Prologue

Will I stutter in the madness of this supreme palaver? In the conversation of crowns will I have only thorns above my head. In the media of virtuosos, will I be the masterpiece or the rejected? How will I know? I'm no time. I'm only a boy. A scared young lamb drifting to the edges of the grasslands looking over the future wherever I go.

Nowhere is the future and the pasture I've made for myself feels like a maze. Past...It's all memories of the past...Why? Haven't I gone already? Reject your past they said, become new they said...they don't know. They never knew that feeling.

Whereana is the largest mint of opulent legacies with a prestigious imperial bloodline and military history. The land is built solely for trade and the arts of "negotiation". Through the progress of its industry, many of the citizens found their names in the noble hierarchy even with small shares in history.

Though low standards even for the empire most prosperous, the lustrous domain is as powerful. The capital, the centerpiece of the empire, Rochelieu. It was founded by the first imperial monarch, serving as a refuge for those who sheltered tyrannical magics from oppressors.

The prosperity of the kingdom was laid upon the military and diplomatic aptitude gaining allies from west to east. By notion or by force, Rochelieu became the capital of "The Empire".

The land has its perks. It is the richest country on the continent and amongst its sister empires, our military stands out the most. Still, I cannot see how this...all of this will be worth my smile.

"You see this land unfit of your wisdom and I see this kingdom the lifeline of our continent. We have differences in our justice but it's inevitable for you to shed from the monarchy" Said, my father.

"I won't," I replied.

My Father...Claudius Ron De Bleu Catharia is the current emperor. He's a good man, a wise ruler, and such a neglective father. Father embezzled his wisdom to the imperial regime, tilting the monarchy and its firm. In its justice, he calls it "The Evolution". A supposed movement of the monarchy to a more civil conduct.

"You are handing the kingdom to him? Someone who can't even wield an original spell. This meeting is about to discuss power and dominance within the imperial family so how did he reserve a seat." I sat down and sighed writing what I need to write.

The representatives of each kingdom came to a pause and began to mutter. They each were hesitant to speak against the second prince of the empire. My brother Seleno Blackwell De Bleu Catharia. My mother Along with my Father stared blankly into the open.

"At least I was planned," I whispered. Behind my lip, I smirked ever so softly.

"We are all civilized and we are not fickle about those matters but it's incompetent for both of the imperial heirs to divert the conversation into something even our title have insulted to touch. So please refrain from making more comments." Father scanning his documents.

Seleno sighed, frowning. With a cold look on his face. He backed down and sat. Continuing his document, he rigidly made his way to the bottom as though his brows narrowed.

Seleno has been subtly asserting his authoritative dominance against me and tradition. Something about him makes us not different, but our perspectives are but a distant narrow canyon. Something is vague in his idea...Even so...I value him.

"Excuse me your grace, but there have been countless rumors that his majesty Azure is the one who stashed the royal treasury? " Asked the representative of Kingdom Selena.

The representatives again muttered, this time, loudly. I sharpened my eyes, leering at them. On my feet, I spoke.

"We have conducted this meeting for the country's treaty. Again, we are formal figureheads of the government, and this congress was not meant to satisfy bitter rumors about the supreme family."

"And this congress was also meant to hold respectable figureheads that oversee members of the imperial court...that is if you are denying to answer this then you mean that it's true?" Added the Selena representative.

"Duke-"

"Everyone asks permission to speak and would not blurt out informality within this gathering. Please Lance go back to your seating." Composed, I took a deep breath and faced the Duke of the Selena Kingdom.

"Duke Selena. We are here not to drift from the topic and ignore the situation at hand. When we aligned ourselves, our minds first set that this is a sophisticated and formal meeting..."

"You are denying it more. That stance and defense of yours are too suspicious. Your grace, I was merely asking, and come to think of it, isn't the host's responsibility to answer the guests' questions?"

"Speak furthermore Duke Selena. Please, I dare you." Father's eyes sharpened. A small but razor pulse emitted from her direction causing our bodies to flinch.

"Yes your grace. I apologize for spouting nonsense, your majesty." Duke Selena then bowed.

"Imbecile..."

Of course, everyone is out to get to me. The firstborn of the imperial family, the heir, chosen by the gods. How amazing must that be...

The Second Prince, after the meeting, left the palace premises returning to the Catharia Provincial estate just as so making it his normal residence. Mother at first contradicted the idea, but father convinced her otherwise.

Seleno is younger than me yet still, he has done well serving in my father's court. Acting like some sort of secretary. He follows father around like the spoiled child who just wants his proclaimed attention. Reclusive but simple...

I do value him as my brother. That said, value scales differently to love. His craving and continuous hunger for recognition are admirable and his execution is done so perfectly. Whatever madness he has, I'll just hope for the best given to him. By royalty, he deserves it.

The day he departed the first time seemed neutral. In any way when he left, I felt as if I was looking at a pale gray canvas. Just there, just blank without the color of notion left within my vision...

( A Few Weeks After )

As the prince, many of the noble families have invited me to parties. My mother allows me to do so, but of course, I offer many rejection letters. Being introverted, I continuously refuse every invitation and my mother would be furious at me...not making an advance in my power.

"Your grace...A letter from the Allan Family. They have requested for you to"

"Please crumple that paper away and see to it burnt. I'll have myself write a rejection letter about such." I replied massaging my temple.

"Of course your majesty." Said the servant.

Keeping myself composed in monarchy's customs. Younger than this, I mastered manners and conducts by formal imperial standards.

As of now, I read books about theology, literature, political sciences, and commerce. As an aspiring figurehead of a trading-based kingdom...commerce is very important for me to master. I do have my classes, and I would listen closely to each discussion.

On my vacant days, I usually lay down underneath a tree, with the wind on my side and the fragrance of the warm autumn grace. It's a place where my adviser along with several servants would find me.

Even at such times...My adviser would still offer me letters from noble factions.

"Your majesty! A letter from-"

"This is a bad setting to have that letter displayed here. Consider that letter read and please lay it on my desk." I replied folding a page as though smiling.

"Your grace?" I looked at the male servant who was a bit red from the face.

"See to it that the letter finds its way to my desk I said. I'll have my adviser scan it later and process its contents." I replied.

"Y-Yes your majesty." He says, running off curiously.

The oil lamps in my room were lit, the warm color along with my fireplace made the room bright. I sat in front of the flames reading simple historical strategies and a few fictional romantics here and there.

Before diving deep into the canvas of literacy. A knock suddenly came to my door then a voice spoke.

"Your highness it's me." Lance...

Lance Bastion. The sole successor of House Bastion. Their family belongs in the middle-class sector where they take part, not at high occasions but merely in moderate trade works with the commerce clan for authorized businesses.

"There is an urgent letter that has just been scoped through some of your documents and-"

"Let me guess, another inviting letter?" I scoffed and got on my back reading.

Their family owns a very large winery and a successful one indeed. Receiving the noble rank class as their ancestors were one of the few family heads that originally fought the oppressors. Their family, after the war, settled peacefully in a bountiful land given by the imperial highness.

"It's from the Cynthia Family your grace. They wish to have an audience with you this Thursday. They are making the meeting urgent and wish for you to accept undoubtedly." Lance began to look concerned at me.

"The Cynthias?"

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