The day of the Central Continent's Grand Council is drawing near.
Rulers from every major nation gathered in the Sun Empire's capital to deliberate on vital decisions, exchange secrets, and solidify alliances. It was a rare and coveted event—so rare, in fact, that tradition dictated a grand banquet would follow three weeks later, drawing nobles from every corner of the continent.
The occasion was more than a mere gathering; it was a spectacle of power, diplomacy, and gossip.
And, as was customary, royal families were expected to attend.
Inside the Phoenix Kingdom's gilded carriage, the royal family made their way toward the capital. The carriage, adorned with the gleaming phoenix crest, rattled over the cobbled roads, the sunlight catching on the polished gold.
King Richard IV sat beside his wife, Queen Charlotte, while their three grown, handsome sons—Richard on the left, Calvin in the middle, and the youngest, Nicolas, on the right—sat across from them in a silence that spoke volumes.
Crown Prince Richard V, his golden blond hair catching the light, leaned against the window, his gaze distant.
His mind drifted, lost in the memory of a private moment—a secret meeting with her.
The sound of her laughter still echoed in his mind. The warmth of her fingers as he whispered his farewell.
At first, when he approached her, his intentions weren't serious. He remembered his first impressions of her: a beautiful young woman with brunette hair and bluish-violet eyes that complemented her fair skin.
She was a beauty—and unlike many women he'd encountered, she seemed innocent, untouched by scandal.
It was what first drew him to her.
But for the first time in his life, he had fallen in love.
When they were apart, he missed her and thought of her often. Whenever he was with her, he felt his heart pound hotter and redder with passion.
Kissing her made his heart race, pulling her tighter against him to deepen the kiss made fireworks appear in his head.
The night before he had to leave for the Sun Empire, he felt heartbroken.
His woman had shed tears at the thought of not seeing him for three weeks—but as the heir to the throne, he could not delay his departure.
He had given her a long, deep kiss—a promise of reunion at the banquet—that still burned fiercely in his chest.
A subtle smirk danced upon the lips of Nicolas, the youngest son, as he glanced at his elder brother. "Ah, my brother is lost in thought once again," he remarked, his voice carrying the sharpness of jest. "He's thinking about her once more," he remarked aloud, his tone sharp enough to pull Richard from his reverie. "I had assumed she would be yet another of his fleeting infatuations, but this one... it appears our esteemed Crown Prince is truly beginning to develop feelings."
"Pray, tell us, who is this maiden that has captured your heart, dear Richard?" Queen Charlotte asked, her curiosity piqued.
Richard stiffened, narrowing his eyes at Nicholas. "It's nothing," he muttered, brushing the subject aside.
"She is the daughter of Duke Sove Etopia, from the Waterland Kingdom," Nicolas volunteered, his tone bordering on amusement. "They have spent weeks inventing the most ludicrous excuses to meet one another. It is almost... endearing, if you're into those melodramatic romance novels."
"Nicholas!" Richard snapped, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "You little traitor. You betray my trust—"
"No, you entrusted Calvin with that knowledge," Nicolas retorted casually, his indifference palpable. "And, I dare say, you speak so loudly that even the palace guards blush, I imagine they could recite every single one of your shared kisses with the lady."
Calvin, the middle son, chuckled, brushing a stray strand of white-blond hair from his forehead. "He's not wrong." He then glanced at Richard IV, a teasing glint in his eye. "Did I not advise you to lower your voice?"
"Unbelievable," Richard muttered, slouching deeper into his seat. "Privacy is dead in this family."
Queen Charlotte's lips twitched with amusement.
Their mother had once been the jewel of every nobleman's eye: the eldest daughter of a count, with flowing golden-blonde hair, radiant blue eyes, and soft, angelic features. Even now, though age had etched its marks, she retained much of her youthful allure.
Before the playful bickering could continue, King Richard IV's voice cut through the air, firm and commanding.
"Enough."
The carriage fell into an uneasy silence.
