I was taken away by the academy's instructors into a room with nothing but a table and a chair. It looked as if I was about to be interrogated.
Thirty minutes passed, and nobody had entered.
…An hour passed, still nothing.
I sat in the chair, shifting uncomfortably, impatiently waiting for someone – anyone to open the door.
And open it did.
A large armored man entered, his armor loudly clacking with every movement. Each of his steps were distinctly audible thuds. His armor was dyed purple with a golden trim, accolades proudly displayed on his chest and pauldrons. His helmet was different in its shape, spiked similar to that of a crown. A sight that I was very familiar with. The armor of the emperor's guard.
Charon. That was the name of the paladin in front of me. The Captain of the 1st Paladin Standard, of the knight order, Heaven's Hand.
"What are you doing here Charon? Come to reprimand me? Father never did like seeing me himself." I scoffed, having been through the same thing many times.
Charon scanned the room before stepping to the side.
"Is that so?" A deep, refined voice asked.
A posh, old, white haired man entered the room – one hand behind his back, the other holding a cane. His movements were refined, majestic in a sense.
My father, the Emperor of the Karciel Empire, Alduin Karciel stood tall in front of me.
"Fath- Your Imperial Majesty!" Wide-eyed, I quickly stood from my seat, bowing to him.
"No need for formalities Rue. I come here as a father, not an emperor."
"What brings you here father?" I inquired, knowing the full extent of what I had done would have immediately reached his ears.
"Can a father not see his own offspring?" He asked, pointing his cane at me.
"Father, I've committed a grave sin! I've taken your merciful opportunity and wasted it. Moreover, I allowed my emotions to get the better of me, harming an innocent citizen of the empire! Please father… allow me to atone with my own life." I slammed the top of my head onto the table, asking for his forgiveness.
I raised my head to look him in the eye, his face in disbelief as if he hadn't expected me to say what I did. He was briefly speechless, not knowing what to say. Silence filled the room, he looked down upon me with pity, soon regaining his composure.
"I can't allow that. I cannot take the life of my own son – Sit. Tell me everything." He commanded.
Promptly following, I began to explain.
…
"No matter. This matter can easily be put aside. I will talk to the staff myself-" He declared, about to give his paladin an order.
"Father, please… Don't." I stopped him before he turned towards Charon.
"What's the matter? I simply wish to show mercy to my own son. This is easily arrangeable, just like always."
"No father. You've given me courtesy enough. Allow me to change."
…He took a long pause and pondered – before seemingly being satisfied with my answer.
"Fine. What do you propose?" He finally agreed, inquiring about my proposition.
"I have caused great distress to someone, allow me to right at least one wrong."
"You will do that by?"
"If taking my life is not an option – then allow an investigation on the matter to proceed. Allow me to confess to them my actions."
"Doing so is an admission of guilt. My son, this will bring great shame upon my name. Allowing a prince to become a delinquent, resulting in the death of an empire's citizen." He said, initially disagreeing with my proposal.
"Father – please… I will take all the blame. This will be the last time. I swear upon my title as the third prince of the empire." I pleaded hard, persevering.
A mark appeared on my tongue.
Swearing upon my title with a paladin and the emperor himself as my witness would allow my father to denounce me as a prince, pushing all the blame unto me, removing my status as royalty. Breaking this vow is akin to blasphemy, sending the church after me. Even the emperor is sworn to not interfere.
"If you're willing to go so far, then I have no choice. Fine. Do as you wish, I will alert the church to assist with this investigation of yours. You're as determined as your mother, as hard headed as me." He conceded, letting out a sigh and shaking his head.
He began writing on a piece of parchment, stamped the royal seal, then tied a purple string on the rolled up paper. He then turned to Charon, giving him an order.
"Charon, send one of the paladins to the faculty, bring them here. Send another to the church bringing this." He commanded, handing Charon the rolled up piece of parchment, the paladin hastily leaving without a word.
…
Time passed as I was being questioned by an instructor, my father sitting on the right-end of the table silently waiting for us to finish. Charon had already returned, having fulfilled his duties in a timely manner.
The questioning went quickly and smoothly. I admitted what I had done and explained what I had seen. They told me that they would look further into it and that they would contact me again when they've found anything. I was then promptly let go.
I left the room together with my father and his paladin, before my father parted ways with me, needing to return to his duties as the emperor.
"I came here as a disappointed emperor – now I'm leaving as a proud father of a son who's finally beginning to change." He stated, with a satisfied expression on his face.
