Sunrise came far too quickly for Dominic's taste; he hadn't but a few hours of sleep once he escorted his King brother back to the castle. Now he had to meet with the Noaria honourable council of nine. This council was much like the King's advisors, except they were chosen by the previous ruler before their death.

Dominic made his way from his bedroom on the 8th floor to the "secert" council room on the 4th; the original non-disclosed area of this room was left unofficially announced by Nicodème when he decided that there were far more essential secrets in the castle to keep than the area in which he meets with his advisors and the council of nine.

The door to this room was kept shut flushed against the stone walls, except for today in which it hung wide open, and the voices of the people who were already inside flowed out like crashing waves. The sound was distinct, and yet it made no sense to what each conversation was holding.

The council room was relatively roomy, with a large whole wall window pointed in the direction of the rising sun, causing everything and everyone to be bathed in soft golden light.

Dominic's eyes strained as his still tired eyes was met with the frontal assault from the sun. Looking around as he blinked the dark spots from his sight, he saw that everyone else who was supposed to attend had already made it in before him, including Nicodeme.

One of the council members jumped to their feet; he coughed to get everyone's attention.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, and the members that sit on the council of nine. I present the second son of The Queen Mother Mira and Late King Nicoic and the current holder of 1st to Noaria, Prince Dominic Zephyrinus Girolamo Belmont." the man who spoke was one of the younger council members, compared to some of the other. He still had his dark colour in his hair; his topaz eyes seemed even livelier in the current lighting making everything about him appear slightly younger.

"Thank you, Council Member Ozols," Dominic said, nodding his head.

"Please do have a seat by your brother." he lowered his voice to only address, Dominic.

Kaspars Ozols wasn't a bad man, but his existence had always given Dominic an unsettling feeling when in the same proximity. That being said, Ozols also had none or said anything to warrant that feeling. So, of course, Dominic has shaken it off since he was a child.

"I would like to thank the none council members here today for joining us. I assure you that we will get to the heart of the meeting very shortly." Ozols continued and then started with the same opening every council meeting had, resiting why the first council of nine was created and why it was so important that no matter what happens, they as a people withheld their traditions.

After the long-winded speech that, by the looks on everyone's faces, was just as annoying to them as it was Dominic. Ozols offered for anyone with urgent matters to be addressed to speak up to be handled before.

A petite elder woman named Missy Sona spoke up, "I do have a question, well few."

"Proceed."

"The news to us about Dominic's Shira was quite shocking; we all know that you did, in fact, choose his for him. In tradition is not unheard of but what is concerning is that the new rumour now is they aren't Noarian blood." This caused quite a few non-councilmember attendees to start gossiping, saying things like, That can cause a threat to our nations security, or even a peasant of our country would be better than someone of a different nation.

Dominic watched Nico out of the corner of his eye as he was analyzing the crowd. Using his own war strategies against his own. But, it was the only thing that would have saved him in this dispute.

"Ah, Council member Sona, to answer that, I must first make an announcement." He said, plastering that award-winning smile of his, gaining the trust of the room in him again. "Queen Aveline and I are expecting an heir."

The room went silent than to murmurs for a second, then erupted in joyous applause. Dominic, on the other hand, sat there in silence. Most of the members in the room noticed his mood, which brought the rest down back into a state that the meeting could continue.

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Nicodeme leaned over and whispered into Dom's ear, "After this, I would like to have a word with your privately."

"I'm sure you would," Dominic said, still stone-faced as ever.

The King snorted and turned back to the room of people. "It is for this reason that I choose someone that could fill in the spot for Dominic's Shira, as tradition holds it, he is supposed to have one before the new King has an heir, luckily for my brother I and Aveline hadn't had any children prior to my father's death."

Councilmen and Advisors alike nodded their heads as he spoke, for his words were coming from along withheld tradition in their lands. Nobody, except for maybe Dominic, would have arguments for this.

"That being said, the Shira in question was being sold in his nation. I had some men go over and purchase them. Once he and Dominic are tied, I already have the paperwork to file him as a free person."

"You BOUGHT him?" Dominic's voice rang through the room, causing most to cover their ears.

"Everyone but Dominic leave," Nicodeme growled; the two brothers were now in the midst of a staring contest. It took only a few moments for the people in the room to leave. "You dare disrespect me?" Nicodeme's voice lowered to an immortal level.

Dominic's eyes started to yellow out, snarling like some kind of beast of hell. "You are my brother, not my father; I will dare if I please."

"You have no right to challenge my authority; I am King here."

"Trust me, you don't ever let me forget it. When will you stop being my power-hungry King for a moment, and remember your my kin."

Now where once stood two men, of ruffled hair and human flesh. Now was to creatures of a different persuasion, one black with yellow bleeding out from under his skin like lava pooling through the break in the earth. The other a light grey, whose colour was blue with electric blues running down his body like veins on a tree; these were the Belmonts, the curse of the noble family. Passed down from Belmont to Belmont, bestowed onto them for reasons unknown to the two standing looking as if they were readying to kill.

"You know nothing about power-hungry; I am trying to keep us safe."

"Safe? You are controlling every aspect of my life."

"Excuse me that you'd rather be a partying bachelor than a respectable Noble."

"That was the only thing I could do for me, and you decided to take that away from me."

"My wife is pregnant, and I needed you to start acting your part. I wasn't going to let your shenanigans risk the family I am trying to have."

"Least you get to have one!"

"BOYS!"

The two turned face to face with a woman who would resemble someone half her actual age if not for the salt and peppered hair. Strolling into the room as if she had owned it.

"Mother," Dominic was the first to speak as he turned his colours, reverting back to their standard appearance. "I'm sorry-"

"I don't want to hear a word out of your mouth, boy" She cut him down before he had anything to build off of, then her anger turned to Nicodème. "Nico, you are twelve years your brother's elder; I expect you to act the wisdom of someone that much older."

Having your mother lecture you and your brother was one thing. Embarrassing and rough, but for a King and now 2nd line to the throne, being verbally beaten by the Queen Mother was a new level entirely. It was noon when the council was called back into session, and up until that point, the voice of Queen Mira could be heard even out into the outer courtyards.

As the nobles and councilmembers shuffled back into the room, Dominic and Nicodeme's expression were as low as they could be. Dominic, with his head, actually hung, while Nicodeme's was slumped awkwardly in his seat.

It was apparent in the room everything was awkward and silent, and people were afraid to speak. As the leader, of course, Nico did what was needed to be done.

"I apologize for mine and my younger brother's unacceptable behaviour."

"If that is all, let us continue with what we were initially here for, the preparation of Dominic's Shira, there are a feast, public announcements, the official public view, and we now have a deadline we have to have this all done and the two united before Queen Aveline births."