The glamor of the city doubled when the night and stars arrived.
I walked the palace hallway towards the ceremony hall in my new perfectly tailored commander uniform. Its whites and golds are just like the royal attire sending everyone a hidden message.
Not that I care, not anymore because now I will show them what it feels like to be playing in my hands and not being able to do anything about it.
I stood at the front entrance waiting for the king purposefully this time. I had sent everyone first in the hall just for this moment.
"Duke Mabuz, oh! so sorry it's Commander Mabuz now." I heard the voice of a strong old man behind me and I turned and bowed.
"Greeting to the sun of the empire."
"Raise your head, no need for such politeness." he said and I complied. He stroked his beard and said with a frown "But I have to ask Commander why are you waiting outside the hall, you should have gone inside and talked to your fellow nobles and allies."
'And he bit, quite hard on the bait.'
"Sorry your majesty if I am getting ahead of myself but I thought that on such a big moment I would like to enter the hall with your majesty, just like the time we did on my coming of age ceremony."
His eyebrows hit his hareline and he laughed, patting my shoulders and said "Of course my boy, come on let's enter."
We straightened and the door man opened the door while announcing our entrance. "The sun and the king of Ravial, his majesty Gustav Ravial and the new commander and duke, Commander Kaan Mabuz are entering the hall."
The lights reflected in my eyes and I saw everyone looking our way as they bowed for the king and myself.
We walked the red carpet and everyone raised their heads when the king reached the throne and I stood in front of him ready and in position for the ceremony to begin. The royal family had already taken their place beside the throne before we entered and even Jasper was on the left of the king as a truthful hero.
I took a knee in front of him as he sat in his throne and announced "let's begin the commanding ceremony."
A preacher came towards us as his majesty stood up and came towards me. He laid his hands on my head as the preacher prayed. Light white mana surrounded me as his rough hands put some pressure on my head.
I felt light and pure as one of the knights brought the holy sword of hope to the king and handed it to him. The next praise of the prayer began as his majesty used the sword to tap both my shoulders and gave it back to the awaiting knight.
"Now look up the child of hope and take the noble sword that will help you to protect everyone you hold dear. Your nation, your duty, your family and your friends." The preacher said as his majesty gave me my trusted sword - that was given to me as a present by him- back to me in my extended hands.
"Now the sun of this vast kingdom of Ravial will give words of conclusion and duty to the new commander."
He placed his hand back on my head as he said "I am extremely proud to announce a new force that will help the nation in crisis and trouble. And I am even more proud that this force is none other than the legendary commander Armando Mabuz's son. He had been a helping hands even after his father's death and now he will pave the path to make our Ravial kingdom victorious."
He held my shoulders and I stood up. I turned to face the audience and placed my sword in my sword belt. He placed his hands on my back and said "I now announce Duke Kaan Mabuz as the official Supreme Commander of the Ravial kingdom."
The champion glasses raised as the nobles cheered for the successful commanding ceremony. I gave a light smile and that definitely melted some ladies' hearts. And so the party resumed as everyone divided into different groups while I got surrounded by congratulation and praises.
I felt Jaspers gaze on me and I turned towards him. I raised my glass and gave him a smile of victory. He smiled a little and shook his head.
I blink and now I am on a private balcony with the king and Ryu.
"You play well or one can say even better now that you are older."
"Your majesty wastes his compliments on me who have learned everything for his royalness."
"And you should stop with that buttering of yours Kaan."
I smiled at him calling my name normally for the first time. I looked at his old wrinkled ocean eyes and saw what seemed to be genuine care and poundness. It made me shaken a little but I composed myself to whatever he would throw at me.
"Had it not been for the gods and the kingdom I would have loved you Kaan."
I shattered, blanked on the spot. Everything paused and emotions left my face. My heart came to a normal calm beat. Breeze fluttering my hair. Armando and Isadora's faces came in my head, then my friends and then my siblings and then his came and went like the breeze.
I sighed internally and smiled.
"This is what fate has decided Gustav, nothing can be done about it."
I nodded after seeing their shocked reaction and walked back in as my smile faded out and a cold expression settled on my face.
'Time is ticking father. If you wanted to say stuff that caused me to have emotion at a moment like this then you are wrong. I have been abandoned and betrayed too many times to know how to hide everything and when to let it out.'
I rushed in the shadows of the hall into the connected garden sneaking off from everyone.
'Waiting has always been my best suit and this fight is getting me excited.' A smirk escaped my lips before I could contain it.