Chapter Four; A Party And A Wedding.

Very early in the morning, King Albert Sam who was wearing an extravagant Western garment of the Middle Ages, met with his Steward, Fin, just outside his quarters.

"Fin."

"Sire."

"Make preparations for my departure."

"Already done, Your Majesty."

"I will be travelling in the horned tulpars' chariot instead."

"Of course Your Majesty, I knew you were late so I prepared the horned tulpars' chariot."

"It's as if you can read my thoughts. I wouldn't ask for anyone else to be my steward. Take care of the castle when I'm gone. I'll be back by evening's time tomorrow. Prepare The Sailfish, I'll be travelling to The Shennian Continent on the next day." King Albert Sam who was preparing for his journey to The Poccatti Kingdom gave his orders to his steward. He then followed Fin to the Stables where he found his horned tulpars, very fast horses with wings that aid them in flight decorated for the occasion.

"Your Majesty, your coach. Your favourite driver, ten maidservants, and twenty Royal Guard soldiers to hoist your banner. Of course, they will be mounting tulpars."

"Well done." A soldier opened the door to the carriage for King Sam as he approached the carriage and saluted him.

Back at The Shennian Empire, on the first day of the first year of The New Powstravian Calender, news of the celebration of my birth spread like wildfire. A peddler pulling his cart met another.

"Did you hear the news?"

"Of course, the queen just gave birth."

"Do you know if it's a bouncing baby boy or girl?" Whilst ushering his words, the first peddler gestured as if he was holding a baby in his arms.

"Most probably a boy. The Royal Family is used to giving birth to males ninety-nine per cent."

" Yeah yeah yeah, but it doesn't mean they can't give birth to girls."

"Regardless, I'm betting on a boy. Oh, how sweet it would be to be born a prince."

" I heard there is going to be a party at the palace for all tomorrow."

"Yes, I have already bought attire for tomorrow's occasion." The second peddler reached into his cart and brought out a box containing his new garment.

"It looks very nice. I guess I should be getting mine soon."

"Then you must hurry otherwise you would have to stand in the queues in front of the boutiques till morning"

"Thanks for the tip but I must hurry. Goodbye."

"See you." The peddlers waved goodbye to each other and went on their separate ways.

The peddlers were the least of the people doing their best in getting ready for the coming event. Great nobles and people of high society were also preparing for the party.

"Pardon me, dear, I would like your best garments for myself and my dear wife."

"Forgive me Lord Roland but we are currently short-staffed."

Lord Roland turned to his wife and said; "My love, it appears we are going to have to wait."

"You know quite well that I can not go to the party in rags. We must show the commoners the difference between our Statuses."

"Of course dear"

"If you would, my lord and milady can you please follow me to the VIP room? We shall get back to you as soon as possible."

"Of course." Lord Roland and his spouse followed the receptionist to the VIP room. Similarly, many nobles and commoners were doing their best to find the best garments for the occasion. This caused most of the boutiques and stores that would otherwise close at Seventeen O'Clock to close late at night.

A little to the south of The Isles, on the continent Adazil, is a Kingdom called the Poccatti Kingdom, ruled by King Robert Rukuffo of The Poccatti Kingdom. A dear friend of King Albert Sam. Today is the day he weds his lovely wife-to-be, Princess Belle of Virginia. One would say; she is a Goddess, for her beauty knows no bounds. A woman many would go to war for. I guess her parents knew what a beauty she would grow up to be before giving her her name. Her black curly hair and perfect body are just what a man desires from a woman. Not to mention, her face. Oh, her beautiful face, one that even the goddess of beauty envies. And her smooth soft skin. As tender as pudding, yet as radiant as a gemstone. It seems I am emphasizing her beauty too much, but you get it right? Well, It's evening time, and you could see a lot of nobles holding their glasses in cheers. I would say; The Poccatti Kingdom was singing in joy, as their beloved king, King Robert Rukuffo weds our beautiful goddess, Princess Belle of Virginia. King Albert Sam made his way there. A little bit late, but not late enough to miss the main event. With his glass in his hands, King Rukuffo was welcoming his honoured guests when he saw his dearest friend King Albert Sam come into the gathering. He walked to him, hugged him and welcomed him

"You are welcome my dearest friend. It's been a while."

"Yeah. Thank you." King Albert replied with a smile on his face.

"It appears your wife could make it not."

"Because of her pregnancy, I thought it would be better if she stayed home. But … Are you done already?"

"You do know quite well that there is no way I would start without you." He took from a servant a glass of wine and handed it to King Sam. "In fact, I would like to ask a favour of you." King Sam gestured that he should continue. "I would like for you to be the one to bless this marriage for me.

