La Citta Di Smeraldo

The City of Smeraldo continued to flourish even after the death of the Duchess, and not long after the Duke decided to accept a marriage offer from the young lady whom he had acquainted with when the uprising from the West borders arised. The young lady became a great asset to the Duke's reign, and she beared him children, all are young Prince's with talents recognized by the whole Emerald City.

But all three Prince's are with hidden agenda, and that is to overthrow the Duke's royal family. It is their very own mother who brainwashed them into doing so, who is currently the Duchess who continuously support the Duke but also pull strings from behind the scenes.

She slowly destroyed the Duke's reputation by lavishing herself with expensive jewelries, gambling, and having affairs with noblemen. News of the Duchess's deeds, circulates around the City, and the people can't help but turn heads as rumors of their new Duchess spread like wildfire.

The Duke is aware of all this, and though Emerald City is in a state of peace for now, he knows a revolt is not at all impossible to happen. He prevents these news about his wife from spreading but to no avail it still is known how the Duchess spend the money of her people into expensive clothes, jewelries and parties.

Ignoring the growing plea of the people who suffers from poverty, and hunger.

The Duke desperately tried to please the people of Emerald City, and he succeeded in doing so by forming alliance with cities and noblemen from foreign countries who gladly helped him. The Duchess upon knowing what the Duke did, got angry and closed her chambers from the Duke, refusing to make love with him or even talking to him. She then only focused on her sons, who she saw as her masterpieces, that will take the throne in the very near future.

The Duke being given the cold treatment from the Duchess whom he swore to love and protect, became distant from his wife and from his family. And, his eldest son, soon became independent and acts upon his own, leading his people with dignity and equal judgement just like the Duke. The Duke hearing news about his son, was happy, and had long wanted to congratulate him but something inside him feels so hollow, and empty that made him so scared to even appear before his own son.

He locked himself up in his own study, and continue focusing on the well-being of the City like a madman.

Nevertheless, the eldest Prince is the favored one who will take over the throne when the Duke finally abdicates the throne but mischievously a scandal about the Prince broke out, only days before he reached his coming of age ceremony.

The scandal was so great that the people can't help but direct their anger towards the eldest son of the Duke. The people demanded that he be exiled from the City, forever.

And with a heavy heart, to appease the people, the Duke decided to exile his own son, away from the city where he was born, and the young Prince quietly disappeared.

It was a cold night, and only the Duke and the eldest Prince met in the dark forest where they will bid their farewell to each other.

With a saddened look, the Duke grip the Prince's shoulder, and he only smiled at his father who grew a little bit older over the years.

"I'm sorry, my son.",the Duke said with a voice so low, it might as well be a whisper. "This is the only way, I can protect you. I'm sorry for being such a disappointing father."

His son sighs as if to stop himself from tearing up. He held his father's hand resting on his shoulders, and take it off gently.

"You only did what was right and I would never hate you for it.",after he said these words to the Duke he take hold of his horse's reigns, and with sadness in his eyes looked at his father's features for one last time, so that he may never forget it. Even in another life, he would never forget about him or his little sister whom he hold so dearly in his heart.

"But, I will warn you.", the Prince's voice was firm.

"The Duchess is not who you think she is, be wary of her, father. I can't say anything for sure. But she might be the one who will be the reason for Emerald City to fall, be careful and please, protect my sister, no matter what. Promise me, that you will protect her. I will be gone here forever but my heart remains here where my mother raised me, and where my family is. And, when the time comes, I will come back here, and protect this City, even if it costs me my life."

The Prince mounted his horse, and ride into the darkness of the forest that swallowed him whole. It is where he finally sets on a journey to find his own place where he belongs.

He was never to be seen again

But before the darkness completely erases his silhouette he said these final words of love towards his father;

"Farewell, father. And, please know that, even in another life, I will be with you and I will protect our family. I hope that you will take care of my little sister, and yourself till then."

The Duke, seeing his son leave, and realizing that his loved ones are slowly leaving him one by one, has his heart sank more into the dark abyss of oblivion. It was as if every color the City has turned dark just like the unending gray sky that continue to hover over Emerald City.

The rain that started to pour down that day felt like eternity while the Duke stood still looking at the direction where the Prince disappeared off to.

And, once more, days passed him by without mercy. His faces has more lines because of his age, and his smile was no longer as bright as it was.

Life for the Duke was slowly turning out to be without meaning.

Years gone by, and the childish Princess grew to be an elegant, and beautiful young lady with the help and guidance of her dear friend, the Butler whom she secretly harbors feelings for. But one silly habit of her never changed, and that was to escape from her room, and visit her father who would greet her with a warm smile as he look up from his table filled with papers. This would enrage the Duchess but it didn't stop the Princess from seeing her father, her only family, left in this lonely palace.

The Princess was still saddened by thoughts of her brother who sacrificed himself for the sake of peace. The Prince was the one who taught her love, grace,the joy of music, and dance. Oh, how the Princess wished she can turn back time to stop the eldest Prince from leaving but she was not a child anymore to not know why her brother had to leave.

It was for his own safety from the clutches of their very own step-mother who plans to get rid of him to have the throne for herself, and her despicable favored son.

Being aware of this the Princess closely watch over the Duchess's moves, and wait for a chance to kick her out but the Duchess proved to be a difficult opponent who was cunning and manipulating.

The Princess couldn't tell her father right away, what the Duchess is up to without a concrete evidence. So that she could prove her intuitions were right about what the Duchess truly want from her father, the Duke. But she was stayed vigilant, and she plans to do stay as such until she finds out the truth about the mysterious Duchess that suddenly joined their family, after her mother's death.

Not long, bad blood grew between the Princess and the Duchess, and neither of the two will back down from the fight they so thirst for. The Duke however was patient, and caring for the Princess, and as promised, he closely watches over her, even the Princess's Butler whom the Duke trust so much, always has his eyes peeled out for her, so that if ever any danger comes to the Princess, he will be sure, and ready to lay down his life to protect her.

The Royal Family, was full of complications in these times but they remain strong, to be able to make Emerald City flourish and abundant, all throughout the years. The people have stable lives, and they are happy which is more than enough of a happiness for the Duke who so love his people.

The Emerald City was in a state of peace, and the Duke hoped it would last till the day he say farewell to this world but a simple knock on his door on a warm day, will change this peace into certain chaos, forever.