Jeff Klauswitz gently opened his eyes and gazed out the window as the carriage, which had been travelling at breakneck speed, entered the main street of Ratz.
The imperial palace's avenue was lined with a procession of lavish carriages that were emblazoned with the coats of arms of the most illustrious noble families in the empire. Crowds of people swarming to get a sight of the amazing show were clogging up the downtown area, which was gradually being devoured by the darkness of evening.
His gaze was drawn to the crest of a carriage running alongside them as he admired dazzling array of lights that illuminated the city. A golden rose. Glorious insignia of the Herhardt Family.
Unable to resist his curiosity, Jeff sneaked a sideways glance through the carriage window, and there he saw the owner of the Duke's family, reputed to be the most powerful aristocrat in the empire, a young man barely the age of his own son. As if sensing Jeff's stare on him, the Duke slowly turned his head.
As their eyes met, the young Duke Herhardt showed no sign of agitation. Instead, he politely tilted the tip of his chin in greeting before calmly withdrawing his gaze. Jeff, sitting across from his son Franz, couldn't help but feel a sense of expectation in the air.
"Finally, I get to meet Duke Herhardt today." Jeff said, looking at his son.
Franz, engrossed in his book, raised his head, "What do you mean by that?" he asked, confused.
"Your fiancee," Jeff explained. "Since she is the daughter of a family within Herhardt's social circle, she can help you connect with Duke Herhardt."
But Franz was not convinced. "Father, Lady Klein and Duke Herhardt have no personal relationship," he protested.
Theodora Klauswitz, had been observing the exchange between father and son, quickly cut in. "Your father, right," she said, understanding the situation. "If we finds it difficult to approach him directly, Count Klein might be able to set up a meeting for us, Franz, isn't that right?" Theodora sent a command-like challenge to her son with her commanding gaze. Franz shook his head in resignation, hesitated.
"How many years have you attended the same school? I'm surprised you've never tried to correctly combine words before." Jeff Klauswitz eyed the philosophical book on Franz's lap and let out a long sigh.
Franz Klauswitz, his second son was exceptionally brilliant, of course.
His creative ability was also exceptional, and he was intelligent enough to stand out in a private school where youngsters from wealthy families tended to congregate. The family was very proud of their kid who earned an honors degree and was admitted to the best university in the empire.
However, beyond the classroom walls, Jeff couldn't help but find Franz's interests in philosophy and art to be a nuisance. His soft, feminine nature also made it difficult for him to fit in with the rugged world of men. The time, money and effort invested in getting him into this prestigious school felt like a fruitless endeavor.
"Father, just because we've graduated, doesn't mean we should expect to be friends with everyone. Take Duke Herhardt for example, it's a huge generation gap between my mom and Matthias von Herhardt. Our academic paths were vastly different." Furious, Franz responded. He displayed a wounded pride expression.
"Will the lady from the Diessen family also be at this ball?" Watching the scene, Theodora hastily changed the topic. Fortunately, the name she gave worked better than expected.
"She's a smart, downtrodden aristocrat, but she's in trouble. What kind of standard such a person will have is obvious." The thought of that made Jeff sigh deeply.
"Don't think too negatively," Theodora spoke with a benevolent smile on her face, her words carrying a hint of genuine concern for her stepson's future. "It's time for Bastian to get married as well. In any case, there is nothing wrong with him getting a wife who is of imperial blood."
Jeff Klauswitz, his charming and lovely face belied his middle age, smirked in response. "Indeed, you have a point," he said.
Theodora seemed to be caught in a dream as she enchantedly gazed at her husband. Since she fell head over heels in love with Jeff Klauswitz in the spring of her seventeenth year, he has been her entire universe since then.
To Theodora, nothing was more important in the world than the man she loved. Not the difference in their social status, not the opposition of her family, not even the fact that he was already married could hinder her passionate love. She was willing to sell her soul to the devil, just to have him, and she did it.
She gazed at the imperial palace, which had suddenly become closer, anticipation began to float in Theodora's eyes. "I must be sure to congratulate Bastian when I see him," she said. "I can only imagine the joy he feels at having been granted an audience with His Majesty the Emperor and the gift of a wife by the Emperor."
Theodora's family, Viscount Oswald, played a pivotal role in helping the Klauswitz become acceptable members of society. However, only Theodora, Jeff, and their second wife's children enjoyed this level of acceptance. Theodora's refusal to accept Jeff's children from his poor ex-wife represented not only the final vestige of aristocratic pride, but also her own. Because of this, Franz was able to more easily establish his position as heir.
The time has come, though, for Bastian to do so as well.
The day she found out Bastian had been invited to the Imperial Ball, Theodora was so tense and worried that she couldn't get any rest. Thankfully, she only suffered temporary discomfort. A whiff of hope filled the air when she heard that the daughter of the Duke of Diessen would also be in attendance. Taking into account the shame Bastian would face, this event seemed like a tremendous opportunity.
"Having such a woman as a member of our family, though, would be dishonorable," Franz objected, his forehead frowned and his face twisted in distaste.
