There was once a beautiful land filled with all sorts of eccentricity dubbed Erde. The supercontinent was divided into 4 subcontinents located in their respective cardinal directions.

In the western part of the Erde was the sub-continent Germania.

The civilizations that prospered there aimed to build their capitals on top of great mountains due to tradition. Strangely enough, however, even regular mountains rarely formed in Germania's wide plains, much less the great ones.

The demand was high, but the mountains in Germania were few. Nevertheless, they insisted.

To settle which kingdoms would get the limited resource, mankind resorted to the most efficient method it knew— War.

It was indiscriminate in terms of murder. May it be someone from the foot of the caste to the very tip of it, war had slain them all and boasted a stack of the fallen. The taller the mountain, the taller the stack. Over time, it became a cycle of death over a tall piece of land.

One of the people stuck in this cycle was a king that shared the same ambition as others of his standing.

Roderick Aetos—He was rather late to the competition. Through the years, other kingdoms have already claimed their summits and established their historical foundations. His was still budding. As wide as Germania is, he was sure that every mountain was already claimed.

A dream too far to even see— Roderick realized.

And yet, his thirst for ambition grew ever so strongly through the years, and eventually outgrew even the growth of his kingdom. Thus, Roderick scoured every land available to absorb every knowledge he could find, and finally...

By barely acquiring a torn passage from the sacred word of an Old Faith, he received "an opportunity of a lifetime", one that he would seize without a second thought to achieve a dream he would sacrifice anything to make happen.

Anything, to make happen.

CRACKLE!

Thunder struck the dark skies. In the midst of rain, hooves clicked rhythmically as three black stallions ran through the gale like wind-rending spears. Together, they pulled a teetering carriage at their hardened backs. Their eyes sparkled in the dark a bright yellow, which braved through the dark path that steadily lead upwards.

The downpour was heavy that night; droplets collectively banged on the roof, as if a group of ballistic monkeys. Loud as they were, one could vividly hear the struggles of a queen in labor.

"Push, my lady, push!" Roxanne, the midwife, yelled as loud as she could. Her concern could be seen with a single glance at her face, but the same could be said for her companions

"I-is this okay? My lady could die!" Veronica, the queen's lady, expressed her worry as she clasped her liege's hand. Queen Emma was becoming noticeably paler with each passing second. She had always been fragile and sickly, not fit for tiring tasks.

Due to the severity of the situation, Roxanne clicked her tongue. "It's too late either way!"

She opened the window to the coachman, who was none other than the king himself. Hesitantly, she pleaded.

"We need to stop the carriage, your honor! The queen can't give birth when everything quakes so strongly!"

He pleas were repeated, like the constant nagging of a child. And yet, Roderick remained silent. His eyes were fixed on nothing but the road ahead. He did not even notice the drool flowing out of his slightly opened mouth.

"It's cold." The queen mumbled. She had been in pain for hours now, and only now did she voice her discomfort, albeit weakly. The knight with them, Helmsley, took the initiative and closed the window.

"As frustrating as it is, if we stop now, the armies of the empire will catch up to us in no time." He said, his brows furrowed.

"B-but-"

"Our heads will fly should they do. Think about the prince."

Roxanne couldn't help but sigh. She realized that it was futile to press the matter further. She could do nothing but damn the stubborn king's hasty decisions.

After all, who would try and bypass the soldiers of one of the greatest empires on the continent, Santa Monica, just for a chance at a prophecy told by a dusty old book stolen at an abandoned, decrepit church?

"He's risking his wife and child as well... that fucking bastard!" Roxanne yelled. Despite the obvious disrespect for their king, nobody dared speak a word. She was right, after all. Deep inside, however, the silence meant their guilt for following the orders in the first place.

Helmsley placed his palm on the frustrated midwife's shoulders as if to convey the despair and frustration that he too, had felt.

"We're not that far off the summit now." The knight assured. From his pocket, he pulled a whistle. "Just... hang on. If something bad happens, blow on this."

"I... I understand. I think I was wrong about you, Helmsley."

"Well, I can't let my beloved Veronica be harmed, can I?" Helmsley smiled from ear to ear.

"Ah, yes." Roxanne dejectedly replied.

"... Is there something wrong?"

