Eric convened with Leonardo at the palace's boardroom right after leaving Kayla in her room. His brother could not wait to tell him his plans for the next five months preceding his coronation and at least a year after. There had been changes, as Frey had mentioned, and so they would have to draw up other and more rigorous measures to their goals.
Eric could understand his brother's anxiety, his impatience to finish what they have already started. What their Father had left them off with was nothing short of commitment. Their lives were now bound to each of their Father's visions for the country and only if they stopped would those visions fail.
They thought it too sudden and too soon. Their father's death barely a year ago marked this journey for them. And though their mother believed they were ready, they thought they still had more years to learn. They thought they still had time.
"I cannot fail our Father," Leonardo said for the seventh time since they entered the room. He was pacing about, back and forth the length of the cathedral windows lined up against the wall.
"I know," Eric replied. He was scared, too.
"As I watched Father's body burn at the Luminary Lake for his funeral, I was under the deep impression that Lord Malorious would be declared next king and not me." Leonardo stopped and stared at the horizon outside, his hands behind him. It was the only time he stilled.
Eric shrugged. "Father had always said his brothers never took their roles seriously, so how would they? You think if Lord Alexious did not die with him, he would be king?"
"Yes. I honestly think so. And then his sons, Alexander, Phillippe and Esteban, would be the next royal triangle when he dies. Not us," Leonardo said, as he now took his place in the circular table with a triangular etching on it.
Eric shook his head and traced his fingertip on the intricate carvings on the wooden table. "Father said Lord Alexious would never be king because he has three wives. And so does Lord Malorious. The Council does not take kindly to men like them. Selfish men, who have no respect for our traditions of keeping royal families pure." He continued to trace the table with his fingertips, knowing and feeling the teachings of his Father within him. "We are the ones meant for this. Not them."
"Well, given the track record, I would say it is indeed a good thing. Those three brothers would ruin us." Leonardo removed his cape and tossed it to Reynald, who was standing quietly in one corner. He was the only one allowed inside this specific boardroom. Frey and Lucas, Sebastiano's personal adviser, were not. "Forgive me, Father, wherever you are. I did not mean to sound condescending of your brother's sons."
"They are our cousins. And yes, they are like their father. Womanizers and gamblers," Eric said. He turned to Reynald. "Wouldn't you say so?"
"My opinion is irrelevant, Your Highness, but what you said are facts," Reynald agreed.
"It is up to us then. Besides, I find it rather most fitting that we take the triangle, given that the new goals of the country were all the brainchild of our Father."
Leonardo sighed. "Taking the kingdom to the next century. Even farther than where the other Asian countries are now. That is what Father wants. I would say it is Lord Malorious who would best fit the role of fulfilling such desires."
Eric laughed. "He would take us to the future, brother, but I am uncertain as to what kind."
"Let us stop speaking ill of him. This is very unbecoming of royals. Mother had taught us better." Leonardo let out a heavy breath. "Let us focus on your tasks as an Ender to my reign."
Ah. Becoming an Ender. That was what Eric feared so the most.
For the many centuries, royal families in Khazkatia were obligated to produce three children, who would take each of a triangle's ends. They would be called Enders. The triangle symbolized the three kings of three lands, who joined forces centuries and centuries ago to form what was now known as Khazkatia. That triangle represented stability. Strength. Power. A structure that made everything central to one source: the would-be king or queen. The eldest of the three children.
While the two Enders would be the king or queen's wings, destined to help him take the country to a new level of greatness. They would be bred in the same manner as the king or queen would be, and were bound to take his or her place upon death.
But like any other, those were drawn under uncompromising conditions. Guidelines that Khazkatians take very seriously.
When King Gregorious (or Gregory, as his sons called him) died, he died with his younger brother Alexious in a car crash. And since the triangle had been broken from those deaths, the youngest brother, Lord Malorious would not be king. It should have been easy as the Enders could be from his lineage, but it simple could not be done. Not only was there two missing original Enders at the same time, Lord Malorious had daughters and not sons.
As a ruling, should the next generation support their father or mother in the original royal triangle when he or she became king or queen, they must be sons and only sons from their original mothers, as they are deemed stronger and would best fit and match the strength of the remaining original Ender.
So it was here that the Council of Enders, those who held great wisdom of the land but were not crowned kings and queens, decided it was time they built a new triangle from King Gregorious' line – Prince Leonardo, Prince Sebastiano and Prince Ericson.
It angered Lord Malorious and his daughters. You would not imagine how they performed several tricks just to sway the Council and discredit Eric and his brothers, but they did. And they did so during the 6-month mourning stage of the family.
Such a scandal. It angered Eric somehow.
"Where is Sebastiano?" Leonardo stood from his seat again. "I have sent out for him an hour ago."
