The morning of Edward’s departure arrived sooner than Princess Evelyn had expected.
For days, she had tried to convince herself that she was ready for it.
She had told herself that Edward was strong, determined, and capable.
She had reminded herself that he had willingly accepted the king’s condition because he loved her.
She had even tried to imagine the day when he would return after seven years of faithful service, and she would finally be free to stand beside him as his wife.
But now that the morning had come, every hopeful thought seemed to disappear beneath a heavy cloud of fear.
Edward was leaving.
He was leaving the palace to begin his seven-year service to King Adrian, and the king had made it clear that this would not be an ordinary service.
Edward would face seven dangerous trials, one in each year of his service.
Each trial would test his courage, strength, loyalty, wisdom, and determination.
Only after completing all seven years and surviving all seven trials would Edward be considered worthy of marrying Princess Evelyn.
Evelyn had known about the condition, but hearing it spoken aloud had been different from watching the man she loved prepare to leave.
She stood near the palace window, staring at the courtyard below.
Edward was there.
His horse was prepared.
His belongings had been packed.
His sword hung at his side, and he wore the simple royal-service clothing the king had ordered him to wear.
Several guards stood nearby, waiting for the king’s command.
Edward looked ready.
Evelyn did not.
Her heart trembled.
“Lady Clara,” she whispered, “why does this feel like I am losing him?”
Lady Clara stood beside her, her eyes filled with sympathy.
“Because you love him,” she replied gently.
“When we love someone, even a temporary departure can feel like a lifetime.”
Evelyn turned away from the window.
“But what if he doesn’t come back?”
Lady Clara was silent for a moment.
She knew there was no easy answer.
The seven trials were not ordinary tasks.
They had been designed by the ancient laws of Bexton Kingdom, and many men who had attempted difficult royal trials in the past had returned wounded, broken, or had never returned at all.
Evelyn knew this.
That knowledge terrified her.
“I know Edward is brave,” she said.
“I know he is willing to do this.
But bravery does not make a man invincible.”
Lady Clara reached for her hand.
“No, it doesn’t.
But neither does fear make his death certain.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Believe in him.”
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
She wanted to believe.
More than anything, she wanted to believe.
But her heart was struggling with the thought of seven years.
Seven years of waiting.
Seven years of uncertainty.
Seven years of wondering whether the man she loved was safe.
And seven trials that could take him away from her forever.
In the courtyard, Edward stood before King Adrian.
The king looked at him with a mixture of pride and concern.
“Edward,” the king said, “today you begin the service you requested.”
Edward bowed.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You understand the conditions?”
“I do.”
“You understand that the service will last seven years?”
“I do.”
“And you understand that each year will bring a trial?”
Edward looked directly into the king’s eyes.
“I understand.”
The king studied him carefully.
“The trials will not be easy.”
“I am not expecting them to be.”
“They may take you into dangerous places.
You may face enemies, storms, wild lands, difficult decisions, and situations in which your life may depend upon your ability to remain calm.”
Edward’s hand rested firmly on the hilt of his sword.
“I am ready.”
The king sighed.
“Many men say that before they begin.”
“I am not saying it because I think I am stronger than every man who came before me,” Edward replied.
“I am saying it because I have made my decision.”
The king’s expression softened.
“And what gives you such determination?”
Edward glanced toward the palace.
He knew Evelyn was watching.
Even though he could not see her clearly from where he stood, he could feel her presence.
His heart belonged to her.
“Love,” he answered.
The king followed his gaze.
“Evelyn.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You are willing to risk seven years of your life for my daughter.”
“I am willing to give everything I have for the chance to build a life with her.”
The king remained silent.
There was something about Edward’s answer that moved him.
The young man was not demanding the princess.
He was not trying to escape the law.
He was accepting the law and choosing to prove himself worthy of the woman he loved.
“Then serve with honor.”
“I will.”
“Protect the kingdom.”
“I will.”
“Obey the commands given to you.”
“I will.”
“And above all, Edward, do not allow love to make you reckless.”
Edward smiled faintly.
“Love is not what will make me reckless, Your Majesty.
It is what will give me a reason to survive.”
The king looked at him for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
“Go, Edward.”
Inside the palace, Evelyn could no longer remain at the window.
She rushed down the corridor and into the courtyard.
“Edward!”
He turned immediately.
For a moment, everything around them seemed to disappear.
The guards, the servants, the palace walls, even the king seemed distant.
There was only Edward and Evelyn.
Evelyn walked toward him, trying desperately to control the tears gathering in her eyes.
Edward stepped forward.
“You came.”
“Of course I came.”
She looked at him from head to toe.
His clothes.
His sword.
His horse.
