Library of Mystory

By Heroald Chern

There was once a prince who was playful and cared little about what happened in his kingdom. However, as was tradition, he was to choose a girl to marry in a few months time, when he would reach the age of twenty-one.

His parents decided to send him to a school for nobles in hopes of him finding someone he fancied.
Through a twist of fate, he met Ida, a studious girl from his class who wasnt even a noble, and together they discovered the Library of Mystory.

There they uncovered a secret so big that it would change their fate and the fate of the kingdom FOREVER.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Jan 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781482855043

Heroald Chern

Heroald Chern is an English major graduate and a primary-school teacher with more than ten years of experience. He seeks to add new entries into the fairy-tale genre. He currently lives in Singapore.

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Copyright © 2016 by Heroald Chern.

Cover Illustration By: Muhammad Firman Bin Osman

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Contents

1.   Once upon a time

2.   Going to School

3.   Meeting the Class

4.   Playtime!

5.   Into the Library

6.   What the Books Foretold

7.   Has he Gone Mad?

8.   Back Home

9.   Reality Bites

10.   Ida’s New Job

11.   A Trip to Town

12.   The Stroke

13.   The Showdown

14.   The Parade

15.   Rescuing the Old Lady

16.   Before the Ball

17.   Finding Madelief

18.   As the Clock Strikes Twelve

19.   Happily Ever After

Once upon a time

T here was a prince who just loved to do nothing but play. Prince Jesper was his name and he could play from dawn till dusk and into the night. His royal servants would be at his beck and call, following him around to play whenever he wanted.

Even as he grew older, his love for playing did not wane and before long, he had grown to be of age. As he was the crown prince, it was a tradition that he would announce whom he would choose to marry on his twenty-first birthday.

The king and queen sent word to all the nobles near and far who had daughters of suitable age as potential candidates to be his bride, but alas, the crown prince would not have any of it; he would rather play chess, practise sword fighting or archery, sing and make merry all day than meet prospective wives.

So, the king and queen met the daughters of the nobles themselves. Interestingly, each and every one of them looked just too prim and proper and in fact, all of them seemed perfect! Unfortunately for the girls, the king and queen knew in their royal hearts that that was far from the truth and the girls were most probably only putting a gloss on their behaviour.

Sensing their dilemma, the king’s advisor suggested, Your Royal Majesty, perhaps we should send the crown prince to a nobles’ school where he can observe these girls in their day-to-day lives. That way, Prince Jesper will be able to see the girls for who they really are!

To this, the king raised an eyebrow and began grilling the royal advisor, The crown prince?! In a school? What about his safety? What if he gets bullied? What if he doesn’t enjoy himself there?

Now, dear, the queen said calmingly, that might not be such a bad idea! We did meet in school ourselves, didn’t we? Remember those days strolling in the gardens and exploring the school? Ah! Such fond memories…

Yes, yes, but something about that university gives me nightmares. I still dream of some dark library with worms all around, the king frightfully recalled.

The queen patted the king’s shoulder as a comforting gesture. Now, dear, we know those are just dreams. You did say the dreams were a constant source of guidance for you on ruling the country, didn’t you?

Yes, but the dreams were just too real. There was that time when I was found unconscious near the library, remember? What if that happened to our son too? What if… the king tried to object further but it all fell on deaf ears. Eventually, he showed signs of relent and added, But well, I don’t think we’ll be able to convince him to go to school when we can’t even convince him to come in to meet those girls.

Just leave that to me, the queen said confidently.

The queen immediately went to see the prince. She swept regally over the polished marble corridors to the gardens where the prince was wrestling a poor servant, who was of a much smaller build than he was. The servant gave up soon enough.

Hmph! You’re no fun. Can we get the guards? complained the prince.

No, Your Royal Highness, the king specifically gave orders that the soldiers and guards are off-limits.

But you servants are of no challenge! the prince protested. Just then, he noticed the queen standing by the side and greeted her with a bow.

Jesper, how would you like to go to school? the queen offered.

School? I already have a private tutor at home who’s teaching me all I should know. Besides, school sounds boring. I don’t want to read and study all day.

Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, Jesper. School is an extremely fun place! There’ll be many subjects around your age that you can wrestle with; they’d definitely put up a better fight then your servants here, chuckled the queen.

Really?! Martin, Prince Jesper called and one of the servants instinctively jumped, take me to school right away!

The queen tittered and gave a slight grin, "Jesper, we’ll arrange for that tomorrow. For today, just try not to break your royal servants’ neck; at least not too much."

Prince Jesper nodded gleefully like a boy who had found his toys as he watched his mother leave. Then he eagerly turned towards Martin, Martin, come! Tell me all about the school I’ll be going to…

Going to School

P rince Jesper could not sleep the previous night. All he could think of was what he would play with his schoolmates when he met them. He was the first one out of bed, the first one at the royal table and the first one to the royal carriage that day.

Prince Jesper had often taken the royal carriage out on hunts where his own horse would follow behind until they were at the hunting ground. However he had never felt as full of anticipation as he was feeling then. He had heard all about Wiston University from Martin the previous night, and now that the carriage was moving ever closer in its direction, he could feel the anticipation mounting.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped. The carriage door opened and Martin’s face appeared. Your Royal Highness, if you please?

Prince Jesper stepped out of the carriage and looked around. The royal advisor, Kaman, was standing beside Martin, but the school was nowhere to be seen. Where are we?

We’ll have to walk the rest of the distance or risk having the royal carriage seen by people. Exposing your identity as the successor to the throne will attract unnecessary danger, Kaman explained. Martin, guard the carriage. Martin bowed in response.

Just then Kaman’s attention was drawn to something gleaming on the floor. He shifted his gaze downwards to the princely feet and immediately remarked disapprovingly, You’re not wearing the correct shoes!

The prince tilted his head downwards and saw what the royal advisor was upset about. Martin didn’t know what shoes I should wear. I always wear my hunting boots when I get on the royal carriage.

"Never mind,