Orion Lorien was the only sibling of Lucio Lorien. Orion was different to his older brothers–he didn’t like politics. He preferred to lock himself in his room and conduct experiments. Because of that their father had taken Orion out of the successor line to the Duchy, meaning Orion's children would not have had claim to the Duchy. The decision was challenged by Orion’s older brothers, however, their father was adamant and did not give in to their plea.

Since then, Orion was the head of Lorien Institute, a research institution owned and funded by the House of Lorien. He led the institute and made some breakthrough innovations, one of them was the new ship reactor; which had been tested largely on the Lorien Navy and was ready to be introduced to the Imperial Military. However, an altercation between him and Lucio 2 years ago made him leave the Lorien Institute and join the Imperial Research Institute.

Because of that, Orion left Lorien and stayed on Earth to work as the Lead Researcher of the Imperial Research Institute. Since he joined the Imperial Research Institute he rarely met with anyone from the Loriens, however, his daughter, Bianca, was still in close relation with Lucas, Lucio’s son. Lucas even visited Orion estate’s on Earth several times; Orion felt pity for Lucas because his beloved twin sister, Lucy, killed herself. The death of Lucy brought shock to the whole family, Lucy was known as a strong-willed woman and for her to kill herself, the kidnapping incident must have left her in deep pain.

That day, Orion arrived at Lorien’s mansion on the Capital Planet, Earth. A day before, he received a message from his brother to meet him in the mansion. This was the first request he received from Lucio since Orion left his home and joined the Imperial Research Institute, Orion also heard shocking news from the Imperial Family. Princess Sophie had married Lucas back in Lorien, it was said the marriage was a small and closed wedding, and only a few members of family and friends attended the meeting, however, the Emperor was not present because he was busy taking care of the rebels; That was the official publication from the Imperial Family. However, Orion knew that was not the truth, something must have happened that made the Imperial Family and House of Lorien come out with the announcement.

When Bianca returned from her mission of escorting Princess Sophie from Lorien, she did not speak anything about a wedding between Lucas and Sophie to Orion. If there was indeed a wedding between them, Bianca would surely be excited to tell Orion. Orion was curious about what had happened in Lorien or rather what happened between Sophie and Lucas.

Orion was greeted by a butler who then escorted him to Lucio’s office. It had been years since he went inside this mansion, he reminisced the memory of him and his older brothers playing around the hallway. A painting hung on the wall made him stop his walk, he looked at the painting; It was a painting of 3 boys in noble clothing, Orion on the right, Lucio on the left and their eldest brother, Oscar. Oscar and his family were murdered by an unknown group, when the Loriens launched an investigation, they found out the members of the group were killed and the trail went cold.

“Do you miss the late Lord Oscar?” said the butler who waited for him.

“It has been years since he left us. I wonder– hah… let’s go to Lucio.”

“Yes, My Lord”

Orion continued to Lucio’s office. He arrived at the office and saw Lucio working inside. The butler announced Orion's arrival to Lucio and left the room.

After the butler left, a silent stare between them ensued until Lucio smiled and laughed and then both of them laughed.

“It’s been a while Orion,” said Lucio.

“Indeed brother, it’s been years.”

Lucio stood up and he walked toward the window and looked outside. “How are you feeling?”

“Huh?”

“Bianca was missing together with Lucas, how are you feeling? Are you fine?”

“I… feel horrible, my first child went missing and the cause is still unknown. I know you did your best to look for them secretly alongside the Imperial Guard. Thank you.”

“She is a Lorien, of course, I’ll do everything I can to help my niece.”

“You really loved your family.”

“Yes…”

“I heard you attended the hearing on the investigation by the Imperial Guard. How was it? What did you learn?”

Lucio's expression looked frustrated. “Bunch of bullshits. The Emperor was hiding the truth from everyone.”

“What do you mean?”

“A mechanic, an Imperial Guard mechanic, was one of the culprits.”

