They were all lined up to welcome the Commander General back home. 

Prince Arden was already grinning when he rode into the courtyard on his black destrier. His personal banners, the golden ouroboros on white fluttered on banners held by his men behind him. The golden shine of the ouroboros seemed to match his eyes as he dismounted and approached their family. 

Aleph tried not to shift nervously on his feet as he watched the arrival. It has been days since he last talked with Khres, since they last argued against each other. It has been so long since he’s last seen him, and yet, his words echoed in his head. Was he truly so out of practice in dealing with the machinations at court? Was he putting his family in danger this way? Aleph wondered if he had allowed himself to forget what was at stake. 

Aleph gazed at the other men with his royal uncle, finding his mother’s brother there. Perhaps, he’ll speak to the current Lord Acero for advice later. 

“Brother, I’m honored!” Arden said with a laugh, though there was something sharp in the way those golden eyes assessed them all. He knelt on one knee in front of his king and brother. “To be welcomed by the whole family. Why, you’d think I’ve been gone forever. My sword is yours, your grace.” 

“You have been gone for long enough,” the king replied, pulling the general to his feet to embrace him. “Come meet the rest of the family.” 

“Of course,” Arden replied easily. He stopped in front of the queen. “My queen, you look lovely as always.” 

“Welcome back, your highness,” Queen Harana answered as the older prince pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. 

“It’s good to be home,” Arden answered with a warm smile before moving on to Aleph. “Nephew, you’ve grown up. I’ve missed a lot of things, have I? You’ll show me what you’ve created since?” 

“We can catch up later, uncle, I’m sure,” Aleph answered his uncle’s grin with a smile of his own. “Did you bring us presents?” He asked, calling on to memories of his childhood, where his uncle’s wanderlust would bring him to so many places, and how the man had always brought him souvenirs. 

“Later,” his uncle promised. “I have some things you might like.” 

He moved on towards Likha. “Little Likha,” he said. “Not so little anymore. Did you figure out that elixir you were working on the last time I was here?” 

“That and many more, uncle,” Likha answered. Out of all of them, it was probably Likha and Aleph who remembered their uncle the most. Even Indak was very young when their Uncle Arden decided to permanently take over the burgeoning westward expansion. 

“Good,” Prince Arden said, turning to the next royal child in line. “Indak, do you still dance?” 

Indak seemed surprised at the general’s question. Aleph questioned it too. While Indak was graceful when he chose to dance at parties, he didn’t think it was something he was too interested in it.

“I do,” Indak admitted, his voice softer than Aleph expected. 

“You were small but not too small that you didn’t dance even then,” their uncle seemed to explain at the unasked question. Finally, he turned to Emet who stood at the end of their line. “And you must be the young man who’s getting married.” 

“I am,” Emet replied with a grin that matched his uncle’s. They were both carefree people, Aleph thought. He was sure his Uncle Arden would grow quite fond of their youngest like most people. “It is good to finally meet you, uncle.” 

Arden inclined his head in acknowledgment. “So it is,” he agreed. “And once again, the youngest brother married before the elder. Just like old times, eh, your grace?” 

The king chuckled at that. “I only hope that my other children follow their brother’s and my example and not yours,” he said. “Do you still have no plans for marriage?” 

“And tie myself down?” Arden asked incredulously. “Brother, you and I both know that I am not a marrying man. Better a thrilling battle or story than a wife, I say.”

“You’ll regret saying that one of these days,” clapped King Novus as he led his brother inside the palace.

“Nah, no way,” Arden shook his head. “You’ve been telling me that for years and did I ever regret it? I’d rather come home bearing gifts for my beloved niece and nephews.”

“Then I shall try again another time,” grimaced the king before turning to late Queen Ines’s brother, “Alloy, it has been a while.”

“Novus,” greeted the current Lord Acero as he gave the king a familiar hug, clapping his back. “The years have agreed with you well, brother.”

“Haha! Perhaps so,” said the king. “I heard the news of the birth of your children the past years and I hope you did not leave Jade with her hands full.”

“She is happy and I am happy, either way, we have a good family,” nodded Alloy. “Can I say the same to you, brother?”

“You can,” answered the king with a softer voice. He looked at Alloy and then back at Arden, “I read your letter. Something is urgent.”

“Yes,” agreed Prince Arden. “Perhaps we should have the banquet this evening instead. We have much to deal with before the celebrations can begin.”

“To the throne room,” the king decided then as they walked inside the palace. “Change of plans. The banquet will be tonight.”

Maids and attendants immediately bowed and went to work with the shift in the schedule.

“Will you have the children watch?” Prince Arden inquired as he raised his hand and twirled it twice, a hand sign that meant orders specifically for his men. Lord Acero immediately stepped out of the group to answer the unspoken instructions with the other soldiers.

“They aren’t children anymore,” quipped King Novus. “Let them watch. These things… they may have to do them someday.”

The throne room was quiet as King Novus occupied his seat. Queen Harana was seated on his left, while the right seat was reserved for Aleph. Indak, Likha, and Emet stood beside their older brother’s seat.

Prince Arden stepped inside the throne room, with Lord Alloy beside him. Behind them were a couple of soldiers, polearms at the ready. In between them was a wild-haired man with his hands chained in front of him.

