Chapter 1: Crown Prince Jian Li

Far, in the kingdom of the north, the most admired and known water-abundant territory of the lands stood the Great Jian palace. The golden and grandest palace was built at the center of the land, visibly surrounded by three tall manors of the three major noble families: The Svarozichs, the Niads and lastly the Dragos. From afar, the roofs of each towns of Jian would sparkle like luxurious white pearls from the light of the morning sun, the scenery being displayed till dusk to dawn was as beautiful like paradise at any glance.

The life at the Kingdom of Jian was very comfortable and extravagant, that at least thrice every month, the people in the capital would arrange elegant feasts and graceful dances for their celebrations of successful events or just simply pulling off parties for the fun's sake since it is in the Jian blood to be merry.

Foreign people coming from various kingdoms would invest just to visit the kingdom in order propose and transact their own goods such as resources or inventions from agriculture to military just to trade for a supply of water from the kingdom's purest lagoon.

A word spread throughout all lands that one drop of the lagoon's water would be enough to make a seed sprout in an immediate period of time. With the help of this miraculous water, the kingdom's broadest farms grew crops rich in nutrients and nourishments, bringing farmers a fortune to the point that these "lowly" folks can eat high quality meat from time to time.

And so, as the water working like a cheat for the kingdom, greed for this miracle water would inevitably arise anytime and anywhere. And so the king decided to place his most skillful warriors incharge of guarding the lagoon as it was very necessary to avoid the power of the water being abused by others.

The Elite Knights is the name of the four member militia group of soldiers with high-rank skills ordered to safeguard the kingdom's lagoon, which is the kingdom's most important asset to glory.

But note that the farther you had the water fetched from the lagoon, the less likely the water will be effective. So even if people would illegally dig outside the Jian borders, the water that they would get would barely do anything to their crops. That is why lands nearer the lagoon are more expensive, while those farther are cheap. In short, it was useless if you're too far from the main source.

With this power, the Jians are able to use it freely for themselves, and it is surely to make the Jian Kingdom rise above all existing kingdoms, to be able to shower themselves in endless gold.

*

First in throne, crown prince Jian Li exhaled softly. The boy appeared to be in his thirteens, bearing a pleasing look, yet such cold and sharp eyes.

Slowly, he would run his eyes through the words written on the pages, caressing its beautiful edges as he read the words silently.

Jian Li holds such graceful demeanor that you would feel entirely conscious of him, yet also feel an unsettling energy, intimidated of his presence.

He gently tapped the book with his nails, spacing out of the book he was reading. His boredom is growing day by day, to read all sorts of books like children's to diplomatic books was interesting to him, if he was being honest, something really just lacks.

A busy desk lay in front of his eyes with neatly compiled books beside his arm. Once in a while, he would try and read advanced textbooks about the Jian kingdom and its history. Of course there are terms that he still doesn't understand, but to learn is a thrill, especially the world is truly big with immeasurable things to learn. He felt that if he doesn't study, he will get left behind and would constantly feel that he's wasting his time.

If a normal person was to see his environment, it would seem to be highly unnatural for a thirteen year old boy to have his chamber's wall to be filled with books, however he was not just a boy, but a future king with mountainous things to learn.

Whenever his knowledge grows, he feels this fulfilling sense of achievement and appreciation as he acquires more information about the outside world.

Yet after all that, the lingering curiosity in his heart blooms and thrives wilder, wanting to experience rather than read.

Something just bothers him.

Because of reading and being stationary all day, his eyes that begged for rest immediately dried, and his back became sore from all the sitting he did. The boy groans a bit and decides to close his eyes to freshen the moistness in them.

To ease boredom, he'd pinch his cheeks, then flip the page again. Only the soft rustling of the page and the wooden scent lingers inside his chambers.

After hours and hours of reading, soft buzzes visits his head, the information he swallowed now overflowing. This is an obvious sign that his brain requests to halt the information march. Resting his eyes, his long eyelashes clamps together in utter serenity.

The gentle sound of the patters of the rain outside was catching his interest.

