His Highness’ Inquiry and the Silent Siege

Tobias looked at the box that his own son had been holding dearly as if gambles his whole life, "Elias, what's in the box?" 

Elias hesitated to answer, wondering if he should tell the truth. He took a deep breath and said, "It's...a gift. From The Grand Duke." He couldn't believe he had just uttered those words. What will his father think?

Elias clutched the box tight, he was some kind of afraid, what if his father made false assumptions? but, his own father wouldn't do that obviously. Yet from what it seems, commoners are most likely not receiving gifts or anything from royalties, so it was odd for Tobias.

Tobias saw his son's grip tightened, his curiosity grew stronger yet he didn't want to invade his son's privacy, so he gently asked, "Elias, may I know what's in the box?"

Elias' heart raced as he weighed his options. Should he tell his father the truth and risk being ridiculed or dismissed? Or should he lie and keep the secret to himself? In the end, he decided to trust his father and tell the truth. 

"It's... a gift... from The Grand Duke," Elias said softly, still clutching the box tightly in his hands. 

Tobias's expression changed from shock to amazement as he realized the gravity of what his son had just said, "From The Grand Duke himself? That's incredible, Elias."

Elias smiled, feeling relieved. He handed the box to his father and watched as Tobias opened it. Inside, he saw a brand new steel pen, the latest invention in Landroich, a thick amount of clean papers and an ink that comes along with the steel pen, lastly, a sonnet and a few books that are about poetry and tells stories.

Tobias whistled in amazement, "This must have cost a fortune. Why would The Grand Duke give you such a valuable gift?" he asked, still staring at the set in his hands. 

"I-I don't know," Elias stammered, feeling self-conscious all of a sudden, "But I'm grateful for his generosity."

Tobias smiled at his son and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Well, we can't leave without showing our appreciation. I'll write a thank you note to The Grand Duke as soon as we get home."

Tobias handed back the set to Elias to keep and shifted the subject of their conversation. He crossed his legs and inhaled, "Elias, do you think you still remember The Grand Duke?" 

Elias blinked, suddenly he felt that his father's question is quite weird, why's that? He'd just seen The Grand Duke in the Rosette river for the first time, so the question sounded like he'd known The Grand Duke for over the years, as if he met him in his younger years.

Elias shook his head, "No, father, I've met The Grand Duke in the Rosette river, did I perhaps meet him when I was younger?" Well, that was even more odd, just what are the chances of a commoner meeting the crown prince? it was almost 0 percent, just like praying for god to heal your dying mother.

Unfortunately, Elias is quite a genius, he already knew what his father's question intended, so Tobias had nowhere else to escape but to answer honestly, "Yes, you've seen him before and made friends with." 

Elias' eyes widened in shock at his father's confession. He had never suspected that he had met The Grand Duke before and made friends with him. He felt betrayed by his own father, who had never told him about such a significant part of his past. 

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Elias asked, his voice thick with emotions. 

Tobias looked down at his hands, unable to meet his son's eyes. "I'm sorry, Elias. I didn't think it was important." he said softly. 

Elias didn't believe that for a second. He had always felt a connection to The Grand Duke, even before he knew who he really was. Now, it all made sense. "Do you know The Grand Duke's real name?" Elias asked, unable to hold back his questions any longer. 

Tobias hesitated for a moment before answering, "I know his real name, but I'm not sure if he'd want me to reveal it to you," he said cautiously. 

Elias felt a sense of sadness and anger well up inside him. He couldn't believe that his own father had kept such a big secret from him for so long. "Why not?" he asked, his voice growing more insistent. 

Tobias took a deep breath before answering, "Because The Grand Duke is a royal, and he can't be friends with commoners," he explained, "Well.. don't you think it's a bad omen or a disrespect for The Grand Duke to call him by his name? especially for us, commoners."

Elias's heart sank at his father's words. He had always felt like The Grand Duke was different from the other royals. Now, he knew why. And it made him wonder whether The Grand Duke truly cared about him or was just simply helping him as he was obliged to do.