"Don't worry, Franz," Theodora replied with a carefree smile. "No one will consider Bastian's bride a member of our family. Would it not be better for it to be Illis?"
Since leaving Ardene at the age of twelve, Bastian has not spent any time in the Klauswitz estate. His maternal family, the Illis family, had taken care of him and he considered them family.
"Franz, your mother is correct; you need to think of your future." Jeff Klauswitz nodded in agreement, a look of cheer on his face. Theodora beamed with love and pride, reminiscent of the day she broke Jeff free from the shackles of his ex-wife, and the day she gave birth to his noble child. It was a momentous occasion, much like Klauswitz's arrival on this earth.
Their chat ceased as the carriage arrived at its destination.
At the Imperial Palace's night, a menacing, dazzling light illuminated like a full moon dangling in the empty sky.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
"Captain Klauswitz has arrived!"
The grand doors of the banquet hall swung open with a flourish, and the guests turned their heads in unison, their eyes fixed on the entrance. Franz too, couldn't help but turn his gaze towards the door, his heart pounding with excitement.
He had never been to a banquet in the imperial palace before, and the thought of stepping into a world he had only ever dared to dream of, made him feel like he was on top of the world. He couldn't contain his joy, even as his feet bounced eagerly under the table.
But just as the ball was about to begin, Bastian's sudden humiliation only served to dampen the young man's spirits. It was a stark contrast to the high expectations of the night, and it left a sour taste in his mouth.
Bastian, with his haughty air, strolled down the path with an air of royalty. He sauntered with such arrogant confidence that it seemed as though he were the Crown Prince himself. His every step was a boast of his own importance and his every breath a claim of his own superiority. He was a shallow creature, who would only be rewarded with a mere fish for hunting those beneath him.
Franz, with his fiancée by his side, watched in dismay as his hopes of proving himself superior to his half-brother were shattered before him. But what was more surprising than Bastian's arrogance was the glittering array of prestigious figures who greeted him warmly – from aristocrats to political and financial elites. It was a connection that seemed impossible for a mere navy captain to possess.
The young lady of Klein, who stood among the onlookers, innocently wondered, "Is he also acquainted with Duke Herhardt?" as she observed the scene unfold.
Franz squeezed his lips hard and held his breath when Matthias von Herhardt approached Bastian and decided to shake hands first. Although the circumstance was entirely illogical, it was obvious that the two people knew one another and were close enough to interact socially in a place like this.
Franz nervously raised his cold hand to adjust his glasses, his eyes locked on Bastian as he finished his conversation with Duke Herhardt. The tension between the two brothers was palpable as Bastian slowly turned to face him.
"Hello, Franz," Bastian greeted him coolly, his eyes scanning Franz's face.
"It's nice to see you again, Lady Klein," Bastian added, turning his attention to Franz's fiancée.
"Hello, Captain Klauswitz, it's nice to meet you at the Imperial Palace" Lady Klein said.
Franz felt his nerves get the better of him as he struggled to find the right words to say. He was relieved when his fiancée, the intelligent and sociable daughter of Count Klein, stepped in to ease the awkward atmosphere with her polite greeting. It wasn't until the end of their conversation that Franz finally found his voice.
"How do u feel about finally entering the Imperial Palace?" Franz cleared his throat and forced a casual smile, his eyes scanning the grand banquet hall of the imperial palace. He looked different than before, as if the weight of the succession classes had taken a toll on him.
"I'm so moved that I want to make this a lifetime honor," Bastian replied, his voice filled with emotion. "Just like you are," he added, glancing at his half-brother, Franz.
Bastian, inspecting the hall with a critical eye, tilted his head and smiled, as if the answer would do justice. Franz could feel his face growing warm with embarrassment.
"Well, that wouldn't be too bad," Franz said, his tone nonchalant. But even in that moment of belated bravado, he couldn't shake off his nervousness.
Just then, a cry was heard announcing the arrival of the last guest, the name he had been waiting for. The tension in the room was palpable as all eyes turned towards the entrance, waiting for the final arrival.
Franz's heart sped up as he whirled around to head the entrance of the banquet hall. A young woman, accompanied by an elderly lady with white hair, entered after a short while. She was the bride in question, the one who would ruin Bastian's first imperial ball.
Franz looked at his brother's bride with a mix of excitement and trepidation. But as Lady Odette reached the center of the hall, he suddenly had a feeling that something was terribly wrong.
This can't be right, Franz thought, his mind whirling as he sought to push aside the moment that rendered him mute. The caustic remarks that had flowed out of his mouth without his knowledge seeped into the crowd's amazement.
As his increasingly loud heartbeat muffled all the noise in the world, Franz watched as his brother Bastian began to move. He was like a predator stalking his prey, a piece of rotten meat thrown by the emperor towards that damn beautiful woman.
It was then that Franz realized the true nature of this imperial ball, a cruel and twisted game played by the powerful for their own amusement. And in that moment, his heart ached for the innocent young woman caught in the middle of the royal mess.