The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 353: The Fated Ruler

Years passed, and Ricky, once a quiet boy with a fascination for flowers, grew into a strong and capable young man. His mind sharpened by the art of war, he eagerly absorbed the spells and tactics his father, Jerrick, taught him. Despite his growing prowess, Ricky maintained a balance between his warrior training and moments of levity, seeking solace and amusement from his fun-loving uncle William. The bond between them was strong, and William, ever the playful and doting uncle, became Ricky’s refuge from the more rigid expectations of his role as the heir to the Theodulf bloodline.

Altania, a neighboring kingdom, remained quiet on the surface, but the air in Ayberia was heavy with unspoken tension. The king of Altania had not forgotten, nor forgiven, the death of his two sons, one of whom had been slain by the Archduchess herself. It was a wound that festered, a slight too great to ignore, and the Altainians had vowed vengeance. The threat of war loomed over Ayberia like a storm cloud on the horizon, but Jerrick knew his son was fated to face that battle, not him. The visions and prophecies had long whispered that it would be Ricky, not Jerrick, who would eliminate the royal family of Altania and unite the two kingdoms, restoring them to their former glory.

Though war seemed inevitable, Jerrick found solace in the peaceful years that passed. His heart, however, ached for his brother William, who had never fully healed from the loss of his true love, Elaine. The curse that had bound William had broken, and though he sought to find love again, he could not move on. The memory of Elaine, and the love they had shared, held him captive. Even in death, Elaine remained the embodiment of true love for William, and the thought of corrupting that purity with another love felt impossible. He was a man haunted by the past, but he had learned to live with it, working behind the scenes to support King Louis while keeping his own Theodulf bloodline a secret from the public.

When Ricky, now known as Adalrich, turned twelve, Jerrick decided it was time to bring him to the yearly games. Until then, Jerrick had kept his son from participating, knowing that Adalrich’s ability to shift would make him feared among the other boys. The young earl had been trained to command respect, and the warriors of Ayberia, both young and old, already looked to him for guidance, despite his youth. Jerrick had made Adalrich promise he wouldn’t join in the games, but it was clear his presence alone commanded the battlefield. The boy stood tall among the fierce warriors, offering pointers and strategies with the confidence of a veteran. No one questioned his authority, and Jerrick couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride as he watched his son.

As the sun began to set and the games drew to a close, Jerrick noticed Adalrich slipping away from the crowd. Curiosity piqued, Jerrick followed his son, weaving through the trees until they came to a vast meadow of wildflowers, their colors bathed in the soft glow of twilight. In the distance, Jerrick saw King Louis, sitting alone, seemingly enjoying a quiet moment of reflection. But it wasn’t the king that had drawn Adalrich’s attention.

Standing in the meadow, laughing with her friends, was Princess Elestren, her golden hair catching the fading light. Jerrick watched as his son approached the princess, a look of determination and something else—something tender—etched across his young face. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Adalrich carried a small bouquet of wildflowers, which he offered to Elestren with a deep bow. When she pretended to be angry with him, however, he kneeled before her, begging her to accept his flowers. The sweet girl accepted the flower and kissed his cheek making the stoic boy blush.

Jerrick’s heart tightened as he watched the scene unfold. It wasn’t the first time he had seen his son’s affection for the princess, but it still stung. Adalrich had proclaimed her his bride with his very first words, words that were not "papa," despite Jerrick being the one who had raised him. That small detail, though endearing, left a quiet ache in Jerrick’s heart. His son had always been focused on her, and Jerrick couldn’t deny that Elestren, the radiant princess, held a special place in his boy’s heart.

Well, he was the same with Jessamyn. Had she been alive, he wouldn’t even bother with his son. He understood.

He turned to leave, giving the young pair their privacy, when a voice stopped him.

"Jerrick," Louis called from behind. Jerrick turned to see the king beckoning him to join his solitary tea party.

Jerrick approached and sat down across from Louis, who poured him a cup of tea without a word. They sat in silence for a moment, watching as Adalrich and Elestren laughed together in the distance, her friends looking on in awe.

After a long sip of his tea, Louis broke the silence. "Your son doesn’t kneel before me."

Jerrick’s jaw clenched at the words, though there was no malice in Louis’ tone. It was an observation, nothing more, but Jerrick knew what Louis meant. He had noticed it too—his son’s refusal to bend the knee, not out of rebellion, but because he believed himself destined for something greater. And perhaps he was.

"If I may," Jerrick began, carefully choosing his words. "Why not change the laws? Allow the firstborn to inherit the throne, regardless of their gender."

It was a bold suggestion, one that could change the course of history, and Jerrick knew it. But it was also a practical solution. The kingdom needed stability, and who was to say that a woman couldn’t lead with the same strength and wisdom as a man? Elestren had the blood of kings and queens running through her veins, and with Adalrich by her side, she would have the strength of the Theodulf bloodline as well.

Louis chuckled softly, shaking his head. "It’s a good idea, Jerrick. But I’ll leave that decision to the next king."

The weight of those words hung in the air, and Jerrick’s eyes followed Louis’ gaze to where Adalrich was now chasing Elestren through the meadow, their laughter echoing across the field.

Louis knew why he and Cordelia had no more children. It wasn’t a secret kept from him by fate, nor was it the will of the gods. The next in line to the throne wasn’t a Kaiser, but a Theodulf. And though the ministers worried about the lack of a male heir, Louis had accepted the truth long ago. Through his daughter, the Kaiser bloodline would still rule Ayberia, but the power behind the throne would shift to the Theodulfs.

"I see it now," Louis murmured, his eyes never leaving the two children. "The future... it belongs to them."

Jerrick nodded in agreement, though a part of him still wrestled with the idea. Fate had its way of unraveling in the most unexpected forms. Adalrich, with all his strength and potential, was fated for greatness. But that greatness wasn’t just in the battlefield or in uniting kingdoms through war. It was in his unwavering devotion to Elestren, a love that had been written in the stars long before either of them had spoken a word.

The kingdom was changing. The world was changing. And though Jerrick had once thought he would be the one to lead Ayberia into a new era, he now understood that it would be his son’s destiny to unite not just kingdoms, but hearts as well.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Jerrick sat back in his chair, his gaze softening as he watched the future unfold before him. He could accept this destiny. After all, the Theodulf family was fated to claim the throne, and through Elestren and Adalrich, a new age of peace and prosperity would begin.