The king leaned forward, fixing his eldest son with a steely gaze.
"How long has this been going on?"
Richard hesitated, his fingers tightening on his knees.
"A few months, Father."
"No." The king's voice darkened. "Give me an exact number."
Richard groaned.
"Two months and thirteen days."
The king's gaze shifted to his second son.
"Calvin, how long have you been aware of this affair?"
"Almost two months," Calvin replied nonchalantly, giving a slight shrug of indifference.
"Nicholas?"
"Six days, but it was hardly of my choosing," Nicholas muttered, avoiding his father's gaze entirely.
"And none of you thought it prudent to inform us?" the king inquired, his voice calm, but there was an unmistakable edge of disappointment in his tone. "And do not say, 'Why did you not send a guard?'—I did not because I placed my trust in you to disclose such matters."
Calvin shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing nervously at his father. "But, Father, we are at an age where young men have many romantic interests. It is commonplace among the nobility... and even among commoners. Richard is merely indulging in youthful love. This won't tarnish his reputation."
Richard shot Calvin a sharp glance. "She's different," he said firmly, conviction ringing in his voice.
The king's eyes narrowed, studying him.
"So you're telling me she's your only lover? No dalliances, no other distractions?"
Richard's face contorted in horror.
"Of course not! I have been steadfast. She is the only one who holds my heart."
Calvin raised an eyebrow.
"Well, that's... new."
The king's voice grew colder.
"You do realize the gravity of this situation, Richard? As a future monarch, you cannot afford such distractions. The throne demands your full attention, not... fleeting infatuations."
Queen Charlotte placed a gentle hand on her husband's arm, her expression tender.
"Oh, Richard, my love. First love always feels like a storm. It will settle"
"I'm still disappointed," the king said flatly, his disappointment hanging heavy in the air.
The last word lingered like a shadow, making the silence even more oppressive.
Nicholas, ever irreverent, couldn't resist cutting through the tension. "Glad I'm not the Crown Prince," he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
King Richard IV heard his son's remark but pressed on, undeterred. "Many women of high rank and influence over the continent have expressed their interest in you. I am not surprised—after all, you are handsome, well-behaved, a skilled swordsman, and soon to be king. You had everything, Richard."
He paused, lips thinning in contemplation.
"I had already narrowed down the list," he continued, a note of finality in his voice, "and was prepared to offer you the privilege of making your choice."
Richard IV met his father's gaze, unflinching.
The room was thick with tension; no one dared to breathe too hard, afraid of breaking the silence. The weight of the moment hung heavy in the air.
Then, Nicholas—unfazed—broke the quiet with his signature irreverence.
"Oh, please! You did the same thing! Who are you to scold him? You're a complete hypocrite!" he retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Calvin snorted at his brother's audacity, then burst into laughter. Crown Prince Richard, unable to contain himself, buried his face in his large right hand, his shoulders shaking with suppressed mirth.
Nicholas wasn't done yet. He leaned forward dramatically, fixing his father with a pointed look.
"Who was it that said—" he began, clasping his hands together as though swooning in theatrical despair. "'It's Lady Charlotte or no one'? Oh, yes! You—" Nicholas pointed accusingly at his father.
Calvin roared with laughter.
Nicholas continued in his normal voice, "As though you were some main character in one of those tragic romance tales. Well, I hate to break it to you..." He paused, a mischievous grin appearing across his lips as he gave his father a side eye. "...you're not."
Queen Charlotte, unable to resist, leaned back in her chair, giggling softly. She gently rubbed her husband's arm with a fond smile.
"Do not mock my romantic old man, Nicholas," she teased, her tone light and playful. "If it were not for him, you wouldn't have been born."
King Richard III wasn't laughing—but the corner of his mouth twitched, threatening to smile.