"Why are you so eager to start this meeting? I have just arrived. Can you not at least give me time to rest?"
Leonardo shook his head. "There is a condition to us, keeping this triangle. If we do not, I still rule as the king, but will have to take Alexander and Lord Malorious as my Enders. I do not wish that," he said in distaste.
Eric knew why. Lord Malorious had done his share of ensuring their Father failed as King in the past years. There was no telling of the lengths he would be willing to take to do the same to Leonardo now.
"Is that so?" Eric had known of this condition. One of the members of the Council was not very keen on keeping secrets and spilled it out at a social gathering. A servant heard it and called Frey to let him know. Frey, the loyal adviser he was, told Eric two nights before. "Humor me then. What is this condition?"
"They want us married. With three sons each. Never mind if we produce twenty children, so long as three of them are sons."
"Such a heavy feat, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes. And it starts with us. The Council would like to ensure that all Enders are able to keep the triangle going." Leonardo looked out the window. "Courtesy of Lord Malorious' rage when he found out he could not be king and his daughters could not be Enders."
"I'd say they'd make great Enders. Those cousins of ours are as strong as they make out sons to be." Eric slouched back on his seat and played with a pen on his hand. "If Lord Alexious did not die, he would take the place of Father and you would take his place."
"But that is not what happened. The Council ruled that we take the triangle and so we must follow the royal guidelines," Leonardo said.
The door to the boardroom opened and Sebastiano came in with hastened, but gracious strides. "I have impeccable reason to be late."
"And what reason is that, dear brother?" Leonardo asked.
"Lady Athena is giving me a headache. She is—"
"Driving you insane?" Eric cut in.
Servants came in with beverages. As always, Leonardo was given tea. Sebastiano asked for a coffee brew and Eric was given his favorite drink – soda. In a can.
"Good to see you, brother. And yes. Lady Athena will kill me. She has demands I do not intend to see through. Tell me again why I had been matched to her? I explicitly said I wanted someone who is simple-minded."
"Someone as boring as you, I suppose," Eric said, chuckling.
"Well, yes. Someone who would leave me be." Sebastiano heaved a heavy sigh. "Tell me, isn't there a way around this marriage condition? I am 29 years old. I still have a lot of years left in me to do what I want. The rule says the king, and only the king, must be married."
"Rules change apparently. Now, it involves you two," Leonardo whispered, placing his forehead on his hands as he propped his elbows on the table. He knew he would get this from his brothers. Sebastiano, most especially.
Eric did not want to push it further. Leonardo appeared to have too much in his head already, as shown by his weary and droopy eyes and now-slouched shoulders. Leonardo barely slouched. He barely acted against the royal stance taught to all of them when they were young. And yet, here he was. Unable to keep himself together.
"Wait, so this is serious? And when is it that you have -- apparently -- sought the hand of Lady Athena? Is she even a native of our land?" Eric popped open his soda. "She suddenly shows up a year ago from heaven knows where and she's now marrying you?"
"The rule did not mention having to choose a native. Nor from a noble birth, for that matter," Leonardo said, unrolling a parchment with the Council's crest on it. "But she will have to be underwritten by a noble family. Athena has been endorsed by Lord Malorious." Leonardo clears his throat and leans towards Eric. "Which reminds me. Any prospects?"
"I would like to choose for him, if you do not mind," Sebastiano offered. There was teasing in his voice. He and Eric used to push each other towards women they didn't like at balls and in any social gathering.
At a masquerade ball one time, Eric danced and kissed the hand of a lady he knew Sebastiano hated so much. At the end of the night, he introduced himself as Prince Sebastiano and that he had a great time, even with their masks on. Oh, how Sebastiano dealt with her for weeks, having the stomach to go on dates and social gatherings with her, while he detested every moment of it. She was needy and clingy and she had ears that were too big for her head. Finally, she was the one who left him, saying Sebastiano was too boring for her taste.
Revenge, though, was too sweet. At least for Sebastiano. He sent out dinner invitations to three different girls for a three-night gala at the palace in behalf of Eric. They were attractive women, no denying to that. But Eric's childhood crush was coming and they were supposed to rekindle an old friendship, which he thought may be taken to a different level of relationship.
So for the gala, not only could he not be on a date with Lady Serafina for three nights because of the uninvited dates, he also had to deal with her, thinking he was the cheating, playing kind of prince. And she never spoke to him again. Ever.
Good times. Good times.
"Sefarina is married, I suppose." Eric downed his soda and asked for another one.
Leonardo laughed. "Her hand was promised to a duke three months after she witnessed your parade of attractive women."
Eric laughed with him and Sebastiano.
"Well, if there really is no way around this, and I really must choose a bride, then I will." Eric popped open his second soda. "And I have the perfect woman in mind."
Now, he would only have to plan how to tell her.