Swords. Kaizen had always liked swords. With a sword, one could defend and protect. With a sword, one had the chance to fight through everything even though winning or losing was another thing.
Kaizen had a special talent when it came to swords. He had far more talent in it far surpassing the crown prince. The empress had glared down at him when their teacher had informed the emperor about his talent in swords.
"Don't pick up a sword again." His father had said. A warning. Kaizen already knew where that warning actually came from. His father was an emperor in name. His strings were being pulled by the empress most of the time. Maybe this is what they meant when the elders said, behind every king is a queen far more powerful.
From that day onwards, Kaizen didn't attend the sword classes. Instead he practiced in his own room and in the forest where there were no eyes to watch him, to criticize or to judge.
When the thought of becoming a crown prince came to him, he decided to use his talent in swords for advantage.
"I would like to go north, to my mother's maternal family. The Dukedom of Stormvale. Please allow me." He had made the request to his father one fine day. His head bowed yet his eyes, unseen by others, burned with fire.
The Dukedom of Stormvale were the protectors of the north which faced the empire's enemy. Meanwhile the nobility and the capital didn't cared much, no one could deny that the Stormvale dukedom was important and worthy of every bits of respect. They were the ones fighting wars heads on and keeping the enemies at bay.
All the concubines who married Emperor Alpheus had passed one after another. Murder disguised as suicide or accidents. Everyone knew it was the empress but no one had the power to fight against it. The only concubine who survived was Kaizen's mother, Milenna Stormvale and it was only because she was from Stormvale. Even the fearless empress couldn't risk making enemies with such an important dukedom.
"To the Dukedom of Stormvale? What would you even do there?" The emperor questioned.
"I believe that I should go there and learn from my maternal uncle, Duke Fenric. People will question why the royal princes never aids the north. My brother, the crown prince is important and not even a scratch shall come to him. As a second prince, I would like to go there in his stead. Learn from my uncle and aid the north. It is a duty I shall carry out." Kaizen said. Spinning lies after lies.
The emperor hums in deep thought. "What does your mother say about it?" He asked.
I haven't even told her any of my plans. He thought to himself.
"My mother is okay with my plans." Another lie.
"Fine." The emperor agrees. He had nothing to lose after all.
Kaizen internally smiles in victory. "I will be leaving in four days. I request you take care of my mother while I am gone. For, I do not know how long I would stay there."
The kings hums once again. Not paying too much mind. After bowing his head once again, Kaizen walks out of the room.
He goes to his room breathing a sigh of relief. He needed support. If he was going to steal the crown, he will need the support of a person who would have enough power to face off the emperor and even the empress. It was none other than Fenric Stormvale. His mother's older brother.
Duke Fenric was against Milenna marrying the emperor. But things happened. His mother didn't wanted to talk about it. Kaizen never asked.
If he thought about it, Kaizen had never talked much to his uncle. Duke Fenric rarely came to the capital. Defending the north was a huge responsibility he couldn't just leave. The last time he had seen his uncle was when he was turning 9.
The door slams open startling Kaizen a little. It was his mother.
"What is this news about you going to the north?" She questioned.
"You heard it right mother." He said. His mother sighs at his words. A bit of desperation in her eyes, worried for his son.
"Have you sent a letter to the Stormvale estates informing of your arrival?" She asked to which Kaizen nodded with a hum.
"... Who replied?" She asked, a look of longing crossing her face. Kaizen looks at her mother wishing he could take her with him but concubines didn't have that much freedom to go around and stay somewhere for a long time. Kaizen knew his mother hadn't met her family members for too long.
"Uncle Fenric did. The answer was rather short but he said I was welcomed to stay there as long as I desire." He said. Milenna breaths out heavily.
"Is it worth it? All of this for one girl. You are young Kaizen. You are turning 16 only. You will meet far better women when you grow up. Why can't it be someone else?" Milenna begged.
Why not someone else? It is not like Kaizen haven't thought of that. But Camille was different. No one came near to how Camille was. No one.
"Because she is the only one I want. The only one I need. Mother, will you understand it if I say she is like the stars and moon that lighten up my life that is nothing but darkness? I need her. She is the only thing, the only person I want and need. I would rather die trying to have her and let Caelus have her." He said, a dark look crossing his eyes. Gone as soon as it appeared.
"If this is your choice, as a mother, I can do nothing but support you. When you go to the north, tell Fenric I dearly miss him." She said, a smile filled with longing, worry and yearning appearing on her lips.
"Mother, I promise. I promise you will go back to your family. I will make sure you do." Kaizen says. All Milenna could do was smile and hope everything would turn out great. She hoped she wouldn't have to stand in front of another dead body of a loved one. Not his son at the least.