The Thousand Year Dynasty
28. Brothers
"What's going on, bi? How did you get to this place?" Lucia asked a middle-aged woman, some time after she was already at her residence in the west of Central city.
Lucia had 7 people coming that afternoon. They used a shabby horse-drawn carriage with a roof made of curved tent cloth, which was drawn by a horse.
The entourage consisted of 2 Morra knights, 3 Morra female servants, her aunt, and then 2 cousins. They all seemed to be disguised in the clothes of ordinary people.
"The story's pretty long, Luc. I also don't know what was going on when suddenly, some knights of the palace family guards appeared and took us out from inside the palace" the woman with yellow hair who was carried back said.
Now Lucia and her aunt, the wife of her uncle who served as the king of the Elbrasta kingdom, were chatting together in the guest room of the middle-aged woman's resting place while in the place.
"All I know from those knights is that Roxan's army and Voryn made it through the palace" the woman continued. While Lucia looks to listen carefully. "And after that we continue to be chased by them" he concluded later.
"really? From what I heard, the palace family was captured and held hostage by the rebels" Lucia responded by telling what she knew.
"No. We were never caught. From the beginning we had already escaped before they could even find us" the aunt replied again.
"It's been almost three weeks, bi. Where's aunt been all this time?" Lucia asked again. There was worry on his face.
"We walked for almost five days from Kotaraja through the mist valley. Then because of Eden's deteriorating health, we were forced to stay briefly in one of Rachel's family residences, my servant. Not far from the town of Albas" the aunt began to tell stories again.
"We stayed for about ten days at the place. Making sure Eden can really come back to make the trip. Because we intend to come here.
"We may not show ourselves at all. While waiting for news and hoping that we do not need to come here and can return to Kotaraja.
"But until Voryn's army began to search around the city of Albas, we did not get any good news from Kotaraja. And then five days ago we decided to head to this place" the aunt closed her explanation.
"How are you doing auntie knows?" Lucia asked with a slight hesitation.
"I heard about what happened to your uncle. But I still haven't heard from Grevier. Do you know anything, Luc? How's your uncle doing? How's Grevier doing?" The aunt answered back. There was sadness in the middle-aged woman's eyes.
Lucia looked uncomfortable hearing the words from the aunt.
"You don't have to worry, Luc. Because as his wife, I don't think your uncle is dead. I believe that" the aunt said after realizing Lucia's demeanor and look of sadness and worry.
"Yes, bi. I pray for that too. But unfortunately, until now we also did not know the news about Grevier's brother" Lucia dissected his remarks. He looked at his aunt and began to speak again.
"But before that I would like to apologize first, for not being able to do much for the kingdom. Because of many things, which made it impossible for me to do anything at will" Lucia looks to search again for her words. "Now all I can do is give aunt Alexander and Eden a place to take shelter. Please aunt wants to understand this" he continued later.
"I understand your position and your feelings, Luc" the aunt said as she touched the back of Lucia's hand on the table. "I didn't come here to ask you to do anything, Luc. Just give your two brothers some protection. That's what I'm asking of you" he continued.
"For this, the aunt need not ask or hope. Because I will definitely protect aunt, Alexander, and Eden as much as I can" Lucia replied quickly.
"It's the result of everyone's hard work, bi. Not just because I am a" Lucia replied with a face that was smiling again.
"But in the past, I thought you weren't so clear-minded with your decision to abdicate and head to this dead land. But now, from what I've heard, you even managed to defeat the Urbar kingdom on the southern mainland"
"Yes, we've been through a lot here, bi. Everything that exists today comes from the struggle of us all. Not just sweat, but blood and life"
"Now you're more mature, Luc. Thank goodness" the aunt smiled with relief.
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"How, prince? Do you like it?" Jean asked who was in the dining room with two of Lucia's brothers and three of their servants.
Aksa, Nata, Rafa, and Luque are also seen in the area. They were all having lunch together. Tenths on a long table with 12 seats.
Including with the servants who initially insisted on refusing to sit down to eat a table with their lord. But after getting coercion from others and permission from one of their lord, the cousin of Lucia, they finally wanted to eat a table together.
"You don't have to call me prince. Because I'm not a prince yet" said a 14-year-old boy, who was feeding a spoonful of fish soup into his mouth.
"Are you not a legitimate descendant, the king?" Suddenly Aksa interrupted asking.
"Aksa, watch how you speak!" Jean immediately rebuked loudly with a sharp look. His body seemed to be half standing. If not hindered by the dining table, Jean would have already slid her fist into Aksa's face.
"It's okay, miss Jean" the boy said calmly. "I am not a legitimate prince, though I am the legitimate son of the king. At least another five years. When he had made the Star Coronation vow" he replied then with still looks polite and not provoked.
"Oh, the Coronation of the Stars. But isn't your father the real son of the previous king? I guess that only applies to the king who is not the blood of the original descendant of Elbrasta" Aksa replied while nodding lightly. Like I just understood something.
"What is the Coronation of the Stars, Aks?" This time it was Nata who asked from across the table.
"It was one of the rituals performed by a king who served because he married a female of the previous king. As long as the king has not performed the ritual, he does not have full rights as a king. One of them is that his son will not become a crown prince" Aksa explained.
"It was a royal rule, about a king who did not come from the flesh blood of the previous king. He is often called the King of Honor. Usually from the time the king ascended the throne to the Coronation of the Stars, it took between five or six years" Rafa next to Nata added to Aksa's explanation. "The purpose of this is made, because the people need proof that the king is worthy to lead. If not, there is still a possibility that the position of the king will be replaced by other relatives" he continued at length.
"Oh, so it's sort of a Probationary period" Nata nodded in understanding.
"really. Imagine being a king if there is a time of trial all" said Aksa while feeding a spoon into his mouth.
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