1517 AD, a renowned time for being the most prosperous and golden period for the commoners as this era was the era where they got many opportunities that they couldn't receive in the past eras, despite that hierarchy is still there and strongly adhered to. Northern empire, known for having raised great warriors.
Reign Volks, duke of the Volks duchy is a well-known man for his intelligence and especially wealth. At the age of just 23 he got the honoree title as the Duke of Northern empire. Despite his greatness his health seems to be gradually becoming worse at just 60, but he still hasn't decided which one of his 3 offsprings he should pass it down to. To be completely honest Reign couldn't care less about it he just wanted to be laid to rest, he wanted nothing more than peace and quietness now.
Lying on his glorious bed, the maids and butlers constantly coming in and going out of his room to attended to his health, changing the wet cloth over his forehead. Reign lay there motionless staring up at the grand ceiling, despite his physical body being present his mind was wondering somewhere else, somewhere far away.
"Lord Reign!" A familiar, all too familiar voice called out to him, he could see his younger self turning around with the sweetest smile that he hadn't given to anyone in this past 40 yrs of his life. Young Reign was waiting for someone, someone very dear to him. "Cyrus" his younger self cried out in delight. Cyrus, a name he hasn't heard till now but still the one dearest to him. He could see the two young men entangle each other in a warm hug. "How was your day, young lord?" Cyrus voiced out backing away from the hug just a little, smiling down at the young heir to the Northern Duchy. "Hectic. The teacher gave me so much work today, I don't want to study anymore." His younger self cried out but in annoyance and agony. "Yours must have been fun right, Cyrus?" He asked slightly tilting his head up to face the other young guy. "You could say that we learned about a new variant today" Cyrus replied rubbing the back of his head sheepishly with a charming smile that he oh so adored. "No fair, politics is so boring!" Reign complained to his dearest whaling out fake cries, but the annoyance was real don't get it twisted ha-ha.
Duke Reign closed his eyes, he shut them tightly to prevent his held back tears from spilling, the same longing eating him up. His heart ache with agony, regret, shame, longing, sadness. He let out a long sigh keeping his eyes closed, but despite that his memories kept clouding his brain.
"Young lord! The fireworks are about to start. Come on!!" He heard the cheerful luring voice of his beloved. He stood there watching his younger self giggling with his dearest running through the crowd to get to the place where the new year's firework was about to set off. Both hand in hand, a cloth covering Reigns face to not let the public know about his identity, standing there. "3" Cyrus shouted causing Reign to follow shortly, "2", their hearts beating louder as each second passed "1!" All of them sang out in sync. Cyrus and Reign giggling with each other admiring the fireworks setting off, Reign jumping in Cyrus's embrace. "I love you" Cyrus whispered in Reign's ear ending it with a small peck to his forehead.
"I miss you, Cyrus...." He whispered out to himself, the agony and longing for his beloved echoing through it. This time he couldn't control his tears as he looked back up at the ceiling, letting the tears flow down slowly. He smiled recalling that same moment, that was their first new year together. The meaningful 'I love You' exchanged between them warmed his aching heart.
"You can't do this. Not after what we had between us." A pained yet angered voice roared through the empty room only having the young men in it. It was of Cyrus who was clutching an invitation card in his hand. "Yes, I can. I have every right of it. I Reign Volks, am the heir of the Volks duchy for God's sake Cyrus, it is my duty and sole purpose to continue our bloodline!" Reign also roared, the current him knew this cold exterior was a mere act he wanted to stop his younger self from spouting nonsense. "And for crying out loud, see it from my point of view as well. We promised to love and be there for each other, you said you loved me. Was that all an act and timepass for you? Were the time we spent all just a silly fling to you?!" Cyrus cried out, tears threatening to spill out of his oh so lovely eyes, Reign wanted nothing but to run to him and comfort him. "Yes, it was your fault for believing my lies. All that was a mere fling for me. Nevertheless, make sure to attend the wedding." Reign said with heavy heart but still having the cold and nonchalant exterior, walking out of the now quite room filled with Cyrus's painful cries.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Duke Reign cried out louder than he intended but he didn't care about that, all he cared was to attend to the grieve he was feeling at the last moment of his life. He cried out, closing his eyes tightly he clutched his aching chest tightly, his pain doubling due to his severe illness. His cries soon attracting the butler's attention. "My Lord, my lord please calm down. Oh dear!" The butler voiced out loud not knowing what to do as he quickly called for the royal physician. The physician quickly attending to Reign, trying everything to keep his Duke from passing but alas it was too late. Too late, just like Reign's guilt and sadness for his beloved. For the last time he cried out, "Please forgive me my dear. I failed you, I lied to you, I'm sorry. If there is an afterlife, if the God is merciful enough to a sinner like me, I will treat you better, I will learn to love you better. I'm sorry, my dear Cyrus.", he whispered in a low voice to himself, the picture of his beloved was the last thing that he could see before his entire world went black. Silence....