Adder and Lilli had been friends since childhood. They were inseparable, it was almost like they were literally attached to each other. They shared food, stories and played with each other all day long.
Lilli's parents, the Marquis and Marchioness of Ionis Karst, far south. The Marquis and Marchioness lived in a very peaceful area, and their love for each other was very strong. So they often went on "honeymoons" and sent their daughter Lilli to
where Adder lived, with the Grand Duke and Duchess of Belurie, the city right by the capital.
Now, it may seem cruel to send their daughter off so often, yet Lilli was overjoyed every time. She loved her friend dearly, and the Grand Duke and Duchess Belurie were almost like a second set of parents to her. She often sent letters to her parents, telling them of her wonderful times in Belurie. But all good things come to an end at some point.
Adder had been weak since birth, and constantly was ill. He was usually unable to walk, and took a wheelchair with him most of the time, until the summer of his 12th year. The young boy had a miraculous recovery, and began being able to eat more, to walk and to climb trees, even. The Duke and Duchess thanked the gods and the maids and servants were so happy for the young master, their eyes were wetted with tears.
So, for his 13th birthday, the Grand Duke planned the most grand party ever thrown. It was mostly to celebrate his son and his recovery, but it was also to prove his son's good health.
See, the Grand Duchess was told by the royal doctor could not have children. 'Virtually impossible', he had said. Adder was born as a complete miracle, a one in a million chance. They tried and tried for more children after him, but to no avail. So the nobility scorned the Grand Duke. Adder had not been shown to be an adequate heir, so they urged the Grand Duke to part with the Duchess. They called her names, 'temptress', and 'witch', because they had no idea how this woman was able to stay with her husband for so long, despite being infertile. They begged and pleaded with the Grand Duke, then eventually went to the King himself to force them to separate, and the Duke to get remarried.
Even though the Grand Duke, Dane, received so much of the people's animosity, It was the Duchess who couldn't bear it. The servants and people of the castle heard her crying in the middle of the night, wailing for the torture to end. But it didn't, not for a long time. Her Grace, Veria blamed herself for it all.
So the recovery of their son not only made the couple happy for him, but gave them so much relief, as if the weight of the entire world had been lifted from their shoulders. The Duchess Veria wept more than anyone else the day Adder had been declared healthy.
His Grace, Grand Duke Belurie went all out on the party. With a little begging, he was able to get his cousin, King Durn, to let them use the castle at the capital, so it could be as great as possible. Duke Belurie spent no small expense on the young heir Adder's birthday. Food from afar, decorations glittering with pearls and precious gems, and extravagant clothes for Adder and his dear friend Lilli.