*** ( Changes in POV ) ***
January 16, Year 1146, Kovalon Empire in the north under King Lucas Cromwell VII finally won the war against the Kingdom of Americ in the west that lasted for 2 decades. Americ admitted defeat and surrendered the city of Tetbald located at the far north border of their territory. A full drawn war for just one city made the Kovalon Empire expand their territory after a century. To celebrate such grandiose achievement, Kovalon invited every kings of the continent, including Americ.
To maintain the relationship between the two kingdoms, Americ offered their only princess as a celebratory gift. The princess's name was, Dianthe Gesse Isamaya, the first flower of the Americ Kingdom. Dianthe whom was 15 at that time, was planned to be bethrothed to one of the Kovalon's princes, Elnardo and Damian Cromwell. The two princes achievements and participation at the war gave them excellent recognition. But for Damian, it wasn't enough. For him, acquiring Dianthe can made him more superior than his brother. With this, King Lucas made them fight in a competition of strength. Damian did his best but still lost to his brother. Can't accept the result, because of his stepped on pride, a burning desire and envy locked his heart and made him planned an evil scheme towards his brother.
A month later, Elnardo and Dianthe held their wedding and conceived their first child. Right after the Dianthe delivered her first son, Elnardo was tasked to inspect the city of Tetbald. Without knowing anything, Elnardo left and never knew that he'll come back at the capital as a cold, dead body.
Before reaching Tetbald, Elnardo together with his 3 loyal knights were beseiged and ambushed by bandits. Damian who was at the nearest town, aided Elnardo but ... Elnardo never thought that this was all planned by his brother. While in the middle of a fight, Damian stabbed Elnardo with his own sword leading to his miserable death.
As they went back at the capital, Damian pretended to grief as he explained everything that happened. With the sudden death of Elnardo whom was the first in line on the throne, King Lucas hesitantly passed the throne to his remaining son, Damian. Dianthe was also forced to became Damian's wife. For Damian, the death of his brother was just a stepping stone for his power and love. He was elated soon after he got what he wanted.
After a year, King Lucas died by natural cause and Dianthe delivered her second child. A year after that, Dianthe died after delivering her third child. All of Dianthe's children were males and direct heirs to the throne. Several nobles began siding one of the three princes side: first prince Rainier El Cromwell, second prince Rainison Cromwell and third prince Reyner Cromwell.
5 years later, the second prince died mysteriously. Some said that his carriage was ambushed while some said that the carriage fell off the cliff. In the end, no one knew the exact cause. With the sudden loss of his second son, Damian greatly favored his blooded son. The first prince whom was Elnardo's son was casted aside with no one to relied on. Damian threw him on Jade Palace which was located the farthest among thw royal palaces. The first prince accepted everything like it's normal and lived independently on that cold, empty palace, In that empty place, he studied and worked hard for him to gain the attention of the king. But the king he greatly depended on wanted to eliminate him as he was the only contender of his blooded son in the throne.
At the age of 15, King Damian sent him on the frontline of the war against the Freahta Empire. King Damian expected the news of his death yet the opposite had happen. With the span of only 2 years, the first prince claimed the city of Ismirt leaving full victory on Kovalon. The first prince's name greatly spreaded and hailed by people of Kovalon. His achievement greatly favored him by the mass as the future ruler of the kingdom.
Ever since he was a kid, he began experiencing life threatening events and barely made it through. But as he grew up, these threats became part of his normal life. 4 years have passed and the normal yet not peaceful days of his was stirred by the sudden neutrality declaration of the Faques. For him, this was a rare chance for him to pull the Faques in his side.
***
A month after the Faques neutrality announcement, they already began their investigation towards this family. His trusted aid, chancellor Drystan Hewlett knocked and entered his study where he currently was working.
Drystan Hewlett, a guy with silver white long hair, cold yet sympathetic pair of viridian narrowes eyes behind his glasses; was the third son of Count Hewlett. With too many competitors in their family, he decidingly backed off the inheritors fight and loyally stayed and supported the first prince by standing at his side as a chancellor.
