"But your majesty," one of the dukes ventured cautiously during the council meeting, his brow furrowed with concern, "perhaps young Borgon is a bit too inexperienced to be bestowed the honor of knighthood just yet. It may be more prudent to wait until he turns sixteen. While he may not be able to graduate from the royal academy at that age, he will still have ample opportunity to pursue the noble path of knighthood."
The room was filled with murmurs of agreement as the duke’s words hung in the air, the assembled nobles visibly weighing the gravity of the statement. Some exchanged knowing glances, recognizing the importance of nurturing the young with patience, while others contemplated the pressures that knighthood would impose on such tender shoulders.
The king’s gaze shifted to the duk
