".....Hence, I proclaim that Runford sil Sildoris, the son of my brother, Alanraz sil Sildoris, as my own son"
My eyes watched in horror as my father put his blade on both sides of Runford's shoulders, one after the other. Father had that smug face on him, he was clearly happy, though he hid it well. Runford was also happy, he had that smile on him ever since he picked me up back at the forest.
The others weren't so happy, especially my mother. Her expression matched mine, with her eyes and mouth wide open. Master Nazhif clearly didn't see this coming, evident because he was in a state of shock; the same could be said with Qwerin. It was clear that my father never told any of his courtiers about this intrigue.
"Runford will help me managed the realm and help me with my magical research, since there's no one left that could help me with it" He side-eyed me, for a split second. "That is all, dismiss"
Father left with my new 'brother' via the exit behind them, followed by several male palace guards. Leaving me and the rest of the courtiers at the throne room.
"Bollocks your majesty! Bollocks!" Qwerin said without any hesitation. I didn't know whether he was addressing my father, me or my mother.
Mother almost collapsed before Haril's guard partner, Helga, managed to hold and support her.
"Eli, please, don't cry….." She said, while crying, and fainting.
"Helga, Haril, take my mother to her room, I'll have some fresh air near the garden" I said stoically, my brain is in a mess right now.
"Yes, My lady" They both then left in haste, leaving me with Nazhif and Qwerin.
"I know you're formulating a plan in your head right now, dear Elissa. I have known you enough to understand what is going on inside your head" Nazhif could understand what someone was thinking just by studying their face, quite the unique talent.
"Nazhif, did our sanctuary keepers receive prior news of this arrangement?" Sanctuary keepers, the lords who managed the elven cities across Calenon.
"They haven't, I'm sure of it" He nodded.
"That sack of bone barely had any meat on him. He's more slimy than the old man here! That time he had governed over Sildori. I bet he hadn't eaten a single good food!" Qwerin said, clearly never knowing what a filter is. Nazhif gave him a look when he addressed him as 'old man'
"You know Runford, Master Qwerin?"
"Aye! The only son of the esteemed moon-forsaken Alanraz! He, along with your father were the elven commanders who fought in the Trix-Ghania Heresy. He had none of your father's magical talent, none of his leading skills, none of his commander abilities, yet double the dickhead! For their efforts, Your father carved out the realm of Calenon, and he inhabited the swampy, infertile land that is Sildori. Quite the fair share, I believe!"
He took a moment to catch a breath, before continuing.
"The bastard died a mere 50 years just before you were born. Leaving his 10 year old son to govern for himself. He had quite the magic talent, somehow. Quite the case since he won the legitimacy of the realm" He paused for a second. "Well, it wasn't like people wanted to fight over a worthless piece of land anyway, so ain't much of an achievement" he snorted.
"What I despise about him is that he never cared about his realm! He really spent all those 50 winters focusing on his magic alone! Imagine how he could've turned that wasteland to be something useful, something that could benefit him and his entire realm. But no! He didn't."
"He really wanted to replace me as heir, huh? And to have him as my replacement…"
"With all due respect, Dear Elissa. Your father didn't say that directly, he only said that he adopted Runford as his son and he would help him with his tasks''
"Sounds like something this brat should've been doing!" Qwerin added afterwards.
"That…is…true.."
"I just don't understand ....Why does he hate me so much for not having any magic talents..?" I revealed one of my thoughts to them, clearly asking for a clear explanation. These 3 years I've been working hard, trying to be a better educated person so that I'll be a better ruler than him, and all he had done was replace me because the substitute could use magic? That's insane.
"You carried divine blood with you, dear. Your grandfather's grandfather had been the last immortal emperor, the greatest magic cultivator of the east. Your grandfather himself had been the one who led the migration to this land, he received foresight with the help of the goddess, he too had magic talents. Then your father, he led the elven legions to destroy the heresy, and as you know, he also had magic talents" Nazhif paused for a second, before resuming. "What I'm trying to say is that your father had always seen mages as leaders, he really believes that mages are born to rule. And thus, the idea of you, a non-mage, ruling from the throne is an unthinkable concept for him, something he clearly doesn't like"
Me and my two teachers chat for a few more moments before duty calls for both of them. Given such knowledge had been very enlightening, even if I had already suspected my father of having that kind of thought pattern. But, like Nazhif had said, I need a place to gather my thoughts and craft a plan to deal with this. If I had a place to think, then it would be the garden.
Going from the throne room to the yard, I eavesdropped on many servants' conversations, all of which had the same topic, about Runford replacing me as heir. It will not happen, I swore by it! Taking my emotions outside, I swung Strumnir towards a dummy target, its hard steel plated chest immediately split in two.
I took my time, swinging my sword occasionally and looking up to the clear sky really helped me focus, thus making me able to formulate a plan. The activity took away most of my remaining energy, or at least what I could've mustered after being in the northern wilderness for a while.
I fell down, my body was against the grass-covered dirt. It ached, I didn't care, it was peaceful here.
My thoughts think back to the modern era, where I had been a legislative member of the upper senate, just before becoming president. You could never see such a clear sky in the capital city, there were always smogs everywhere, covering the atmosphere above. Never had I experienced such a peaceful sight, no car horns, no sirens, no helicopter blade noises, no plane engine sounds. I want to be here forever, tranquility, serenity, peace, it's addicting. Yet, something inside my heart had always burned, it was the thing that made me chase after bigger things in life. Ambition.
"Gah" A sudden intent of murder sprung me up and made me unsheathe Strumnir again.
The man behind me was laughing, he clapped his hand exactly twice, making the familiar sound.
"Great, your sense is improving" It was Master Yohan, I guess he was around. 3 years ago I probably wouldn't have been able to detect him, but he had trained my senses ever since then. A soldier turned gardener, such is life.
"What are you doing here, Master?"
He snorted. "Well, the exact question right now is what are you here?"
"Right…" I'm in his place after all, the castle garden.
"No need to answer, the commotion was heard even to my old ears" He said. "My condolences"
"Thanks, it's just so much to take in, I never would've expect my father to despise me so much, to the point of supporting another candidate to the throne"
"His support will not matter" Yohan said with a straight face. "He would be dead by the time Runford would replace him"
"Then he needs to gather other allies fast, both inside the capital and across the realm…" I continued, shouting my thoughts out loud.
"Correct, then you need to be ahead of him, ahead of information, power and influence"
"Then I should start immediately…" I would've done the same thing in my previous life, not wasting any time. But, Yohan gripped my left shoulder, forcing me to look at him.
"That could wait, My lady" I looked at him, frustrated.
"what? But you just sai-"
He bent over, then bowed before me. "You highness, I would like you to accompany me to the lower city"
The lower city, the stain in the white piece of cloth that is Calenon. The slums where all the outcasts lived. It was a dangerous place to visit, what was his intention, I currently didn't know.
"What's your plan, Yohan?" He smiled, it was a dangerous one. It had a menacing aura behind it, but only for a split second before it subsided.
"To find a suitable successor for me, your highness.."