"It would be my pleasure." They both smiled

A while later, the trumpets sounded to commence the beginning of the celebration. The path was cleared from the entrance to the Alter. King Albert had taken his place by the Alter. Through the entrance came first, two maidens with a bowl each in their hands, filled with flowers. They kept showering the feet of the very beautiful maiden, the Goddess who followed them through the entrance with the flowers in the bowl. The Goddess wore a very long gown, decorated with flowers and she was none other than Princess Belle of Virginia. Well, the fact that I call her a goddess doesn't make her a real goddess but a lady with beauty that can only be referred to as divine. After her, came yet two other maidens who held the tip of the gown. The gathering cheered as she walked gracefully to the Alter. On the way to the Alter, she joined her husband-to-be, King Robert Rukuffo of the Poccatti Kingdom who went with her to the Alter. Gracefully, they knelt in front of the altar.

"We are gathered here to witness the marriage ceremony of our dear king, King Robert Rukuffo and his dear wife-to-be, Princess Belle of Virginia." King Sam paused a bit, lifted both arms of his to the sky and continued; "I call upon all the gods, mighty and inferior to witness this memorable ceremony. The God of Love, to bless them with more love and understanding, The Goddess of prosperity, to let their marriage groom and The Goddess of virginity to bless them with at least an heir." As a favour for his friend, Mitchell Hertra prayed to the gods. Something The Mitchells wouldn't do. He took from the Alter, a chain and as he was binding King Robert's left hand to Princess Belle's right hand, he said; "with this, I bind you together as husband and wife. You may … go with your bride" The Cloud cheered and King Robert lifted his newlywed wife unto his arms and merrily, they went to their chambers.

Early in the morning on The Continent of Shen, the second day of the first year of the NPC, one could see nobility and commoners alike flooding into the palace gates. The palace guards directed them to The Conqueror's Park but the celebrations didn't begin till noon. At least the Celebrations Bureau found a way to entertain them until then. At noon, One could hear a melodious voice echoing throughout the park. It was from a Mermaid and had a calming nature that calmed everyone down. After her song, other forms of entertainment began. Jesters joked around to entertain their audiences, Storytellers had already started making stories about my birth, magicians were performing all forms of magic tricks, summoners were also performing with their summoned beasts and so were the Elementalists. Different races did what they could to entertain themselves and everyone there. Simply put, there was entertainment for all. Free food was shared at the stores too. I guess this is what one would call the 'serve-yourself' kind.

At fifteen O'clock, silence broke throughout the park as a well-built man with green hair made his appearance at the park. Everyone bowed down immediately when they heard the emperor was making his appearance. The air around him was so imposing that one could collapse just by being in his presence. He is one that you would call a true emperor, feared, respected and adored by all who call themselves his subjects. His subjects view him as the pinnacle of existence. Automatically, all that he does is considered right in the eyes of his people. A white carpet was spread from where he stood to the platform where he would be addressing his subjects. As you have guessed, the white carpet is more or less the equivalent of the red carpet for the emperor though this is just to show the difference between the emperor and other dignitaries. A while later, Emperor Mitchel Rava had taken his place on the platform still emitting his imposing presence. Dad started addressing them by saying "Not long ago was I the most powerful person in the world.". This confused most of the audience because they had absolute fate in the emperor and the fact that he was the most powerful. It was their pride and joy and the reason why they looked down on anyone who wasn't part of the empire. Dad continued; "I know you are all wondering who could be more powerful than myself?". Dad paused a bit and said; "But just today, someone has been able to prove to me that I, Emperor Mitchel Rava am not the most powerful in the world by performing a feat that no mortal being including me, has been capable of achieving and he did it even before he came out of his mother's womb. Immediately he was born he caused a thunderstorm that has never before been seen on this continent, caused a thunder so great that the whole continent trembled in fear and that was just with his first cry. A feat that no god has achieved. And he did it all within the first thirty minutes of his birth." The audience started asking one another if it was truly the newly born prince who did all that. He continued; "I know you are asking yourselves who I've been describing all this while. He is none other than my very own newly born son and your future emperor. He also inspired me with a new name for our gracious empire. A name that exhibits our grandeur." By this time he had moved from speaking like an emperor to speaking like a great general who was boosting his army's morale. "This name comes from an ancient word that means great and powerful, and the name is-" He paused for a while and then said; "The Powstrava Empire". A deafening cheer resounded throughout the park and for a while, all you could hear was loud cheers of joy. Dad smiled and lifted his hand bringing their cheers to an abrupt end. I know most of you came here because of the birth of my son whom I will be entrusting the future of The Powstravian Empire but as per custom, his naming ceremony will be held six days from now." He took a goblet with wine in it from a servant of his, raised it to his subjects and said; "Make merry and celebrate the birth of your future emperor." He took a sip from the goblet, returned it to the servant and left the stage.