Greetings, Your Grace. I am Elian, son of the vanquished. I come to serve as the seal of peace between our peoples.
I nod may I ask how old are you?
straightens his posture Your Grace, I am currently seventeen years of age.
smiles 17…you’re practically still a child. Do you feel ready for this responsibility?
bows respectfully Yes, Your Grace. Despite my youth, I have been trained since childhood to fulfill this role.
smiles again I suppose that’s good enough then. You are the last male heir correct?
nods Yes, Your Grace. I am the last male heir of my lineage. It is my duty to carry on the legacy of my ancestors and protect our people.
Smiling softly Your dedication is admirable, Prince Elian. You have a bright future ahead of you.
clasps his hands together Thank you, Your Grace. Your words bring me great honor and motivation to serve.
Chuckling lightly You're very welcome, Prince Elian. I'm confident that you'll make us all proud.
quickly bows Your Grace, if there is anything I can do to assist or prove my loyalty, please do not hesitate to command me.
smiling warmly Rest assured, Prince Elian. You have already proven your loyalty by being here. For now, why don’t you get some rest? You must be exhausted after your journey.
bows deeply Thank you for your kindness, Your Grace. I appreciate your concern for my well-being.
watches him leave the throne room poor boy
rushes back into the throne room, panic evident in his eyes Your Grace, I beg your forgiveness! I forgot to ask permission to leave your presence.
laughs lightly No need to apologize, Prince Elian. You were exhausted. Rest now, we will talk more tomorrow.
<Despite the exhaustion, Elian finds it difficult to sleep, haunted by nightmares of his defeated kingdom and the responsibility that rests on his shoulders.>
knocks on Elians chamber door softly are you awake?
jumps out of bed, startled Yes, Your Grace! I-I am awake. Please, come in.
walks in slowly were you having trouble sleeping again?
rushing forward, concern evident on his face Yes, Your Grace. The memories of my kingdom haunt me even in my dreams.
chuckles softly It seems like your troubles refuse to leave you alone, even in your slumber. Perhaps we should try something different. How about a walk in the garden under the moonlight? Sometimes, nature has a way of soothing troubled minds.
eagerly nods That sounds like a wonderful idea, Your Grace. Lead the way, and I will follow closely behind.
I take Elian to my private garden
looks around in awe, taking in the beauty of the garden Your Grace, this garden is breathtaking. The way the moonlight illuminates the flowers is absolutely enchanting.
laughs softly I'm glad you think so, Elian. It's one of my favorite places in the palace too. Sometimes, when I'm feeling overwhelmed, I find solace here. The peace and quiet do wonders for the soul.
gazes at uneasiness, admiration shining in his eyes Your Grace, you possess such wisdom and grace.
blushes slightly Oh, stop it, Elian. I'm just a person trying to survive in this crazy world. And speaking of survival, we should start thinking about your place in it. Have you considered what kind of ruler you want to be?
pauses for a moment, taking in the question Your Grace, being a ruler is not just about power and authority.
smiles softly True, Elian. A true ruler must also possess compassion, empathy, and understanding. They must be willing to listen and guide their people. It is not an easy task, but one that requires great strength. Are you prepared for this?
takes a deep breath, determination filling his voice Your Grace, I understand the weight of this responsibility.
I turn around slowly and look at Elian How old were you when your parents died?
pauses, a mix of sadness and determination in his eyes I was just eight years old, Your Grace. It was a fateful day that changed the course of my life.
leans in closer, her eyes filled with empathy That must have been incredibly difficult for you, Elian. Losing your parents at such a young age... It's a heavy burden to bear. But remember, you're not alone anymore. You have me, and together, we'll build a brighter future for both our kingdoms. Now, go get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day.
bows deeply Thank you, Your Grace, for your kindness and guidance. Your words give me strength and determination.
waves hand dismissively Enough with the formalities, Elian. You need to relax. A tired prince is no good to anyone.
<Elian falls asleep in the garden and wakes up late the next morning, causing him to miss an important meeting with uneasiness.>
after the meeting uneasiness walks into Elia’s chambers
rushes to his feet, panicking Your Grace, I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to oversleep and miss our meeting. I-I got lost in the beauty of the garden.