" Should I head back now? Shit, it's just too tiring..."
As he stared at the moon blankly, the cold breeze of the night's spring was relaxing and refreshing. But hearing those shit gossip about him wasn't, as he can hear it outside.
" she must've been irritated by now, well good for her...that old hag deserves it."
"I guess the nobles supporting the second prince will shift their support to accommodate to the new situation... I'm sure that they'll be some protest over her."
" A grandiose banquet being held for my coronation where everyone in the high society could gather. This grandiose event was bothersome...But I should keep my real feelings masked...after all isn't that what politics is all about?" Thinking of his plan, while reclining himself with a bottle of champagne in his hand. The creaking sound of the door broke the quiet silence of his thought wondering of many things.
Noticing how someone entered the terrace where he was relaxing for a moment, Lucian did not mind it all as he thought that soon this guest will leave if they noticed him. But at that exact moment the guest did not leave, instead walking closer to him with desperate eyes looking straight at him.
As he noticed that it was a young lady who he met at the gathering, he felt suspicious of how she looked at him, it was nothing like those annoying noblewomen who keep clinging to him but a woman filled desperation and with hidden motives.
" So you were here, your highness." Looking at how she greeted him with such courtesy, he notices that she is the daughter of a duke Brooklyn, Verena Brooklyn.
She was the first young woman he noticed at the banquet. The fact that she may be one of the suitable candidates for selecting a crown princess, and her popularity was also outstanding compared to those mere noble families. She is a worthy pawn for his plan.
" What business do you have with me?" He queried, avoiding her desperate gaze that was looking at him. On the other hand, Verena secretly bit her lower lips as she hesitantly speak of her reasons.
"I am here to make a worth contract with you."
Hearing such a proposal, He flinched as he looked at her in disbelief. As he already thought of it as something inevitable yet still thinks it won't happen at this moment.
" Do you think we're that close for you to propose such a deal?" Interrogating her with such a suspicious look on his face, Verena knew that he won't just trust her that easily, especially when she might be a spy from the empress.
" I believe this Is the first time we've met." Looking at how her eyes never parted from his, he can tell how firm and desperate she is.
"I am fully aware of how rude this must seems, but my proposal is too good to refuse, and I believe your highness will be interested in it as well." She remarked confidently while slyly looking at him. As he can feel how persistent and nervous she is.
"..... Okay, let's hear it."
" I would like for you to help me take down my uncle, Marquess Greche Brooklyn...That means I want to set an engagement with you."
" In exchange, I will help you to take down the empress and help you take control of the noble faction."
"Have you not rumored the thought of the need for such an empress?"
" I can be—" Verena stopped at the moment he spoke.
" hold it, if I ever accept your proposal. I want to clear you that I will never make you the empress, nor my mistress."
" if you want to be the successor of your father's wealth, I may allow you to be engaged with me but you becoming the empress of this empire or my wife will never happen."
" also everything that I do will be none of your business, so keep that in your mind..."
Hearing such rejection from him was an obvious explicit warning to her, which means if he ever accepts her proposal, she should always remember that she will never receive such affection from him, and crossing the line won't be tolerated.
" Yes! I won't do it, so do you accept my proposal?"
"By the way, why are you so inclined to become my fiancee?"
" Because I'm sick and had enough of being underestimated for being a woman if I have to wear the same mask every day, Don't You think it's better to stand above others than below?"
Well, she has a point though, when a man underestimates a woman by her gender, of course, we women will make sure that we had the same or equal rights as men. Especially when it comes to inheriting the family's legacy.
Hearing how she stated her reasons, He also felt the same way as her, since power and wealth are very essential to protect someone you love. He also wants to make sure that he will protect her with all he has.
" Well, something is missing on it though."
" what do you mean by that?" She asked, while secretly clenching her hand in nervousness.
" I want you to swear your allegiance to me once you've become the duchess."
" Then, will you—"
" I need some time to think about it, and if I did accept your proposal I'll just send you a letter card in response." He remarked as he marched out of the terrace and went back to the throne room, leaving her in a vague hope.
