Prince Octavius receives some shocking news on his vacation
Nov 19, 2021 10:04:38 GMT
Emperor Florin von Marcum likes this
Post by Emperor Octavius I on Nov 19, 2021 10:04:38 GMT
From the spotty windows of the Crown Prince’s small hunting retreat, Octavius had observed the messenger hastily making his way down the dirt trail which was the only entrance onto this particular piece of property. He looked on with a morbid sense of curiosity and slowly began to dread the message that this courier was so quickly trying to deliver to him. Surely, his royal father would not have contacted him if things were not urgent. The Emperor knew that his son was not one for casual wastes of time, for this was one of two designated vacations that he undertook throughout the year. He would not willingly interrupt it, without just cause.
In the summer, he would travel to the north, and would embark on a two week fishing trip around his nation’s northern waters. However, it was beginning to descend into the depths of winter now, and snow had already begun sticking to the ground, so he had journeyed with a few choice companions to a royal hunting retreat that was gifted to him on his fifteenth birthday. The land was south of the Iacon River valley, and was teeming with game, deer, bear, elk and other various woodland creatures. It was peaceful, and although Octavius loved his country and did his duties diligently as the Crown Prince of an Empire, even the greatest of men required time to relax and refresh themselves. The Imperial Court and Arondight were busy at the best of moments and utterly chaotic at worst. This was a place where those worries slipped away, and he and his closest friends could relax and enjoy simpler passions.
The peacefulness that Octavius had enjoyed was slowly slipping farther and farther out of his grasp as he watched the courier rapidly dismount his horse and strode to greet the two guardsmen that stood sentry outside the retreat. With a sigh of resignation, Octavius began to make his way outside to see what tidings the messenger had brought. It is as father said, make the most of the time you can get to yourself while you can, when the crown is placed upon your brow, you will belong to the Empire body, soul and mind.
The messenger and the guards were in discussion when Octavius made his way outside. The air was brisk and the wind was hailing in unforgiving gusts. The prince suddenly felt a stab of pity for the poor man who had traveled here, riding a horse at breakneck pace in the middle of November would doubtlessly be a grueling experience and Octavius resolved to give the man a hot meal and a warm bed before he returned to the capital.
“Gentlemen, what news from the capital?” he asked.
The courier slumped in obvious relief. “Your Highness, the Emperor has commanded me to give you this message with all haste,” he produced an envelope with the Imperial seal from his riding leathers and various furs, as well as a small rapped package. Octavius briskly strode past his guards and took them both, muttering a quick thank you to the courier and quietly commanded the two sentries to give the man a meal and sit him beside a hearty fireplace.
With the November wind blowing around him, Octavius opened the message with haste, almost ripping the envelope open to see what had compelled his father to interrupt his much needed retreat. The prince’s eyebrows quickly shot up when his eyes roamed over the thick, precise scroll that marked his fathers hand.
He put those thoughts from his mind as he quickly tore through the rapping paper of the package. He opened the box to see a portrait of the Empress herself, no doubt painted by the finest artists in the Divinian Imperium.
The prince slowly exhaled and a ghost of a smile came to his lips. “Well, I suppose it isn’t all bad after all…” he said, speaking into the Prussoian wilderness.
In the summer, he would travel to the north, and would embark on a two week fishing trip around his nation’s northern waters. However, it was beginning to descend into the depths of winter now, and snow had already begun sticking to the ground, so he had journeyed with a few choice companions to a royal hunting retreat that was gifted to him on his fifteenth birthday. The land was south of the Iacon River valley, and was teeming with game, deer, bear, elk and other various woodland creatures. It was peaceful, and although Octavius loved his country and did his duties diligently as the Crown Prince of an Empire, even the greatest of men required time to relax and refresh themselves. The Imperial Court and Arondight were busy at the best of moments and utterly chaotic at worst. This was a place where those worries slipped away, and he and his closest friends could relax and enjoy simpler passions.
The peacefulness that Octavius had enjoyed was slowly slipping farther and farther out of his grasp as he watched the courier rapidly dismount his horse and strode to greet the two guardsmen that stood sentry outside the retreat. With a sigh of resignation, Octavius began to make his way outside to see what tidings the messenger had brought. It is as father said, make the most of the time you can get to yourself while you can, when the crown is placed upon your brow, you will belong to the Empire body, soul and mind.
The messenger and the guards were in discussion when Octavius made his way outside. The air was brisk and the wind was hailing in unforgiving gusts. The prince suddenly felt a stab of pity for the poor man who had traveled here, riding a horse at breakneck pace in the middle of November would doubtlessly be a grueling experience and Octavius resolved to give the man a hot meal and a warm bed before he returned to the capital.
“Gentlemen, what news from the capital?” he asked.
The courier slumped in obvious relief. “Your Highness, the Emperor has commanded me to give you this message with all haste,” he produced an envelope with the Imperial seal from his riding leathers and various furs, as well as a small rapped package. Octavius briskly strode past his guards and took them both, muttering a quick thank you to the courier and quietly commanded the two sentries to give the man a meal and sit him beside a hearty fireplace.
With the November wind blowing around him, Octavius opened the message with haste, almost ripping the envelope open to see what had compelled his father to interrupt his much needed retreat. The prince’s eyebrows quickly shot up when his eyes roamed over the thick, precise scroll that marked his fathers hand.
To My Son, Crown Prince of the Empire,
My son, we have had a council with the Empress Catherine von Marcum of the Imperium Divinium. Her and Her advisors have forged a very beneficial treaty and alliance with Us. I will provide you the details when you arrive home, but the fact is that you have been betrothed to the Empress to seal the alliance. The wedding is to be before the 1st of December. I advise you to make all haste back to the Imperial Palace so We can begin to prepare.
I wished to let you know before you arrive. I know that we have had many discussions on this particular topic before, but as your father and as a man who was also betrothed without input, I had hoped to give you some time to think this over before you are thrown to the wolves.
I eagerly await your arrival so we can meet in person and speak about this face to face, as father and son should.
Most Affectionately,
Your Father
Emperor Arcturus III Hollestra
P.S. Do not fret too badly, the Empress is very beautiful, I have entrusted the Empress’ portrait with Sir Roland as well. Safe travels.
Octavius slowly reread the letter, and then once more for good measure. Slowly he brought his fingers to his temples and messaged his head, preparing for the stress that would inevitably follow. Whatever he had expected, it was not this! And being betrothed to a foreign Empress while he was goofing off with his friends, hunting and getting drunker than would be proper in the capital was rather embarrassing. He put those thoughts from his mind as he quickly tore through the rapping paper of the package. He opened the box to see a portrait of the Empress herself, no doubt painted by the finest artists in the Divinian Imperium.
The prince slowly exhaled and a ghost of a smile came to his lips. “Well, I suppose it isn’t all bad after all…” he said, speaking into the Prussoian wilderness.