'I can't let the wills get distributed when the dark-rise is here. It will be better to use it later.'
A knock on the door distracted me.
"My lord are you in there?" Millard's voice came through the door.
"ah! Yes, wait a minute." I walked over and opened the door.
"My lord, why are you here at the crack of dawn?" Millard asked me with confusion since I dread coming here if my life depends on it.
"I remembered some pending work when I woke up so I headed straight here." I explained and started walking towards the dining room.
As I entered the dining room I was greeted with the whole table already set up. I took my seat at the head of the table and my breakfast was served.
Xane came through the door when I was half done with my food. He bowed and said "My lord, there was a letter from the palace in your absence."
I nodded since I had food in my mouth. I raised my hand and signaled him to read me the letter.
"It reads that the duke is invited to the meeting of the nobles for the discussion about the war as well as other agendas. The date of the meeting is 56 of 248 phoenix year."
I stopped mid-eating and looked up at him "That's today."
"Yes my lord."
"What time is it?"
"In the evening."
I sighed and placed my utensils down, wiped my mouth and got up.
"Get my clothes, I am leaving for the palace now. Oh," I looked around and didn't find a particular black hair, honey eyed puppy which got me concerned." By the way, where is Jasper?"
"You came alone last night my lord."
'Damn it.'
I marched to my room and got dressed.
***
"We welcome the young duke to the palace." the servants bowed as me and the king entered the palace.
"Kaan you will be staying here till your manor is repaired." he said happily.
"Thank you for the generosity, your majesty." I told the man who walked a whole step in front of me. The man who will take care of me for a whole year and the man who is my enemy.
'How can you act so happy when my dad is dead you sly bastard.' I cursed him under my breath but did not show it to my face. Just then two children came running to me and hugged both my arms.
"Prince Remus? Princess Cardea?"
My younger siblings of the age of fourteen and eleven, looked at me with sad eyes. I patted their heads and gave them the best smile I could muster.
"I guess I will be staying and watching over you for a few years. I will make sure you regret asking me to come over."
They somehow gave me a sad laugh and we continued.
They came in front of me and looked at me with a smile of welcome.
I blink my eyes and now I see the same children but after three years they still welcome me with that smile.
'I guess they are not children anymore.'
I smiled and said "why are you outside and looking like a ghost," I patted their head and continued "don't tell me he made you work too much again."
"Would you scold him for us?" Cardea requested with a pouty face.
"Sure I definitely will."
We entered the palace.
"So what's the schedule?"
"First there will be a welcome banquet tonight." Remus said.
"Second, the first thing tomorrow morning will be the war meeting." Cardea continued.
I nodded and looked forward to seeing what preparation both our groups had made.
***
"So the monsters are ready and so are the knights." The king said to me while sipping his tea.
I bowed and thanked him before asking "are you ok with a part of the palace being destroyed."
He tsk his tongue and replied "yes of course, with Duke this is just a small measure. I had to build an entire church and library for him when he was just a teenager."
'Well I knew that he was head over heels for his first born, enough to do many bad things with good intention but what he said was just the tip of the iceberg from my years of experience.'
I cleared my throat and said "I heard from Remus and Cardea that you told them about the commanding stuff."
"Yes I did but they don't know the plan and as of how they have been for the past three days they won't utter a word to Kaan now."
"What have they been through to keep their mouths shut?"
"They are inexperienced kids a little over load does wonder to the brain. Don't worry too much, they will be fine after some rest."
'Isadora what man have you married. Your divinity was wasted on him.'
***
The banquet was like any other. At the open garden of the mighty royal palace, lit with magic lamps, table set with abundance and variety of food and lots of nobles.
I stood with champagne in my hands as I tried to find Jasper. My outfit was changed by the palace maids who took care of me before. They said something along the lines of it not fitting well and I needed to wear red.
So here I was wearing a smooth black shirt and left it unbuttoned at the top for a more casual look. On top of the shirt I was wearing a classy vest with 6 buttons, it has a deep v-line, which causes the vest to remain hidden when the suit's jacket is buttoned up.
The jacket was clearly made for me, it's a perfect fit. It has a smooth red chalk stripe pattern which gives the suit a refined look. The 3 buttons of its single breasted jacket have been left unbuttoned, it's a casual look which still manages to look classy.
The jacket is the same length all around, it has vents at either side, there's a pocket on either side and there's a breast pocket which has been left empty. The jacket had fine beads of rare crimson diamonds stitched in the shoulder part and the left side was draped with a black velvet cape hiding the whole of my left side.
I am wearing pants which have the same pattern as the jacket, but a different, complementary black color and they create a perfect balance with the shoes. The shoes I was wearing were a graceful pair of moc toe penny loafers.
To top it all off it was accompanied by cuff links and a brooch. My hair was styled slick back on one side and a single hair pin with a ruby was on it, leaving the left side falling straight down my face.
'So much for laying low.'