"What are you reading, mother?" A young child with pitch-black hair and crystal clear green eyes asked her mother that is sitting on a chair. The both of them where at the palace's garden spending their time in leisure.
Her young and energetic child is trying to see the contents of the book she is currently reading but her small height became a hindrance to her. She tried to stretch her feet to assist her but to no avail. Her mother witnessed her futile attempt and laughed at her. She placed her book down at the table and carried her daughter to her lap, and then she picked up her book and properly showed it to her.
The child diligently read the book's contents and stumbled on an unfamiliar word, "What's the meaning of 'fate', mother? Is that a food? An animal?" The child innocently asks. Her mother couldn't help but laugh due to her innocence, she is only a 6-year old child after all.
"It is too early for you to know all these sorts of things. Maybe if you study hard and listen to your teachers…maybe you will find the meaning of the words that you don't know today. Can you do it for me, my dear?" She encourages her child with her bright and gentle smile, her voice full of comfort and care.
She faced her with wide eyes and bravely exclaimed, "Hmm! Of course mother, I promise to make our home even better than before!" She hugged her mother tightly shortly after her declaration.
Her daughter was inspired of her mother's words and it became her goal. To her eyes, her mother is the wisest, bravest woman she knows.
Even though she is young, Bernice Adria Gryphon is smart enough to be fully aware that she is no ordinary daughter, she is the First Princess of the Gryphon Empire. And her mother; the current Empress who have many burdens and responsibilities being constantly placed on her shoulders are one of the reasons why the Empire continues to flourish even when faced with various challenges over the years. And eventually, her mother became the person she wants herself to be in the future.
But alas, fate is a very complicated entity. It can make the wishes of humans come true either in a bright and glorious way or in a dark and dreadful way.
…
In the other side of the imperial palace, the doctor and dozens of maids is in a state of panic because of the Empress Consort delivering her first child. After a gruesome 4 hours of waiting, the delivery was successful. The doctor dismissed himself to go see the emperor who is in his office doing his paper works. The imperial physician knocked to the door three times before he was allowed to go in.
"Your Majesty, Empress Consort Adelaide have successfully delivered her child, you may enter the room as you wish." After speaking the news, he bowed before waiting for the emperor to follow him.
The emperor instantly stopped at his paperwork the moment he heard it, and immediately stood up and temporarily left his work to his aide.
"Count Elion, I will leave the rest to you at the moment."
"Yes, your majesty." He bowed and continued to take the documents that is on the table.
After some time of travelling to his office to the her Consort's quarters, he saw the mother and daughter pair in the Carmella Garden. He only gave them a quick and empty glance before averting it completely. He doesn't know why, but he felt somewhat relieved that his child and his wife was living a comfortable life, even though it didn't meet his expectations. But to him, his goals must come first.
Empress Beatrice Gryphon had failed to give Emperor Fabian Cassimiro Gryphon a male child to become the heir to the throne. That is why he brought back another woman to be his consort.
The emperor truly loved the empress. But when he met Consort Adelaide Greylorn, he eventually fell in love with her more because she could give what the emperor wants that the empress failed to give him; a male heir.
At first, the empress lamented deeply at her duty being unable to be fulfilled and also her husband whom he loves so much bring another woman that easily but, she eventually accepted it and doted on her daughter as her inspiration to continue to live on.
It is not like having many consorts and concubines is a crime in the Empire, but Empress Beatrice still felt hurt and their relationship became much more distant after she was diagnosed that she cannot bear a child anymore due to her illness that wasn't disclosed to the public, only few selected people know about this.
The doctor opened the door and let the Emperor step in first. He immediately walked towards the mother who was sitting at the queen-sized bed, with her child peacefully sleeping in her arms. Adelaide noticed the Emperor's presence and looked at him with a smile in her face.
"Dear, you're here." She lovingly called at him.
The Emperor looked at her consort first before looking at the child intently. Adelaide realized his intentions and gave the child to him. Fabian caressed it gently and his fatherly instincts came in.
"Our child is a male! Isn't great? You will not worry about your successor now. Please rest assured dear, I will raise our child with love and care from her mother from now on." She declared to him while giving her earnest smile.
"Of course, Adelaide. Then I shall also raise him with courage and faith from her father as well." He said while caressing his sons face.
He doesn't want anyone to become the successor of his throne. All of the achievements, power and glory that he worked so hard to achieve, he doesn't want them to be passed down by anyone, let alone a woman. That is the reason why Consort Adelaide was brought to the imperial palace in the first place.
And now that she successfully gave birth to a male heir, all kinds of misfortunes and tragedies will now befall not only to a certain someone, but also to everyone in the Empire as well.