The city of Drakon, the heart of the expansive and powerful Dracian Empire, was alive with excitement and joyous celebration. All around, people were reveling in anticipation of the birth of the empire's third prince, and the streets were filled with the sounds of laughter, music, and general merriment.
The grand hall of the royal palace was abuzz with the sound of chattering nobles, their voices echoing off the walls adorned with intricate tapestries and gold-plated fixtures. Suddenly, the air was pierced by the commanding voice of the royal announcer, drawing the attention of the crowd to his words.
"Their Majesties have arrived!"
The instant the announcement rang out, a group of four breathtakingly beautiful women and one tall, broad-shouldered man entered the room, their presence commanding attention as they took their seats upon the five grand thrones. The man who sat upon the middle throne was a striking figure with short, shimmering golden hair and piercing eyes that gleamed like the finest of jewels. This man was none other than King Edred Pendragon, the current ruler of the powerful Dracian Empire, whose very essence exuded strength and grandeur.
As King Edred takes his seat, a strikingly beautiful woman with long, flowing raven hair and piercing black eyes catches the attention of those around her. She sits to his right with an expression that seems to convey a hint of annoyance. This is none other than Queen Eostre Nightsong, King Edred's first wife. Her voluptuous figure and alluring presence are matched only by her intelligence and political acumen, making her a powerful ally and formidable opponent to those who cross her path.
Seated gracefully by the side of Queen Eostre, a majestic woman with lustrous purple locks and a pair of striking light blue eyes captures the attention of all onlookers. Her poised demeanor exudes a sense of confidence and heroism, while her petite build conceals a formidable arsenal of explosive powers. She is none other than Queen Hilda Stormlance, the second wife of King Edred, and a woman of great influence and power in her own right. Her presence commands respect and admiration, as she continues to make her mark on the kingdom alongside her husband.
Seated at King Edred's left-hand side is a woman of striking beauty, with long and pale blonde hair. She is none other than the third wife of King Edred, Queen Aefre of Atlan. Despite her beauty, the Queen appears to be visibly weakened, her complexion much paler than usual. This is due to the fact that she has just given birth to the third prince, a mere few hours ago. Her recent childbirth has taken a toll on her, leaving her looking fragile and vulnerable. Despite her weakened state, she maintains a graceful composure, her gaze fixed on her husband with a mixture of love and fatigue.
Seated next to Queen Aefre is an enchanting lady with snow-white hair that cascades down her back, emanating a sense of kindness and goodwill. She is none other than the beloved Queen Claennis Daylight, the fourth wife of King Edred. Her presence exudes a regal aura, and her charming demeanor makes her an instant favorite among the courtiers.
King Edred looked over the crowd with a smile on his face before speaking.
"For more than a millennium, the blood of the dragons has coursed through our veins, a testament to the deeds of our twelve noble ancestors. They had bravely subdued the dragons that once ravaged the lands of Dracian, and performed the Dragon Heart Ritual. The dragons' powers and essence now reside within us, empowering us to greatness and reminding us of our rich heritage."
The grand hall was filled with nobles, their attention focused on the king except for a few who stood out among the crowd. Clad in black clothing, these nobles exuded an air of dissatisfaction. They belonged to a notorious bloodline - the Black Dragon, known for their immense wealth, merciless nature, and their mastery over the shadows. The Nightsong family, as they were called, held a dominant position in the kingdom's political and social hierarchy, and their presence in the hall was both intimidating and intriguing.
Despite the evident discontent etched on the countenances of the Nightsong family, King Edred continued with his speech.
"Now, the royal family has been blessed with a new dragon-blooded prince. He is my 6th child, the 3rd prince, and my firstborn with Queen Aefre. His name is Henry Pendragon!"
The grand hall was filled with an air of anticipation as a woman draped in flowing white robes approached King Edred. In her arms, she carried a baby with striking golden hair and piercing golden eyes. As she handed the child over to the King, the room erupted in thunderous applause from the surrounding nobles, their excitement palpable.
The much-awaited birthday celebration of Prince Henry finally commenced, and the noble guests indulged in a lavish feast that was generously served by the courteous and diligent maids. The tables were adorned with an abundance of mouth-watering delicacies, and the guests' plates were piled high with scrumptious food, enough to satisfy even the most voracious appetite.
The grand hall was filled with an air of importance as King Edred and the queens descended from their thrones, mingling with the nobles. King Edred passed his son back to the woman in white robes and joined Queen Hilda to engage in a discussion about the military with nobles who are dressed in regal red and purple garments.
Meanwhile, Queen Eostre cast a menacing glare at Queen Aefre before making her way to the Nightsong family, joining them at their table.
Queen Claennis appeared to be fraught with concern as she approached Queen Aefre, exchanging hushed words with her.
"How are you doing Aefre? Giving birth must have taken a lot of your strength, you should be resting instead of attending this party"
Queen Aefre gave a weak smile to Queen Claennis to show appreciation for her concern.
"I'm fine Claennis, you should enjoy the party and socialize with the noble ladies from the twelve families instead of worrying about me"
With gentle steps, the woman draped in white robes, who had been seen earlier, approached the two queens. She then handed over the recently born prince to his mother, with utmost care and tenderness.
"Besides, I have Henry to keep me company in this party"
As Queen Aefre displayed her ability to handle the situation on her own, Queen Claennis wrapped her arms around Queen Aefre in a warm embrace before making her way towards the drink station to pour herself a glass of fine wine.