The nearing sea breeze mixed with the familiar scent of rain tickles his small nose.

Jian Li would always feel this great longing for something. If only he understood what it was, he would think that he could finally be put in ease. He stood up from his chair and ran to his royal balcony with his thick robes flapping against the wind.

Reaching out for the falling rain, he extended his arms and tilted his head up.

Such a beautiful scene, the prince embraces the rain.

His royal cloak that was sewed with golden threads was completely wet with the rain. He felt the cold drops of rain on his palm, each of it was sending him waves of comfort through in and out of his body.

His heart felt extremely excited and happy, the stone faced prince who mostly wore a cold expression on his face, brought a smile sneakily. Seconds later his small and rare cute giggles escapes his thin lips, completely enjoying the rain in pure joy.

He looked completely happy.

Jian Li favoured the rain, he liked how soothing it was.

He felt free along it.

A sound of creaking doors and a sharp gasp interrupts his fun. The royal teacher, Lady Anwir barges inside his chamber. "Your Royal Highness! What if the people outside sees you?!" She called out sharply and stomped her heels around the prince's chamber.

The smile on his face was quickly hidden away as he shuffled back inside his warm, majestic room. "A document had slipped out of my hand, I went after it yet lost it when you went inside my chambers without my permission." A cold voice coming from the young Crown Prince went inside Lady Anwir's ears.

The Lady dressed in soft layers of pink was fully flustered. After all it was her who taught the Prince the etiquettes of personal space.

"..Should i send a servant to fetch it?" Anwir slowly asked.

He raises his hand and motions it in the air. "No, it will be fine." Even if the document was a lie, the prince thinks how pitiful it would be for a servant to go out at this weather knowing that no paper was even lost.

Still concerned, she asks, "How about the people outside? Did someone see Your Royal Highness?"

Eyeing the royal teacher, he plainly replies, "I'm careful not to make any reckless actions, my Lady." She blushes wildly at the boy's reply, her face filled with fluster and madness.

In any way, she could not raise her hand or even her voice against the Prince, since the young boy holds a more important role for the kingdom.

Lady Anwir is a noble woman who was just in position of giving the Princes knowledge about etiquette. It was also her who drove the boy to wear a stoic face and keep his expressions neutral every time as how a King's face should be, she taught him how to be composed, and to not let his enemies read him by his emotions as it may bring him future misfortunes.

Having to master these characteristics for the selected prince next to sit at the throne is absolutely necessary as it won't be easy to fully govern a country with very soft expressions. Therefore, to get him committed to these behaviours while he is still a child are said to be helpful for them to raise the ideal and perfect king.

"I believe it is not time for our lessons yet Lady Anwir. In all respects to this elder, could you please exit Crown Prince's chambers?" Behaving just like a child he is for taking his favourite entertainment, the fierce Crown Prince locked his cutting eyes towards Lady Anwir. The young boy strikes a polite numb smile to her while his soaked dripping black hair wets the scrolls.

All students of Anwir was fairly frightened to her. A ring of the Royal teacher's name "Anwir" was enough to make young noble's knees tremble. She was known as a strict and frightening teacher that was praised by the King himself with her ability to transform even peasant folks to nobility.

She is the type of teacher that makes sure her lessons are being drilled into the deepest of their minds. If not understood, the students will face her punishment to stand all day in the open, whether raining, or even whether the sun's blazing hot, she won't favour no one.

Royal or noble, you'll stand outside with the snow.

Anwir holds a very stern face which everyone thinks she is not someone to cross, yet this Lady has now had her eyes witness this unbelievable aura coming from the young prince in front of her. And as if the tides had turned, a chilling coldness went down her spine.

Lady Anwir apologized smoothly for her actions, hiding her losing face and once again informed the Prince about the feast for his turning of thirteen that will be occurring on the night-time.

When she finished, she made her final courtesy to the prince and bowed down, turning her heels around while her glowing rosy robes swished left and right as she walked outside the prince's fancy room while having disturbing feelings on her chest. She'd wonder if it was shame or anger that she felt, or rather that fear she felt under the boy's preying eyes.

