007 – Bathzhul Mercurion

Entry 31: The Journal of a Slothful Prince.

I'll kill her…

One day I swear…

I swear it in the name of all the gods one day I'll kill her…

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The day after Lucian found his mask restored as usual, no sign of the damage or even a drop of his blood stained its perfect white surface, it was some formation his father placed within the mask.

The doctor restored his face and all the damage in just a few moments, it was hardly a task worth mentioning for the doctors in the palace, and in seconds he was as good as new.

He picked up the mask and slotted it on his face, as usual, it was a perfect fit that seemed to meld with his skin.

The first week after the party passed by, the air was abuzz with talk of the upcoming festival, the 20th of Feltear was known as the Day of Wills.

As the decorations were strung up across the city Lucian sat with his head leaned against his window watching the excitement in the streets below, as a tutor droned on about the significance of the occasion, and why the gods deemed it important.

Lucian didn't bother to show up for the festivities on the day, but an announcement did reach his ears, the 10th empress Dalilah Aydal Mercurion, was pregnant with the emperor's child.

It seemed that it wouldn't be long before little 101 was born.

---

A day's ride from the Royal Capital of Mercurion was one of the busiest hubs in all of the realm, Strever, a great city under the watchful gaze of a duke and several legions of Mercurion's armies, one of the things that set Strever apart from other cities was the large number of high rising hotels and inns that scraped across the sky and at its heart lay the portal gate, that allowed for travel between the realms.

The great city of Strever was most commonly known as the Crossroads, the place through which foreign dignitaries, royals, nobles, merchants, adventurers and travellers could reach the realm of Mercurion, and by which the people of Mercurion could leave.

The second most common structures here were the barracks that housed thousands of soldiers ready to move out at a moment's notice.

Currently, half a legion of soldiers stood at rapt attention at the portal gate, not a sight seen every day in Strever, but more common than any newcomer would expect.

The silver surface of the gate started to ripple outwardly, quickly the reflection to the world outside disappeared, and a new sight came up on the inside, revealing the appearance of two people in armour, one man wearing the equipment of a Royal Guard, and the woman beside him wore only the best of equipment on every inch of her body.

And each piece was branded with the emblem of a Nemean lion.

The warden stood at the foot of the gate and gave a signal, the next moment the gate opened and the two figures walked through.

"ATTENTION!" the warden roared, and the raised his gauntleted arms slamming them against his chest plates in salute.

"We greet her imperial highness Alphea Mercurion Goldore," they shouted as one, like a well-choreographed team.

The light grey eyes of the princess lingered on each soldier for a moment before she removed her helm, "At ease soldiers!" her voice came down firm but soft.

She turned her gaze away and looked to the distance as the soldiers broke away returning to their duties, the great white walls of the city of Mercurion still visible even at this distance, as it blended into the snow-capped mountains of Eldrith.

Her eyes quickly found the banners that hung on the walls, a new addition was making its home on the wall, her eyes seemed to sink ever so slightly as she looked out at the banners.

'So, you've really gone ahead with-it father,' she thought her grey eyes starting to mist over, as she thought of the implications that addition would have for the future.

"I guess it's your first time seeing the new decorations princess," the warden spoke as he stepped beside her, his tone baring a grave note.

"I take it you've heard the rumours, Warden Callum," Alphea responded.

"The rumours and then some, so are they true?" he asked.

"… Yes, and then some," Alphea replied after some time.

The Warden took a step forward with his fists clenched tight, "Step away from the princess," the Royal Guard who had been accompanying the princess from the beginning stepped into the Warden's path his hand resting on the pummel of a sword.

The warden looked down with a scowl, "Draw your blade boy and I'll show you why I've been guarding this gate since you were in diapers boy," he scoffed.

The Royal Guard prepared to pull his blade, but a small and firm hand suddenly pressed down on the pommel of his sword, "That's enough Eros, you're not his opponent," Alphea said pulling the Royal Guard away.