"But hey," Tobias said with enthusiasm, "You're one lucky guy, The Grand Duke remembered you and now, you know that you're favored by him." Then he reached for Elias and ruffled his hair.

Elias smiled weakly as the carriage turned around to settle in a familiar place— They finally arrived at Handun Broch where their hometown was. The two stepped out the royal carriage as some of their fellow commoners watched them exit the carriage, they felt envious obviously, how come that those two were the only ones who were favored by the loyalty? Whatever. 

As soon as they finally got home, Elias quickly arranged his gift— the paper, the pen and the ink, oh, what is this? He unrolled the parchment, a faint scent of lavender rose up to greet his senses. But it was not the scent of the flower that caught his attention — it was the contents of the parchment.

"A sonnet," Elias murmured, feeling a mixture of surprise and awe, "Written by the finest poet in the kingdom, no doubt." he added with a small smile. He started to read the sonnet:

Glints of Sapphire, Gleams of Gold: A Sonnet

With eyes that seem to gleam, And golden hair that falls so fair, He captures minds and hearts with ease, His beauty beyond compare. 

He's cheerful, yet shy, a mix so rare, For many think that those traits can't share, But he is sweet, with love to spare, For all who cross his path with care. 

His eyes reflect a heart so bright, And hair that's gold as moonlight. A young teen with pure delight, With features that are oh so bright.

And with luck for his own future and studies to pursue his dreams He'll be the brightest he can be.

Then at the right bottom corner of the sonnet, he saw the signature of the finest poet. The signature was illegible, and he couldn't make out the name of the poet. Who could this incredible poet be? All he saw was the letter 'K'. He might as well buy books that the poet published yet only if the poet did publish their poems or only if they made a poem only for this special sonnet. 

He felt disappointment but then knowing that this was from The Grand Duke's.. his heart fluttered uncontrollably as he hugged the paper, the moment he realized he wrinkled it a bit, he jumped out and quickly straightened it, "I'm so stupid.. why did I hug the paper, I almost wrinkled it.."

He felt like stamping the sonnet in his room, but damaging the precious paper with a nail is surely.. unworthy to look for. He pondered hard, because he wanted to see this sonnet everyday, he wanted to conclude a way to see and read this sonnet without damaging it by nailing onto the wall, not wrinkling it and not making it old.. by framing it!

That's right! He'll frame the sonnet! He's sure enough that the frame is enough for the size of sonnet by just looking at the paper to measure it, probably a standard size is enough. But the problem is, he doesn't have the money to buy a frame yet..

Elias groaned in disappointment and frustration, he rolled back the paper and put it in the box. A cover caught his attention, it was a few books that were about poetry, stories and basics guides on learning faster and so on. Obviously, Elias opened the poetry book, eversince The Grand Duke made him a poem, he already had an eye when it comes to poetry.

The book's contents had:

Page 3-15: Poetry of Life

 Section Overview: Capturing the essence and varied facets of life's journey.

Poems:

 "Dawn's Embrace: A Birth of Hope"

 "Noon's Zenith: The Triumph of Experience"

 "Dusk's Whisper: Reflections on Twilight"

Page 17-28: Poetry of Hardship

 Section Overview: Delving into the struggles and challenges that shape the human spirit.

Poems:

 "Stormy Seas of the Soul"

 "Bearing the Weight of Shadows"

 "Resilience in the Face of Adversity"

Page 30-42: Poetry of Longing

 Section Overview: Exploring the poignant emotions of yearning and desire.

Poems:

 "Echoes of Absence"

 "The Unseen Horizon"

 "Whispers in the Moonlight"

Page 44-56: Poetry of Love

 Section Overview: Celebrating the various dimensions of love, from passion to loss.