Roxanne gazed at her daughter, who was busy tending to the queen. Then, she whispered to Helmsley's ear.

"I noticed her go inside the king's chambers one night. When she came out, she just... cried in my arms. My baby girl wouldn't even talk to me about it. Please, protect my daughter as well, Helmsley."

The knight froze for a second to gather his thoughts. This was the first time he had heard of this. Then, with a dispirited look, he responded-

"... I will. For now, focus on her highness."

Hours that felt like days burned off slowly, yet surely. The groans faded just as steadily as the coming of Daybreak.

Then before they knew it, they finally reached it—The Peak of Pendragosa, mountain of the Santa Monica Empire. It is the highest peak in all of Germania, the place where the sun shines brightest.

Though the rain had settled and faint hues of orange and yellow could be seen on the distant horizon, the sun still shied behind The Grand Line (Horizon). Even so, dawn was about to ensue at any given second. That very realization snapped Roderick out of his trance.

"We're here!" He yelled at the audience, who were all visibly aggravated by his voice. Nevertheless, he did not care. The king immediately rushed from the coach seat to the carriage door. Upon opening the said door, horror filled his entirety.

"Your majesty, it's a healthy baby boy!" Veronica smiled with glee as she happily cradled the child.

No... it's too early! Roderick bit his nails in frustration.

The queen was weak, obviously so. She didn't even have the strength to hold her child. Even still, she reached her hand towards her husband, wanting to say a few words but...

The king had no interest in this woman.

Instead of doing what any husband would've done, the king brushed her hand away and snatched his son instead.

"Your majesty!" Roxanne exclaimed. Newborns are highly sensitive to their environment. They are still adjusting to the Kafsima present in the air. Thus, they cannot be exposed to people abundant with it. It could lead to many horrible complications.

At this point though, everyone already knew that Roderick's ears were neither for the incessant babbles of a concerned midwife nor the petty cries of an infant. They heard only the "silence" of his child.

This "silence" could only mean one thing.

"H-he's empty..." Roderick whispered before he dropped the baby as if it was now just a sack of meat. The infant fell and fell, his head about to shatter into a million pieces.

Snatch!

Helmsley's quick reflexes saved him. Roxanne wasted no time and immediately retrieved the infant. Meanwhile, Veronica was still tending to the ill queen.

He's treating his own child like this... Roderick, you're...—Helmsley's thoughts would only worsen. When he looked outside, Roderick threw himself into a childlike fit.

The knight slowly unsheathed his sword. Someone, anyone, had to stop this man.

WHOOP-

Stop.

A disturbance. A rumbling... approaching towards their direction.

"They'll be here any minute now... shit." He sheathed his sword.

With haste, he went inside the carriage to inform everyone of what was to come. "Escape with the heir. I'll stay here."

"W-what? What about the king?" Veronica asked.

Helmsley clasped her hands tight. She was shaking.

"It's gonna be alright, my love. I know how much you suffered. Just leave, I'll do my best to-"

"Veronica!" A sweating Roxanne tapped her daughter's shoulder. After whispering a few more words, Veronica gasped.

"Are you sure, mother?" Veronica asked, to which her mother nodded to affirm. The daughter then rushed outside the carriage, much to Helmsley's confusion.

"What are you people doing? We have no time to waste! We need to move!" Helmsley yelled frantically.

"We... we can't leave yet. The-"

"LEAVE THAT FUCKING RODERICK ALONE!"

"IT'S NOT ABOUT HIM!" Helmsley was taken aback by Roxanne's voice. Everyone knew Roxanne Angino, and she never raises her tone. She is the dignified palace lady who fought battles as a female knight and became their spearhead towards many victories. She retired as a palace lady.

But now, she's degraded to this... haggard, unsightly version of herself. Before continuing, Roxanne made sure that the king was not listening.

"It's about the princes." She whispered.

"What? The heir is a girl? Veronica said it was a boy-"

"NO! WE'RE HAVING 2 PRINCES!"

Helmsley took a step back. He turned his gaze to the queen, who was not moving.

"T-that can't be! What about Emma-"

"... She's dead, Helmsley."

"No... No that can't be right-"

"SHE'S DEAD, HELMSLEY! OUR QUEEN IS DEAD!"

Helmsley was stunned. He was not sure how to react. How will anyone react to that? He didn't know either. All he could do was gulp and stare... then cry, gasp for air as he did.