"Sorry for the sudden intrusion, prince El," he bowed down 45 degrees.
After the war, for the past years, the prince was been buried with a lot of paperworks to work on. The noise of the pen scribbling stopped as the first prince halted and placed down the pen he was holding. He looked up and blankly stared at him.
"The current Faques family is weird. Right after the Duke Faques's death, the duchess fired half of their workers. It seems like they're eliminating rats hiding inside their estate, what do you think, prince El?"
"How can the duchess do that? Isn't she stupid just like what the rumors said? Isn't it possible that someone is manipulating her?" one of the prince's loyal knights responded.
Evan Helthmorth, fourth son of Baronet Helthmorth. Their family was a family of knights that served the royal family for centuries. Despite his cute, bubbly personality, his bulky appearance and powerful swordmanship made him the captain of Black Knight Squad that served as the first prince's shield.
"Well ..." Drystan fixed his glasses. "It is possible ..."
"What should we do, prince El?" They stared at the first prince and waited for his respond yet not a single speck of noise was heard.
The first prince whom was silently listening earlier, now had his arm crossed and head down. He never answered and just maintained his silence.
"What should we do, prince El?!" Drystan slammed the desk loudly as he yelled.
El flinched and abruptly stood up in surprise. Drystan knew that the prince was drowzing off in his seat. El walked towards the couch and lay down. He rested his head and with his face facing the ceiling, he gave his instructions indifferently.
"Let's just watch for now. We can't afford to rush this matter as it might only backfires on us. We can't afford to lose the Faques. Keep your eyes also on the other nobles. If they kept on changing side, then just completely cut them off from our side."
[ Faques is one of the 5 ducal estate in Kovalon. With Walter and Douffregus on our side, if we also had the Faques, this war will be completely one sided. ]
"Those trash. They don't know loyalty at all. They just want to drag this longer as they kept on getting bribes. We should just kill them and hang their heads in the central square as an example." Evan clicked his tongue as he enraged.
El sighed heavily and took a glance on Evan whom was furiously fighting them in his thoughts. El let out another sigh as he closed his eyes and completely fell asleep.
[ How carefree. I'm envious. ]
The war between factions intensedly progressed for a year. El inside his study room, heard loud heavy footsteps outside the room. Drystan furiously slammed the door when he opened it and immediately let out all of his frustrations.
"What in the world is the Faques doing?!"
Ignoring him, El continued what he was doing and asked indifferently.
"Are there any news?"
"That's the problem, prince El! There's no news about their movement! Are they just really sitting this one out and just watching how this war will end?!" Drystan enraged as he slammed the desk loudly that even El flinched in surprise.
El let out a soft 'Hmm' and suddenly looked at him coldly. "Send that fool at the Faques. Let's use him once in a while for something like this."
"Then, I'll go fetch the Marquess, prince El. Goodbye!" he left furiously.
Right after he left, Evan leaned sideways and whispered softly.
"Is it really alright to send that fool there?"
"I don't really know why I did that ... Really ..."
That afternoon, the Marquess arrived at the Jade Palace. Right after entering the room, he instantly began his nonstop ranting.
"What's wrong with my face, Rainier?! Am I that ugly?! Am I?!"
Marquess Henrichus was one of his trusted friends of the same age. During the war, he greatly aided the first prince and supported him as he led the war in the frontlines. His father passed him the Henrichus estate right after he went back from the war. Despite Eluard's foolish and child - like personality, he was someone the first prince can rely on. He'll never hesitate to sacrifice himself just to prove his loyalty to the prince. With his face, he's also a lady killer in the empire. He received tons of marriage invitations yet he declined them all simply because its burdensome and annoying.
Right after he entered the room, El was forced to listen to his nagging for an hour yet El didn't even bat a single mind on him.
"Hey, Rainier! Am I really that ugly?!" he deliberately stole the pen El was holding and threw it away. El sighed heavily and stared at him with icy piercing gaze.
"What?!"
Eluard's face lightened and smiled widely.
"That Duchess! The Faques duchess doesn't want to join because of my face! Am I really ugly?!"