He, too, had once been the most desired man in the realm—admired for his sandy blond hair, crystal-clear blue eyes, chiseled jawline, and a smile capable of disarming even the fiercest hearts. He had also been an expert swordsman, a popular and sought-after bachelor, and the heir to the Phoenix Kingdom's throne. Now in his fifties, his hair had silvered and his features softened, but the glow in his eyes—and the strength of his presence—remained undiminished. Monarchs often married for convenience, but he had broken tradition. His father had arranged a match with the daughter of a Grand Duke from the Waterland Kingdom.
Instead, King Richard III had famously said:
"It's Lady Charlotte or no one."
The king's voice softened as he reflected. "Your mother and I were different. From the moment I laid eyes on her... I knew she was the one. I was always serious."
The king sighed and folded his arms and finally glanced at his eldest son.
"I will not force you to part ways with her, but I must ask: Do you intend to marry her?"
"Yes." Richard answered, without hesitation.
The silence that followed was thick with shock.
Nicholas blinked, his voice full of disbelief.
"Wait—you're serious?"
Calvin sat up straighter, clearly startled.
"You cannot be serious," he muttered, his surprise evident.
Queen Charlotte's eyes shone with excitement, clasping her hands together.
"Oh, my darling! That is wonderful news!"
She turned to her husband, barely able to contain her joy. " Is it not splendid, my love? Not only does she hold our son's heart, but she hails from a venerable and noble house—daughter to a Duke of great esteem within the Waterland Kingdom. To have such a lady ascend as our future queen would only fortify the bonds between our realms."
King Richard IV leaned back, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "It is, indeed, a wise and strategic alliance."
Hope blossomed on Richard's face.
Nicholas, however, ruined the moment by bursting into obnoxious laughter.
Everyone turned to stare at him until he collected himself together.
"Apologies, it's just—" He sat up, dramatically clearing his throat and mimicking their father's grave tone. "'I'm so disappointed that you fell in love with a woman.'"
Then, switching to his mother's voice, he turned his body to face Richard and stretched his arms across Calvin, who sat in between them, exaggeratedly clapping his hands near Richard's face. "Aww, Richard, my beautiful pig! You found love with the daughter of a Duke—we absolutely support you!"
Calvin tried to stifle his laughter with a cough but failed to hide his amusement.
Nicholas couldn't stop now. With a mischievous grin, he got up and reached across Calvin to grab Richard's face, squishing his handsome features together, and planted a noisy kiss on his forehead. He patted Richard's hair with mock affection, as if he were the doting parent.
"You are my pride and joy, Richie!" Nicholas cooed in a high-pitched voice.
Queen Charlotte and Calvin burst into laughter, Queen Charlotte covered her face with her hands as her whole body shook with laughter as Calvin's face turned pink.
"Stop!" Richard snapped, his irritation clear but unable to fully suppress the smile tugging at his lips. He swatted Nicholas's hands away from his face. "Go sit down, you're insufferable."
But then, as if to shatter the levity, the king's voice turned serious once more.
"I will not let you off so easily, Richard..." His gaze sharpened. "If she lacks the qualities of a proper queen, I will put an end to this."
The Crown Prince's smile remained undeterred. "Do not worry, Father. You will not be disappointed. In fact, I believe you will be impressed by her."
The king regarded his son's confident tone and smiled approvingly, his gaze shifting to his wife. She was laughing so hard that tears glistened in her eyes, her joy infectious. Calvin, unable to contain his amusement, was wheezing, his hands covering his face and his head buried in Nicholas's chest. Nicholas, with a grin plastered across his face, had his arms wrapped around Calvin, patting his back, while laughing silently, his shoulders shaking as he stomped his foot on the floor in his usual exaggerated fashion.
The scene was full of warmth and laughter, a moment of lightheartedness that seemed to push the more serious matters aside, at least for now. The king's expression softened as he watched his sons, his heart filled with pride at the bond they shared, even if their antics sometimes tested his patience.
Charlotte finally managed to calm herself, wiping away the last of the tears, and looked at her husband with a playful glint in her eyes. "Ahh, I'm so sorry."
The king chuckled lightly, his earlier stern demeanor momentarily forgotten.