The Sapphire Prince - Chapter -1

Will I stutter in the madness of this supreme palaver? In the conversation of crowns will I have only thorns above my head. In the media of virtuosos, will I be the masterpiece or the rejected? How will I know? I’m no time. I’m only a boy. A scared young lamb drifting to the edges of the grasslands looking over the future wherever I go.

Nowhere is the future and the pasture I’ve made for myself feels like a maze. Past…It’s all memories of the past…Why? Haven’t I gone already? Reject your past they said, become new they said…they don’t know. They never knew that feeling.

Whereana is the largest mint of opulent legacies with a prestigious imperial bloodline and military history. The land is built solely for trade and the arts of “negotiation”. Through the progress of its industry, many of the citizens found their names in the noble hierarchy even with small shares in history.

Though low standards even for the empire most prosperous, the ŀustrous domain is as powerful. The capital, the centerpiece of the empire, Rochelieu. It was founded by the first imperial monarch, serving as a refuge for those who sheltered tyrannical magics from oppressors.

The prosperity of the kingdom was laid upon the military and diplomatic aptitude gaining allies from west to east. By notion or by force, Rochelieu became the capital of “The Empire”.

The land has its perks. It is the richest country on the continent and amongst its sister empires, our military stands out the most. Still, I cannot see how this…all of this will be worth my smile.

“You see this land unfit of your wisdom and I see this kingdom the lifeline of our continent. We have differences in our justice but it’s inevitable for you to shed from the monarchy” Father’s ocean blue eyes demanded me a good answer. I bowed my head shifting my gaze into the open garden and wavered…

“I won’t,”

My Father…Claudius Ron De Bleu Catharia is the current emperor. He’s a good man, a wise ruler, and such a neglective father. Father embezzled his wisdom to the imperial regime, tilting the monarchy and its firm. In its justice, he calls it “The Evolution”. A supposed movement of the monarchy to a more civil conduct.

“You are handing the kingdom to him? Someone who can’t even wield an original spell. This meeting is about to discuss power and dominance within the imperial family so how did he reserve a seat.”

By the turn of a finger, my brother suddenly caught the room’s attention. Tht smug look on his face, a very ominous sight to see and soon enough, the office will return to where it was.

The representatives of each kingdom came to a pause and began to mutter. They each were hesitant to speak against the second prince of the empire. My brother Seleno Blackwell De Bleu Catharia. My mother, displeased of my brother, raised her fan, covering her white richened face.

“At least I was planned,” I whispered. Behind my lip, I smirked ever so softly.

“We are all civilized and we are not fickle about those matters but it’s incompetent for both of the imperial heirs to divert the conversation into something even our title have insulted to touch. So please refrain from making more comments.” Father’s pale skin, as he was skimming through the documents, turned a bit red, a bit furious perhaps of my brother’s words.

Seleno sighed, frowning. He knew h could never object his father’s words and yet there he was raising his ego in an attempt to ridicule me. He backed down coldly grimacing at the entire audience, so the atmosphere worsened and from the weight of the political matters, it stressed deeper into familial affairs.

Seleno has been subtly ȧsserting his authoritative dominance against the constitution. Seleno is not as different as me, he is my brother. Though in superficial qualities we have great similarities, our mentality are quite neutral with each other, that doesn’t mean we do get along fairly and in this political table, familial bonds reserve merely as a countermeasure for diplomatic restitution.

“Excuse me your grace, but there have been countless rumors that his majesty Azure is the one who stashed the royal treasury? ” Asked the representative of Kingdom Selena.

Kingdoms La Gardova, Thorndale, Crowess, Rochileu, Milcaster, Loswell and Selena may have heard of my alleged scandal in between the imperial treasury at the age of 16 and at the peak of my adolescents I should plunder the imperial funds ȧssuming that I have control over the treasury for I am a child.

“You will not drift to the point of slander Duke of the Milcaster palace, we’ve made our points in this meeting and this congress will not be stained by your bitter accusations with no grounds whatsoever.” Mother quickly shunned her fan, lips met with tension as her eyes deeply polished its gaze.

