The crown glistened as the priestess held it high above.

He could name all the little gemstones encrusted in the first band, the name of the seven kingdoms inside Nevermoore that were meant to symbolize the tips.

"Centuries ago, our kingdom was founded on the noble ideas of prosperity, resourcefulness, and home for all those who seek to find a place for themselves"

Raeb had chosen the outfit himself, a deep royal blue linen three-piece suit, blazer, vest, and pants, tailored to perfection. Underneath he wore a cotton shirt white as marble, and an unconventional bow tie with a ruby brooch. To top it all off he wore a ceremonial hooded cape, a vibrant royal blue color with edges white and insides red, the capelet decorated with raven-black feathers as all orphaned kings did.

He felt a bottomless amount of pain in his chest, anger, sadness, ambition, desire, it all had molted into a single want, a simple need for control. He willed on himself a gaze of dignity. A gaze so practiced, so crafted to the inch of masking each and every part of his emotions.

"... today a child of the crown is to become from heir to regent, upholding those same principles in the name of our founders and the good of the people of our realm."

Breathe in, breathe out. Instead of anxiety, he flashed back to the day he sang in the Royal college, how he felt after a standing ovation and he smirked. He was a great actor, he had to be to survive all those years.

He had gotten angrier, He had become smarter, he held his emotions in a bag to which he would only take a small powdered amount to inspire himself to achieve anything, and it paid off.

Once upon a time, he was a young child in love, with wondrous amounts of magical potential pouring uncontrollably. Today he had backstabbed, fought, gaslighted, and masked everyone to have a hand to claim the throne of his step-father.

"Do you Raeburn Ellyonwhy Venras Nekhros"

The words made him come back to his senses.

"Swear to uphold the name of the House of Venras..."

He thought of his mother, He saw glimpses of her in the kindly priestess of the order of the seven who stood in front of her, her hair gray with few dark streaks and worn face.

"... the house of Greymor..."

He thought of his step-father, his blood boiled silently.

"... and swear to uphold the fate and prosperity of the realm."

He thought of how far he had come, all for the magic, all for the power, all for that pretty little crown, whose gemstones shined as the light glimmered in their surface. Azurite, rubies, sapphires, red zircon... he could name them all.

"To guide our realm and its inhabitants into a brighter future."

He thought of his home back in Halcyon, the sweet Mediterranean air, the day his true father left, the salty water of the ocean, the salty tears he dropped as he was helpless to prevent his destiny. While the pristine blue waves carried his ship off into the distance, to the point the sky met the sea and further beyond.

"And protect the land, from the clutches of any enemy, present, and future"

He thought of his friends, of a vampire, a witch, and the ice empress, a top of the highest city in the world. Of the days he met them, and the days long gone, when he was gullible and young, now there was no sign of that child anymore, not even in his reflection.

He was not going to risk it; he had come too far to fail.

"I do."

He spoke, in a serious monotonous voice, soft-spoken, clear uttered.

"I swear it in the name of my land and my people."

"Then it is with great honor..." the priestess bellowed, as she moved the crown forward, Raeb kneeled to the ground, his face downwards, right fist to his heart, as all previous kings had done before him.

Once upon a time Raeb would've wished to hear those words when he would've felt ready, once he had finished the master-spell, but there was no more time in his hands.

"And upmost respect..."

The crown's weight sat on his head.

Once he would've closed his eyes, he would have waited for this, but there was no one by his side, and his sense of wonder had been lost for quite a time, no love, not since...

"That I present to you"

Raeb took on a straightened posture, as he began to stand up, along all the noble houses and courtiers in his father's kingdom, and the maidens of her mother's domain. He knew now he had a responsibility with all the kingdom's denizens.

"King Raeburn Venras Ellyonwhy Nekhros, first of his line"

Raeb carried himself to make a step forward, as he had practice tirelessly earlier that day.

"¡Long may he reign!"

