There’s always a plot, an intrigue court or common, hidden truths, and many times, there’s magic and warlocks and magicians and witches, princes and princesses, kings needing counsel, commoners with ambitions, and to top it all off, an extremely evil or ambitious person who wants to take over the world / kingdom. That is what is noticeable in many stories told.

This story, is all these things and so much more. Is there ever someone in the wrong place at the wrong time or an ordinary person content with their identity? Is there ever a noble who wants to be a commoner? Are there more support for things we see as evil? Is there an honest court? (well, not even this story goes so far as to believe that ever courtier in a royal court could be totally honest.) Is there ever a totally evil prince, who thinks that what he’s doing is for the good of everyone? Is there ever a princess who’s not a helpless young maiden, not just seeking a good reputation in high society? Is there ever a princess who’s gone mad with power? Or even an eccentric prince or king?

This story is set in a war torn world, ruled by a fearsome Empire. The people are all warriors, fair maidens or beggars. Many young and beautiful commoners or rich merchant daughters find their way into the nobility, the young men taking up merchant jobs and posts in the Imperial Army.

The Emperor, so mighty in his youth, so majestic, is now an old man, with shaking hands and a wish to pass peacefully. He feels the regrets of the old, suppressed for so many years. His maid pulls the blanket up around him, in a feeble attempt to stop his shivering. His grandson, Pierre, is the heir to the throne. No one knows how Pierre will treat the people in his care. The clock strikes the final hour in the night and there is lightning flashing. The old man looks at the gentle maid, who is nearly as old as he. Does she have grandchildren? He feels a curiosity towards the servants, a connection. He doesn’t see them as a piece of furniture, as many of the nobility does.

"My dear, everything is not as it seems within this vast and mighty empire. Be mindful of the future emperor." He coughed and spluttered a bit, but even though the nurse urged him to clam down and rest, he continued with what he thought to be far more important. "But even as my mind wanders to such matters, I think of my dearest grand daughter, Princess Juliet, who is to be sent off to a finishing school, knowing Pierre when I die, or so it will be arranged." The nurse nodded with a curt understanding, she did not want him to try to explain himself, when he was tiring so easily.

Please watch out for her, for upon my word, she shall not be forced into a marriage of state. I am happy in my old age to die and to know that the wonderful people the empire is made up of, are being looked after, and that they have such a princess, she shall bring a glory to it even I could not inspire." He was talking an awful lot why he could, and the nurse wondered worriedly if his raving was a sign of a starting insanity on his deathbed, poor old man.

"Oh, I had dreams in my youth, and I know that she will be the one to look after the empire and it’s people, even if Pierre does not tide well. May God watch over you and bless the people. Thank the heavens for every day you have upon this earth." And with that, a majestic Emperor, rich and wealthy, the most known name and perhaps the most respected, an old man, a grandfather, died. Perhaps the words he said to the nurse were the most faithful he’d ever spoken, or the most hopeful, or even the most true, but one thing was for sure later in the story. These were the most cryptic by far.

to be continued..