Birthright

A man sat by the window, watching the relatively small city of Altona wakes up for a new morning. The man watches as his golden hair flows along with the wind and his eyes glisten in gold. Most would call him a human, if not for the patches of golden skin spread throughout his appendages.

The man sips his tea as he watches the beautiful sun rising from the east. He lowers his cup as he closes his eyes, listening to the melodic tune of nature. Unfortunately for him, such tunes won't last. A knock suddenly bursts out from the door as a human servant slams open the door, in his face written was the expression of delight.

"My Prince, there has been news from the capital." The man opens one of his eyes as he look to his servant excited expression. "What is it? Albert, What news could be so urgent? That you tried to break my door?" Albert looks behind him, his expression a bit apologetic.

Albert though bows quickly, "I apologize Prince Lenard. But the news from the capital was most urgent." Lenard sighs in exasperation as he waves Albert to go on. Albert clears his throat before continuing, "During the celebration of Lord Viller's ascension to adulthood, an explosion broke out. It was said that the perpetrator used the distraction to steal from Lord Vincent an amount of approximately a million gold coins.

Lenard who was about to take off his tea stops before he spoke in shock, "A million gold coins," Albert nods affirmatively, Lenard widens his eyes in mute shock, as he asked Albert to confirm "Truly?" Albert spoke as he bows his head, "Yes, it has been validated to have reached such an amount."

Lenard mutters to himself, "I always thought that the Dunsten were rich, but I never thought they were that rich." He sips his tea once more, "Then again, the countryside doesn't get many shares of the gold do we?" Albert nods affirmatively as he replied, "Unfortunately, my prince."

Lenard then glances at Albert as he said, "Is that all?" Albert shakes his head before replying, "No, it was also found out that the attack had one casualty." Lenard looks at him in interest, "Who is it?" Alber replies with a frown, "It was said that the slave from which Duke Vincent found his wealth died from the fire."

Lenard smirks, "Well that's unfortunate." Lenard sips his tea as he looks out to his city, "Then again, there isn't much we could do to capitalize on this opportunity." Albert looks down as he mutters, "I still can't believe his highness would be put in charge of such a small city."

Lenard chuckles from Albert's word before speaking dejectedly. "Truly Albert? I should just be glad they even allowed me to stay a prince." He looks down as he swirls the cup in his hand, "Father's hands remain tied, there's just not enough powerful nobles supporting me to even make for a power base." He looks outside, "He pushed me out here to make a powerbase of my own."

Albert bows his head, "But My prince, the nobles around the countryside has offered you their support. Isn't that enough " Lenard only shakes his head at him as replies in self-pity, "They merely found a piece of leverage, by all accounts if I ever do sit upon the throne? They'll be more than happy to take concessions," He sighs to himself, "Something that by all accounts would end up disastrous."

"Disastrous? but My Prince, If you sit upon the throne the nobility will be forced to show you their deference." Albert spoke with an expression filled with excitement. "And then what? Even if father can force the nobility to accept me as king, their loyalty will never be mine." Lenard huffs to himself a bit aggravated by the conversation, his legitimacy has always been a sore spot for the budding prince.

Albert noticing only bows his head once more, speaking in deference, "My Prince, they are proper Rosalian nobility, their loyalty to you remains unquestioned." Lenard cuts him off "On the outside," Albert tilts his head, "Pardon?" Lenard continues as he massages his forehead, "They'll show me their loyalty, but for every moment a single spark would be enough to consume the country in a civil war."

"It has gotten to the point that if I ever find an ally with one of the Dukedoms and powerhouses, the best that could happen is me becoming a puppet or they just outright declaring war." Watching all this Albert only looks down as Lenard once more laments the situation he was put in.

Lenard looks up, trying to alleviate the oncoming headache, "I'm stuck in all of the worst-case scenarios. If I win the succession, I'll be king in name only. If I lose, I get killed off as my brother ascends the throne. And if I try to get their loyalty, it'll consume the nation in a bloody civil war." He then watches as the light goes through the room, "Even if I won that? What's going to be left?"

Lenard lowers his head in depression, knowing his birthright might never end up in his hands. Despite all the teachings, all the practice he had to do, all ending up as nothing but mere dreams. He looks out the window once more, trying to forget the existential crisis looming over him.

He exasperatedly sighs as he looks back to Albert, "Is there anything else you wish to tell me?" Albert seeing the depressed prince, panicked a bit before composing himself with a cough, "Well, yes sir. I'm also here to give you your weekly report."

Lenard glances at him before he waves him to go on. Albert then takes papers out of his coat before starting to read. "The current prices of imports into the city has increased," Lenard only looks to him as he mutters, "There's nothing much we can do about that since most imports seem to come from the capital." Lenard waves it away as he continued, "Just try to find a new source of import."

Albert nods as he then read another page, "We have also received, few requests for the opening of various industries." Lenard raises an eyebrow, "What industry?"