The moment he left and went back to the throne room, Verena took a deep breath in the hope he would accept her proposal.
Meanwhile, In the throne room, The emperor who's been watching the crowd of high-ranking people had been eyeing where Lucian just went to. As he finally saw him walking toward him, The annoyed expression on the empress's face was priceless. Even the emperor was pleased with how irritated she is.
" Is something wrong mother?" He asked teasingly, but in a concerned way.
"...!" No response at all, but her eyes seems they were on fire from the rage she was feeling right now. As she secretly clenched her right hand, the thought of holding back her emotions was a challenge for her, since it was her biggest weakness.
On the other hand, Ezikiel was more worried about Lucian than his mother, 'cause he knows that her mother is something that everyone would hate once they get to know who she was. The last descendant of the wicked 'Scarlet Witch'.
When the cruelty of life befall her family, it was the time her power was awakened by the extreme desire for revenge.
The old myth and tales they've known were the truth and had once ruled each empire. Beginning with the legendary squad from 500 years ago, The pride werewolf king of the east, The winter elf queen of the north, The powerful witch of the south, and lastly the powerful master magician of the west. Followed by other prolific figures such as the 'wisteria princess, The archbishop, saints, spirits, and beasts 300 years ago. Every royal that is been chosen was an omnipotently powerful ruler and had a strong unity for peace in the whole continent. Until one of the rulers fell for greed and betrayed them.
Right now in the present, the last descendant of the Scarlet witch was the current empress, and the last descendant of the werewolves was Lucian. But the only problem is his true power hasn't been awakened yet, since it had been sealed for generations.
As the grandiose night's event ended with a lot of hidden criticism between both factions of nobility and aristocracy. They were astonished at how the emperor declared him as the crown prince, as they thought of this night's event as just a welcome ceremony and a celebration for the first prince's birthday. The shocking news made them stunned and forcibly obey the emperor's declaration.
*********
Days... Weeks... And a month has passed. Ever since their spy was sent off on its mission, Lucian patiently waited for the time their spy would send them her report.
As he became the crown prince of his empire, his life changed a lot more than he expected. from attending different banquets and soon attending a hunting festival. it surely was bothersome for him.
" A hunting festival?"
" Yes, your highness... This hunting festival was a celebration in the honor of the werewolf clan and it will be held at the Berdana forest... So it means that.."
" Another bothersome event, am I right? If then when should that event start."
" Well, you have only 4 days before the festival starts. So that's why you need to get ready maybe a day before the festival." Looking at how Lucian was so annoyed by these endless events, Eugene can only sigh and endure his short-tempered master.
" Well, did you receive the reports of our spy by any chance?"
" I'm afraid we had to wait, I think a week to receive her report, your Highness," Eugene replied, as he thought about how he still have time to check on her, Eugene can tell how much he loves her more than anything else.
"You're just like your mother, Lucian... No matter how busy you are, you still have time to give to someone you love..." He thought while admiring how influential love could be for someone like him.
" Then, how long do I have to wait?! It's been almost five months since she didn't send any messages!! Do you think I could think properly? as long as I did not know what happened to her, my mind wont is at ease." He complained anxiously as if he would destroy this place.
Seeing how upset Lucian was, Eugene can only restrain him from calming down and advised him to wait patiently for it to arrive.
" your highness, please calm down... How about this, Instead of wasting your time waiting for an answer, how about you take a rest for a while... Because you look so exhausted ."
Looking at how Eugene was so worried for him, Lucian sighed as he leaned on his seat to relax his mind.
*********
Meanwhile, on the way back rushing to the capital. Kiara's expression wasn't good at all, The uneasy feeling she felt after knowing such devastating news was shocking.
"Hiya!!!"
" Faster, rando! Faster!!!" Galloping at such intense speed, as if she was chased by death. where her eyes only looked in the direction where she can see the huge walls of the capital a few miles away.
" I need to inform, his highness about this immediately. but still, how on earth that happened??? This is bad..."