The day of Ethan's departure, we all stood on the steps of the palace and watched them have their send-off. The royal family had arranged for the plaza inbetween flights of stairs to be occupied with small round tables and chairs. We all sat with our respective families, drinking tea and waiting for the departure ceremony to begin. All of the knights' families had been invited, and since this was the first prince's delegation, that meant a lot of noble houses.
I glanced around. Surely enough, the troops' roster was impressive, as only houses ranked Count and above attended. At the front stood Ethan, dressed in his brilliant military suit, colored a dark blue with golden and white embroidery and embellishments. The family crest sown onto his coat sparkled in the sun. My handkerchief was sticking out of his chest pocket.
Arthur, a knight for the first division of the imperial army, snorted when he saw Ethan standing amongst the others. "He's finally being still for once, huh?"
My mother and I smacked him on the arm at the same time.
"Don't be rude. You looked just as stupid during your first assignment sendoff," I scolded. Arthur's eyes widened, looking insulted.
"Really?" He gaped. I turned away, and he began tapping on my arm. "Did I really?"
"Shut up, this is Ethan's moment." I jerked my jaw towards the pink blob in the center of the stairs.
"Did I actually look stupid?" Arthur worried. He was wearing a dark navy blue military suit, the same one as Ethan, but tailored to fit his slightly taller build. Shiny medals were littered around his Aedile crest, signifying his achievements in the army. Arthur's silver hair was also brushed back neatly, and he stared at me with his glistening blue eyes. I winced. Arthur Aedile was apparently Aenon's finest bachelor. Looks like some standards had fallen.
"You look even dumber now," I hissed. My mother slapped both of us over the back of our heads.
"Knock it off, you two!" She exclaimed. "We have to be watching Ethan!"
Sure enough, when we looked back at him, he was glowering at both of us. After I gave a half-hearted wave, he beamed at me again.
"I even still have the handkerchief you embroidered for me back then…" Arthur sniffed, pulling out a well-used piece of silk with a messy wolf sown on top. He now used it to dab at his tears. "How children grow up so quickly…"
"Get over yourself, old man." I scowled, just as the Emperor emerged in front of the plaza.
He was old. The gold had bleached out of his hair, and what remained was pale, straw-like strands. His figure was still tall and impressive, but lacked muscle and vigor. The blood-red coat which sat upon his shoulders seemed to swallow him up. And his face seemed too sickly and weak to fit his crown.
The Emperor of Aenon.
The shining sun, the eternal flame, the phoenix of the East.
My face darkened.
I hadn't liked him in my last life, either. Stuck on playing around in the political world of the nobles, August Virile de Aenon thought little of actually helping out the people. While the poor suffered from droughts, famine, and poverty, he sat in his palace, admiring plays and having feasts. By far, he wasn't as corrupt as he could have been - just, indifferent. And haughty.
He even neglected Roman for sixteen years until he proved the slightest ounce of usefulness. Then, August worked him to the bone, sending him off in battles without proper supplies. Roman once said that he sometimes thought his father started wars just to send him out again.
I didn't pity the weak figure he cut. By now, Ieuan had probably begun feeding him poison, but a little part of me thought he deserved it.
He'd had another four pitiful years anyway.
The nobles around me stood in unison and bowed.
"Thank you all for joining us!" August declared, waving at everyone to sit down. "What a joyous occasion this is! So many young new knights are experiencing their first mission today." He smiled proudly at Ieuan and Ethan. "I am so incredibly pleased and grateful that you all are willing to fight on the behalf of Aenon."
The departure ceremony, and the departure ceremony with the Emperor was more of a show for the nobles than anything. In the outskirts of the country, when makeshift troops were deployed, they never had a departure ceremony as grand as this. They were sent off straight to their deaths. When Roman overtook the palace with his troops, there was nothing as fanciful as a departure ceremony.
But it was a tradition. A way to bless loved ones with good wishes.
When I departed from the Northern territories to find my family, in the middle of Roman's rebellion, bodies laid littered on the streets. Mothers and fathers prayed, giving their tearful blessings out in the frozen cold. No departure ceremony. No last opportunity to fawn over their sons and daughters, fixing medals and straightening suits.
None of it.
"I wish you all safe health, and that you may all return soon."
The emperor's gaunt face glittered with a smile. Young noble knights beamed up at him, but all I felt was disgust twisting along inside my gut.
"Now, my son shall give a few words of encouragement." He nodded at Ieuan, and with a dazzling smile, Ieuan stepped up.
He was dressed in a brilliant shade of white, accented with gold embroidery and a sparkling array of medals. In fact, all of the knights in the prince's troops wore white coats, but had on dark navy pants.
Ieuan's uniform was designed to make him shine. Long, white slacks that accentuated his legs. A sharp cut to his coat emphasized his broad shoulders. A fluttering white cape, with the imperial family's crest along the back.
In the sunlight, he glowed, radiant and beaming.
"I am incredibly excited for the outcome of this mission." Ieuan began. "I am so grateful and lucky to be surrounded by talented, hardworking, and trustworthy people. With certainty, I am sure that we will all return victorious." He raised his sheathed sword high, so that its golden hilt sparkled in the sun. Cheers erupted amongst the troops. I winced. How blinding.
Ethan seemed bored as well, as he yawned at the front of the lines.
"Underneath the guidance of the first prince," the Emperor grasped Ieuan's lifted wrist, "you all shall come together and return successful!"
I swallowed dryly. I remembered the original mission - where Ethan returned badly injured. Most of the troops hadn't fared so well. About one third of their numbers had been cut down - leaving many noble families hateful and weeping.
The Emperor thrusted Ieuan's hand up triumphantly, a wide smile breaking out across his face.
"He's not the only prince going, you know."