The dawned had arrived. A dwn which Arthur was really not looking forward to. There was a knock on his door. As the butler informed him of the arrival of the Daramten family head. Arthur packed the documents in the book and closed his pen. Finally closing his work and going to meet the Daramten. Sleepless, exhausted, his yesredenned. He walked through the hallways on his own two feet but it felt like he wasn't in control. He was just watching himself walk forward. Thus walking through eh corridors he reached the throne room where the Daramten were permitted entry. And there they were two bodies. Both of them covered in white cloth but one of them was stained red with blood. Arthur instantly knew that and Arthur wanted to scream into horror but nothing but emptiness. He walked towards the, and opened the white cloth to reveal the body and examine it. And in front of him was the faces of the very ones he had loved with all of his heart. His parents their noses, mouth and ears covered with lac
Their eyes closed, their bodies still and lifeless lied before him. Arthur couldn't watch them anymore and he shifted his face away from the parents. He felt like he had regretted his decision. Arthur wanted to cry but he noticed that hthe Daramten were besides him as well. Examining the body. Arthur was afraid that if tears fell from his face at this moment then it would display a sign of weakness. Arthur gently covered their faces. And got up and faced the Head of Daramten. The duke of Daramten, the house which is closest to the King. Who holds the most authority of all the houses. And besides him was Roselina Arthur's ex-fiance.
Arthur shook hand with the head f Daramten. A man who is responsible for the distribution and sales of Steallarium throughout the kingdom as well as other kingdom. 80-90 percent of the income obtained is given to the kingdom itself while the rest is kept as commission by the Duke itself. And this allowed the duke to gain immense riches and But there was a detriment in order to prevent the fuke from getting too powerful and overthrowing the kingdom. He imposed a pact oon the duke itself that. The Duke cannot own any other businesses, financial institutions and army or guards. For the tansprt of Steallarium troops shall be dispatched from the imperial court themselves. Adnt because of this pact which has countinued for generations. The duke was just a pawn of the king.
The house of Daramten wanted this time to end the pact such that he may overthrow the kingdom thus he decided to marry his own daughter to the prince. And then the tragedy happened. The duke had lost all hope of gaining freedom from the chakcles of the kingdom itslef. But destiny shone upon them once more. As he bought the corpses of the royal family. This was the perfect moment to ask for a favor. A chance to grow closer to the King and in the end overthrow him a d the end his tragedy oce and for all.
" Your Highness, I feel extreme sorrow as I know that they had perished within my domain. But my guilt had been a little bit lowered knowing that I could atleast bring them back ". Arthur looked into his eyes as they feigned innocence so flawlessly. " Duke Daramten, you have done a great serve not to the kingdom but to me. For this I am very thankful". Arthur further countinued " I thought I might not get to see them again. " Arthur once again with extreme sadness looked upon their bodies. He wished that they would life up the cloth and revel that this was just a cruel trick all along. Nothing had happened to them it was just a ruse all along. But nothing of such sort happened. Arthur saw Roselina hiding behind her father but not completely. " Roselina, thank you for coming here today. I am sorry I might not be able to be a good host for today ". Roselina just watched silently as her father glared into her eyes to say something to Arthur. " I am very sorry Arthur. This all happened because of me. Had I not acted rashly that day. Nothing of this sort would have happened. " Arthur let it go because he knew that she didn't mean even a single sentence that she had blabbered. Roselina further countinued " I hope you can give me a chance again " . Arthur instead shunned Roselina in front of the entire court. " Roselina, please behave. Today is not the day to talk about these things. " Arthur words hit Roselina as he father was not very disappointed in her. She herself threw away her own future.
A few hours passed. The Daramten were directed to their cabins to rest after a very log and arduous journey. While Arthur still stayed besides his parents. It was around 10 am that the Head priest Brennen had arrived to conduct the final rites of the Royal family.
" King of Stella, Arthur. My condolence. I didn't think that I shall be here much sooner. " In his hands were beads which were made from the seeds of a special tree and had stellarium infused into them about 1%. In all of the 108 beads tightly coiled around his hand.
