Inside the large office-like room, the atmosphere is thick with the weight of political discussions. The emperor and Crown Prince Nikolai sit across from each other, their expressions serious as they deliberate over matters of state.
The room is grand, with high ceilings and walls lined with shelves of books and documents, a testament to the importance of the decisions made within its walls.
As they take a break, the emperor's secretary, Master Aldric, enters with a slight smile on his face. "Your Majesty, I thought you might find this amusing. It appears that Princess Lexzandra has taken to cooking. Word around the palace is that she prepared a dish, and it was quite delicious."
Nikolai's scoff is immediate and dismissive. "Cooking? Is that supposed to impress us?" His voice drips with irritation. For the past few days, all anyone can talk about is the spoiled, foolish princess. According to him, it's absurd.
The emperor raises an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "Is it truly absurd to acknowledge when someone is making an effort to improve themselves? Perhaps you should give her a chance, Nikolai."
Nikolai crosses his arms, his expression hardening."You actually believe she's changed? This is the same girl who threw tantrums and acted stupidly for years. She must have threatened her servants to speak highly of her. There's no other explanation."
Theodore sighs, a note of weariness in his voice. "People can change, Nikolai. Especially when given the opportunity and encouragement. Lexzandra is still young, and she deserves the chance to grow and learn from her mistakes."
Nikolai shakes his head, frustration evident in his eyes. "I've heard enough of this. The princess is cunning. She must be plotting something. She's probably trying to win favor to manipulate us later."
The Emperor looks at Aldric and they both share a knowing glance. "Nikolai, your resentment blinds you. I know you have reasons to be wary, but we must be fair. If Lexzandra is trying to change, we should support her, not undermine her efforts."
Nikolai clenches his jaw, his anger barely contained. "Support her? After all the times she's embarrassed this family? How can you be so lenient?"
"Because she is part of this family," Theodore replies firmly. "And as her father, it is my duty to guide and support her. Just as it is my duty to support you. Holding onto past grievances will only poison our future."
Nikolai's eyes flash with indignation. "You expect me to just forget everything? To pretend she hasn't caused us trouble?"
"I expect you to be the man I know you are," the emperor says, his voice steady. "A man who can see beyond his own pain and anger. A man who can recognize when someone is trying to make amends."
Nikolai falls silent, his fists tightening in frustration. He wants to argue, to make his father see that Lexzandra is not to be trusted. But he also knows that his father's words carry a weight of wisdom and experience that he cannot easily dismiss.
The emperor studies his son, seeing the turmoil in his eyes. "Think about what I've said, Nikolai. Give your sister the chance to prove herself, just like I have given. She might surprise you."
Nikolai gives a curt nod, not trusting himself to speak further on the matter. "Very well, Father. Let's get back to the issues at hand."
The emperor nods, turning his attention back to the documents on the table. "As you wish. We have much to discuss."
____
In the hushed silence of the grand library, Lexzandra sits surrounded by a fortress of books, each tome promising to unravel the mysteries of sorcery and ancient symbols.
Her eyes scan the aged pages, absorbing the arcane knowledge with a mix of fascination and urgency. She feels a weight pressing on her, a sense of destiny intertwined with the enigma she is desperately trying to decode.
Her fingers trace the symbol on the page, the same symbol that has been haunting her thoughts. It appears again, intricate and foreboding, triggering a rush of memories. Lexzandra's brow furrows as she tries to place where she has seen it before.
Minutes pass, her mind whirring through the past days and weeks, until finally, it clicks.
She remembers Elara's words during one of their conversations while bathing. Elara had pointed out the unique symbol engraved on Lexzandra's chest, a mark she had never seen before.
Lexzandra glances around the library, ensuring she is alone. The vast room is empty, save for the rows of towering bookshelves and the faint echo of her own breathing. She takes a deep breath, her heart pounding.
Slowly, she pushes her dress aside, revealing the symbol on her chest. The intricate design, now familiar, seems to glow faintly under the dim light.
Her mind races back to the conversation with Elara. "I've never seen a mark like this before, Your Highness," Elara had said.
At the time, Lexzandra had shrugged it off, attributing it to some oddity of her transformation into a princess. But now, with the symbol staring back at her from the pages of an ancient book, she knows it's something far more significant.
Flipping through the book, she reads aloud to herself, "This symbol is a mark of magic, an ancient sigil representing power and destiny. It has been seen throughout history on those destined for greatness or tragedy, a harbinger of both potential and peril."
Lexzandra's heart skips a beat.
Determined to uncover the truth, Lexzandra delves deeper into the library's collection. She searches for any book that might shed more light on the symbol and its implications.
Through various texts, she learns that sorcerers once thrived in the empire, moving freely and openly practicing their craft. These sorcerers were not only respected but revered as essential protectors and advisors.
Wizards, in particular, held the prestigious role of guardians of the empire, their wisdom and power deeply respected by the royal family.
The relationship between the sorcerers and the royal family was symbiotic.
The wizards provided protection and counsel, using their magic to safeguard the realm from external threats and internal discord.
The royal family, in turn, ensured that the wizards had the freedom and resources they needed to hone their skills and maintain their magical prowess.
This golden age of magic saw the empire flourish, with the wizards playing a pivotal role in its prosperity and stability.
However, as Lexzandra reads on, she discovers a darker chapter in this history. The harmony between the sorcerers and the royal family began to fracture due to a series of tragic and mysterious events.
A rogue faction of wizards, driven by ambition and greed, attempted to seize power, using forbidden dark magic to manipulate and control. Their actions led to catastrophic consequences, including widespread chaos and the deaths of several key members of the royal family.
This betrayal shook the foundation of trust between the sorcerers and the ruling class.
In response to this treachery, the then-reigning emperor, fearing further insurrection and the uncontrollable power of magic, decreed that all magic use be strictly prohibited.
Sorcerers and wizards were banished, their practice outlawed, and any remaining artifacts or texts related to magic were either destroyed or hidden away.
The once-vibrant community of magic-users was forced into hiding, and over time, they disappeared from public view, their existence becoming little more than a whisper in the annals of history.
The more Lexzandra uncovers, the more questions she has. The symbol on her chest, linked to this forbidden legacy of magic, suggests a connection she doesn't yet understand. Why does she bear this mark? Is she somehow tied to the ancient sorcerers? The implications are both thrilling and terrifying.
Hours pass, the light outside the tall windows shifting as the day progresses. Lexzandra becomes more and more engrossed, her frustration mounting as each book yields little more than vague references and ancient myths.
Her fingers ache from turning pages, her eyes strain against the small print, but she persists. The symbol on her chest feels like a key, a piece of the puzzle she desperately needs to understand. Yet, every book she consults leaves her with more questions than answers.
Finally, as the light begins to fade, casting long shadows across the library floor, Lexzandra slams shut another dusty tome, feeling a wave of exhaustion and frustration wash over her. She leans back in her chair, closing her eyes, and takes a deep breath. The silence of the library feels oppressive, her own thoughts loud in the quiet.
Lexzandra knows she cannot give up. She needs answers, and if the books here cannot provide them, she must seek knowledge elsewhere. An idea begins to form in her mind, a glimmer of hope amid the frustration.
Ethan, the guild man, might have the resources and connections to uncover what she cannot find here. He has always been resourceful, with access to information that is often hidden from the public eye.
"Ethan might know," she whispers to herself.
She rises from her chair, her resolve hardening. Gathering the books she had been studying, she returns them to their shelves, careful to maintain the library's order.
Once the books are back in their places, Lexzandra takes one last look around the library. She heads towards the exit, her mind set on finding Ethan.