Poems:

 "To the One I Love"

 "Love's Tapestry: Threads of Joy and Sorrow"

 "Eternal Dance of Souls"

Page 58-70: A Teen's Azure Eyes and Tresses of Gold

 Section Overview: A collection inspired by the sonnet "Glints of Sapphire, Gleams of Gold: A Sonnet"

 Poems:

 "Sapphire Dreams in a Gilded Youth"

 "Simplicity's Sonata in Sapphire and Gold"

"Where Gold Meets Sapphire Skies"

And so on.

The kid expectedly jumped on the page of 'Poetry of love'.

Elias started skimming through the pages of the poetry book, trying to find a poem that would resonate with The Grand Duke's beautiful sonnet. He stopped when he came across a poem titled "To the One I Love". Its lines were as follows: 

To the one I love, 

A love that shines bright as the brightest star, 

To the one I love, 

A love that burns like a fire so far, 

To the one I love, 

A love that's so deep, it reaches the sky, 

To the one I love,

A love that will never, ever die.

Elias smiled, feeling a warm sensation in his chest. The poem's words seemed to resonate with his own feelings for The Grand Duke. He made a mental note to keep an eye out for this kind of poetry in the future, as it seemed to capture the depth of emotions that he felt.

Elias felt inspired by the poem and started scribbling down some lines on a nearby piece of paper: 

To my dear, 

Whose eyes are like the color of lavender in the garden, 

Whose heart is so big, 

That it can encompass many lives. 

I am but a tiny spec of dust, 

In your grand schema of things, 

But I hope to make your world, 

A bit brighter with each passing day. 

Elias smiled, giggling, feeling proud of his own poetry. He had never been much of a poet, but The Grand Duke had brought out a creative side in him that he never knew existed. He decided to keep the poem safe, and maybe one day, show it to The Grand Duke as well.

He laid down on his bed and stared at the ceiling with the book still on the page of "To the One I Love" and his own poem on his small nightstand. Sooner, he started daydreaming, the figure of The Grand Duke from the last night in the palace, where The Grand Duke sat him beside from the window, where the moon shone brightly that he could clearly see The Grand Duke's beautiful features, oh how he loved that the moment lasted. 

Time seemed to stop and all he saw was The Grand Duke's beautiful face. The moonlight shining perfectly on The Grand Duke's face as if it was a painting. The Grand Duke's eyes were all that mattered, they were so captivating, so mesmerizing that Elias couldn't stop staring. The Grand Duke's lips were moving but the words seemed muted.

The Grand Duke is so beautiful, he wondered if The Grand Duke's name is as beautiful as him? but at this moment, it didn't matter to him and his curiosity was set aside as he continued to daze, hopelessly devoted to The Grand Duke. 

The more he succumbed in his fantasies, he wasn't aware that he was drifting off to sleep, and so, he fell asleep with the book on his chest, sleeping peacefully at the peak of the afternoon. While his father was busy cooking for their lunch, Tobias felt odd, his son didn't go out to play or to visit Ezra right after, could his son be busy in his room?

Lunch was almost ready to be served anyway, so he prepared the bowls and plates on the table and the dishes on the side. He went upstairs to check up on Elias, he knocked once, thrice, there's no response in his room so Tobias decided to open the door as he uttered, 'I'm coming in.'

Tobias' eyes widened as he saw his son asleep on the bed, book on his chest. He couldn't help but smile at the sight. It was nice to see Elias so content, especially after the stress of the last couple of days. Tobias leaned down and gently kissed his son's forehead, not wanting to disturb him. 

He got up and his eyes subconsciously passed a glance to his nightstand, where there was a paper on top with a few words on it that seemed to look like a poem, He began to read it out of curiosity. The corner of his lips twitched into a smile, Oh.. who could this person with lavender eyes be? He thought, softly giggling upon his own conclusion, that his son had his first crush.

Tobias chuckled, feeling a sense of nostalgia for his own childhood and young love. It brought back fond memories, and he felt a warmth in his heart knowing that his son was going through the same experiences that he had gone through himself. He wanted to show his support and understanding, but didn't know how to bring it up to Elias without embarrassing him. He thought about it for a moment before deciding to leave the poem on the nightstand.