El inhaled deeply as he contained in his patience.
[ I understand that duchess. Raising a grown up kid is indeed tiresome. ]
El sighed hopelessly and replied indifferently. "Do you want me to say the exact reason?"
Evan besides the first prince brushed a sneer as he looked at Eluard mockingly. "If the duchess can't come to our side, isn't it the Marquess's fault now?"
After hearing that, he flopped down on the floor and whimpered. "What?! What did I even do?! I even acted cool in front of her!"
[ Why did he inherit the Henrichus when there's Ryan in their family? ]
"Let's drink! Let's drink today! Let's go! I'm in the bad mood because of that woman! Let's go! I'll drink till I collapse." He clinged on El's arm and begged with pleading eyes. El sighed heavily as he gave up on him.
[ Why did I befriended this idiot?! ]
In the end, El gave in. Later that night, El arrived at the Eluard frequented to. It's not his first time visiting a pub yet everything felt so new to him. He's the first to arrive as Eluard fetched Drystan and Evan.
He just took a random seat and looked around. At first he was enjoying a few drinks but as time passed, it totally became uncomfortable. A lady kept on staring at him the whole time. He can feel her piercing gaze that can bore a hole onto him if it continued any more longer. He began having cold sweat as he drink with that uncomfortability.
[ This is totally uncomfortable. Where are they?! ]
***
Somewhere inside the Red District.
"Drystan ..."
( Eluard )
"What?!" ( Drystan )
"Where are we?" ( Eluard )
"Huh?" ( Drystan )
"I got a bad feeling about this." ( Evan )
"I think were lost ..."
( Eluard )
"Fuck you, Eluard!" ( Drystan )
"As expected of the fool! Let's just go home ..." ( Evan )
***
An hour have passed and the three of them never came. El ended up having a lot of beer enough for him to feel slightly tipsy.
"I guess they won't come, huh?" he mumbled as he stood up.
As he tried to take a step, someone grabbed his shirt sleeve preventing him from leaving. He glanced back and not surprisingly, it's the woman who kept on staring at him.
"What are you doing?"
"..."
She didn't utter a word nor a single noise. She just tilted her head back and forth like a drunkard. She looked up at him and with her red, flushed cheeks, she smiled liked a fool. El looked at him blankly while maintaining a cold expression in his face.
[ She reminded me of Eluard. How troublesome. ]
El tried to remove her hand and escaped but she ended up throwing herself towards him. She wrapped her arms around his waist tightly. El tried to dragged her as he walked forcidly but it's impossible for him to go home if the dragging continued. He sighed hopelessly as he crouched down.
"Hey! Can you let go?!" He yelled softly.
With the noise that suddenly grew louder, he leaned his head and tried whispering in her ears. But the lady threw herself in his arms and wrapped her arms around him. He was taken aback and cursed softly.
[ What's with this woman?! Is she a slut?! ]
"Hey, handsome ..." she leaned towards his ear and whispered seductively.
He instantly got chills all over his body. He froze on the spot and think of alternative ways to be freed from this woman. He tried to struggle but it's pointless. Her grip was too strong. In the end, he stood up and while carrying the woman in his back, he went back and let the woman took a seat. It was difficult for him. She was too heavy afterall.
[ What's with this woman? Why is she so heavy? ]
He ended up sighing hopelessly while having the sleeping lady rested in his back as he stood up.
"Hey, lady. Don't do this again, or you'll get executed," he uselessly threatened her while she's deep in her sleep.
"..."
Of course, she never answered. As the silence grew, he can't help but sighed frustratedly.
[ What in the world am I doing here? It's because of that stupid Eluard! ]
He clenched his fist and closed his eyes as he held in all of his frustrations towards that guy. Moments later, the lady woke up and staggeredly held his hands tightly as she dragged him onto the front desk where the beer lady was serving.
"Hey! What are you doing?! Let go!"
In the end, he became a pushover as he hopelessly drank everything the lady gave him. He can't even escape as he was being tightly held in her hands leaving him no choice but to act in her play and when she's totally down, he'll have his chance to escape. Or so he thought.