Interlude: A King's Burden

Golden Palace, City of Verdin, Province of Bern, Kingdom of Drissia

King Frederick the Great built the Golden Palace during Drissia's Golden Age. The Age whereupon the small Kingdom of Drissia expanded to five times its size, leaving the surrounding countries hesitant of its rising powers.

Fortunately for them, before the Great King's ambition were fully realized. His sudden death smashed his future aspirations into pieces, leaving the once unfettered Kingdom poised for ascension, into a mere a shadow of its former self.

With such a hit, a young man must change if he wishes to push his Kingdom forward. And that is what King Siegfried did. The once flamboyant youth, enjoying the life and luxury of a prince, turned into a hard man, with a single objective: the preservation of everything his father built.

And now, the city of Verdin stood as his throne as he persevered through the ever-increasing enemies, as he persevered to maintain control over his kingdom.

A servant knocks upon a door, cutting through the soft rustle of paper. "Your Majesty, Count Ivanov wishes for your audience."

Siegfried's eyes sharpen, a smirk on his lips as he dismisses the servant away. "Leave him, tell him. I'll talk to the Osterians once they are ready to negotiate."

The servant bows, "By your will."

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Siegfried returns to his work, pen scratching against paper, wind blowing through the window. His mind unto the war, as documents leaves his hand, a door opens up, forcing him to stop.

"Your Majesty." A man enters, a man with graying hairs, whose sharp golden eyes stab through him. He was Chief Councillor, Duke Adrian Inzern. Head of House Inzern, his father-in-law.

"Ah, your Highness." The man pushes through the door. A genial smile on his face as steps through, a cane on his hand as he sat by the chair. "Greetings to you."

Siegfried forces a smile on his face. He bristles at the clear lack of respect. "Duke Inzern? What is it that made you visit? Is there a problem?"

Adrian just holds his cane in front of him. "Nothing of the sort, your highness. I only came here to talk to you about this war." He looks at the documents before him. "The people are restless."

Siegfried gives him a warm smile. "I assure you, all is being taken care of. All that's left for us is to snatch the victory from their hands."

"Oh? Truly? Without the full deployment of our army? Forgive me, your highness. But that sounds hard to believe." Adrian lowers the paper down, the cane in his tapping against the floor.

Siegfried twitches. "It might be, I suppose." Siegfried then returns to his work. "But, fortunately for us, we hold the greatest army in this world."

The tapping then stops. "I see, it seems you are right. Unfortunately, we can't predict the future as much as we want, so it would be best to have the Third Army at the ready."

"The one led by your son?" Siegfried snaps up in attention.

A small smile over the duke as he continued, "Why, yes, of course. It is the closest designated army. If this war of yours ever turns for the worst, it would be best to be prepared."

"Thank you for your consideration. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?"

"Why yes, there is. My grandson's designation as a crown prince cannot be delayed further than it already has. The kingdom is rife with instability. It is only proper that we give the people hope in such a dire time." Adrian spoke, his cane tapping against his table.

The sound of which disrupted whatever patience Siegfried had left as he grit out, "Duke Inzern, I don't believe you have the right to determine the next crown prince."

Adrian then stood up, eyes locking with his, the tapping intensifying as he spoke. "Oh? But It is only proper. Dont you think so? Your Highness?"

Siegfried clenches his fist under the table. "Thank you for your advice. I would take it into deep consideration." He forces out another smile. "Is there anything else?"

Adrian smirks, "Nothing left, Your highness." He the glances at the window. "Though I suppose you should close the window and watch your back."

He chuckles as he leaves through the door. "Your health is of grave importance to me."

The door snaps shut, leaving behind Siegfried, stewing in his own anger and rage, his pen snapping in his hand as ink and blood drops across his table. "I hate that man."

"Don't we all?" The door opens up as another man enters. A man limping across the room as he spoke. "So, he visited you again? Huh?"

Siegfried wipes it all from his hand. "He has."

The old man named Maximillian Anzollern chuckles at the thought. "Bitten off by the monster you created, eh, boy? Told you, didn't I?"

Siegfried sighs, "Did you come to gloat at me again?" He takes another pen from his drawer. "I would have thought you'd have overgrown such an act, as senile as you look."

"As enjoyable as it is to gloat towards you, I came her for a different matter altogether." The man takes out a bunch of documents.

Siegfried takes it off the table to read it, his eyes widening at every paragraph until he whispers. "Is this true? Is this really my son?"

"Golden eyes, black hair. He fits the description nicely, I suppose." Maximillian shrugs, "But that's not the problem here, right? It's the feats he committed, Siegfried."

He taps the tables in front of him. "The other countries are going to wonder about this. The boys is now being called the Demon of Drissia. We need to fix this."

"What is there the need to fix? Drissia just got its most powerful weapon! We just got the man the necessary steps to turn a man into a god!"

Maximillian slams his hand on the table, taking Siegfried off his stupor as he shouts. "That's why we have to discredit everything! We need to hold unto this secret long enough to gain advantage!"

Clarity returns to his eyes, "I see. Then what do you have planned?"

"The validity of these reports would look like horseshit. No one would believe the Osterians. That's why I want you to end this war altogether. As we speak, that kid of yours putting paint on our backs."

Siegfried nods, "I see, but I can't just."

The door then opens, a general shouting as he runs to their side. A wide smile on his face. "Sir! Reports from the front, a resounding victory!"

Siegfried snatches it from his hand before looking up, a smile on his face. "Looks like we can even end this with enough riches to pay it off."