The Elerona Empire, a serenity surpassing the entire continent, flourished in peace and prosperity. The bulbul’s song in every tree near noble houses was considered a harbinger of good luck.

However, the cawing of a crow signaled the empire to take up arms against any and every potential enemy approaching its borders.

On August 17, 1099, the cawing of a crow echoed through the Obsidian Duchy for the first time since the empire’s dawn. Its ominous toll set the entire duchy on edge.The young lady, Maria Belle Obsidian,whilst have a meal with her mother fell ill during breakfast.

The chef who prepared the meal and the maids who served it were arrested, confined to the annex, and locked away.News of Maria’s illness reached the capital, where Duke Robert Vincente Obsidian was welcoming the yearly envoys from the Ameer Kingdom.

Upon hearing the news, the duke, accompanied by his most trusted warriors, rode on horseback to the duchy without informing the emperor. Crown Prince Luke Ario Varkanis, though his betrothal to Maria remained unofficial, hurried to the duchy with the royal family doctor.The poisoning incident cast a lasting shadow over the empire’s security, catching the Obsidian Duchy off guard.

The chef and maids, interrogated that same day, proved innocent.Suspicion of a spy within the Obsidian Duchy arose, a topic raised at the aristocratic meeting held every two months. Maria’s social debut, scheduled for five months later, seemed distant as she remained motionless for a week.The crown prince visited every week, his voice a steady presence as he spoke with her. At each day’s end, he said with fierce yet affectionate resolve, “Don’t worry, Maria, I’ll make sure to avenge you.” 

This continued for several weeks until the royal physician and the mage tower leader declared that she had slipped into a deep coma, recoverable only with six months of undisturbed care.Since then, the crown prince, who had made the weekly journey from the palace to the Obsidian capital mansion, withdrew to the Ravencrest Duchy for seclusion training in its vast forests.

“Hello, my prince!” as the Ravencrest family greeted his highness.

“Provide me with a small cottage in the woods, for I’ll be in seclusion for the next 4 years”, stated the young Prince.

Three months passed since Maria had fallen into a coma. A priest and a doctor checked on her daily. 

During this time, the emperor visited, as his whispering trembled, “What great sin has this child committed to endure such suffering?” as he kissed her forehead.The emperor mobilized all talented personnel to find the perpetrator.

For the first time, the Niflheim Grand Duchy dispatched its most trusted agents to gather information about that day.

“Is this everything we currently know about the culprit” asked the grand duke

“It is my lord”, said the captain of the intelligence guild, “as we’ve only found his accomplices in crime my lord”.

“They’ve already taken measures against revealing anything should they be caught”.

The emperors’ was given a report of the investigation everyday by the count of Suarek, the only man after the grand duke to receive information on almost everything that is happening across the empire.

 One day after seven months of investigation, the grand duke reported to the emperor that the Bloodforge Empire had colluded with the poisoner.

“The main culprit in the poisoning incident was found dead near Cirrah lake in the Bloodforge region” reported the Grand duke to the Emperor.

Bloodforge’s denial in the involvement in the poisoning incident strengthened the belief in that they were hiding something far more bigger than this.

The Obsidian Duchy has been filled with sorrow and guilt that it couldn’t protect one of their own.

Everyday the citizens of the Obsidian Duchy would gather in front of the god and pray for young lady  Marie to open her eyes.

The capital villa of Duke of Obsidian has never rested in a moment of peace since they arrived in the capital. 

Mother is always on a chair near the bed where Belle is sleeping, Carmine thought to himself. 

“How is it that my baby hasn’t woken yet?” as the mother wailed in sorrow.

 “Perhaps the fall of the Bloodforge Empire will rouse her,” the duke replies with guilt, sorrow and fear of losing his only daughter.

Before the war has started, all the three Dukes, the Grand Duke, and the only Marquis chosen to participate in the war had knelt in front of young lady Marie and vowed “we swear on our families that we will bring the Bloodforge empire down at all costs” in unison

As all the officials have stood up and brought hot soup near Lady Maria’s she showed sensitivity towards that heat and kicking her legs up in the air.

The doctor was called upon at once, and he said “the young lady will be making a speedy recovery if we’re to maintain the same decorum until now.”

With this new found hope, all the dukes rallied their troops toward the Bloodforge Empire under the emperor’s strict order to leave not a soul responsible for poisoning incident alive.

The eldest son of the Duke of obsidian has left the Duchy even after the warnings eft behind by his father to join him on the battlefield.

The whole family shed tears of sorrow that John was leaving to fight the war.

“William, protect your mother and the younger ones,” the eldest son said, wiping his tears.“If I don’t return alive, then,  lead this family as the future duke.” 

“Conduct yourself as a future duke shall do.”

William crying said “I will not let you and father down and will do my best in order to uphold our dignity as a Ducal family”.

With that conversation, he left, burdening the second-eldest, William, with a weight he could scarcely bear.

As the acting duke, William attended the joint dukes meeting held every six months to discuss the empire’s affairs.

On the battlefield, Hodder, the only marquis chosen for this war, led the attack against the enemy.

The war caused a crimson scar across the land.

 Hope flickered as progress took root, but a bloodcurdling scream shattered the stillness of the night, its echo carried on under the moon’s radiant glow: ‘Marquis Hesperado —betrayer of the realm—has turned traitor!