The morning arrived with a heavy stillness, the kind that made everything feel off. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and even the sunlight seemed dull and strained. No one spoke much, and every small sound—footsteps, a door creaking—felt louder than it should. It was as if the day had begun already burdened, carrying a tension no one could explain. Everyone was already seated at the breakfast table, eating quietly when Draven enters. "Look who decided to grace us with his presence," king Malric joked, "son, what happened? You're don't usually join us for breakfast" Queen Calista asks, a little bit worried. Draven's eyes move across the table, stopping only on Aurelian, "I just decided to have breakfast with the royal family before they leave" he says pulling out a chair. Noone questioned him, if anything they just continued eating silently. Everyone felt the unspoken tension, the moonveils were leaving today which means the wedding is already in two months time.
After breakfast they set off to the palace gate, where they all exchanged goodbyes. Draven faced Aurelian, "I guess I'll see you on our wedding day, pretty prince" Aurelian cheeks turned red despite the atmosphere "shut up". Draven brush a strand of hair of his face "take care of yourself" he whispers, Aurelian's breath hitches at the contact but doesn't pull away instead he nods. Draven smiles "you should get going or are you missing me already" he teases with a cocky smile, "don't flatter yourself" Aurelian scoffed and walk to the carriage, a small smile on his lips. The carriage moves and the moonveil departs, Draven watches them go and from the top of the palace another eyes watched -Drusilla. When their carriage was no longer in sight, Draven along with the king and Queen headed back inside the palace.
Inside the carriage, "aw, missing prince Draven already" Elowen teases Aurelian, "no, of course not, I'm actually happy we're leaving their palace" Aurelian argues"just that, I can't stop thinking, what actually caused the war" he adds looking at their father. King Alaric looks away,"it's best if you don't question the past" "question? I'm only asking what happened" Aurelian retorts "tell me father, what really went down" he adds.
Flashback...
King Alaric and king Malric were once very close friends. Their kingdom was peaceful and they trusted eachother completely but one night destroyed years of friendship.
It was a ball event, it was lovely and everything was going well until Alaric saw from the corner of his eyes, his dear friend -Malric, leading a lady away, he chuckles to himself "I see you've still got it in you", he rises from his throne and followed the direction Malric went through. Stopping in front of a chamber door, he could hear struggling noises inside, was his friend forcing a woman? He quickly barge inside, lo and behold, it was his wife, marlic was trying to have his way with, anger surge through him and he shoved his friend aside "I can't believe you'd do this, to my wife of all people Malric" he yelled, "what? Your... your wife?" Malric stammers "don't play dumb with me Malric, leave!"
"Wait, let me explain, I didn't..."
"Didn't what? There's nothing to explain, leave! I can't believe you'd do this! Just leave!" Alaric exclaimed. He wasn't having anything Malric was saying "you touched my wife! I trusted you! I declare war between our kingdoms Malric, I hereby cut all support and alliance between our kingdoms!" Alaric declares, hauling his wife and carrying her out of the room, "you disgust me!" He spits before leaving. And from the shadows eyes watched, and not just one. A triumphant smirk touching their lips.
Present...
Both Aurelian and Elowen listened to their father talk, their mother looks away unable to bare the shame. "That bastard! He tried to rape mom!" Elowen all but tells, Aurelian looks at their father "but why would you accept a treaty if that's the case" he asks "I do what's best for my kingdom, Aurelian and besides it's been years, you were what? Seventeen? When it happened" king Alaric replies. "But that's unfair, it's like not getting justice for mom" Elowen argues "let it be" Queen Amara says, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The journey home continues in silence but Aurelian's mind wasn't silent, something wasn't right...why would king Malric betray his father just like that..it doesn't make any sense. But one thing was clear to him, there's more to the story.