SLAP!

Roxanne had to snap him out of it. "Listen, Helmsley. Her child will soon follow her if you don't do as I say-"

"Is that true?" A deep, unwelcomed voice spoke. It was Roderick, who stuck his head inside the carriage.

There, the king saw the dead body of his woman. He didn't care that she wasn't moving anymore, but he did see her belly still vigorously moving. Roderick quickly knew- time was of the essence.

With no wasted movements, the king quickly carried his woman's corpse and then took it outside-

THUMP!

"Let go of me, Helmsley." The king sternly ordered his knight.

"Drop her. Gently." Helmsley glared, tightening his grip on Roderick's hand.

The two stared down at each other before the king broke the ice with a grin.

"... Hahaha! I see! A blatant display of treason! Very well!"

Roderick placed the queen's corpse on the ground. In an instant, Helmsley grabbed her cold, lifeless body. He pumped her chest with Kafsima, performed all sorts of Roda, and tried virtually everything he could to pull any sign of life out of her... but it was all in vain.

"I'm sorry." he sobbed while holding the queen in his arms. "I'm a failure. I'm very sorry, Emma."

The tears flowed for a moment, but only for a moment. When they stopped, Roderick heard a soft hissing of metal before a sharp blade was pointed at his throat.

"Not even crocodile tears for your wife?" Helmsley's voice cracked in sheer anger. "This is all your fault, you piece of shit! If only you didn't proceed through this fucked up plan then the queen would've-"

"Lived?" Roderick chuckled. "So what? So you can fuck her in some discreet alley again?"

"!!!"

Helmsley's eyes sank. His arms shook, his armor rattled, and his face—red in anger earlier—turned ghastly.

The queen was a spoil of war, a princess from a kingdom that Helmsley himself conquered for his liege. While the empire burned, Helmsley fell in love with the princess, and likewise. It was more than obvious that their love was a doomed one, but they had more than just their hearts.

As the queen proceeded with being a concubine, Helmsley planned to fake his love for another— Veronica. This averted all suspicious eyes away from their forbidden relationship.

"What's with that face, Helmsley? You think I wouldn't know of your treacherous little secret?" Roderick's smile widened further and further as he spoke. He stared at the dead queen with lascivious eyes, which made the knight wince. Then, he continued-

"She was quite delicious, no? Even though I did her countless times, I was never blessed with a child. I mean, shit, it's not that I'm barren! It's just that, she secretly took drugs that prevent her from ovulating before our nights."

Helmsley's face was riddled with confusion. He had no knowledge of this.

"So I let her. I can't force someone who doesn't want my seed. She wanted YOUR child, not mine... so I let her. Because you belong to me, don't you Helmsley?"

Everything eventually clicked to Helmsley.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

WHOOP~

The blade was swung, its task to cut the enemy in half.

However, the mad monarch caught the blade with his bare palms.

"What's wrong, Helmsley?"

"I... I-"

Am I trembling? Why?

Strange, he thought. If he swung at full force, then the sword would've cut right through the bastard's hand. Even though his king fought with him, Helmsley still fought more battles. It was he, the knight, who had more scars.

"You're smarter than this, Helmsley." Roderick smiled from ear to ear. Helmsley looked at him straight in the eyes, unaware that the answer to his question lay there.

"Ah, I see now." Helmsley lowered his sword.

Roderick's eyes were neither the eyes of a king nor were they the pair of a father.

"You... you're a demon. I've been serving a demon!"

They were the eyes of a repugnant lunatic.

"Right?" Roderick grinned.

His hands, covered in cold blood, crept up to Helmsley's pale pair of cheeks. With the king's lips right beside his knight's ears, Roderick whispered-

"Remember, Helmsley. Every. Second. Counts."

When the king finally let go, Helmsley watched him proceed to Veronica. Together, they... held each other?

"Oh, haha. I see now. I see how it is." The downtrodden knight laughed at the absurdity of the situation. Dazed, he walked towards the edge of the cliff.

SLASH!

"HALT!" The soldiers of Santa Monica finally arrived. However, they were too late.

Basking in the first ray of sunrise was the child who did not cry, but instead, laughed innocently. In the air, he glowed faintly as he was lifted by the arms of his father while drenched in the blood of his mother.

