NOVEL WEB Chapter 13: Chapter 13: 5 years later
At 9 years old, Aiden had come into his own. Gone was the unsure boy who once questioned his place in the kingdom. Instead, a confident, carefree young prince now roamed the halls of the palace, his laughter echoing off the ancient stone walls.
In many ways, Aiden had grown into a mixture of his parents' best traits—he had inherited his father's strong presence and his mother's endless energy.
He wasn't yet as imposing as Max, but there was something about the way he carried himself that hinted at the potential to become someone great.
Aiden had also stopped worrying about things beyond his control. His father's advice to "live in the moment" had stuck with him, and he embraced life with a new sense of ease.
He enjoyed his lessons, his training, and especially his time outside the palace walls, where he spent hours with the friends he had made over the years.
Each one of them came from a different walk of life, but together, they formed a tight-knit group that helped ground Aiden in a world of royal duties and responsibility.
One of his closest friends was Amara, the daughter of the café owner in the capital. The café was Aiden's favourite spot whenever he could sneak away from the palace, a place where he could be himself without the weight of his royal title.
Amara was full of life, always teasing Aiden and never treating him like the prince. They bonded over their love for sweets and spent countless afternoons talking about anything and everything, away from the watchful eyes of the palace.
His other friend was Daxton, the son of his personal bodyguard, Captain Alaric. Daxton was quieter than Amara, but no less loyal. He had an intensity about him, always focused and determined, likely inheriting those traits from his father.
He trained with Aiden on occasion, and the two of them were practically inseparable when it came to sparring sessions.
Daxton never went easy on him, and Aiden respected that, knowing that his friend was helping him grow stronger with each bout.
Then there was Celeste, the daughter of the Duke of House Armoured , one of the nine Titan clans that served the royal family. Celeste was fierce and noble, as befitting someone with the blood of the Armoured Titan running through her veins.
Her family's loyalty to the royal line was absolute, and Celeste took that responsibility seriously. She often reminded Aiden of their heritage, not as a burden, but as something to be proud of.
Despite her formality at times, she had a playful side, and she never hesitated to challenge Aiden in both strength and wit.
The power of the nine Titans had long since been passed down to the heads of the respective clans, each one sworn to serve the king with unwavering devotion.
It was a system that had kept Paradis united for centuries. House Armoured, House Jaw, House Cart, and the others, all played their roles in the kingdom's stability, and Aiden was beginning to understand the significance of that as he grew older.
The weight of history rested on his shoulders, but it no longer scared him. Instead, it motivated him to become a leader worthy of their loyalty.
One day, as Aiden was sitting with his friends in the royal gardens, enjoying a rare moment of peace, he looked around at them, feeling a deep sense of gratitude.
They weren't just friends—they were his support system, each of them bringing something unique into his life.
"Do you ever think about what things will be like when we're older?" Aiden asked, breaking the comfortable silence. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the garden.
Amara raised an eyebrow. "Why? Are you worried about becoming the big, important king?" she teased, nudging him playfully.
Aiden laughed. "Not really. It's just… things will change, won't they? You'll all have your own responsibilities. Daxton will probably end up like his father, Celeste will take on the Armoured Titan, and I'll have to be king one day."
Celeste smirked. "You say that like it's a bad thing. You were born for this, Aiden. We all were."
Daxton nodded, though he remained silent, as usual. His quiet agreement was enough for Aiden to feel reassured.
"Maybe," Aiden mused, glancing up at the sky. "But for now, I just want to enjoy moments like this."
The others didn't respond, but Aiden knew they shared the same sentiment. The future could wait for now.
As the months passed and Aiden neared his tenth birthday, life continued as usual in the kingdom of Paradis.
Aiden spent his days training with his father, learning about the intricate politics of ruling from his mother, and sneaking off to spend time with his friends whenever he could.
Each day, he felt more comfortable in his role as a prince, though the weight of his future still lingered in the back of his mind.
His relationship with his father deepened as they continued to bond over training and royal duties. Max would often regale Aiden with stories of his youth, laughing heartily as he recounted his own misadventures.
It was clear that Max was grooming Aiden to be a strong leader, though he did so in a way that never felt oppressive.
His father's larger-than-life presence was something Aiden both admired and aspired to.
Meanwhile, his mother, Eleanor, had her own unique influence on him. She taught him how to navigate the more delicate aspects of royal life—diplomacy, kindness, and the importance of understanding the people he would one day rule.
Her endless energy kept Aiden on his toes, and he couldn't help but smile whenever she burst into a room, full of life and excitement.
Through it all, Aiden's bond with Seraphina grew stronger as well. His older sister, now 14, had matured into a formidable figure in her own right.
She was often busy with her own studies and training, but whenever they had a moment together, it was clear how much she cared for her younger brother.
They shared a playful rivalry, constantly trying to one-up each other in various challenges, but the love between them was unmistakable.
As Aiden prepared to step into the next chapter of his life, he knew that he had the support of his family and friends.
The weight of his future didn't feel so heavy anymore. Instead, it felt like a path he was ready to walk, knowing that when the time came, he would be surrounded by those who believed in him.
As Aiden grew older, he developed a strong interest in making and tinkering with things. Whether it was small gadgets or makeshift inventions, his curiosity pushed him to explore how things worked.
He could often be found scavenging the city, looking for discarded materials that he could repurpose. Despite being a prince with access to the finest resources, Aiden found joy in the hunt.
There was something about searching for the perfect part in the most unexpected places that made him feel connected to the world around him.
King Max, of course, offered to give Aiden anything he needed, from high-grade metals to the most advanced tools in the palace workshop.
But Aiden always politely refused. He wasn't interested in ready-made gifts. Instead, he enjoyed the challenge of finding his own materials, no matter how basic or rough they were. I
t was his way of staying grounded, making sure he didn't lose touch with the reality of the world outside the palace walls. His friends Amara, Daxton, and Celeste would sometimes tag along on his scavenging trips, though they often teased him for it.
Amara, always the daring one, would joke about how Aiden could have the best of the best but chose to dig through the scraps like an adventurer on a quest.
Daxton, calm and focused, found amusement in Aiden's dedication but respected his passion, often offering to help carry whatever Aiden found.
Celeste, with her sharp mind, would offer suggestions on how to use the pieces they discovered, her practical insights proving helpful during their little "scavenger hunts."
Aiden's workshops in the palace soon became cluttered with parts, screws, wires, and the oddest trinkets. To the royal staff, it was a bit chaotic, but to Aiden, it was a haven of creativity.
Each item had potential, and he loved figuring out how to bring his ideas to life, even if the end result didn't always work perfectly. It was about the process, the learning, and the joy of discovery.
This hands-on approach to life and problem-solving kept him grounded and allowed him to escape the sometimes overwhelming reality of being a royal.
As the years passed, this hobby became a core part of who Aiden was—a young prince who preferred to find value in the forgotten pieces of the world around him, rather than simply rely on his royal privileges.
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