Athan Geldstein, Month 11, Day 10, Year A.F 652. The city of Rosalia, Kingdom of Rosalia.
The sounds of chatter and noise were nearly deafening as I stood at the side, hidden from view. The guests come in droves, entering the halls, all excited about the upcoming wedding.
I watch them as they enter, each one wearing the latest fashion trend my brother has pushed for through the countless branches under his control and the ridiculous amount of wealth that came with it.
Jealousy bubbles up inside of me and I clench my fist, feeling the drops of blood falling off my wrist. I close my eyes. Now wasn't the time for that, since there was no way uncle would let this happen.
I look behind me, noticing the lack of guards watching my every move. All seems to have dispersed, sent to guard the venue itself, guard at any incursion.
The guard stands still behind me, his eyes vigilant as countless nobles passed us by with a meaningful glance. They bow lightly and I reply at them with a small smile.
The guards would have seen such behaviour as suspicious, yet the guard behind me remains unresponsive.
Unless, a voice filled with pride spoke behind me, interrupting my thought, "Hello there, nephew."
A feeling of intense disgust fills me and I glare at the source of the voice, unable to discern his features hidden through the shadows, "Hello, uncle. Quite shocking to see you here. I would have thought they'll stop you at the gate."
The guard behind me bows as he takes a step to the side, ignoring uncle's presence, pretending to not see. Of course, they'll allow anyone in with enough money.
"What brought you to me on this fine afternoon?" I feigned ignorance, to at least gauge what he plans.
A chuckle replies before speaking, "I'm sure you know we cannot allow such a wedding to occur."
"So what?" I roll my eyes, "It's not like we can do much during this tightly guarded event."
I gesture all around me as hundreds of knights stationed throughout the palace.
His hand pushes from the darkness, his devious smile emerging, "Oh nephew, you hold so little faith for me,"
He looks up from me and watches the decor as the preparations for the wedding begin. The various depictions of the Prophet Deia are present throughout the palace, all of which were iconography and depictions heretical to the Devan Faith.
"Though I suppose this much heresy can lower a man's faith."
I take his hand off of my shoulders, I spoke to him in disgust, his machinations resulting to my mother's painful existence, "Don't touch me, uncle. I might turn as disgusting as you."
He chuckles at my words, "Fufu, you are still quite stubborn. I'm sure we can do something about that."
The words irritate me and I stood up, ready to leave his vicinity. He grabs my hand before whispering, "If you move now, you die."
I take my hand from him as I smirk back, "Is that a threat?"
He smiles at me, a fact which unnerves me, "No, that was a reminder of what's coming next."
I look at him in confusion before I hear the sounds of a bell echo through the palace halls. We both watch as the guests settle and the proceedings begin.
The hall door open as Bishop Orvin walks in the middle, preceding the parade of iconographies and heresies, a sight never once seen inside the palace.
The guests look around, an uncomfortable expression present through the nobility present. After all, the nobility was always the devout follower of Deva, the god of magic.
The other guests notice this change in atmosphere. The suffocating silence permeate through the golden encrusted hall as the parade continued on.
I watch my father sitting on his throne, watching the parade with a smirk. Why? why? what does he wish to achieve by provoking them like this?
What ridiculous scheme is he planning that involves alienating them further? A hand rest on my shoulder and I look up at Uncle's devious smile, the situation has more than confirmed the nobilities' suspicion.
"He seems to have gone mad, hasn't he?
His smile agitates me further, but I sat down. Despite my various misgivings, working with this asshole remains as the only way i can go through the pile of problems my father seems to be intent on leaving behind.
I watch my father's smirk, "He isn't, and that's what I'm afraid of."
He already plans to wipe out the houses of anyone that dares rebel. A fact which he seems to be eagerly awaiting.
The devious smile on Arthan's face fades as his eyes harden. "I see, then we no longer have a choice in the matter, correct?"
A look of dismay leaves me confused. "I thought you would have enjoyed this."
Eyes peering down at me, chuckles, "I do give off such intentions, don't I?"
He sat next to me, his expression deep in thought as he spoke, "What we do, we do for the country."
My face contorts in anger as I spit out, "Was this the same thing you said to my mother? The reason she sacrificed her own happiness, the reason we sit here in whispers of a civil war, was for the country? Or was it from your ambitions?"
An impressed smile crosses his lips, "It wasn't me that started this disaster."
I glare at him, "But you inflamed it, turning to how it stands today."
"I did what I had to do."
"Ah, of course, selling my mother to suffer alone with the neglect and disdain of the palace."
I roll my eyes in disgust as I spoke in utter disdain at his belief in himself, "Dont act as if you did anything."
He shakes his as he leans back. "There aren't enough apologies to make up for what happened to your mother."
A hand grips my shoulder as he spoke in sympathy, "But don't let her sacrifice be in vain."
His words struck a chord within me. His obvious manipulations of my mother's memory incite an unquenchable rage.
My heartbeat quickens as blood enters my head, my eyes blur in anger and in a quick rage, I shove his hand away, "Dont speak a word about her, oh so help me."
The once sympathetic facade turned threatening as he whispers to my ears, "Or what? You'll die in a ditch?"
I lower my head at his words as helplessness washes over me, his eyes watching me in disdain as the sentence serves an eerie reminder of where my situation stands.
"I believe you understand what would happen if you ever did anything against me?"
A nod was all i could give him. My anger muting any rebuttals he deserve.
Watching me stew in my rage seems to have taken him out of his stupor, "Look nephew, I understand that you're angry, but today is not the day for your petty rebellions."
"And why is that!"
The sounds of trumpet stop our conversation. My father stands up as he readies his speech and along with a smile he shouts,
"Today, on this momentous occasion, we shall witness the binding of two royal lineages under the grace of Deia." His voice echoes through the palace.
He raises his arm in praise as the guests clap and the nobles looks at him in distraught, betrayal etched in their expression, he choose to ignore this as he continued.
"Along with it shall come an alliance, an alliance which will bear fruit and bring peace and prosperity to both nations and the continent of Brieslin."
The applause follows as the guest claps to his words. Father looks to Bishop Orvin, who bows before he starts the ceremony.
I look to uncle as the ceremony starts, his expression turns unreadable as he takes in every detail. I sigh. At least I won't die when I'm with him.
Bishop Orvin shouts through the hall, "Now, with a marriage under the eyes of our Lord Deai and all of you as witnesses. We shall begin the union of our two dearly beloved."
The word "our" felt less than pleasant for the ears, but everyone remained reserved and respectful of the upcoming ceremony.
As the ceremony starts, Father smiles before a frown crosses his expression. He holds on to his chest as blood spurts from his mouth. An explosion erupts behind him, the explosion threw him from his throne.
I look in shock as my injured father lays there, his life in imminent danger. My brother immediately stands as the Royal Guards make a move, taking him into custody along with the Bishop.
Seeing this all unfold, panic spreads like fire through the crowd. I look to uncle for answers as his eyes turn malevolent.
He shouts with enough force for it to tear through the noise, "His Highness is being assassinated, protect him and take him into custody!"