Chronicles of the Forbidden Jewels

The soft pinks and creamy yellows of the rising sun marked the start of a new day. Exhausted from a restless night, I made my way up to bed, my mind consumed with thoughts of how I would navigate this new chapter of my life without Thyra by my side. It wasn't just her absence that weighed on me, but also the weight of my newfound responsibilities as a married crown prince.

Today is also the day of the guest's departure. Though they can stay a little longer if they wish, everyone is free to go now that the third day of the wedding has come to pass.

This may be my only opportunity to have a conversation with the grand duke without any complications, so it would be wise to make the most of it.

As I made my way through the grand halls of the palace, I stopped outside the room that had been assigned to him. His attendant stood just outside the door, giving the impression that they were expecting a visitor.

The attendant greeted me with a bow. "Greetings to the sun of the empire," he said respectfully. "His Grace is currently inside this room, and he’s expecting that someone will have audience with him.”

It is quite surprising that the grand duke is expecting me to visit him, even though he did not inform me beforehand.

The attendant opened the door without knocking, as if he had been instructed to do so in advance.

The Grand Duke of Eskal was seated on the couch, engrossed in reading documents, as I took a seat across from him. I made it clear through my actions that there was no need for him to stand up or engage in formal greetings, as I was more interested in a casual conversation.

He set aside his documents, and a blank expression is written on his face. Although his eyes conveyed a sense of coldness and apathy, his lack of enthusiasm seemed somewhat discourteous. I couldn't help but wonder if this was his usual way of interacting with people.

“I believe this is our first time to speak formally without anyone else.”

“You’re right about that, Your Highness. I'm curious to know the reason behind our meeting. It's no secret that the high society has consistently given me the cold shoulder, despite my status as a grand duke.”

His response indicated that he preferred to skip small talk and delve into the matter at hand. This approach seemed different from how he interacted with Thyra. Because if it was, it’s unlikely for them to be too formal and yet they appeared to enjoy each other’s company during the banquet.

“The princess of Eurhyia and I are engaged, except that it’s not publicized," Raleigh didn't make any reaction aside from blinking, as if he's unaffected by my words. He patiently waited for me to elaborate on the idea.

“She’s supposed to be a fitting empress, but Marrossi has its rules.” I added.

The duke narrowed his eyes, trying to see through me. It’s not hard to tell from his eyes the unsaid question, ‘So what does that have to do with me?’

“May I know where you’re getting at, Your Highness? I find it strange that we’re talking about someone who isn’t present.”

“She’s likely to be the last Alexandrite Izavene alive. The existence of Alexandrite Izavenes ends without her. The thing is, there's a secret organization underwater that aims to end the existence of all Izavenes, and they can accomplish that once they get the lacking Izavene gem – Alexandrite. That puts not just Thyra in danger, but all of us. Currently, their organization doesn’t know about Thyra, but we can’t let them find her.”

Augustus Cal Chafelon, the king of the Aquamarine Izavenes, stated that if the Alexandrite gem were placed on the crown, it would result in the extinction of the entire Izavene race.

If this were to occur, it raises the question of whether the grand duke would be the sole survivor, being the only human among the empire's leaders.

But what if there are also twisted truth in Augustus’ words?

“I only read that in a book before, but I didn’t know it’s legitimate. ‘Putting together all the Izavene gems on that special crown will cause destruction.’ You’re referring to the Ezrania crown, aren’t you? The greedy king of Marrossi from centuries ago owned it, correct? The origins of the Izavene race trace back to a peculiar event where a meteorite struck a lake. Strangely, the meteorite's remnants vanished, leaving behind various types of jewels that transformed the once ordinary lake into a mystical, glowing body of water with vibrant colors,”

A chill ran down my spine upon hearing the extent of his knowledge. I had believed this information to be highly confidential, known only to a select few, not even me. How could he possess such detailed knowledge on the matter?

“You seem to be stunned about what I’m saying. Don’t tell me you don’t know a thing about it? All these years, I thought it was a story book meant to be read for kids. You’re the one who confirmed that the book I read is real.”

The duke's blank expression made it challenging to gauge his impression of my lack of knowledge. However, it was clear that he possessed a greater understanding of the subject than I did. I felt a strong curiosity to uncover the additional information that I was missing.

He let out a bored sigh. “It’s ridiculous to think that a race will exist because of a greedy bastard’s desire to live forever. The king believed that the gems formed beneath the lake would give him eternal life, so he made up lies and organized a prestigious event for the participant’s glory. He promised rewards such as getting noble titles, or give the person anything they’ll ask for except something that will affect his position as the king. In truth, he didn’t want to do the dirty work of getting the gems himself, because during that time, nobody knows what will happen if they dive into that mystical lake. But then, those who went into the lake became Izavenes as they got out, and they were the reason behind the king’s downfall – for they do not know how to use the powers within them.”