Every eye that saw was certain— the gods have blessed this child.

"Roderick!" Helmsley shouted. "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME NOR MY CHILD ALIVE-"

SPLURT!

Blood finally spilled. The sun shone over the blade that pierced the knight's chest, the very one that Helmsley used to open his lover's stomach. Before his corpse was kicked off the edge, Roderick let go of the hilt to catch his baby with utmost care.

For once, the king cried genuine tears of joy, touching the hearts of every soldier present.

Santa Monica was an empire full of humanitarians. They treasure human lives above anything else, which could explain their current power. Right before this day, a messenger was sent to the Emperor of Santa Monica.

Dear King Pablo Trinidad de Santa Monica,

I come to you not as king, but as a friend. Pardon my shaky handwriting. I have written this letter in a time of great need. As you may know during our many long and short exchanges, my queen carries the future of my humble kingdom in her womb as we speak. She is expected to give birth tomorrow, but a crisis has presented itself upon us. My knight, Gregory Helmsley, holds my queen and my child hostage. He is now threatening to kill them should I not comply with his... rather strange demands. He plans to head towards the peak of your mountain to "fulfill the prophecy." I do not understand him, and frankly, I do not care. I only require your much-needed assistance. Please, I beg of you, I do not know what to do anymore. Please, help me.

Sincerely,

Roderick Aetos

"I have a name for him." Roderick whispered to Veronica as they were being escorted by the knights.

"What is it, my love?" She leaned on the mad king's shoulders.

"I'll call him... Ouro. Ouro Aetos."

"What a wonderful name! It truly fits the next ruler of Aetos." She giggled. "What about the other one?"

"Ah, you mean the empty child?"

Roderick peeked out of the window to see the carriage. There, he saw Roxanne sneaking out of it with the sleeping baby. Inevitably, their eyes met. She had only one expression, yet it told so much about how she felt. Nevertheless, none of them told him that she was any interested in saving him. Not that she needed to.

"Hah! I don't have a name to give the likes of it." Roderick scorned.

"Eh, such a shame. The child looked like you a little bit."

"... Was that a joke?"

"Partly. Is this counted as treason?" Veronica smiled.

"... I guess the queen can kid with her husband a little bit." Roderick snickered.

Together, they were escorted back to their palace as the soldiers of the allied country scattered through the area in search of the other suspect.

----------------------------------------

The sun vanished into the horizon. Underneath a splintered tree, a sleeping infant suckled at the breasts of an injured woman.

She barely managed to escape. The Roda of the Empire is as powerful as ever. It was a missile of energy that homed straight at Roxanne. Thankfully, her experiences as a former knight as well as Helmsley's whistle served her well. Had she not been able to react as quickly as she did, then not even her bones would've been spared.

Roxanne, for a while, considered the child's situation.

His mother, dead; his father, arrested. With the king gone, she can't go back to the kingdom. She doesn't have to be Merlin the Wise to guess what those power-hungry nobles would do.

"Hello, my prince!" Roxanne whispered with a smile. "I'm Roxanne, your.."

Roxanne stopped short. What is she to him? A mother now?

An overwhelming pressure placed itself upon Roxanne's shoulders. What if she fails again?

She had already failed multiple times. Her first 3 daughters all died. One of starvation. One of an abusive drunk. One died because of vengeance.

Veronica... is her daughter no longer. She had everyone fooled, including her.

"I shall make sure that you grow up safe and sound. As your mother would've wanted."

The evening breeze blew. It was not that dark yet, but Roxanne could already see her breath turn into mist. It seems that winter is upon them.

"It's getting cold. Are you cold, my dear?" She wrapped the child in a dry towel and searched for shelter. Freezing to death was not within her wishes.

While moving, Roxanne stared at the prince's chubby face. He looked so fragile, so innocent, so naive of the dark and cold world around him.

"That reminds me, the queen couldn't give you a name. Do I even have the right?"

Much to her surprise, the baby's tiny hand tightly held her pinky. He could only hold so much, yet the warmth he provided was enough to squeeze the tears out of Roxanne's eyes.

"Fine. Fine. I'll give you a name, little one. But I've only ever had daughters. Don't be too mad at me if it's too feminine, okay? Okay... From now on, your name shall be-"