Chapter 63- Tying up loose ends (1)

(SAGE P.O.V)

When it became morning, I was awoken by the feeling of someone caressing my hair. When I opened my eyes, I saw my father and mother. I looked over and saw Rosie was asleep next to me. I looked at my father who had a warm expression on his face.

“Father”, I said while looking at his expression.

“Sorry to wake you my dear, but we need to talk for a moment before your mother and I leave” he said.

I raised my body up while I was still under the covers.

“Sage, can you show me your birthmark?” Father said.

I was confused but moved my shirt down a little showing him my shoulder. He then pulled down his shirt showing me his right shoulder. My eyes widened.

“You have a crown birthmark too?” I asked.

He nodded. “It runs in the Winter's lineage, my mother also has one and so does my grandfather. The Crown birthmark is the birthright to the throne. In the Winter lineage it doesn't matter if you are the first-born or the last born. Whoever bore a crown on them means they are destined to become a King Or Queen, even an Emperor or Empress.” He said.

My mouth dropped and father placed his hand on the top of my head.

“Remember when I asked you how it was, when you first had your battlefield experience?” he asked.

I nodded, “I was excited, I felt like something in me was awake or something” I said.

Father smiled.

“The Winter lineage is an ancient bloodline of warriors. It can be a blessing or a curse, the more you get into battle, the more you will crave it” he said.

“How was it for you?”, I asked, curiously.

He sighed for a second, “After the great war between the five kingdoms, before the free nation of Katou was formed. I had fallen into a deep depression. I felt something was missing because I wasn't on the battlefield anymore. It took a while to adjust back into the Crown Prince role and life inside the palace. I would constantly have nightmares from the battlefield and visions of the people I killed during the war. I ended up meeting your mother a few months later and she definitely occupied my mind with all her breaking in attempts. I also looked forward to her breaking into my room.” He said while laughing a bit.

He caressed my head again.

“Will I feel like that?”, I asked.

“As long as you can control your temper and anger. Once you become stronger and able to control your desire for battle. You won't end up wiping out an entire kingdom out of madness. It's even worse because you also come from a mercenary clan, ” he said.

He kissed me on the top of my head.

“But I won't let you lose control of yourself,” he said, “Thankfully, you were born with your guardian knight. You two will have to keep each other in check even though you both have bad tempers.” He said, while sighing.

I looked over at Rosie, maybe that explains why we are so close to each other, I thought to myself.

I looked back at my father, “So what now? I asked.

“You will continue to train and gain support in the noble society. Get as many supporters as you can. Build connections, while your mother and I tie up all the loose ends.” He said.

I nodded my head and they both got up from the bed and leaned over kissing Rosie and I on the forehead.

“Get some more rest, you and Rosemary will be busy preparing for your debutante later today.", he said.

I nodded my head and laid back next to Rosie.

(PRINCE MOISES P.O.V)

After we left the room, Natalie tapped me on my right shoulder.

“Now I fully understand why you were so persistent. Who knew I was your destined partner” she said while smirking.

I grabbed her and kissed her on the lips. After we kissed, she pulled back and looked up at me.

“Aren't you going to tell her about Crown Prince Antonio being her destined partner?” Natalie asked.

I shook my head, “No, I still have no intentions on marrying my daughter off just yet. At least until he fights against me. I won't give her away to anyone weaker than me” I said.

Natalie nodded her head and then we walked down the stairs. After going downstairs, we went into the office on the first floor with my grandfather and grandmother.

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“We're having their debutante and Sage succession ceremony next week,” grandfather said.

Natalie and I sat down on the couch facing my grandparents.

“So how long do we have until the palace causes a commotion?”, I asked.

Grandfather smirked, “Well Sage is the least of their worries right now, because I told your father about his illegitimate son. He will be busy looking for him before the coronation. So he won't have the time to bother Sage.” Grandfather said.

He looked over at Natalie, “Sage and I will soon be summoned for another conference. I'll be taking Princess Sarah back to the palace for now, because she will be needed.” He added.

Natalie nodded her head.

I looked at my grandfather, “What are we going to do about the Crown Prince of Kalpana?” I asked.

“Your mother said he is her destined partner, that means he's the only one that suits her and is strong enough to protect her” he said.

I sighed.

We heard a knock on the door and I got up to answer it. When I opened it, I saw Lucy, the head maid. She was holding some envelopes in her hands.

“That was faster than I thought,” Grandfather said.

Lucy walked over and handed him the envelopes. When he opened it, he started smirking.

“What is it? I asked, curiously.

“Looks like the noble society is in an uproar. Things are about to get more interesting” he said.

Natalie and I got up from our seat, “Well, let's start tying up these loose ends”, I said.

We left the office and headed toward the front door where everyone was waiting. Nathan, Yeshiva and I were going to go meet Morgan. While Natalie and Masiro were returning to the Northern border.

(NATALIE P.O.V)

My father, Cena, Peyton and I left the castle. We were heading back towards the northern border. Before my father's meeting with Count Livens.

“I'll be meeting with the squad to see if they have some useful information.” Father said.

“I need to finish talking to Serbia, to find out what else she knows.” I said.