As he took a sip of his tea, he gave me a piercing gaze, leaving me anticipating his judgment. I couldn't help but wonder if he saw me as ignorant for my lack of knowledge. However, despite my limited understanding, I felt that I had gathered enough information to grasp the essence of the situation.

It dawned on me that my initial intention for meeting him was not solely to inquire about the history of my race. Nevertheless, I found the story captivating and realized that learning about it was an intriguing endeavor in itself.

“Anyway, I doubt that you came here to hear stories. I don’t care if that book I read is true or not, it doesn’t change the fact that I have grievances against your race.”

His audacity in admitting his grievance towards my race is remarkable.

“What exactly are you expecting me to do? Unlike you and other leaders of the empire, I’m human, and you Izavenes are more capable of looking after the princess. I didn’t know her for long, but she is an independent person who has a stronger personality than most women. She did mention that she’ll be back in Eurhyia to help her brother. What would make her vulnerable? She'll be in the safest place because that's her home. It’s better than staying in a foreign land where she has no idea who her enemies are.”

While the grand duke's perspective may hold some validity, it does not necessarily mean that he is entirely correct. I find myself at a loss for words when it comes to demanding his assistance in looking after Thyra. The truth is, I am hesitant to have him near her. It feels inconceivable to ask for his help, and yet, I cannot think of any other viable option. The loyalty of the other Ruivenfiere dukes towards me remains uncertain, as Thyra mentioned that some are supporting Hervouet. It’s hard to take risks when she is at stake.

This situation makes me understand why the empress is holding back from crowning me as emperor. I’m not ready for it. It’s hard for me to make decisions because I’m basing everything on my belief system instead of choosing the most logical solution – and if I rise at the emperor, I’ll only become the dowager empress’ marionette because I can’t stand on my own, and that will bring me to shame.

Can Thyra forgive me if she finds out about this? Maybe one day she’ll understand, and I can only hope for it. Damn it, how can I be so pathetic?

“I'll … I'll be needing your help. I want to be sure that she'll be safe at all costs. She may be doing fine now in Eurhyia, but not when she’s out of the palace. Being in a non-Izavene land will make her safe from Izavenes that might be after her, but things will be at risk once she leaves her land and returns to the empire. She’s showing Hervouet that she's on his side, so she may go back here from time to time. Probably even without me knowing.” I clenched my fists, gritted my teeth, and swallowed my pride, hesitant to request a favor that he might perceive as absurd.

I no longer care if it’s ridiculous in his perspective. I’m still the crown prince, and he has no right but to follow whatever I order. Looking after one person isn’t too much to ask, isn’t it?

I looked away to avoid his eyes, and I can feel my jaw tightening. “I want you to take care of her. To ensure her safety, for I can’t do that myself since I have other responsibilities as a prince. But … don’t let her know that I’m the one who ordered it.”

“I’ll do as you wish. However,” his response stole my attention back, and I know he paused because he wants me to look at him before continuing which is ethically proper.

"Have you considered how she would react if she were to discover your orders? Even if I promise to keep your secret, there are no secrets that remain hidden forever. It appears to me that she would not appreciate being monitored in secret. She once mentioned that she had someone killed when she discovered they were spying on her. She is perceptive and sensitive to such matters. On second thought, if she were constantly accompanied, it would draw attention and people might assume she is of noble or royal status. It might be best if she is informed about these arrangements beforehand."

This time, he’s completely right. The spy I sent back then, Estelle, never returned and it can only mean that Thyra had her killed. I can’t make the same tactic twice for it will not work for her.

She’s more powerful than she was ever since I shared my power with her. Is that enough conclusion that she’ll be safe by herself at all times?

"In that case, you can invite her to your duchy to discuss these matters. As long as my name won't be involved, it'll be fine." My chest tightened upon saying those words, but I kept my composure though my insides felt like it was going to explode.

The duke let out a sigh, relieved that our conversation had the loose ends tied up.

“Very well, I’ll do as you say. It would be better if you’ll have all the credit instead of me. I don’t know why you’re avoiding your name to be involved, but I suppose that’s not for me to know. Is there anything else I can do for you?" his monotone voice still hinted some disinterest, but even though he's acting like this now I'm aware that people can change at the last minute.

"That is all," I concluded, and he flipped his cape as he stood up. He faced me for the last time to bow before stepping out of the room without any more words.