In the sunset the lake looked like it was on fire . Two small boats were headed to the centre of the lake were there was a platform the high priest of the sun temple was standing in front an altar . Behind him was a large statue of the depiction of the sun god . The statue had eight wings and a sword in his hands . On one of the boats were the bride princess henna . On the other one was the groom prince telham . Both of the boats had a single man rowing it .

They got to the platform in the centre of the lake . Telham’s right hand and henna’s left hand were interlocked and was tied together with a thread . Their hands hands were put on top of a burning flame and and the priest was chanting something in the ancient tongue . Both of them were starting to feel the pain from keeping there hands on top of the burning flame . The the rings in both of there hands were also heating up . Henna let out a little grunt . Tahlem didn’t show any change in his expression.

The high priest started to conclude. “By the sun gods blessings , I may now pronounce you as husband and wife , you may kiss the bride” the high priest stopped speaking . Tahlem and henna kissed . There was no way of knowing was the kiss out of passion or out of duty .

*******

It had gotten darker , the time was nearing midnight . people were dancing and singing along with the bards . Drinking even though they are barely standing . some were enjoying their time with the ladies . some were eating like there is no tomorrow .

On a table that was on a higher level than the rest of them were emperor artell , king tarllen , prince ahell and lanner , queen salra , emperess herra , prince tahlem and princess henna .

Marwin and gale’s seats were empty as both of them were among the crowd as both of them were swarmed by young ladies , who seemed turn around their fortune , even if they become their mistresses they would lead a luxurious life and their families would become renowned .

Tahlem and henna were sitting besides each other and were talking . Henna was blushing as tahlem whispered in her ears . Ahell and lanner was fighting over some desert as they usually do . He doesn’t even show a little dignity as the crown prince .

Herra and sarla were both sitting besides their husbands , sipping the wine without showing any interest in socializing . Arkhall and raken were each standing on the either side of the table .

Tarllen and artell were speaking to each other . “so why do you think ? Why did he came here ?” tarllen asked artell while taking a sip from the wine glass . “god knows what he is thinking . He has always been a unpredictable” . Artell said with a little smile on his face . Atell then continued . “ever since we were young he was always better than me at everything” . Artell took a sip from the glass of wine and continued . “When I was ten I was still learning to ride a horse with one of the trainers still holding the horse , it felt like I was a knight who was on his noble stead but then I saw my brother who was two years younger than me riding the horse as if someone who was doing it for years”. Artell took another sip from the glass , he was getting drunker but he continued .

“My hopes were crushed you know , it was no better even when we were young men . He was blessed by the sun god and I wasn’t . Even though I was the oldest it felt like arell should be the next emperor”. Artell paused for a second and then continued.“ He was considered to be a very handsome man and I was not on the good looking side” .

“You sure are not” tarllen commented . Artell gave a little laugh and then continued . “The ladies would swarm him . It’s not like ladies avoided me , I was still a rightful heir of the empire , but I knew the lies hidden in their sweet talk.”

Artell continued “There was a women , she wasn’t particularly pretty or anything . Her name was daisy . She was our tutor in history , I loved listening to her . She was the only one who spoke to both of without showing any difference. I wanted to marry her but I knew father wont allow it because she was a commoner. ”

“A few years later arell was in a battle against some barbarians of the lawless territory. One day one of my informant brought me a news , he told me that my brother arell had married in secret to daisy” artells expression stiffens “I was heart broken by news and I was wandering through the city in disguise drinking like it was my last day alive . I walked for hours and I was in front of daisy’s home”.

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Artell paused for a moment and continued . “ it was a few hours from daybreak . After nocking on the door for sometime she opened the door she was worried to see me drunk and said she would make something to clear my mind, as she said that she went to the kitchen after a few minutes I walked towards her . I don’t know what kind of expression I made , but she looked really scared like seeing some demon or simething . Then I..I..”.

“You raped her”. Tarllen finished the sentence . Artell was filled with anger . His face said that he wanted to cut tarllen in half just right there.

“Ahh! Look what you have done to my dress. You pigs” henna shouted at ahell and lanner after a wine glass felled on her because of the ruckus those two were making.

“Shut up you bitch?” Ahell said”. yeah shut bitch” lanner said following ahell. Henna stood up and left in a grumpy manner her maids following behind her .