Having the Royal teacher thrown out of his chambers, the young boy threw a glance outside his glimmering windows, the rain pattering outside quietly. Jian Li flashes a small smile and sighs exhaustedly. Looking towards a certain scroll behind him, picking the golden bordered scroll, he would read:

"Under the decree of Jian Kingdom King Hongwu, by the code eleventh, the Jian Kingdom will prohibit revealing their Crown Prince until he, the heir of the throne would reach the prime of his adolescence, the same will be applied to other heirs."

Thirteen years ago, Hongwu, the present reigning king of Jian made this law where the royalty were to conceal the children of the King, the Royal Princes.

It was said that this law proposed by Hongwu was accepted and approved by the palace officials to fully prepare the next King of Jian Kingdom, that he, the heir of the throne would spend his nineteen years inside the palace, studying and learning the ways of a flawless King, and nothing else.

Then after those nineteen long years, his name will be revealed to his people and will be publicly announced as the heir of the throne and will be formally coronated in the seat of the King in a very young age with of course the guide of the former King, the Royal Advisor and the Palace Council.

The Crown Prince had always thought that this law was absolutely absurd. Why did his father, made this law? Why can't the Princes see what's outside the palace walls or even how do the people that he will rule over looks like? Isn't it better to know what issues were occuring around his Kingdom, so he could act on it and find solutions to those problems? There was so much questions rising here and there but he couldn't even bring to ask it to his father. More like he did, but he couldn't get a clear answer out of Hongwu.

His face crumpled in frustration and threw that scroll somewhere. But later on, he picks it up and kept it back to the shelf as he hates excessive clutters.

Jian Li is a very organized person.

The Crown Prince finally changed his royal robes to his dinner wear with the help of his servants.

Like scattering pigments of blue around the air, Jian Li, followed by his servants walked down the palace corridors. The young Crown Prince entered the gigantic grand hall where the three members of the royal family were to be having a feast for the Crown Prince's celebration of reaching the thirteenth age.

Jian Li was dressed in smooth ultramarine robes, and inside these robes were shadowed with wine-red colored fabric. His clothes were secured tightly by a corset around his waist that were embroidered beautifully with wave-like patterns sewed in shiny golden threads. Around his biceps clamped silver vambraces that holds long satin fabric that kept flowing around elegantly on his wrists as he walked.

There were not many servants around the grand dinner as for privacy of Jian Li's identity. Only the trusted servants were chosen to see the cold and beautiful face of the young Prince when in some events where the House of Lords are invited, Jian Li would wear a veil to hide his face.

His birthday celebration were not to be discussed with others after as it was strictly prohibited to stop excessive rumors from growing. Fortunately, the palace have such understanding and trustworthy hired servants.

When Jian Li arrived to the Grand Hall, his eyes would meet and come across to his father's who was seated first at the dining table. The boy places his right hand to his left chest to show his utmost respect towards the King of Jian kingdom.

King Hongwu was wearing a deep red royal mantle around his broad muscular shoulders fastened by the collar. The golden designs on the ends of the mantle were very grandiose and detailed to the point that any master craftsman would cry in admiration. And of course, the magnificent crown sitting comfortably on top of his black hair would glitter in every way he moves, holding such overwhelming presence that even servants couldn't build themselves to handle.

The refined King nods back to his son with a smile, as though being allowed to join him, Jian Li now took his seat on the left side of his father's hand.

"Glory to my son, Jian Li, for his turning of thirteen." Greeted the King Hongwu, raising his drinking glass in the air.

"Prince Jian Li gives his thanks to father." The prince spoke back, having a courtesy displayed through his hand on his chest.

A moment later, a thunderous clutter by the doors of the Grand Hall caught everyone's attention, followed by a roar of a boy's voice.

As it would show, it was coming from the second prince, the disastrous, second son-in-throne.