Aleph wondered, with this man’s stature, if he can just tear his chains with one swift motion. He looked strong and his wild fiery eyes resembled a burning flame. His tanned skin gave way to the fact that he must be from one of the countries in the Westernlands.

The king’s brother bowed low, “Your grace, I present to you a gift from the Westerlands, from the Kingdom of Incanta. This is Prince Rafa, the youngest of seven siblings. He was presented to us to declare Incanta’s lifelong loyalty to the Chrysopoeian crown.”

Prince Arden pulled the chain, hard, and the Incantan prince almost stumbled forward. He looked at the foreign prince with cold eyes, “Bow to your king as a pledge of Incanta’s eternal loyalty to the Erstellen family.”

His uncle might be jovial and excitable, yet he has a ruthless side to him that reminded Aleph why he was the perfect person to handle the warfare of conquering lands that easily lasted for years. He looked at Prince Rafa, whose jaw was clenching hard. It was obvious now. The Estrellen forces must have had a hard time taking over this particular country, for Arden and Alloy to arrive at a harsh condition of making them give up one of their kingdom’s royal children.

“Come on, Rafa,” coaxed Lord Alloy. “Kneel to King Novus. It’s all you can do after giving us hell, you little brat.”

Rafa let out a low growl of protest, glaring up at the throne before looking down to kneel. Lord Alloy let out a satisfied hum. King Novus stood up, “Rise, Rafa of Incanta.”

The westernland prince obeyed and looked at the king with wild eyes. The king stepped down, “You are not to be sent to the dungeon. Your kingdom swore fealty to an Erstellen king and thus you shall be treated as a guest of the palace, nothing less.”

Rafa’s eyes looked around, to the queen, and then Aleph, and then the rest of the royal siblings. His gaze seemed to falter as he did, looking away sharply. Novus gestured at the chains, “Let him go and show him to his quarters. He is not to go back to his kingdom but he is allowed to initiate communication if he wishes to. He is also entitled to receive any services given to any young lords in our court.”

Alloy bowed to the king, acknowledging the order, before taking the key from his person and opening the chains, letting them fall to the ground. He clapped Rafa’s back as he led him away from the throne, “Let’s go, big boy. You got a good deal after wiping out several of our platoons and giving us one big headache that lasted us ten months. Be glad your king is generous. If it were other kings, your head would be on a spear on top of the palace gate by now.”

Aleph watched the Incantan prince as he was taken away. The wild westernlander's gaze was pointed at the general direction of his siblings. When Alloy and Rafa disappeared with the soldiers, Prince Arden smiled at his brother and bowed to him, “You haven’t changed one bit, your majesty. I remain honored to be serving you, yet there are other things to be decided that need my undivided attention.”

King Novus inclined his head, “Eternal blessings to you, brother, and be prepared for a report once everything falls as it should.”

Arden followed Alloy and Rafa, leaving the king with his family. The queen turned to him, “And if he proves hostile?”

“Then he moves to the dungeon,” replied the king. He turned to his children, “Answer this question, my children. A king’s decision bends the future, does it not? So, why did I give grace to an Incantan prince? They almost halved Arden’s infantry. So far, that kingdom was the toughest conquest of the Western expansion. The campaign lasted almost a year and Prince Rafa was their strongest in terms of physical capabilities. Yet, I gave him privileges that only heirs of the nine houses get in this court.”

Aleph frowned. Likha spoke up, “It is to watch over him, right, Father? Within the halls of the palace, his movements will be closely monitored. He would not be able to exact revenge for his kingdom all that easily.”

King Novus only hummed. Aleph tried to recall everything his uncle had been telling him through his letters about the Western expansion. He ignored most of the contents, only picking up bits and pieces about the newest metals and gems sent in the packages the letters came with. The Kingdom of Incanta was described to be rich with clear quartz and other metals and stones that are conducive to the use of ancient magic.

As it clicked in Aleph’s mind, he turned to his father. “He would not exact revenge for his kingdom.”

Likha’s face contorted, “Why not? We conquered their land and fought them until they had no choice but to surrender. Did you see him? He hesitated to bow to the crown.”

King Novus gestured for Aleph to continue. Aleph smiled at his sister, “You’re right, Lika. He did hesitate to kneel, but it was not because he hates the crown, it was because of his own pride. Prince Rafa may be physically strong, yet the Kingdom of Incanta are proud spellcasters. Magical abilities, together with discipline and mild temperance, are lauded. On the other hand, resorting to physical prowess in combat and recklessness are looked down upon.”

“Prince Rafa is an unwanted son, the youngest of seven, whose eyes are blazing with fury and impatience. He must have been an outcast in his family even if he proved to be useful in the end,” continued Aleph.

“I see!” Emet commented. “That’s also why Uncle Arden had trouble! Because they expected all of Incanta to use spell magic, but there’s this one prince who tried to solve his problems with his fists.”

“Exactly,” smiled King Novus. “That is why I chose to give grace to a prince who had the courage to fight for his kingdom with all his strength despite being rejected all his life. In the end, he was still given away. Perhaps he can find what he's meant to be in the halls of this palace.”

He stood up, “Everyone is dismissed. I will see you all this evening.”