From a distance arell was watching the banquet . With a bottle of wine in his hands . He heard someone approaching him . Whenever the man approaching him moved there was some kind of noise. A young man with blond hair was approaching him . The young man started to speak . “it’s nice to finally meet you uncle” aren said with a little smile on his face . It took a minute for arell to recognize him . When he realised he smiled and spoke . “ so you must be that crazy kid who cut his own leg?”. Arell spoke in a sarcastic way . Aren smiled and stood beside arell watching the people who were drinking , dancing and laughing with there whole heart .

“So why did you come here , after all these years ?”. Aren asked with stern face. “Of course I came to attend my nieces weddi..”.

“please don’t give me that bullshit”. Aren interrupted arell and said with a annoyed voice . “I am sure You know that she is a spoiled bitch . You wouldn’t even care any less about someone like that ” .

“Don’t you see how low the empire has fallen?” . arell said .The mood around him suddenly changed . Aren felt a little shiver down his spine . The man he was talking to suddenly felt different .

“we have gotten so low that we have to make allies with those lowly farmers to fend of some bloodsuckers and liberals”.arell said with a disgusted voice . He looked at aren and continued . “what do you think nephew ? Shouldn’t we the chosen ones . The descendant of the sun god be ruling over them . They once feared even to look us in the eyes”. He paused for a second and then continued . “join me and we will make those lowly creatures who is drunken in wealth and power bow before us” .

“I know what kind of person you are and I only came here to know if you are on my side or not . If you choose join me I shall give you the empire and you will be its holy emperor and if you refuse then I shall take it by myself ” . Arell said with a cold voice . Aren was surprised but he didn’t show that on his face . Aren said with a stern face “I don’t want anyone to give anything”. Aren paused for a moment and continued . “If I want something I will take it by myself , that’s always what happens” . Aren said the last words a low voice as if his thoughts were accidently said out loud .

Aren turned around and started to walk away . Right then arell spoke “you can’t conquer the empire with just gallow and those four . I have seen that they are powerful to up against an entire division but you will need more”. Arell spoke in a cold voice . aren replied without turning back “I have enough” as he said that aren walked away .

****

Princess henna was walking with her servants towards the carriage while cursing at and complaining about ahell and lanner . As she was walking she suddenly saw someone and screamed .

*screaming noise*

Artell and tarllen hears the noise they recognized the voice as princess henna and ordered all of the soldiers to go there and he also rushed towards there as fast as he could.

Henna was on the ground kneeling and They saw a tall man with scars all over his face some people recognized him as hector after the commotion that he made earlier . He was holding on the throat of a man in robe . He was lifted off the ground . He had chains on his hands and feet’s . His face and whole body seemed like it was burned . And he had scars and bruises over his face . It was a pathetic excuse for a human. Some of the high born people even vomited after seeing it . The guards surrounded the man in robe . Raken helped the princess to get up.

Suddenly there was a voice “put him down” the commanding voice came from aren who came running and he spoke “I said put him down this instant” hector put the man in robe on the ground . “what is the meaning of this ?” the emperor shouted in anger . “sorry your highness he is one of my slaves . He must have gotten out when the security was low. I will make sure it wont happen again . I will punish him for his mistakes”. aren said in respectful way and he gestured his hand to the guards . The guards started to beat up the man in the robe . It got bloody real fast . Some of the people were disgusted by what they saw and some were laughing at it .

Arell was watching from a distance and thought to himself . ‘I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree , what a waste of time and effort , they will always be scums’.

The people talking about the poor thing that was getting beaten up and how twisted the third prince was to do something to some one some were filled with disgust and some with fear.

Artell was still angry and shouted . “ what if anything had happened to henna ?” . Aren replied with a stern voice “Nothing happened right ?”. Artell was furious hearing that and he shouted again “you ...*cough*”. A load of blood came from artell’s mouth covering aren’s face in blood . Aren was shocked and couldn’t even move a muscle . Everyone was shocked . It took a second for everyone to realize what was going on . There were blood coming from artell’s mouth ears and nose . His eyes was like it could pop out any minute . His whole body was covered in black veins . Raken rushed towards the emperor . Suddenly there was another voice .

It was king tarllen his face was covered it black veins and blood flowing out from his nose , mouth and ears . It was truly a horrible sight the people were screaming . Aren looked down at them without able to do anything covered in blood from head to toe .