My journey to become the greatest man of the Aethelgard began at an early age. I excelled at everything I began. And used to spend a great amount of time in the Imperial Library where I totally drowned myself into books.
As a result, I technically devoured the Imperial Library but none of the books mentioned such a solution to the problems like... you.
Pfft! I couldn't help but chuckle at an old memory that suddenly hit me.
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Plop, plop! Plop! Once in the deep hours of the night, when pillows and I were roughly the same height—I padded down a grand hallway where moonlight was the guide. I reached my small hand toward the meticulously carved doors, and after a few soft knocks, the latch clicked open.
"Lion?" exclaimed a breathtaking beauty, her features glowing softly in the moonlight.
"Mother! Lion wants to sleep with mother~" I spoke in a convincing rhythm no mother could resist.
But before she could say anything, a familiar commanding and deep masculine voice interrupted.
"Oh my~ are you attempting to usurp your father's place beside Empress Eleanor? Such bold efforts young prince! Apologies! But this moon belongs to my sky," it was just my father acting all petty and dramatic, —internal sigh! A side he only ever shows when mother's around.
"Your Majesty, Emperor Arthur, the highest man of the Aethelgard, 'the' crown of precious jewels and gold suits you better than jealousy," mother commented wearing a business smile. As expected of an Empress, always composed.
"It's merely a gentle reminder to keep you from being swayed by your own words my Empress," father urged in a soft tone.
Then looked at me with burning eyes, furrowing his brows and twitching his lips as he tried his best to intimidate me.
"Listen! My son! She is 'My Wife'! So, I sleep with her. Similarly, you sleep with your wife. Hm?" His words might have lacked perfect sense, but his demanding tone somehow sounded quite reasonable.
"But I don't have one I'm too young for that," I blurted out the obvious.
"So just grow up fast and marry—"
"—Don't listen to your father." mother interrupted in a gentle tone. " These matters should be handled carefully. There's no hurry, take your time to grow up and find someone more beautiful than me. Then fall in love and marry her."
But there was no one more beautiful than her in my eyes at that time. Yet I agreed with hesitation and promised, "Um... More beutiful then you? T-That's going to be hard. But I promise to do so!"
"That's enough for today! Now go back to your chambers. And don't worry. I'll ensure you won't be lonely much longer. Just give me a few months."
With that, I knew what my father meant. As soon as I shook my head in agreement he shut the door close without wasting a second.
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Now I'm standing before the same meticulously carved doors, just as cold to the touch as the reality.
" Mother, I have found someone more beautiful than you but she's the moon of another's sky," I whispered.
Maybe, if only I had met her sooner? It would have been her across these doors.
Sometimes, a bitter part of me wishes I had never known of her existence. It is impossible not to fall in love with her otherwise. —Ha! But then, I can't help but chuckle at myself as I find myself entirely unable to imagine the version of me who doesn't. So, I can only hope to be someone to whom just the mere news of her happiness could bring joy.
Lady Altdorf—Seraphina—must have entered this palace with many expectations from her husband, me. But she has all the rights to know the reason we will never be a normal married couple!