1:1: Heartless

Happiness...

Sadness...

Hate...

Love...

What were they? I will never know. They had forbidden me to feel any kind of sentiment for this will lead me to my self-destruction.

Emotions were venomous to the heart and mind; I should never have them for they will lead me to an insurmountable pain that would taint the pureness instilled in me at birth.

I was the purest among my kind and it must stay that way. My mere purpose was to exist, nothing more and nothing less. Questioning such would only lead to my punishment bestowed by the law of my kind and the law of which I represent— the law of the Ochi sto de Scarlet Austarch (No to the Scarlet Autocrat).

It was a law passed on by the Higher Order of Ancients who survived from the tyranny of The Scarlet Emperor— a ruler almost considered as the perfect sovereign but became a slave to his emotions when he fell in love with a Cysgod (Shadow) Knight.

I ran my gloved fingers against the wooden wall of the hallway as I sauntered towards the dining area. My fingers dipped into the crevices of the intricate swirls of the ivory wall as my feet took gentle steps on the ebony carpet. I made sure that my feet made no sound as I trudged because even the slightest and gentlest sound can be a source of entertainment.

My father and mother were already seated onto their places with my father sitting at the end of the overly lengthy stygian table and with my mother sitting perpendicular to him.

The servant pulled the chair for me at the far end of the table, opposite to my father, and I bowed before them before taking my seat.

"How was your day Lucian?" Father asked me sternly.

I kept my gaze lowered to the empty space on the table and kept my hearing alert for their inquiries.

"Good father," I replied impassively.

"Do you feel ill?" Mother asked me next.

The tone of their voices had no hint of compassion or affection of a parent which was suited for this conversation and for my benefit.

"No, I feel nothing," I answered.

I always had and will always be empty.

More servants arrived in their black uniforms and placed a bowl filled with bread in front of me and a glass of water. They were careful not to touch me for doing such was punishable by the law.

I took a bite of the bland bread and we ate in total silence. No further conversations were exchanged among us and not even the servants dared to utter a noise unless their services were requested by my father or mother.

I slowly drank my water as soon as I finished everything in front of me and I rose from my seat and bowed before returning to my bedroom.

My chamber was located on the left-wing of the castrum (castle). Only a few personnel were allowed inside specifically the chosen servants and the ippótes.

I walked to my white semi-soft lectus (bed) and sat firmly at the edge. My eyes then focused on my lap and then on my window. The view was blocked by vines purposely raised there to hinder any possible entertainment or distraction that could elicit emotion from me.

As far as I can remember, for the last eighteen blue moons, this had been my quotidian life. It was unchanging, ascetic, and monotonous just as what I had expected.

I lied down on my lectus and shut my eyes. I circled the castrum earlier to waste time but made sure not to push myself to exhaustion.

As I attempted to catch some sleep, I heard my door creak open. The bed sank from the weight of the intruder and I felt a hand on my forehead. A shaky breath was released as I felt the hand stroke my head in a manner that was forbidden by the law.

"Oh, Lucian...my musuko (son)..." she whispered.

"Te iubesc (I love you)..."

My mother had always been a law-breaker. She was the type to let her emotions get the best of her and this was one of those occasions. She should face the consequences but it was not too late to save her from the poison that lived through her rotting form.

There was still time.

I opened my eyes and turned my head to face her. She was startled and looked ashamed from her actions and I merely bore my eyes at her.

"You are tainting my purity mother. What are you doing here?" I questioned.

She opened and closed her mouth in obvious edginess. Her blonde hair cascaded down to her waist and framed her small face. Her clemency, though opposed by the law that I was under, was still considered a treasure to the Kingdom and to the many who hadn’t deposited themselves under the grasp of the Higher-Order.

The law shall be applied only to those willing and those who dip their hands in blood for the Kingdom. The Higher-Order was still fighting for its equal application but the late King Genshi did not allow its mandatory utilization.

"I..." she trailed off, lost on what to say.

She seemed to be holding so many emotions inside of her that it was obvious that she was being destroyed by it. She should have undergone the training with me. This Kingdom did not need a fragile Queen.

"You should not be here. Please manage your motherly instincts. You are endangering my life and you are violating my rights."

She closed her mouth and pursed her lips in an attempt to conceal her shameful acts but was failing miserably.

"Of course... omlouvám se (I’m sorry)," she murmured hurriedly.

She rose up and left with her head lowered. She closed my door, lightly releasing an audible click, and her footsteps became louder as she evidently departed in an upset sprint.