Alphea turned her gaze to the Warden her eyes slanting with a natural sharpness, "If you have something to say about the situation Callum then speak, or I'll be on my way,"

"This is a disgrace to the empire, I don't know what crap you fed to the emperor to get him to marry an Ancestral, but this had best be worth it, or it shall be your head on the line princess,"

"Is that a threat to the princess's life?!" Eros questioned harshly, his tone growing increasingly chilly.

"It's a fact you numb-skulled imbecile," the Warden spat, "You hear me, princess, half the court is already looking to latch onto any mistake you make, and the other half is looking forward to a good show," he spoke looking past the tall royal guard and into the princesses eyes.

"Thank you for informing me," Alphea replied, "I'll be taking my leave now, come Eros," she called motioning for him to join her.

They cleared the journey to the Royal Capital in less than an hour and hired a carriage to get them to the palace, while still in her equipment she raced through the halls her armour clanking all the way as she entered the throne room.

As she entered she saw her father seated on the throne with various members of the council busy in discussions with each other all over the room.

"Ah, princess you've returned," Dathra the head of finance turned from his conversation and remarked upon seeing her, "We've been expecting your arrival any day now, I've been meaning to…" he began rambling the moment he saw her.

"My apologies Lord Dathra and members of the council, but I must speak with my father in private," she announced.

The chatter from the various parts of the hall came to a still as the council representatives gave each-other strange looks.

"Would you hurry along!" Alphea shouted when several seconds had passed and none of them moved more than three paces.

"Yes, yes of course, no need to shout," the elderly Dathra meekly stepped away, "But the council really must discuss some matters with you later princess… alright everyone hurry on out," he quickly changed his tone when he saw the dead eye look Alphea was giving him.

When the council finally left, Alphea climbed the stairs taking long strides until she stood directly before the throne, "F-Father," she stammered as she fell to one knee and clasped onto one of his hands.

"Why the sad face my little girl?" the emperor asked showing just the slightest bit of emotion, his eyes regaining a little of its focus.

Alphea looked up into his eyes, "Why did you accept their proposal, you know that they only wanted to humiliate you?!" she half shouted half cried.

"Humiliate me?" the emperor asked tilting his head confusion evident in his eyes.

"Well that's okay, as long as my little girl is okay," he said as he slowly ruffled her platinum-blonde hair.

"But what will become of the empire? This will…"

"To hell with the EMPIRE!" the emperor's voice erupted so suddenly that Alphea jumped to her feet and stepped back her gaze alert.

But when she looked at the emperor he was sitting as still as always, smiling peacefully at her, "My little girl look at you, you've grown so big and strong, you look just my mother," the emperor laughed a happy boisterous laugh as he reached up and stroked her cheek.

His finger caught a tear that was crawling down her face, "My child do not cry, do not cry," he spoke gently as he wiped away her tears, "Ah I know I have a gift for you my girl,"

"Come do not cry, Father has a gift for you, a gift that shall make all the sacrifice worth it," he smiled and urged her to follow behind him for the first time in ages a bit of true clarity appeared in his eyes.

"F-father I think the gift can wait a little bit, won't you tell me how your days have been?" Alphea hugged his arm and asked forcing the tears from her eyes, it was so rare to see him with that look in his eyes.

The emperor's eyes lit up further as he looked at Alphea, "I saw him again just the other day an Arman-Katulas, just like you, he was here in this hall," the emperor's smile widened as he pointed to the foot of the stairs.

"He stood there right over there, but…" the emperor trailed off shaking his head, his eyes returning to their harrowed state.

Alphea paused with bated breath when he suddenly stopped, "Father you said there was another Arman-Katulas, who was he?" Alphea quickly asked trying to keep that fire alive.

"Come, come Father will show you your gift my little girl," the emperor turned and walked to the door.

Alphea sighed her gaze lingering on the foot of the black marble stairs, before she turned to follow after her father.

He guided her to the highest point of the royal palace and opened the great door of cultivation, "Go in silly girl, when you emerge you might be as strong as father, but remember that even if you're stronger, Father will always protect you, promise," the emperor smiled as he ushered her in.