Chapter: The first one

Leo's promise

"Come on, let's play hide and seek!"
"Ui, yes! It's fun! You have to count Martin!"
"What? Me again ?! I always have to count! I don't always want to count!"
"Oh well then Leo counts!"
"What? I always have to count! Why don't you count Vera?"
".... Well ... I can't count yet ..."
"What? That can't be! Hahahaha!"
"But that's how it is! Stop laughing!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Martin! Leo laughs at me! Do something brother!"

It used to be like that. Before, eleven years ago .... Vera, Martin and Leo are now 16, 19 and 17 years old. Martin and Leo are trained as warriors to be able to go into battle in a war. Vera, on the other hand, is a chambermaid at Castle Xamto. So they can often meet and see each other, as the warrior training takes place in the castle courtyard. Vera is making the princess's bed when she enters her room. "Vera! My brother wants to see you. He said it was very important."The princess and Vera are good friends, although the princess is only 12 years old, she is very mature and intelligent.
"He always wants the same thing, Lucia. I don't know if you will notice, but he has been asking me for almost two months if I want to be his wife." Vera folds the pink bed sheet and places it on a bedside table. Princess Lucia looks at Vera questioningly: "He wants to marry you? But he has been promised to the duke's daughter!" Vera moves the bed and smooths the new sheet. "You know, if you got to know the duke's daughter properly, you wouldn't like her either. I understand your brother. She is an imaginary person who I should always carry after everything when she is visiting." Vera shakes the pillow . Lucia smiles and says: "But I can understand why he likes you. After all, I like you too and you are my best friend!" Vera tilts her head and smiles slightly: "I like you too, Lucia .... But I do I'm done with your room.I will look after your brother. "She takes the folded sheet and walks out of the room. Lucia runs after her and calls:" Oh yes! I should tell you that Leo is waiting for you in front of the castle gate after lunch! "Vera smiles and waves to Lucia before she turns the corner. Vera walks slowly down a long hallway. She always imagines that she can live in the castle. But only permanent staff are allowed to live in the castle. Vera does not yet belong to the permanent one Staff since she has only worked at the castle for a year. She is only part of the permanent staff if she has worked there for more than two years and you have no complaints about her. You cannot complain about her. She is very tidy and a lovely girl . Everyone in the castle and in the village likes her. She was even invited once with Leo and Martin to a king's banquet, which only noble people were allowed to attend. She stops in front of a large wooden door with many carved tendrils and flowers.Vera slowly lifts her arm and knocks on the door of the room.
"Who's there?" Echoes the prince's voice through the door. Vera takes another deep breath and opens the door. "It's me, Vera.", She says and looks around the room. As always, all sorts of things are scattered on the floor. Clothes, books, pillows, a chair is overturned and even a leaked inkwell lies on the floor. She shakes her head and looks at the prince seriously: "Tell me, why does your room always look so messy? No well-behaved prince behaves like that." But the prince gets up from his bed and approaches her. "I already told you that you shouldn't address me with the prince or you and stuff like that. You can address me by my name. Say Stefan to me!" But Vera doesn't pay any attention to the prince: ".... Oh, sorry "Stefan," and walked past him. She collected the books and put them back on the bookshelf. She opened a door of his wardrobe and hung the jackets and coats on hangers.She folded the pants and shirts and placed them on the shelves of the wardrobe. Stefan looks on with a grin, puts the overturned chair back down and sits down on it. Then he said in an audible tone of arrogance: "Listen. Why do you always say" no "when I ask you if you want to marry me?"
Vera asks him a counter-question: "How old are you Stefan? About six years old?" Prince Stefan looks at her puzzled and shakes his head: "Of course not! I'm eighteen years old!" Vera takes a rag from her apron and wipes it leaked ink. "Then you should know that you have been promised to the duke's daughter .... And I have another eye on someone other than
