A few days later.
Crimsoncrown Castle, in the Dining Room
The Dining Room of the Duke and Duchess was spacious and grandiose, filled with the finest furnishings and decor. The Room had a high ceiling that was adorned with a stunning mural of a magical battle between dragons, orcs, elves and other fantastical creatures. The mural was not a simple painting, but an intricate work of magic, brought to life by an artifact. The ceiling seemed to come to alive as the beasts moved and battled amongst the clouds, creating an eerie yet mesmerizing spectacle.
The floors were made of gleaming dark marble, and the walls were adorned with gold-glided moldings. At the center of the room stood a long dining table made of dark wood, intricately carved with symbols of power and wealth. The table was surrounded by plush velvet chairs.
The room was dimly lit by a massive chandelier made of shimmering crystal that seemed to glow from within. The chandelier was enchanted to change color depending on the time of day, casting a warm, golden light over the room during the evening hours. The walls are decorated with magical artifacts, including tapestries that seemed to move and change with the light, frescoes depicting scenes of the ancestors and their great deeds, and a large, ornate mirror that revealed scenes from distant lands. The mirror showed far-off places that were otherwise unreachable. Sometimes it showed caravans crossing the desert, or ships sailing across the the ocean.
The symbol of the dukedom, the Crimson Crown, was prominently displayed on the walls. The duke and duchess sat at the head of the table, with the maid and servants attentively standing by to attend to their every need. The duke wore a dark-purple velvet robe adorned with gold and jewels, while the duchess was dressed in a white gown of the finest silk. The duke's chair was made of dark wood, and had a high back, with a crimson crown carved into the back.
As they ate, the duke and duchess talked about the recent troubles that had befallen the dukedom. „I must report to my brother, his majesty the king, about the rebellion that has been brewing in the kingdom. They seek to overthrow the current ruling family and establish their own rule. The situation has grown dire and I need his help and advice on how to handle it."
Nebula listened attentively, her expression grave. „That sounds like a serious matter", she said. „It is important that you seek the king's counsel."
Enchantra nodded, „Indeed, it is. And while I am there, I also wish to bring up the matter of our daughter Celestica's future. I believe it would be wise to arrange a marriage between her and one of the princes, maybe even the crown prince, to strengthen the bond between our two families."
Nebula's expression grew thoughtful as she considered his words. „I understand your reasoning," she said slowly. „But it is not a decision to be made lightly. Celestica is still a child, and she should have the freedom to choose her own path in life."
„I understand you concerns, my dear," said Enchantra, reaching across the table to take her hand. „But I assure you that this is the best course of action for the good of our family and our kingdom. And who knows, perhaps in time Celestica will come to love the prince as we have grown to love each other."
„And besides that, it is best to marry within the the family, so that the coming generations will hold the same talents and abilities as the current ruling royal family. This will ensure that we remain in power and are not overthrown by the rebels," he added.
„I see. Very well, I trust your judgement. We shall present this proposal to the king," Nebula said. She knew that her husband was a powerful mage and a wise ruler, but even he couldn't handle everything alone. Even though he can defend the Kingdom to a certain extent, he can't do so forever. The Kingdom will need Talents. The bloodline, once pure, holds the potential for immense magical power and talents, passed down through generations. It's the most commonly used way for talent and power, and it is the foundation for the ruling family to remain in power. But there are still other rare cases.
„When will you set off for the royal palace," Nebula asked. „Tomorrow, at first light," replied Enchantra. „I will send word to the king and make the arrangements for the banquet."
With that, the conversation came to a close, and Enchantra and Nebula retired for the evening. But as the Duke walked through the corridors of his castle, he couldn't help but pause outside the door of the nursery, where his Children lay sleeping.
As the duke enters the nursery, he sees the midwife Elif singing a soothing lullaby to his newborn children. She notices him standing at the doorway and greets him with a smile. „My Lord, it's a pleasure to see you. How are you feeling about the recently birthed children?"
The duke walks towards the baby beds, each one containing a newborn child. He stops at the bed of his red-haired son, who is peacefully sleeping, surrounded by a soft glow of fire element.
„The red-haired boy, Nova, is the eldest," she whispers, „And he has a strong sense of responsibility. I can see that in the way he holds himself, even as a baby. He has a frame of a warrior, I believe he will be a great protector of his siblings."
The Duke nods, a smile on his face as he looks at his oldest son. „He doesn't take that after me in that regard. And Phantomica?" he asks as he gestured to the black-haired girl in the next bed.
„She is the eldest daughter," Elif says with a smile. „She has a strong sense of self, and I believe she will be a leader among her siblings. She has a proud air about her, even now."
Elif moved on to the green-yellow haired girl in the next bed. „Faunica is a joyful child, always playing and laughing when she hears music. She will bring much happiness to those around her."
Enchantra nods again, his gaze moving to the last crib. „And the youngest, Celestica?"
„She is a curious one," Elif says, her voice filled with admiration. „Even at such a young age, she is constantly observing and analyzing everything around her. I believe she will be a quick learner and have a thirst for knowledge."
„She will make a great scholar or researcher," the Duke said. „They all have their own unique qualities, it's quite amazing to see. And you're doing a great job taking care of them, Elif."
„Thank you, my Lord. And it's an honor to take care of the future of the Crimsoncrown family."
„Indeed, it is. I must leave for the royal palace tomorrow, but I'll make sure to bring back some gifts for each of them."
„I am sure they will love that, my Lord. They'll be in good hands while you're away."
„I know they will. Good night, Elif"
„Good night, my Lord"
…
As Enchantra leaves the nursery and makes his way to his bedroom, he is being accompanied by his personal guard, Kael. They walk in silence, the Duke being deep in thought.
As they reach the bedroom, he is being greeted by his guards who stand at attention by the door. He nods to them in recognition before walking towards his bed. He takes off his robe and lays it on a nearby chair before climbing into his bed. He closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep.
The next morning, he rises early and makes his way to the courtyard where his carriage is located. The carriage is pulled by four dark horses, and guarded by a small army of troops. It's made of dark wood and has the emblem of the Crimson Crown. When he approached the carriage, the soldiers stepped forward to greet him. „My Lord," one of them said, bowing deeply. „We are honored to have been chosen to protect you on your journey." Enchantra acknowledged him with a nod, he then turned to his personal guard. „Kael, you will be in charge of the escort during my journey. I trust you to keep me safe."
He then climbed into the carriage, taking a seat inside. The interior has comfortable seats and was large enough to fit six people, but he was traveling alone. There was a small table for him to work during the journey.
The journey to the royal city, known as the City of Thousand Towers, will be a long one. The Crimsoncrown Dukedom was situated in the west of the kingdom of Aethos, while the royal city is located in the center of the kingdom. Separated by hundreds of kilometers, the two cities are divided by a large river.
As the carriage begins to roll, the sound of hooves and the creaking of the wheels can be heard. The sound of the soldiers' steps and armor clanking together can also be heard as they march alongside the carriage. Enchantra knows that with his own abilities as a mage, he can defend against most potential ambushes. The army he set up is only for show, a way to deter bandits and other potential threats from attacking the convoy. He settled into his seat, the steady rocking of the carriage soothing him into a sense of tranquility as they set off on the long journey to the royal city.
…