Chapter 7: The Princes

As Iduna continued to recover, she found herself growing more curious about the royal family of the southern isles. King Westergaard had warned her about the cruel nature of his sons, and she couldn't help but wonder what they were like. One day, as she was walking in the castle gardens, she caught a glimpse of them gathered in the courtyard. There were four of them, each with a distinct personality that seemed to shine through in their expressions and body language. There was Caleb, the crown prince, who seemed to exude an air of superiority. He was tall and lean, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to bore into those he looked at. Iduna sensed that he was the most ruthless of the brothers, and she couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine as he glanced in her direction. Rudi and Runo, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying themselves, laughing and joking with each other as they lounged against the stone wall. They were both shorter and stockier than Caleb, with similar features that made Iduna wonder if they were twins. Their eyes sparkled with mischief, and Iduna got the sense that they were troublemakers. Lars, the youngest of the brothers, seemed different from the others. He was quiet and reserved, observing his brothers with a look of detachment that made Iduna wonder what he was thinking. He was shorter and thinner than the others, with a mop of messy brown hair that made him look like a boy rather than a prince. As Iduna watched, the princes began to stroll towards the castle, their conversation growing louder and more heated. They seemed to be arguing about something, and Iduna caught snippets of their conversation as they passed by. "...should be increased," Caleb was saying, his voice rising in indignation. "Are you mad?" Rudi replied, rolling his eyes. "The people can barely afford to feed themselves as it is." Iduna's ears pricked up at the mention of taxes, and she remembered King Westergaard's words about the cruel nature of the royal family. She wondered what kind of impact their policies were having on the people of the southern isles. As the princes entered the castle, Iduna saw Hans, the prince she had heard so much about, standing off to the side, watching them with a mixture of frustration and despair. He seemed to be dreading their presence, and Iduna sensed that he was caught in a difficult situation. King Westergaard appeared at her side, his expression somber. "Iduna, I see you've met my sons," he said, his voice low. Iduna nodded, her eyes never leaving Hans' face. "Yes, I have. They seem... complicated." King Westergaard sighed. "They are. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses, but they all share a sense of entitlement that makes them difficult to deal with. Except for Lars, perhaps. He's a bit of a loner, but he's got a good heart." Iduna's gaze lingered on Lars, who seemed to be observing the scene with a detached air. She sensed that he might be the most interesting of the brothers, and she made a mental note to learn more about him. As they walked away from the courtyard, Iduna couldn't help but wonder what the future held for the southern isles, and for Hans, who seemed to be caught in the midst of his family's turmoil. She knew that she had a lot to learn, but she was determined to get to the bottom of things. The sun was setting over the castle, casting a golden glow over the stone walls. Iduna felt a sense of hope rising within her, a sense that she might be able to make a difference in the southern isles. She was a queen, and she would not back down from a challenge. As she entered the castle, Iduna caught a glimpse of Hans, still standing in the courtyard, looking lost and forlorn. She felt a pang of sympathy for him, and she knew that she had to learn more about his situation. She was determined to help him, if she could. The hours ticked by, and Iduna found herself growing more and more curious about the princes and their lives. She knew that she had a lot to learn, but she was ready for the challenge. She was a queen, and she would not be intimidated.