"The Rune Knight represent the power of a nation, they can form contract with Soldier Class, Battalion Class, Fortress Class and Destroyer Class monster to bring forth destruction to their enemies. This make them an object to be coveted, controlled and exploited thus leading to a rune knight rebellion spreading all over the continent. From then the nobles and royal family strictly control the creation of rune knight only allowing those that have proper lineage and loyal to the kingdom to be granted the access to mana chamber to form contract with a captured monster"
-Excerpt from Lost History by Meerval the Wise-
As one of the five biggest nation located in the eastern part of the continent, Vertalis Kingdom have not been engulfed in any war over the past 50 years and usually resort to peaceful solution such as commerce and marriage to strengthen their bond with other countries. Cain the third prince was the King's favourite, born from Concubine Loula, the King childhood friend which he considered his true love. The current Queen, Hilda Florent is a relative to the pope of the Theocratic Kingdom of Holy Light. She bore King George one son, prince David Aramir and one daughter, princess Veila Aramir. King George married her as a condition to sign a peace treaty between the two nations when he was still a crown prince. The King also has another Concubine, Helena which is the daughter of one of the parliament leader of the merchant confederation. Helena bore him the second son, prince Leo Aramir. The King also does this to secure trade cooperation and opening commercial route between the two nation.
Before Alan soul come to this world, the third prince was assassinated when he was strolling into town. The Assassins use of Soul Bane poison put the prince in a precarious situation, the King order the best royal physician to treat Cain and manage to detoxify him but the prince have not regained consciousness for almost one year. When Alan soul merged into Cain, he can feel the last remain of Cain soul disappearing into the void.
At that time when Alan regain his consciousness for the first time, he was greeted by the tears of his parent. Alan somehow know that he was in another world and in another person body like those stories he sometimes read in books, these situations make Alan depressed and the longing to get back to Earth makes him indulge in excessive drinking and partying to escape reality. This hedonistic life last for almost three years when the King suddenly died on an expedition and his two brothers collude to expel him into the frontier land in the south eastern part of the kingdom. Estranged and Isolated Alan finally wake up and realized he must try to survive in this strange world.
Those flashback of his previous life make Alan strengthen his resolve to change his destiny.
He knows that he get transmigrated to this world in the first place was due to the curse of the True Rune of Space and Time which forcefully dragged his soul to this world and It seems that the Time Leap passive ability triggered when he blew himself up and his soul get flown back in time to when he first transmigrated to the body of Cain, the Vertalis Kingdom third prince.
"Ahahahahaha" letting out a mad laugh Alan swore that this time things will be different, this time he will not be a pawn but be the mastermind that can control his fate and those that oppose him.
Queens Bedroom, Royal Castle West Wing, the room was in a mess, pieces of an antique vase, glass mirror and other things was thrown randomly around.
"Those stupid Assassins, What bullshit Soul Bane poison!! That idiot prince have regained consciousness this morning and run around the castle happily like an unleashed dog. The Queen breathing heavily while cursing the Shadow of Death, an assassin organization famous around the continent that she secretly hires to assassinate the third prince.
Now George that idiot King will surely use every means to make him the crown prince, the Queen walking around the room anxiously. She knows there is no love between her and the King, the Pope forced George to marry her if he wants to have a peaceful relation with the Holy Kingdom and she marry him knowing the consequence. Nevertheless the Pope already reminded her, to expand influence of the church she must make her son the next king or else the Pope will pull out all his support and make her life miserable.
The Queen already have plan for the next assassination attempt in her mind and prepare to kill the king as a last resort before he announce his successor. She reaches out to the maid waiting outside the room to send a letter to Duke Gorm, one of the three Duke in the Kingdom in charge of the military affairs.
"Make sure the Duke receive it personally, or else your family head will hang on the castle wall!" sending death threat to the maid, the Queen locked herself inside her bedroom once more.
Duke Strauss Mansion, Royal Capital,
"Helena is it true that the third prince regained his consciousness?" Said a bald old man with a long goatee standing near a famous painting.
It seems so, I have informed the federation to prepare for our next move. It seems that arrogant Queen must be fuming in anger right now said Helena with a cheeky grin. Concubine Helena was the daughter of the parliament leader of the Merchant Confederation, since he also bore a son, his father also tasked her to take the future crown by any means possible. Different from Duke Grom who dwell in military affairs, Duke Strauss have a high influence and standing among the other nobles and he has promised the parliament to support Helena in her task.
"For now we observe and wait for the Kings move and stay vigilant if the Queen also attempt an assassination on your son life, said Duke Strauss with a calm voice,
Duke Mallory Estate, Hervo province.
Master, there is a confidential letter from the capital, said an old butler to Duke Mallory in his study room.
Opening the letter, Duke Mallory forehead ceased to a frown, I never thought that the third prince will regain consciousness, it seems that the Queen has failed. As one of the three Dukes and the richest man in the kingdom, he is the only Duke that stays neutral, not because he favours the third prince, it is because he only wants to take the winners side whoever wins the battle for the throne. Therefore, it is not wise to meddle in the current stage when all three princes are still safe and sound. Only when the battle begins, he can reap the most benefit.
'Send a people to monitor Prince David, Prince Leo and Prince Cain movement but do not disturb them, tell me if they met someone important or make a radical move.
Yes Master, said the old butler walking out of the room.
King Royal Chamber, King George was busy reviewing the kingdom financial budget with Loula by his side, when he hear that Cain has regained consciousness he stormed out of the room and running to Cain bedroom followed by Concubine Loula, Cain's Mother.
Inside Cain's bedroom seeing his beloved son drinking a hot soup while sitting in his bed, he and Loula quickly rush to hug him beside the bed.
Alan was surprised when he was suddenly hugged like this, this situation is exactly the same like his previous life, at that time he frantically pushed them away since he was still shocked after he transmigrated to this world. But now he can feel their Love and warmth seeping though his body.
"Father, Mother. I am back". Said Alan with a tears flowing down his eyes. Only now he can realize even though he cannot meet his parents on the earth again at least he should be grateful that he has another parents that love him so much in this world. Even though the original Cain have died, Alan decided that he should not waste away with his life like he do before, that is the least he can do to thank Cain soul for giving him the second chance in life.
How do you feel son? What does the physician say? Any place hurts? His parents bombard him with a barrage of question but Cain answered calmly that he is fine right now and only need some rest.
After spending the whole afternoon talking, his parents hesitatingly head back to their room,
Send Deus to guard the prince and accompany him all the time said King George to Bergen, the Kingdom royal secretary.
Noted my King, I will contact Deus immediately.
Deus is one of the best rune knight in the kingdom, he is already in his forties but the King know that he is one of the knight that is loyal to the royal family and the one that he can trust his son life with.
After all of them left, Alan accepting his new identity as Cain once more were thinking deeply. To change the disadvantageous future he must be the one to make the first move and surprise his enemies. Tomorrow he intend to create a comprehensive plan in his study room to see what strategy and tricks he can come up with.