Hongwu had two sons, two heirs of his throne. The younger was born a year after the first one, and you can absolutely say he is a very short tempered Prince. Despite behaving like a ruffian, the servants never dared to disrespect him and kept their manners still. Even at no fault, they would just step back and accept his words, and whenever the uproar of his voice met their ears, they would try to keep their emotions aside and avoid being upset and annoyed about his actions.

Finally coming in sight, the second prince were dressed in soft velour of red and blue. Well, mostly pure blue because of how he bragged it to his servants as one of the most rarest and expensive sold pigments around the Kingdom. But, who will he brag it to besides the everyday faces he sees?

The young Jian Morfran walked with proud air and authority towards the long nicely carved dinner table where Jian Li, his elder brother, and the King Hongwu has been seated not that long.

"Glory to the King. Prince Morfran begs the King's grace." The young boy bowed, clearly showing Anwir's lessons was etched inside his head.

Morfran had a honey-like skin, having a soft shade of tan from training under the sun. Unlike Jian Li who locks himself inside his chambers, the second Prince was more of an active and sporty child.

"Pleasant evening to the prince. To grace with Morfran." Nodding, he eyed his son.

The latter smiled widely, glancing at his older brother next. "Happiest Birthday to my brother Jian Li. I- am- very- happy- of your aging." Emphasized him with a grin. Yet his eyes would say the otherwise of his happiness.

Ever since, Morfran had envied the first prince. Privileges, names, and complements from being the Crown Prince made him jealous, but out of all, the attention his father has over Jian Li.

Jian Li felt happy inside his mind when the three of them gathered in to dine for his birthday, having the two family members eating in the same dining table and celebrating his birthday with him was enough presence for him to not feel lonely.

The royal teacher attended the celebration as well. She was dressed in magenta this time, keeping a very numbing and stretched smile that Jian Li thought it was looking overly forced and flat, but he shrugged it off anyway.

With the queen gone, the two never felt any maternal love, as the same year after giving birth to Morfran, the queen died due to an illness. And ever since then, her seat in the royal palace was not warmed and seated on, for years it was empty as the King never married again.

The townsfolk says the King fell head over heels to his Queen and never found another candidate for the throne. Sympathizing with the King, the people agreed that no one can equal the Queen on how she ruled and cared for her Kingdom, despite missing her warming presence in every occasion, they carried on along her undying spirit.

The celebration had finally started, beautiful melodies flowed around the Grand Hall which were especially lit bright with candle chandeliers and decorated with blue lilies since it's the Prince's birthday. Every little detail were diligently prepared that even the kingdom's great musicians were invited tonight to play their instruments to please the King and the young Princes with their performance.

The long table were filled in with the palace's specialty dishes. Mostly all of the presented dishes were seafoods cooked in every variations since Jian kingdom is a sea-based trade with really wide ports. Displayed on the table were salads in mix with really vibrant and glossy vegetables, and as well as juicy mouth watering meats, which the royal hunters spent their utmost energy to catch at the northeastern forests.

Dancers and entertainers swarmed in little by little, wearing such fascinating costumes.

Jian Li was in awe with how beautiful the graceful dancers were moving. So far, he cannot call anyone that he has seen in the palace ugly or foul looking. Every people that Jian Li met were had exceptional looks that he doesn't even know how an ugly person looks like. It was as if the word 'ugly' did not exist at their kingdom.

The Prince exhaled softly and his stoned face changed to a comfortable, eased expression. "I wish I could just celebrate my birthday with the common people. Have them eat at my feasts, and let them enjoy the most beautiful music anyone can hear." He mumbles to himself, thinking how lively that will be.

"Son, can't wait eh?" remarked the King who heard the young Crown Prince's words. Jian Li snapped his head up to his father and sweats, looking quite flustered.

Then question popped inside his head. "-Father, why—"

"pfft-" Morfran bursts to laughing. "Can't wait to be King? Trying to look like you care for the people.. heh." Spat the second Prince.

"A King do naturally care for his people, little brother." Commented Jian Li straightforwardly to his twelve year old younger brother. Looking like he just slapped the fact to Morfran's face that he would not be named King unless he takes his older brother down to his own grave.