“I was in no sorts related to the debt referred by one of my supposed villages. May I do remind you all that my imperialist title solely oversees the whole continent and that my power alone would not be enough to tamper with the treasurer’s obligations.” I added.

“…”

“Adults, let’s be blunt in the table for once. I’m young and my hand does not command a thousand military heads nor does it hold much fortune regardless of my family’s status.” I drew breath and the Duke of Milcaster met a soft warm welcome. I smiled at him briefly before completely recovering composure.

“Perhaps I was wrong to listen to one of my financial advisors. Indeed have I wronged the imperial congress because of misinformation. I sincerely apologise, Highness Azure.” The man bowed down.

“No harm in clarifying your doubts, Your majesty. As royalties under royalties, we do have our own share of questions as regards one’s decisions. Be sincere as to not disrupt the congress next gathering…” I replied.

“…Imbecile”

Of course, everyone is out to get to me. The first in line for the imperial throne. The proclaimed son chosen by the gods. My social status in the field of politics holds the stress of the imperial hierarchy, as such, if someone were to slander me with solid evidence, my reputation as a sovereign would crumble significantly.

Seleno is younger than me yet still, he has done well serving in my father’s court. Acting like some sort of secretary. He follows father around like the spoiled child who just wants his proclaimed attention. Reclusive but simple…

I do value him as my brother. That said, value scales differently to love. His craving and continuous hunger for recognition are admirable and his execution is done so perfectly. Whatever madness he has, I’ll just hope for the best given to him. By royalty, he deserves it.

The day he departed the first time seemed neutral. In any way when he left, I felt as if I was looking at a pale gray canvas. Just there, just blank without the color of notion left within my vision…

( A Few Weeks After )

As the prince, many of the noble families have invited me to parties. My mother allows me to do so, but of course, I offer many rejection letters. Being introverted, I continuously refuse every invitation and my mother would be furious at me…not making an advance in my power.

“Your grace…A letter from the Allan Family. They have requested for you to-”

“Please crumple that paper away and see to it burnt. I’ll have myself write a rejection letter about such.” I replied massaging my temple.

“Of course your majesty.” Said the servant.

Keeping myself composed in monarchy’s customs, younger than this, I mastered manners and conducts by formal imperial standards.

On my vacant days, I usually lay down underneath a tree, with the wind on my side and the fragrance of the warm autumn grace. It’s a place where my adviser along with several servants would find me.

Even at such times…My adviser would still offer me letters from noble factions.

“Your majesty! A letter from-”

“This is a bad setting to have that letter displayed here. Consider that letter read and please lay it on my desk.” I replied folding a page as though smiling.

“Your grace?” I looked at the male servant who was a bit red from the face.

“See to it that the letter finds its way to my desk I said. I’ll have my adviser scan it later and process its contents.” I replied.

“Y-Yes your majesty.” He says, running off curiously.

The oil lamps in my room were lit, the warm color along with my fireplace made the room fairly bright. I sat in front of the flames reading simple historical strategies and a few fictional romantics here and there.

Before diving deep into the canvas of literacy. A knock suddenly came to my door then a voice spoke.

“Your highness, it’s me.” Lance.

Lance Bastion. The sole successor of House Bastion. Their family belongs in the middle-class sector where they take part, not at high occasions but merely in moderate trade works with the commerce clan for authorized businesses.

“There is an urgent letter that has just been scoped through some of your documents and-” He stopped, knowing his words bear knives, piercing and yet very nostalgic knives.

“Let me guess, another inviting letter?” I scoffed and got on my back reading.

Their family owns a very large winery and a successful one indeed. Receiving the noble rank class as their ancestors were one of the few family heads that originally fought the oppressors. Their family, after the war, settled peacefully in a bountiful land given by the imperial highness.

He approached me, his tan skin drawing more amber as the light touched him. He was purely made in dawn, his kindness was so silent that I could only feel his presence. He is a very good friend of mine, a very tall friend.

“It’s from the Cynthia Family your grace. They wish to have an audience with you this Thursday. They are making the meeting urgent and wish for you to accept undoubtedly.” Lance’s pale cream almost rose gold eyes stared at me with concern. I clenched by the moment an ominous name came to mind.

“The Cynthias?”