“What? How come an Imperial Guard member could do that?”

“I don’t know, whoever paid for him or used him has washed their hands completely. I can’t track them back.”

“To think the Imperial Guard would be compromised, isn’t this a matter of importance for the whole Empire?”

“Yes, but Alexei kept it a secret from the public, like a fool. Just wait until the whole Imperial Guard turns on him and then he will kneel in front of me asking for my protection.”

“Are you helping him?”

“In what? Why would I care for the Imperial Family? As long as the Empire is stable, I don’t think I have the obligation to help them. As long as there is royal blood flowing in someone, we can easily replace them.” Lucio smirked. “Especially right now, we have royal descendants under our House?”

“You mean Sophie? I have heard the news about the wedding, but is it true? Bianca didn’t tell me anything when she came back from Lorien.”

“Of course it was fake. There was no wedding when they were in Lorien. I told Alexei to make it official. After all, having an illegitimate child would hurt Sophie’s reputation.”

“She is pregnant?”

“Yes, with Lucas’ child.”

Orion was surprised. It was lucky for his brother that the fiance of his son is pregnant. “Is it really his?” Orion doubted the claim.

“That’s what she said. She told Noelle about her pregnancy first, for some reason. But, if it turned out the child wasn’t Lucas’. I will dispose of them for insulting our house.”

“Hah… as ruthless as always.”

“... You’re right, I have become ruthless.” Lucio's expression turned gloomy.

“You still don’t want to be like this right?”

“Yes. But, what can I do?”

Following the death of his older brother, Lucio ascended as the heir of the Duchy of Lorien. He became a well-known Duke as soon as he inherited his father. His diplomatic skill had prevented conflict between nobles for years and the Lorien Institute under Orion’s leadership had made technological breakthroughs. He was also credited for a new tactic in dealing against Roktarian–a tactic envisioned by Lucy.

However, as a leader of such a prominent title, threats and death were much more visible to him and his family. He chose to marry Noelle and not a noble lady from other houses because he did not want to participate in the politics of the Empire and would stay as commander of the Lorien Navy and have a quiet life together with the woman he loved. The death of his brother changed all of that.

Every day, as time went by, he could feel Noelle distancing herself away from him. She might not look like it at the surface, but he knew that she felt betrayed by the promise he had made to her before their marriage. Lucio did everything he could to protect his family from threats, but he could do so much. Lucy's kidnapping and suicide made Lucio change because he felt he failed to protect his daughter. He could not forgive himself for her death.

“Lucio, is it true that you put THAT android in Lucas’s ship?”

Lucio stood in silence and averted his eyes from Orion.

“Lucio, answer me!”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Yes.”

“Have you gone crazy?” Orion was in disbelief. The android Orion made was a taboo creation even by the standard of the Loriens. “I’ve told you to scrap the android and stop the project!”

“I… can’t…"

“There is a reason why our ancestors banned the use of it.”

“I still can’t believe they outlawed the use of the technology. Giving a person another chance to live… an eternal life… Orion, this technology will make us human to become a God.”

“That’s why they outlawed it! There is a limit on how much technology can be used. We have to use our moral or e–”

Lucio raised his voice. “Moral?! You… talking about morals. What do you know about them? Stop being a hypocrite, Orion. Thousands of people have died in your hand for your experiment and you want to talk about morals to me? Do you know that you and I are the same? We are born from the same womb and carry the same name, Lorien. For centuries, our family has thrown morals out from their books.”

“You’re correct. I have no right to talk to you about morals. But, what would Noelle say when she knew that her dead daughter was resurrected with a different body? Do you think she would be closer to you or would she leave you for good?”

“What do you know about her?! She definitely will be grateful to have her daughter again!”

“A part of her daughter. Do you think Lucy's memory inside a stranger's body is Lucy in Noelle's eyes? Even her memory was altered. How can you say that she is your daughter?!”