Everything about him told her that the moment she had feared had arrived.
“You really are leaving.”
Edward smiled gently.
“I am.”
“For seven years.”
“For seven years.”
Her lips trembled.
“And seven trials.”
Edward nodded.
“One each year.”
“What if one of them is too dangerous?”
“I will face it.”
“What if you are injured?”
“I will heal.”
“What if you become lost?”
“I will find my way home.”
“What if—”
Edward gently placed a finger against her lips.
“Do not let your heart create a thousand tragedies before I have even left.”
Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears.
“I am afraid.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I know.”
“I hate this law.”
Edward gave a quiet laugh.
“I know that too.”
She looked at him sadly.
“Then why are you smiling?”
“Because you still love me even when you are angry with the law.”
Evelyn tried to smile, but the tears escaped.
Edward wiped one away with his thumb.
“I will come back.”
“You cannot promise that.”
“I can promise that I will fight with everything I have.”
She looked into his eyes.
“And if you become afraid?”
“Then I will remember you.”
“And if you become tired?”
“I will remember your voice.”
“And if you think you cannot continue?”
Edward took her hand.
“Then I will remember the life waiting for me at the end of these seven years.”
Evelyn’s heart broke at his words.
She stepped closer and rested her head against his chest.
“I will wait for you.”
Edward wrapped his arms around her.
“Then I will return to you.”
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
They simply held each other.
They both knew that this was not the end of their love.
But it was the beginning of the greatest test their love had ever faced.
The king eventually approached them.
“Evelyn.”
She slowly released Edward.
King Adrian looked at his daughter.
“I know this is difficult.”
She wiped her tears.
“Father, what if the trials kill him?”
The king’s face became serious.
“The trials are dangerous, but they are not designed simply to destroy him.
“But what if the law takes the man I love from me?”
The king had no immediate answer.
He understood his daughter’s fear.
He had created the condition because of the ancient law, but now he could see the personal cost of it.
“Pray for him,” he finally said.
Evelyn nodded.
“I will.”
King Adrian turned toward Edward.
“Your first assignment begins today.”
Edward straightened.
“I am ready.”
The king handed him a sealed royal document.
“Your first destination is beyond the eastern border.
You will receive your instructions when you arrive.”
Edward accepted the document.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The king looked at him one final time.
“May you return safely.”
Edward bowed.
“Thank you.”
He mounted his horse.
Evelyn stood before him.
She wanted to say something powerful.
Something that would give him courage.
But when she opened her mouth, only three words came out.
“Come back to me.”
Edward looked at her.
“I will.”
He turned his horse toward the palace gates.
Then he stopped.
Slowly, he looked back.
Evelyn was still standing there.
Her tears were flowing freely now.
Edward raised his hand.
She raised hers.
Neither spoke.
Then Edward turned forward and continued.
The palace gates opened.
His horse passed through.
And slowly, the gates closed behind him.
Evelyn stood motionless.
She watched until he disappeared from sight.
Only then did she collapse into Lady Clara’s arms.
“He is gone,” she whispered.
Lady Clara held her tightly.
“He will return.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“I hope so.”
Edward rode for hours.
The palace became smaller behind him until it disappeared completely.
For the first time, he was truly alone.
The road ahead stretched into the distance.
He knew what awaited him.
Danger.
Uncertainty.
Pain.
Seven trials.
Seven years.
But beneath all those thoughts was one powerful image.
Evelyn.
He remembered her smile.
Her voice.
The way she had held his hand.
The way she had begged him to return.
Edward tightened his grip on the reins.
“I will return,” he whispered.
The wind blew against his face.
He did not know what the first trial would demand of him.
He did not know where the journey would take him.
He did not know how much pain he would have to endure.
But he knew one thing.
He had chosen this path willingly.
He had chosen love.
And he would not turn back.
As the sun began to set, Edward continued along the eastern road.
Behind him was the woman he loved.
Ahead of him was the unknown.
Between the two stood seven dangerous trials.
One year at a time.
One challenge at a time.
One step at a time.
And with every mile he traveled, Edward carried a single hope in his heart:
That after seven long years, after every trial had been conquered, he would return to Bexton Kingdom, walk through those palace gates again, and finally take Princess Evelyn’s hand—not as a servant seeking permission, but as the man who had survived everything the kingdom had demanded of him.
And somewhere inside the palace, Evelyn prayed for exactly the same thing.
She prayed that the man she loved would survive every danger.
She prayed that no sword, storm, enemy, or ancient trial would separate them.
She prayed that seven years would pass quickly.
Most of all, she prayed that hope would be stronger than fear.
For Edward had departed.
But their love had not.
Their seven-year journey had begun.