Grandel

Grandel loitered by a restaurant in Cesarius. His hands in his pockets, he looked around to see any clue of Selestia's arrival, yet she was still not there.

It was before the wedding when Grandel sent a letter to the Emperor to sign his permit in migrating to Thuhelda. Fair enough, he received the Emperor's response the same day with a statute that mentioned he cannot prevail to have a higher status than those of the Thuheldians. Well, for certain that was some kind of discrimination, but it also served to calm Thuheldians every time a migrant comes.

Though the Emperor said he'll give him one exception and that is if Selestia, Thuhelda's new empress, allow him to be part of her ministry constitute. It may sound crazy, but the noble title; Empress minister of the Imperial court, was the lowest title for a minister of the empire. It was then proved that unlike what Selestia said, he still can be the noble of the highest of the lows yet the lowest of the highs.

Grandel's hand shook as his thoughts receded in his mind, blocking a passage of his thoughts.

Though there were some thoughts that remained, one which was to be revealed.

The world went black in a span of seconds, he found himself dazed in his thoughts, drowning in the abyss of his ecstasy. The ecstasy of love he wanted to live in.

Selestia was seven years younger than Grandel, just like Fritz, Grandel stood as an older brother to her. But time changed, humans may not, but time does. As they grew older and older, Selestia began not to see a brother in him, Grandel never found the little sister in her as well.

They grew to revolve in the same world yet different fraction, to where he was on the other side, and she resides on the other. It was as if a world where they were split in half, that they did encounter but that interaction was never the same as when they were kids.

Grandel was nineteen when his eyes graced Selestia who was experiencing her puberty. She was fair as always, she was an angel to his eyes.

It was safe to say that Grandel fell in love with that certain angel, even though he knew he shouldn't.

Even though he knew that she was too young for him to love her.

He had all the awareness, he had every knowledge, but Grandel's heart does not nor ever was able to listen to his head. He was a man who follows his heart, Grandel was a man freer than the wind ever was.

Her hair of auburn, her eyes that looked as if they were burning, and her pale skin was the epitome of beauty in his eyes. Perhaps she was his type, maybe that was why he had fallen in love with her.

But let us be precise, it was Selestia's uniqueness that conquered his heart, it was what made his adoration grew into love. That was how he fell in love.

Almost everyone was aware with his heart's emotions, even Fritz himself was. After all, he was Grandel's best friend. Perhaps that was why it was hidden from them, to avoid his heart from shattering, to preserve his will to still govern The Valley. But there might also be one theorem.

His mind brought him to a remembrance of his discovery about the marriage, it was when he remembered how his heart became broken.

He only was meant to pass by the royal hall, he expected not that the Head Butler, Nilus and the Duke of Aldwyna, Barlock, his father would be there. More so, they were speaking of a matter that was supposed to beheld a secret, yet he coincidentally heard.

"The marriage is about to come close on the calendar, Nilus. Be certain to remind the King the share he promised as I take part in this."

Nilus nodded, "Very well, Duke Barlock. I will not let him be at ease if he will not fulfill the promise he cast."

"For certain, I do hope this becomes a success. Hopefully, Selestia would not rage once he offer this on her plate."

Grandel was behind a pillar as he heard them talk. He was certain that what he heard was true, yet there were some broken information that was needed to be filled.

'Are they pertaining to a marriage with Selestia? Or someone related to Selestia? Could it be Fritz? I heard not from Fritz that he was to be married...then what could they be talking about..?'

"Indeed…" Nilus agreed, Grandel paused his train of thoughts and peeked at them as they conversed about an unspoken matter.

'Could my father be scheming with the King? Similarly to how they handled Aldwyna,could they be scheming to make Celeste a wasteland?'

"I knew not why the great Emperor of Thuhelda wanted to marry that temperamental auburn…" Nilus sighed.

'Emperor of Thuhelda? Are they pertaining to that frigid emperor of that great empire? Temperamental auburn? Are they…setting Selestia to marry him?'

His heart felt like ice that was slowly trudged upon, it was gradually then that his heart started to form cracks piece by piece.

"Nilus, there you go again, you speak against your master's daughter with an ill manner."

"Would it be rude if I speak the truth I discern, Duke Barlock?" Nilus spoke with such sarcasm.

"Indeed not…" he sighed. "Perhaps, as I view it, that Emperor wanted Selestia since she was graced as the greatest female warrior of Uryasha. For certain, Selestia would help improve and spread the knowledge about Thuhelda's existence."

"Are they not well-known across the world? The great empire of Zemira of the continent of Orlands discerned them as such a competency. I doubt that was the purpose why he wished to marry the princess…"

Barlock could only sigh, he can't afford to think about such matter. "Let us not commence the aching of our heads, Nilus. The Emperor might not have a plan, perhaps his constitution was forcing him to marry, or that he wanted to show off how easily he could get ladies for himself across the kingdom. It could be just him flaunting his power, who would know? There's also no point in knowing."

Barlock patted Nilus shoulder and parted ways, Grandel's heart felt like it would twitch. How could this even be happening? Selestia had only turned eighteen, her legal age three months ago, yet they were already scheming to marry her off.

'Selestia will be married to an Emperor?'

His hands clasped on the pillar that his silhouettes from them.