Queen Claennis gracefully made her way towards a table adorned with gleaming glasses of wine. As she came closer, she noticed a group of nobles huddled together, their voices barely above a whisper, seemingly unaware of their surroundings. Curiosity piqued, she moved closer, intending to join them, but as she drew nearer, she caught snippets of their conversation and paused to listen.
"It's quite intriguing, isn't it, that King Edre decided to marry a commoner, Queen Aefre, and even had a child with her?"
"I cannot fathom the idea of referring to someone like him, a mere half-blood, as a prince. It's enough to make me feel nauseous."
Queen Claennis, frustrated with the ongoing gossiping, was on the brink of issuing a stern reprimand. However, she hesitated upon hearing the contentious voices once again, unsure of what to do next.
"Have you heard of the rumors?"
"What rumors?"
"I heard from one of the royal doctors that the reason why Queen Claennis is not getting pregnant despite being married to the king for two years was because she was infertile"
"One is a commoner and another is infertile, I wonder why the king even married them"
Queen Claennis was no stranger to the whispers that followed her wherever she went. Ever since the devastating news of her infertility had been revealed a year ago, the court had been abuzz with gossip. Despite King Edred's valiant attempts to shield this personal matter from the public eye, the secret had slipped through the cracks, becoming fodder for the court's insatiable appetite for scandal.
But it wasn't the whispers about her infertility that had caused Queen Claennis's heart to ache with anger. She had grown accustomed to it over the past year, learning to ignore the pitiful glances and hushed conversations. What truly ignited the fire in her belly was the blatant disrespect shown towards Queen Aefre, a woman she cherished as a sister.
The nobles, in their ignorance and arrogance, had dared to label Queen Aefre as a commoner. This derogatory term was a gross misrepresentation of Aefre's true character and worth. Despite her humble background, Queen Aefre was a woman of strength, intelligence, and grace, qualities that far surpassed the shallow standards of nobility.
Before King Edred came into power, many of the noble families had very strict beliefs about the purity of their bloodlines and never considered marrying a commoner. However, King Edred changed all that when he married Queen Aefre despite the opposition of the nobles. King Edred to show that love is not limited by social status or family lineage, but rather it's all about the connection between two people.
With a heavy heart and a burning anger, Queen Claennis turned her back on the party.
Queen Cleannis, consumed by a mix of anger and sadness, found herself wandering through the Ashen Woods, a sprawling forest of ghostly ash trees. This was her sanctuary, a place where she retreated to whenever the stifling atmosphere of the royal palace became too much to bear. The tranquil ambiance of the woods never failed to soothe her troubled mind, and she would often spend hours there, lost in thought, surrounded by the gentle rustling of the leaves and the soft murmur of the wind.
Queen Claennis took a few moments to compose herself, taking deep breaths to calm her racing thoughts before preparing to depart. It was then that she heard a faint cry, so delicate and fragile that it could only have come from a newborn. She strained to locate the source of the sound, her heart racing with concern.
Within moments of hearing the sound, she was drawn towards its origin. Her eyes fell upon a newborn baby, with hair as silver as the moon and eyes that shone like polished metal. The infant was swaddled in a pristine white cloth, adding to the ethereal aura surrounding him.
Gently cradling the newborn in her arms, she examined him closely, taking in every detail. As she unwrapped the cloth swaddling him, a glint caught her eye. There, resting atop the baby's chest, was a simple silver ring, its origins and purpose unknown, but its presence imbued with a sense of intrigue and mystery. The fabric was intricately embroidered with a name, which Queen Claennis assumed belonged to the infant.
"William..."
The next day, in the bedchamber of King Edre.
Queen Claennis cradled young William in her arms, holding him tenderly as she faced her husband with a steadfast and determined look in her eyes.
"I want to adopt him"
King Edred's head throbbed as he listened to his wife's proposal. The nobles had only recently come to terms with his marriage to Queen Aefre, and now his fourth wife wished to adopt a baby who lacked any trace of dragon blood in his veins. The idea of introducing a child without the noble lineage they so valued into the royal family will surely be met with great resistance.
"I can arrange a family that would take care of him until he reached adulthood. Why are you so adamant in adopting him?"
Queen Claennis gazed down at the cherubic face of the slumbering newborn nestled securely in her embrace, her gentle touch conveying a sense of maternal affection and protectiveness.
"The moment I laid eyes on him last night, I was captivated by the luster and curiosity shining brightly in his gaze. From that moment on, my heart felt a deep sense of responsibility to protect and care for him with all my might."
As the weight of his duties as a king grew heavier and the demands of the nobles became more pressing, King Edred found himself on the brink of forgetting the very quality that had drawn him to Queen Claennis in the first place - her boundless kindness. Despite the opposition he would face from the nobles, he resolved to protect and preserve that kindness, even if it meant going against them once again.
"I will grant your request to adopt that young child. However, it is important to note that the Pendragon family name cannot be bestowed upon him. This decision has been made to avoid any potential backlash from the nobles who may oppose the adoption. This will make him the very first adopted prince in the history of the Dracian Empire. I should leave now to prepare everything necessary for this adoption."
Queen Claennis wrapped her arms around her husband, pulling him close and squeezing him tightly, overcome with gratitude. The king returned the embrace, holding her gently and giving her a warm, reassuring smile. As he began to turn to leave, however, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, his face taking on a serious, contemplative expression.
"I realized that there's one thing I forgot to ask earlier. I'm curious to know what name you have in mind for the child"
"William..."
As she gazed upon young William, Queen Claennis couldn't help but pause and take notice of his striking metallic silver hair. The sight of it sparked a sudden burst of inspiration within her.
"...Argent. His name is William Argent."