It's early in the morning in the Empire's capital, Tierra.
When the Gate of the Royal Place slowly opened, a young man covered in black cloth, with only his eyes exposed, came out of the palace.
On this very day, the next day after the crown prince's eighteenth birthday, he is dethroned and disowned by the royal family after remaining as crown prince for fourteen years.
No one had ever seen the crown prince's face. Everyone outside the palace knew his name only, "Alex Reyole De Frandes".
There was a great deal of excitement on the road today as everyone awaited to see the disgrace of the royal family who was disowned.
As the royal palace gate opened slowly, the emperor and his three concubines stood behind the gate with six princes and five princesses. Almost all empire nobles were present at this time.
The emperor waves his hand at Alex and commands him to proceed forward.
"This is the last time I'll see him," said the emperor.
Alex bows his head and heads towards the outskirts of the capital.
Every member of the royal family had a relieved expression, except Alex's personal maid and the head butler and his son who were crying upon seeing him leave the palace.
As soon as Alex stepped out of the palace, everyone changed their facial expressions.
"What do you think they're about to do?" asked one of the concubines.
"I'm afraid..." whispered another.
"They'll kill him!" shouts third.
All of them remain silent.
A large crowd waited outside the palace walls. The soldiers were stationed on the road to make way for Alex to leave the capital.
Alex took his first step outside the palace and with every step he took the crowd got wilder.
The crowd threw rotten eggs, tomatoes, and stones at Alex with every step he took.
Everyone cursed at him until they were satisfied.
He was covered in rotten eggs, tomatoes, stones that people threw at him.
Alex walked slowly towards the exit gate of the capital, as Alex reached the outskirts of the capital.
"At last, I did it!" Alex exclaimed in joy.
Alex looked back at the capital.
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
Alex laughed loudly.
The wild crowd looked confused when they saw Alex's behavior.
He took off his black cloth covering his face, slowly turned and looked towards the royal palace. Everyone's expression suddenly changed from anger to surprise to admiration and the crowd started shedding tears.
The man who was hated by his own family, the man whose name was not mentioned even once, the man who was dethroned by his own family, the man who was humiliated and disgraced publicly, the man who none knew, the man who they threw stones at, the man they cursed was the most beloved person for the people of the capital.
People were shocked upon the reveal of Alex's identity, even the nobles standing far away were surprised upon revealed Alex's secret identity as the crown prince.
In a loud voice Alex shouted, "After the stormy night, it's the dawn of a new day. Don't know whether it will be clearer or stormy. Don't forget me, although Alex Reyole De Frandes will no longer exist. Farewell everyone."
Alex walked slowly outside the capital.
Alex waved his hand at everyone and disappeared into the horizon.
"Prince Alex! Alan!"
"Prince Alex!"
"Prince Alex! Alan!"
The people chanted his name, waving their arms and crying as he vanished from people's sight.
"Prince Alex!"
"Long Live... Alex Reyole De Frandes! Long live!" the crowd shouted...
Days passed quickly and people forgot about him and resumed their daily work.
After six months, the head butler who served the royal family for forty years as well as Alex's personal maid submitted a letter of resignation.
Though the Emperor did not want to approve the resignation, Alex had already approved it before leaving the empire when he was still the crown prince.
"Your majesty, the resignation letter is already approved, and we'll be leaving in a week. Before we leave, we'd like you and all the royal family members, plus Master Alex's former fiancé, to attend a meeting in four days. We have something to show that Master Alex has asked us to deliver to you all."
The emperor approved the meeting and ordered everyone in the Royal family as well as Rose to attend the meeting.
After four days...