you. "Vera gets up, goes to a window and looks out. From there you can see the future warriors of the castle training with each other. Martin, her brother is currently fighting against his teacher and looks rather stupidly out of the laundry when he does Holds the tip of his sword close to Martin's neck.You can hear the teacher and the others laughing. Martin laughs too. It is Leo's turn and has to compete against the teacher. A new ranking of the best students is drawn up every week. Today is one of those days of the week again. Leo draws his sword and bows to his teacher. The teacher nods and raises his sword. Another student hits a large metal lid with his sword and the fight begins. Leo is a very good fighter and is one of the best in his group. The swords often clash against each other. Leo quickly and skillfully dodges the targeted sword stabs of his teacher. Suddenly Leo runs up and runs towards his teacher with his sword raised. The other students and Vera cheer him enthusiastically as he holds the sword against the chest of the teacher who is lying on the ground. Everyone claps and Vera calls down from the window: “You are the best Leo!” Leo turns around in amazement and looks up at the castle wall at the prince's window.When he sees Vera smiles and waves to her. Martin laughs and calls out: “But you don't cheer your brother or what?” Vera laughs and sticks her brother's tongue out: “You didn't win either!”
She turns around again and the prince stands in front of her and keeps looking at her. Vera tries to get past him but to the right and left is the wall and behind her the window. "What is it? What do you want now, Stefan?" But he just grins. "So you want him? ... this one
Leo? "Vera shakes her head and pushes Stefan away." That's none of your business! "She runs out of the room and down the stairs to the dining room. Two guards stand in front of the door and look at her." I am Vera the maid of the king, his wife and his children. I want to see Klara. She works in the kitchen. "The guards look at you briefly and laugh. Then one of them opens the door to the dining room and lets you in. Her friend Klara works in the castle's kitchen.She looks around and discovers Klara, who is setting the tables. "Klara!" She calls and runs to her. She smiles at her and says: "Hello Vera! Can you help me with the table setting?" Vera looks at her diagonally and says with a laugh: "Do you think I don't have to work? I'm completely broken! This Prince Stefan has already run down on me again Made ... "Klara grins:" Well, I think our prince is very cute! "" Oh Klara! You think all the boys are cute! ", Vera laughs again and helps Klara set the tables. As soon as they were finished, the two guards opened the door and all the employees of the castle sat at the tables and waited for Klara and the other cooks to serve them the food. The group of Vera's brother and Leo enter the dining room. They have their own table and are usually served right after the knights, as they are the future protectors of the land. Vera looks out for her brother and Leo. They just sat down at their table and wait like the others for their food.Vera runs to them and covers her brother's eyes from behind. Her brother laughs and feels over her hands to guess who it is. After a few seconds his answer comes: “Vera!” Vera lets go of him and squeezes between her brother and another student. Leo sits across from them and looks over at Vera with a grin. Vera smiles back. Klara comes to them and presents each one with a plate of potato soup. In the middle of the table she puts a basket with bread and a jug of water. Her brother looks at her worried and asks: “Did that prince Stefan turn on you again?” Vera tears off a piece of the bread, dips it into the soup and takes a bite. When her mouth is empty, she says softly: "Well, he didn't want to let me go at first, but to my amazement he didn't propose to me! And don't worry too much, Martin. You know, I'm just as skilled and smart as our dear mother was. "Martin nods and begins to spoon his soup as well.Suddenly loud laughter breaks out in the back of the dining room. Vera, Martin and Leo look around to see one of the knights grabbing Klara by the arm and yelling at her. "I'm supposed to eat that ?! I'm from the king's bodyguard! I'm his best man! I deserve something other than potato soup with bread!" Klara tries to tear herself away and says in a low voice: "Let go of me! You are part of it hurt! "But the knight just laughs and everyone else laughs too. Vera gets up and wants to help Klara, but Leo and Martin hold her back. "Wait, we'll do it," says Martin and walks with Leo to the knight. When Martin draws his sword and shouts: "Let go of her immediately!", The knight turns to him and laughs loudly. "What? Is a warrior contender trying to force me to do something? Better let it be little one! Hahahaha!" he continues laughing and turns back to Klara. But before he can say a word, Martin holds his sword to his neck and calls out: "I said you should let go of her!"Klara looks trembling behind her. Leo also draws his sword and holds it upright." The king will not like to hear it if his best knight does not treat his employees better than thieves! "The knight looks at him thoughtfully and slowly lets go of Klara. Klara runs behind Martin and watches what happens next." If you touch her again, or someone else in the castle, I will report you to the king! There are enough people who can confirm it. "He