Veins popped on Morfran's forehead and decided not to say anything back as he saw the King give him a cold stare.

Smiling, the King said, "Jian Li is right, Morfran. A king truly cares for his people. You should follow his example." Shifting his eyes to Jian Li, the King continues, "But son, you've already protested about this countless of times, law is law. You must follow it." The King emphasizes. "For now, learn and apply the King's way to your everyday life and I'm sure, you will be a great leader for everyone."

"I shall take the King's advice to heart and broaden my knowledge. Thank you, father." Said the First Prince.

The King looked very proud of his eldest son and smiled.

Morfran couldn't stand the irky feeling inside him and left the Grand Hall, annoyed.

Jian Li somewhat felt uncomfortable and guilty on how Morfran would act this way, he still couldn't grasp his little brother.

As the celebration was over, the boy finally came back to his chambers, wanting to just plop down his bed and sleep his exhaustions away but the servants who made shuffling noises around his room did not allow him to get some rest. The servants delivered the gifts that he had received from every noble houses and of course, a present from the King.

But an unexpected name popped at one of the boxes, it was the first time in years the Second Prince sent him a present. Raising his thin brows he sat on his soft bed and took two gifts from the pile, The King's and the Second Prince's.

Placing the gifts down, the King's present had a golden paper wrapped around it. The box was flat and was at the size of both of his soft hands. Curious at what the King had sent him, he scratched away the wrap carefully for it not to tear, (because he thought its a shame for a golden wrap to get ripped). The boy looked at the complicated looking box, he deducted that there may be a mechanical process before it opens, he would think how his father likes to mess with the craftmen's head.

'Poor them.' he says.

Then after a second, he heard a sharp click then the box's lid opened.

He was stunned at what he saw inside the box. The ruby red choker glimmers brightly in front of his eyes.

This time, Jian Li really laughed in fascination at its complexity. He chuckles with a sweat at how he imagines the craftsmen of this treasure would cry as how it was designed to be elongated to fit anyone's neck.

Gently, his hands coddled the choker, his eyes getting dragged wherever it goes. The light of the necklace's bloody color was refracted to his blue eyes, which now became stained with redness.

His eyes went back to the box where a piece of paper laid behind the choker. It was a letter from the King.

Hongwu had a very rough yet loopy writing which makes it a very attractive penmanship. Written on a black ink, it said:

Jian Kingdom,

Crown Prince Jian Li,

"This is the royal necklace worn by the Jian Kingdom's crown princes. It has been passed down, generations to generations. When I reached thirteen my father, the late King, gave me this beautiful antique as well. Now it is your turn.

This is a symbol of your royalty, a symbol of bravery to stand up in front of the throne and to sit on it as King, so wear this jewel with pride.

When the day of your coronation comes, you will take off this red treasure off your neck, and replace it by putting the heavy crown of a King on top of your head. I expect you to perform well my son. You play a big part to the lands. You are a blessing to the Kingdom.

I celebrate the day you came to the palace. Happy thirteenth year, son."

Jian Kingdom,

King Jian Hongwu.

He blinks quietly and held the treasure on his hands while his head was filled with thoughts. "This, is the symbol as a Crown Prince... the future king.." His lips trembled in excitement from the reassurance that sooner or later, he'll receive the crown and meet his people.

Raising it on level to his chest, he pulled the ruby in half, and clamped it around his neck, a soft click sounded.

Jian Li couldn't help but get the shivers around his body from of the coldness of the jewel, but still, he felt his heart thump uncontrollably.

"I will surpass my duties as King, and will serve my people until the end of my time."

The King who was peeking outside his chambers at the small gap between the large doors had both of his eyes wide at the bone chilling sight in front of him. He saw Jian Li wearing the same ruby neck that he wore in the past.

The boy's blue robes wiggled against the wind that came from his balcony and as if the universe was in his favor, the moon shone the brightest. Hongwu's eyes saw the silhouette of the kingdom's future, King Jian Li.