One night, Lucy's maid found her unconscious in her room. After she was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit the doctor said he could not save her, Lucio ordered the Lorien Institute to conduct a banned technology practice, Memory Transfer. He wanted to transfer Lucy's memory from her dying body to the body of an android. The scientists of the Lorien Institute opposed the order, citing that the technology was banned and it was wrong, ethically and legally, to let a dead person live again.

However, Lucio threatened to punish them if they did not do what he said. Coerced, the scientists began the process of Memory Transfer. They transfer her memory to a chip before she dies then place her body in the coffin to be buried after they have done the process of Memory Transfer.

Orion was the one who led the project, he thought it was wrong to let Lucy have another chance of life after her horrible experiences leading to her death. But, Orion did what he was told by his brother. Soon, after months of a careful process of transfer and ensuring there was no malfunction and keeping the memory intact, the first activation was ready.

An android body was lying in a bed, in the room with the body was Lucio and Orion. Orion prepared to activate the android and multiple scientists were on standby in another room.

“Do it,” ordered Lucio.

Orion activated the Android. At first, the android slowly moved her finger and then calmly opened her eyes but then her expression turned into someone who was scared and in disbelief.

“W-what happened… I-i was sur….” The android got up from her lying position in an instant and she put both her hands on her face, covering her face, in stress and stuttering.

“Hey… Lucy, honey, I am here, calm down,” said Lucio as he caressed her hair.

“Daddy… What is this? Where are we?”

“You’re safe now.”

“Safe? Was that just a dream? I thought I killed myself.” She looked at her body and arms, “Wait… What is this? My body and arms are different. Dad, what happened to me!?” Lucy was distressed.

“You are alive again, Lucy. This time, I will protect you.”

“Alive… again… No! I don’t want to!”

Lucy went hysteric and cried, she asked his father to kill her again. However, Lucio ensured her not to worry. At first, he was gentle, but when she tried to jump from the bed, Lucio held her down on the bed. His action brought back memories of when she was kidnapped and violated by her kidnappers.

“No… No! Daddy, please don’t do that to me! Not you too! I… can’t take it anymore. Please…. please,” pleaded Lucy, tears streaming from her eyes.

“Lucy…” Lucio did not know how much suffering Lucy endured while she was kidnapped, but now he knows it. “Turn her off, Orion.”

Orion was watching the horror unfolding in front of him, he was taken aback at Lucy's reaction. He did not expect her to be in such a traumatic state. He regretted agreeing to do and lead the project. Immediately after he was ordered, he turned off the android and the android slowly slumped back to the bed. He saw Lucio's face, his expression was like someone hurt by something.

“Alter her memory.”

“What?”

“Change the memory of her death. Make it that she died of an illness, peacefully. Erase the memory of kidnapping and her suicide.”

Orion could not believe what he heard. “No.”

“What did you say?”

“I said no! Didn’t you see her reaction?”

“Yes! I saw it. That’s why we need to alter her memory.”

“You’re crazy, Lucio. How can you do that to your own daughter?”

“She is my daughter and I can do whatever I want to her. It has nothing to do with you, no–”

Orion punched his brother. “You've gone mad. I’m done doing this project. I’m leaving.” Orion left the room in anger.

Orion left the project, however, the project kept going. Orion watched from the sideline with disgust. Later, Lucy's memory was altered to what Lucio ordered, and her second activation was much smoother. The altered memory Lucy had was she died from a disease and now was given a second chance to live in the body of an android. She accepted her new life, but she was told to keep it secret from everyone until the truth was revealed by Lucio. Lucy agreed to his father's proposal, however, she wanted to be close with Lucas. She wanted to protect him, as she had always done before. Her father promised her that she would be able to be near him and defend him, soon. Orion, who could not keep up with the guilt, resigned from his position as Lorien Institute’s head. Lucy’s android body later was modified by the Lorien Institute, she was given advanced combat memory, and knowledge of almost everything humanity had learned and even her body was made to withstand artillery rounds.