He left the room and headed downstairs to continue making lunch, feeling strangely grateful for the chance to spend a little time with his son, even if it was just by watching him sleep.

The Grand Duke was off to go to the Municipal of Landroich to do some lobbying, of course, the government had already recorded the 'school for commoner' starting history.

The Grand Duke had a busy day ahead of him, and he needed to make sure everything went according to plan. As he made his way to the Municipal of Landroich, he took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand. He had a couple of meetings with government officials and lobbyists, and he wanted to make sure he was on top of everything. It was important to stay one step ahead, and he was determined to do so.

The Grand Duke arrived at the Municipal of Landroich and was greeted by officials and politicians who were not so excited to see him. As he moved through the crowd, he couldn't help but think about the importance of this visit. He was tasked with representing the interests of the people, and he was determined to do just that. 

The Grand Duke made his way to the center of the room, where a large desk was set up for him. He took a deep breath before speaking, knowing that his words would carry weight. "Good afternoon, everyone. I'm here today to discuss the importance of education for all members of our community. As you all know, education is the key to a better future for everyone. It is my belief that every citizen, regardless of their background, deserves access to quality education."

.. He knew that this speech was ridiculously late when he already built three schools in the chosen town of Landroich, but he was believed to be a tyrant, he could do whatever he wanted.

The Grand Duke paused for a moment, letting his words sink in, "That's why I'm proposing the creation of a school for commoners here in the Landroich. This school will provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life, whether that's pursuing higher education or entering the workforce."

The room fell silent as the Grand Duke continued, "I believe that this is an important investment in our community's future. By providing education to all of our citizens, we can help to break down barriers and create a more equitable and just society. I understand that there are challenges that come with this proposal, but I am confident that we can work together to overcome them. Together, we can create a Landroich that is more inclusive and fair for all of its citizens."

He continued, "Since the school was starting in three days, I would like to know the records of how many children, despite their ages, enrolled in these schools. With their complete name, age, and background."

The government officials gathered around in a meeting room to discuss the records of the children enrolled in the new school for commoners. They sat around the table and shuffled through the documents, looking for the specific details that the Grand Duke had requested. 

"I have the information here, Your Grace," one official spoke up, standing from his seat and walking over to the Grand Duke, "Here's the list of names and ages of all the children who have enrolled in Maxilandia Branch"

The Grand Duke took the list from the official and scanned it over, nodding in satisfaction. He could see the names and ages of the children listed, as well as their backgrounds. He was pleased to see that there was a diverse group of children who had enrolled, coming from different parts of the Landroich and varying in age. 

The Grand Duke handed the list back to the official and spoke up, "Thank you for these records. I'm glad to see that so many children have taken the opportunity to attend this new school. I have faith that it will be a great success and that our children will benefit immensely from the education they receive there."

"How about the other two branches?" The Grand Duke spoke up, "Where are the records of Handun Broch and Feigan?"

The government officials continued to search through the records, trying to find the information that the Grand Duke had requested. They shuffled through a stack of papers, looking for the specific details that he had asked for. 

"Here are the records for the Handun Broch branch, Your Grace," one official spoke up, handing the list over to the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke took the list and scanned it over, nodding in satisfaction. He could see the names and ages of the children listed, as well as their backgrounds. He was pleased to see that there was a diverse group of children who had enrolled.

"Thank you for this information. I'm pleased to see that so many children have taken the opportunity to attend this new school in Handun Broch as well." 

He handed the list back to the official before speaking up again, "What about the Feigan branch? Do we have the records for that as well?" 

The officials continued to search through the papers, until finally one of them spoke up, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but we don't seem to have the records for the Feigan branch." 

The Grand Duke furrowed his brows at the news, "That's impossible. I know Feigan is a small town in Landroich but it is not possible that it couldn't have a record of a single person signing up in the school."

