Grandel knew that he had just faced a competition. He felt he was stepped upon by some colossal giant, how could he even compare to an Emperor?
And to put more weight, an Emperor of Uryasha's greatest empire?
There was a big difference between them, it was far too great of a difference. Perhaps they were both born unto nobility, which made them rather similar, but Grandel was born and raised in the comfort of the noble grounds, but the Emperor wasn't.
Because of the fear that the throne's successor will easily be killed, the Emperor was raised in a rural area far from the cities of Thuhelda, near the borderline of Geneusy, where the vast market of slaves are found in Thuhelda. He grew up to be with four older siblings, one a woman and the rest men.
They all shared their personal interests, and these interests made them meritorious of the throne, all except one.
Thuhelda was formerly called the land of Heldians during the reign of the former emperor. It was not great as it was, it was far too less to even be compared to Celeste. Emperor Bertram of Thuhelda was a man of many enemies, he raged in wars and lit the fury of many nations. To put bluntly, the Emperor knew how to light the fire and even pull the trigger, it was why many wished for him, and his bloodline to be assassinated.
That instilled fear within the empire and to the Emperor himself. Just as soon as he noticed that the youngest of his children was the best among all of them, he sent him near the gates of Geneusy, and sold him as a slave. He also changed his name to Cole, all for protecting him, and to hide his identity from everyone's knowledge.
The burial they prepared for him was fake, all for the throne.
For the former emperor, it would be better for him, his wife and his four children to die along with him, all in the exception to Venemiah's death.
Venemiah grew as Cole with his master, Niamah, the Emperor's servant who was sent to look after his son. For twelve years, Cole grew into slavery, yet he was still brought up with education even if slaves has no right to learn during the era.
Perhaps he had grown to wonder why the textbooks have been teaching him to learn various ways of fighting, the importance of ruling, and everything there is to know about the empire. He was only four when he started to be a slave, he scarcely remembered what he was once beforehand.
After his thirteen years of service, the prince of Theseus prompted to assassinate the whole imperial family. The Emperor died with the Empress, his wife, Yvette and their three children, the prince was successful, but he was fairly not at the same time as Wilson, the second son survived the brink of his death.
He thought that the empire would then fall to their hands, just so they could colonize the weak nation. But that certain day was also the day when Venemiah would be arriving to the Palace to meet his family once again.
At his feet when he arrived were the blood of his family. There was a yearning of rage, an awakening that made him want to slaughter those responsible for their deaths. Immediately, Venemiah reigned on the throne and slaughtered the prince of Theseus, along with Theseus' fall. Only then, Theseus were less of a great country they were.
From the start of his reign and to the current state of his rule, Venemiah always had an advantage. That was what made Grandel feel so weak. Maybe if it was some person from other kingdoms that weren't as powerful as he was, then perhaps he could put up a fight, but it wasn't.
How could a Duke even be compared to an Emperor? How could he, a son of a hell-for-leather and foolhardy man, even be compared to a son of a former emperor who reigned as an Emperor himself? How could he be compared to Venemiah?
For him, Thuhelda was not a nation of the empire, Venemiah was. Venemiah was the empire itself.
As he soon found out about the marriage, Grandel knew whether he should tell Selestia or not. But his thoughts graced him that Selestia will not let them marry her off.
It was a perfect guess, but the King did pique her interest to her obligation, that was why his plan of such marriage turned into failure. Grandel wanted to keep Selestia by her side at all times. Every time, he wanted to be near her, even if she was controlling of him, even if she was dominating and manipulative.
Even if she was a woman who can betray him over and over, even if she only wanted to use him, Grandel wanted to stay by her side.
Forever.
It was why he would wish to go with her everywhere she would go to. Even if it were to the ends of the world, or to a place he hated the most, even if she were to travel and go around the whole universe, he wished nothing but to be with her.
To be by her side.
To stand beside her.
To be fit like a locket together…with her.
To do everything with her.
To be beside her…
…until eternity comes to an end.
That's what he yearned to be.
To be with her…
All the damn time.
Even until he had died, he'd only wish that his corpse would be with her, even if she doesn't love him back.
Though even so, he wished she can. He wished that she would love him too. But that's the only thing he can do.
He can only wish…
But wishes scarcely happen, they are bound to only be formed in dreams and disappear once his eyes laid awake. It was the truth, harsh it may be, but there's only truth in these words.
Not until her flaming heart calm and open up for someone, Grandel could only wish to be loved by his beloved Selestia of Celeste.