“Lucio, let me ask you this, do you ever feel guilty doing that to her?”

“Yes…”

“Do you regret it?”

“Yes…”

Orion smiled. “Good, it seems you still have some sanity inside you.”

“I… don’t want this. I don’t want to be the Duke of Lorien. I wasn’t even considering being this kind of person, a cruel, heartless, selfish person. I wondered what would have happened if I wasn’t a Duke. Both Lucas and Lucy would be smiling together right now. Fate is cruel to me.”

“Lucio, fate doesn’t dictate us. The stars incline us, they do not bind us. You have your free will, don’t let fate determine your decision. I know you have always worked for the glory and prosperity of our house, but don't forget that you have your own life.”

“For a scientist, you have a way for your words.”

“I’m a Lorien, after all. Lucio, treasure your wife and children.”

“I will, Orion. Thank you…”

The Capital Planet was the centre of politics and economy of the Galactic Imperium. Many well-known stores and restaurants were spread out throughout the planet. Swan’s Song was a well-known restaurant because of its speciality, swan meats. Alexei Zormenia, in disguise, went inside the restaurant. He walked to the restaurant’s host and said, “I want a special table for my pork chop with lamb sauce.”

“Of course, Sir. Please, follow me.”

The host led him to a room, away from the main area of the restaurant. Alexei entered the room and inside was Duke Oskar Jimena and Admiral Jacob Kowalksi. All of them wore a disguise–mask and robe.

“Welcome, esteemed guest,” said Duke Jimena.

“Thank you, Jimena.”

“Please sit.”

“Your Majesty,” said Jacob, “Is it true that Princess Sophie is pregnant with Lucas’ child.”

“It’s true, I had the doctor check on her and she was a few weeks pregnant already. I guess they did it when she went to Lorien.”

“Hah, gotta give it to Lorien for this one,” snickered Duke Jimena.

“It wasn’t his fault.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sophie told me she wanted to force Lucas to marry her by having herself pregnant, she lied to Lucas that she is on birth control.”

“Pfftt, our princess is a cunning one, just like his father.”

“Hah… Honestly, I did not want her to be like me.”

“So, what do you think we should do? She will be having Lucas’ child,” said Jacob.

“This situation is in our favour, Jacob,” said Duke Jimena, “I have a hunch the marriage announcement between Lucas and Sophie was the idea of Duke Lorien. He thought he could use that to his advantage, but he forgot that his enemy can use that to their advantage as well.”

“What do you mean, My Lord?”

“We can use Sophie’s child to push a claim over Lorien. The nobles from Lorien will not be able to refuse their claim as the child is Lucas’ legitimate child.”

“Right, why didn’t I think about that, you’re indeed smart Oskar. I was glad to trust you in this matter.”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I will make sure our plan is executed perfectly. Because of these new circumstances, we can just kill the Duke and their last two surviving children, so we can push the princess’s child to Lorien's seat.”

“Right, I agree with this plan,” said Jacob.

“Is it true that the Imperial Navy is under Duke Lorien’s influence?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I found out my brother was meeting with the Duke several times. We should tread carefully. I’m afraid if we went into conflict with Duke Lorien, the Imperial Navy would point their guns at us.”

“To think I will be this powerless as an Emperor.”

“Your Majesty, you must be patient, soon your authority will be bigger. With the twins of Lorien gone and a daughter from the youngest brother of the Duke gone as well, our plan is going smoothly. I bet the Duke didn’t expect the Imperial Guard and half the Empire to be in the plot against them.”

“Right, Duke Jimena and Admiral Jacob, I promised you a nice position if we succeed in this plan.”

“Of course, your Majesty.”

Alexei raised up his glass. “Here’s to the downfall of Lorien.”

“Cheers!” Duke Jimena and Admiral Jacob raised their glass and toast.