We rode for a couple of hours until we made it back to the villa. When we got out of the truck, I saw Sylvester standing outside in front of the villa. When he saw us, he started to walk towards us.

“Lady Natalie” he said, as he got closer.

“Is your father and Nashi back from the palace?” I asked.

He nodded, “Looks like we have to hurry up with our plans,” he said.

He gestured for us to follow him to the office. When we made it to the office, I could feel the tension in the atmosphere. When we entered the office, I saw Duke Vernon and Nashi looking super depressed with their heads down.

“What the hell is wrong with them?”, I whispered to Sylvester.

“The conference is what's wrong with them.” he whispered back.

Duke Vernon looked at us and gestured for us to take a seat. I looked over at Nashi who looked devastated. I guess having someone propose to the girl you love in front of an entire room could do that.

“What's going on?” I asked.

Duke Vernon looked at me.

“I'm sure you have already heard about the marriage request from the Crown Prince of Kalpana,” Duke Vernon said.

I nodded.

“The King and Prince Marshall are furious, the palace is in an uproar after Duke Winter announced Sage as his successor. The whole noble society is interested in Sage.” He said.

“Well that was to be expected, they're interested in seeing Moises' daughter. My daughter is a beauty after all”, I said.

I glanced over towards Nashi, I still didn't forget his little drunken outburst after she went missing. I wouldn't want to have to kill him once he finds out about Sage destined partner. He might end up being a loose end I'll have to tie as well.

“I'll be back, I need to ask Serbia something”, I said and got up to leave the office.

I went to the room Serbia was in. When I knocked on the door, she answered a few seconds later.

“Natalie,” she said, looking relieved.

I remember her asking us to bring her back to the western region.

“Serbia, you said you wanted to go back to he western region right?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Can you tell me what you've learned about Count Livens?”, I asked.

She gestured for me to come into the room and closed the door behind us.

“I know that Count Livens is a double agent. He acts like he supports Prince Marshall but he's waiting for the perfect time to kill him or have him killed” Serbia said.

I thought to myself for a moment.

“Do you know where his nephew Prince Christian is?”, I asked.

She nodded, “He's a rebel member.” She said.

“What?” I asked, in a surprising tone.

“He's a part of the rebellion, he's hiding in the eastern rebel group.” She said,

“Have you seen how he looks?” I asked.

She nodded, “he's tall with strawberry blonde hair and light gold eyes but he could be in disguise” she said.

“Good, at least we have a description,” I said.

I heard a knock on the door and walked over to open it. When I opened it, it was my father.

“Let's go, we need to head to the eastern region to meet Count Livens” he said.

(DUKE WINTER’S P.O.V)

After Moises and everyone else left the castle, I called for my butler Jackson and my wife. When they came to the office, I decided we need to start planning the debutante and succession ceremony.

“I need you to get a room ready for Malaysia” I said, looking at Jackson.

“Yes sir,” he said.

“My dear, we can go ahead and start sending invitations to all the noble households. I shall see who can become Sage's support and who would be a threat to her.” I said, looking over at Mary.

“I'm pretty sure Prince Marshall and King Lincoln will try to rush his coronation now. After the warning I gave him, we need to have Sage's succession ceremony before Prince Marshall gets crowned.” I said.

Mary nodded, “I shall get the catalog ready so the girls can pick out their dresses”, she said.

“Another thing, I need to set up a meeting with the Crown Prince of Kalpana.”, I said.

While discussing the ceremony, my head maid Lucy came to the office.

“My lord, Prince Marshall is here and he's demanding to see you now. He's in the waiting room on the first floor.” She said,

I smirked, that was faster than I thought.

I rose out of my chair and I walked out of the office. While walking towards the stairs I gestured for Lucy to do something for me.

I made my way downstairs and headed to the guest waiting room. When I opened the door, Prince Marshall was pacing back and forth. He saw me and glared at me.

“Duke Winter, what is the meaning of this? He shouted.

“Watch your tone you brat” I said.

He kept glaring at me.

“Why did you give the military rights to a young girl?” He asked.

“It's my military, I can do whatever I want with my knightage” I said.

He folded his arms, “ My coronation has been changed to next month. We're going to war with the Kingdom of Kalpana afterwards” he said in a demanding tone.

Good, the sooner the better. I can finally get my daughter out of that palace and finish what Morgan and I started.

I smirked, “What does your war have to do with me?” I asked.

“As long as you're a part of this Kingdom, you will join the war.”he said.

I sat down in my seat and placed my hand on the top of my cane.

“Are you sure you want my knightage to join your war?”, I asked.

He kept glaring, “ If it comes to a war the Winter Dukedom has to join” he said in a demanding tone.

I smirked, “Even if the commander is your brother Moises” I said.

I watched his eyes widen and he balled his fist up. He turned and walked towards the door.

“Instead of worrying about a war with the Kalpana Kingdom. You should worry about your other brother Prince Christian and your little advisor Count Livens” I said.

He looked back and stormed out of the room, this will be interesting. I wonder how he will react when he sees Natalie. I hope he manages to stay alive before his coronation, I chuckled.

Few minutes later, Sage and Rosemary walked through the door.

“Duke Winter, you called for us” Sage said.

I smiled, “Yes my dear" I said, it seemed like the first loose end will be tied soon.