" I appreciate your arrival, head priest Brennan. Who else but one of father's closest friend to send them off ".
Arthur said sadly. While Brennan looked at his father examining his covered body.
" Your Highness, are you aware of our traditions for final rites? ". Head priest Brennan asked if he was testing Arthur.
Arthur replied " I'm somewhat aware " The Head priest Brennan this time explained what he needed to do. " Your Highness, allow me to inform you of our final rites for royal families".
The final rites are much closer to Hindu traditions than other religions. The reason was to prevent a plague the bodies were completely and cleanly burned. When stellarium is burned it gives a clean pristine white flame. Which is believed to be a sign of purity and divine acceptance. Thus in royal rations a chunk if stellarium is used whereas for the locals just shavings are used just for the white flames. Which is provided by the religion of stellarium itselff which believes stellarium to be a gift directly from God itself. And even their symbol is a chunk of stellarium crystal which they worship with all of their heart.
" Your Highness, for the ritual I shall require adequate amount of stellarium for them. " The head priest was asking without shying away since he knew that today was his day that he could make any demands. The head priest was here for only one and one thing today. Which was shamelessly ask for stellarium. " When the ritual ends, the one who conducts the ritual is supposed to be given some alms for donation. My King I ask for some stellarium because there are others who's bodies are rotting away with flies swarming around them unable to be cremated. "
Arthur was feeling enraged as he was shamelessly asking for the one precious resource. Arthur felt the urge to take up his sword and slit his throat. But he didn't want there to be another death in the court. Before Arthur could say anything the Duke of Daramten intervened. " Head priest Brennan. You needed Steallarium right. You should have asked me. Our Highn ess is in mourning, and Stil you dare to make demands from him. " It was as if the duke knew what the king wanted to say and do.
" You are still in the good graces of the King. That is why he shall forgive you. But don't dare to try this again ". The Duke Daramten had spoken words for Arthur without even his consent.
And Arthur to save face had to applaud the Duke while inside he was feeling off. " Well said. Duke " These three fake words were the only ones which could come out of Arthur's mouth. The had priest Brendan had to bck off and he diverted himself towards the others which had also arrived by hearing the news. Baron Laron which wanted to protest against the situation came to the kings court himself to petition for it. But was even met with more delay as he wasn't even allowed inside.
Finally the head priest started his fihal rites. He started reading from sacred passages and scriptures. " Oh God, who is all above everyone, above the heaven and earth, above the meaning of existence himself. Hear my pleas. As I offer my gratitude to you, as you did for the kingdom of Stellaria helping our ancestors and their descendants survive and thrive. I bow before your unknowable form, knowing that you are everywhere in the land, seas and inside our mind and hearts. Please accept my prayer for the salvation of the Former King and Queen of Stella and grant them a place in heaven with all others. Help them be free from the mortal coil stuck in reincarnating and grant them true freedom. "
When the word reincarnation was said Arthur felt a little off. Arthur had always found that word something a little closer to himself. Rather than heaven or hell.
He then poured grinded stellarium crystal filled water on both of them. And then sprinkled a bit of water on everyone as Stellarium is inherently thought as divine.
Finally their bodies were taken into open air into a cemetaryb where final prayers were conducted and a chunk of stellarium bought by the priest himself was given to the both of them and then finally the final rites ended. The head priest handed Brenan a stick doused with oil and lit on fire as he reluctantly took the stick. His eyes stared into the fire itself. As it gave it heat back to Arthur which cause him to sweat a little. His eyes which were in contact which is flames and it's carbon caused his eyes to water. Arthur took a deep breath and as he felt many stares on him looking at him with symoathy as well as disdain.
Finally Arthur lit the pyre and the fire came to life. At first the fire were orange and blue. When when the crystal started burning. The flame turned white from the base till the end it was completely white and there was no smoke emiisioon. But nothing mattered to Arthur anymore as his heart had become so much empty he could even think anymore but just look at the burning pyre with enemies around him. And there was no one for him not his family, his relatives which weren't even invited.
And finally the fire died out leaving their ashes behind. Which was collected by the head priest in a royal urns made entirely of gold and handed over to Arthur.