"Thank you father. I will not take your help for granted!" I thanked him one last time, bowing as I bid him farewell.
I knew full well that this was not sufficient enough to absolve me of my sins – but as of the moment, I have done what I could do here. Now, I must apologize to the person I hurt the most in this matter – the young lady named Estelle.
I spent the rest of the entire welcome event's second day searching for her. Weaving through the crowds, searching every corner of the campus grounds. I turned up with nothing and returned to my own dorm room in utter defeat.
I had the privilege of being housed in a room of my own, a luxurious mansion-like dorm building, exclusively for nobility. I recently asked the staff to move me to a different dorm as I wished to live amongst the people, not wanting to be treated with any better treatment than they did. All of my requests were denied, stating that they couldn't do it to a prince. With no choice, I had just acknowledged the fact and moved on.
I stepped into the luxury suite, immediately heading into the bathroom to fill the tub with hot water. I turned the faucet, the water pouring into the porcelain tub, steam rising into the air. The water was heated using a stone inscribed with runes that constantly super heated it when turned on, causing the water that makes contact with it to turn hot. The tub itself had its own set of magic runes carved into it that regulates the temperature of the water, immediately allowing the water to be bathed in. I undressed, and let myself soak in the warm water.
I laid in the bath, reflecting on my previous actions and behavior. I briefly contemplated ridding myself by drowning – but my atonement is yet to be fulfilled, and doing so would be a disservice to those I've wronged. I shook the thought from my mind, leaving the bath. I got up and out of the tub, wrapping myself in a robe.
I laid atop the satin bed, letting myself sink into its cushions, trying to fall asleep. Thoughts in my head kept running – evil thoughts that tempted me before. It shall tempt me no longer. I hit my head multiple times, in an attempt to ease my restless mind. Ruffling my hair, beating myself up the entire night, unable to sleep.
The sun rose on the third day, and I immediately sprung into action, lazily getting dressed, running out of my room, going back to my search. I ran around for hours until I came across a member of the clergy who was walking, in search of me. He was guarded by two steel armored knights, dressed with an emerald green garb. Grand knights that hail from the knight order "Exorcistae Ferrei", the clergy's guardsmen.
He approached me, the knights standing guard.
"I greet thee your Imperial Highness, Third Prince Rue." The man spoke with a quick bow.
"Cardinal. What is it that you need from me?" I asked, acknowledging his greetings.
"Under the orders from his majesty, the emperor, I was asked to assist in the academy's investigation surrounding an incident that involved you, your highness. I come at the request of the faculty, please allow me to escort you to the cathedral."
They must have found something out. I followed the cardinal promptly, I nodded to show my cooperation.
…
He brought me to the cathedral, faculty members stood at the side, bowing to me and the cardinal. We gestured for them to raise their heads, acknowledging the greeting.
The cardinal led me to the raised floor, planning to view my Divinity. I had done this once before, a ritual that all members of the royal family undergo. Descending from the ancient heroes, our blood carries remnants of their power – and a portion of their Divinity. I already have a Divinity of high purity, all on record. Despite this, I followed along regardless.
The ritual proceeded as always, but the faces of the faculty staff and the cardinal had a satisfied expression, as if they had expected the result, and that I had answered a question they had all been asking in their heads. The cardinal guided me down as the faculty began conversing with one another. The cardinal thanked me. In a rush, I bid farewell to the cardinal and promptly left.
I returned to my search, restlessly running around, asking bystanders if they had seen or knew of her. Still, I found nothing. Feeling defeated once again, I headed to the faculty room to ask for her whereabouts. I was rounding the corner before bumping into someone – the one I was looking for. She was as disheveled as me, but the same beauty she had that night still shone through.
I greeted her – and in my attempt to apologize, she slapped me. A slap well deserved.
…
Before I knew it, I was down on the ground, Estelle on top of me. My arms were raised, defending a flurry of punches from her. She threw punch after punch, whilst hurling insults at me – reminding me of what I had done to her. She blamed me for her pain, crying hard. The hits continued until she no longer could. She went limp with no strength left in her. I sat up, holding her in my arms as she cried harder, making clear of her resentment.
Everything she had said to me was right. I was the cause of it all, and I bear the weight of my actions. Like a broken record, all I could do was apologize.
I had no right to comfort the crying woman in front of me – and yet, I held her in my arms, embracing her. Once again, I apologized for what it's worth.
"I'm sorry…"