glad I met you too, Princess Estella," he said.
Gareth took his son's hand and started toward the palace corridor. All the way there, he kept grumbling about how reckless Alden had been to leave his place without permission.
"You really made me worry," Gareth said, clearly annoyed. "How many times have I told you not to go off on your own? What if you had gotten lost in the palace? Or what if you had bothered someone you shouldn't have bothered?"
Alden just kept his head down as he walked beside his father, nodding a little now and then as if he were listening to every word. But most of his mind was still back in the garden.