The officials looked at each other nervously, before one of them spoke up. "We have the records for the Maxilandia branch and the Handun Broch branch, Your Majesty, but for some reason, the records for the Feigan branch are missing."

Another official spoke, "I understand your frustration, Your Majesty, but unfortunately there is no record of any sign-ups in Feigan. We have tried searching through every database and record we have access to, but we have not been able to find any information." 

The Grand Duke was furious at this news, feeling as though the government officials were hiding something from him. He stood up from his seat and looked at the officials with a stern gaze, "I want a full investigation into this matter. I want to know why there are no children in Feigan signing up for the school. And I want an answer right away. Is that understood?" 

The government officials nodded their heads in understanding, realizing that they had just poked a bear. Before some of them even left the room, A man with long, silver hair entered the room, it was Matthew, nothing more. He pushed up his half-framed glasses as he propped his elbow to The Grand Duke.

No one could do this except the Marquis Maximino, The Grand Duke's concubine. He spoke with charm, "I'm afraid these officials couldn't be trusted anymore, Your Grace." 

Even The Grand Duke was taken aback by Matthew's presence, "Maximino, why are you here..?" 

Matthew replied humbly, "I thought I needed to report you something important." He said, gazing at some officials in front of him, "Shall I read the report, Your Grace?" Matthew asked.

"Go ahead." Said The Grand Duke.

Matthew unrolled the scroll and started reading with grace, fluently pronouncing word by word, "Feigan has been under the siege, by the siege means, Most of the population of Feigan has been under the plague, old or young commoners. Feigan was also lacking some water rations and foods, which caused the siege to become worse and spread the plague, The government does nothing." 

The Grand Duke's eyes widened at the report's contents. He had never expected to receive such bleak news from Feigan. He turned to Matthew, an annoyed expression on his face. "And why wasn't I informed of this sooner?" he asked, his voice rising in frustration.

Matthew snickered, "Why not ask the government officials of Feigan?" 

NAPPEN'S EXTRAS:

Nappen: [wincing] It's so... cheesy, but I liked writing it...

Elias: [grinning] Well, I thought it was sweet. The lavender eyes part was a nice touch.

Kaiser (the Grand Duke): [smirking] Lavender eyes, huh? Someone's got a crush.

Nappen: [wheezing]

Elias: [concerned] Are you okay, Nappen?

Nappen: [recovering] Yeah, yeah. Just wasn't prepared for my characters to critique my writing.

Kaiser: [raising an eyebrow] Characters can be the toughest critics.

Nappen: True. But you, Your Highness, breaking the fourth wall and all...

Kaiser: [leaning in] It adds a touch of unpredictability to the narrative, don't you think?

Nappen: I suppose. But can we talk about Elias' poem?

Elias: Yeah, Nappen, spill it. What's with the lavender eyes?

Nappen: [sheepish] Well, it's a subtle nod to a certain royal's eye color.

Kaiser: [amused] Oh, I see what you did there.

Elias: [smirking] So, the author ships us, huh?

Nappen: [looking caught] Well, you two are literally gay, and the main ship.

Kaiser: [raising an eyebrow] Did you just say we're the main ship?

Elias: [grinning] Looks like it.

Nappen: It's just... you two have this dynamic, you know? A royal falling for a commoner, the forbidden love angle.

Kaiser: [smirking] And you find that interesting, Nappen?

Nappen: Well, yeah. It adds drama, tension, all the good stuff.

Elias: [sarcastic] Great, we're the source of your entertainment.

Nappen: I mean, you did sign up for a story, right?

Kaiser: [chuckling] Fair point.

Elias: Fine, but I better get some epic moments out of this.

Nappen: Oh, you will. The drama is just getting started.

Kaiser: [looking at Elias] Brace yourself, young one.

Nappen: And as the author, I'll just enjoy the chaos I've unleashed.

Nappen: [muttering] Love team drama, now with a side of missing records. What have I gotten myself into?