The priestess Phyrra shouted, as if thunder itself had given his strength to her voice.

Probably she was aided by another caster in the crowd, but right now Raeb did not feel like fighting, and if there was an attempt to end him... well... Hansel and his bellicose sister would not be so quiet since the event began.

"¡LONG MAY HE REIGN!"

The royal houses of Nevermoore shouted alas, echoing in strenuous cacophony against the cameras of the hall of thrones.

The crowd smiled and clapped as Raeb made a small smile of satisfaction and contempt.

On the front row, his sister smiled joyously. Her hair black as night, lips red like strawberries and her skin, fair and white like snow, glimmered with smaller freckles on her nose and cheeks. Her dress had a short puffy chiffon skirt, as well as her silky sleeves and bodice, soft lavender colored her as a vision of a wildflower with few gold accents and a pearl diadem.

On the other side, his advisor Shajae copper skinned, dressed in auburn tones with pants that stretched way up to her lower belly. Her black silk shirt contrasted with the plaid blazer and a neckless made of pure gold triangles thrust on her throat, dazzling red gems like the ones on her bangles. She clapped, standing and smiling as the rest of the kingdom.

All around there were attires worth more than a small house fully furnished for an average citizen of Babylon. All the royals clapped, some more than others, this was it... his happy ending about to begin.

Raeb was pronounced king, yes. But that day the real struggle had to begin to keep the kingdom, its denizens, the courts, the nobles, and the coming winter in check. Things had to be run smoother, the plan was set to succeed under the right conditions.

The first item on his mental list being of course that no one investigated deeper in his assassination of his own parents.

The second would be that no one dared to research on his blueprints, permissions, and secret documents for the project he was keeping hidden in the depths of the royal archives.

The third was that no one dared to ask him permission to access the door below the catacombs of the palace, only to find his hidden lair and the magic mirror that once had belonged to his mother.

And the last condition, if no one spilled not even a whisper about the Raven court the project would be all in the right tracks.

::::

Bianca stared at her glass

"We'll the tyrant-bro is going to be the new leader" Javi spoke.

Javier Axan Mezquites (as his friends would tell) was a royal bastard in the way that he was a bit of a pushover and a jock to most of the royal children in the high spheres. His Father had a prolific kingdom, his mother had a legendary legacy as diplomat for Alg'rabia, and his skills to dig up dirt on anyone were also legendary.

He wore a grayish blue suit, over a white cotton shirt with round collar. His shoes had no ties except for a belt, they shimmered as if made of glass. On his shoulders, he had tassels with aquamarine tips, his skin was tan and his hair black and wavy, his eyes were blue as his mother's, and he had a fit build similar to a gymnast.

"I thought this day would be on another time."

Bianca muttered, unfazed by the comment.

"Maybe really, really far into the next decade, or something like that." She mustered a smile that faded into another sip of her drink.

Bianca was a very not a very sad person, in fact she was a thinker, she liked to experiment and care for the different birds and androids in the castle. She liked to indulge in reading and science, and knitting, and engines, and birds, and... she'd always find new things to discover and share them to her father, her step-mother even Raeb. Now she only had her brother, who in the little time he had for processing their loss had estranged from her and taken distance.

"I heard a rumor he was in attendance here today" Daisy said, handing her friend another lemon flavor cocktail.

Daisy was a royal bastard in the sense, that her father was actually a diplomat from the Occupation Zone, which rendered him unfitting for the royalty of Nevermoore. Her mother lady Amaya hid their affair for years, until the law was softened on her house.

Daisy was blonde, with a midget build, her hair cut to the length of her shoulders, she wore a pink mesh dress over decorated with yellow flowers and white lilies, and vines. She resembled Bianca's older cousin... though her name always escaped her memory whenever she tried to recall her, so did her face and features... it was... nothing.

"You mean the twins?" Javi slipped the question before he sipped his drink.

"Who else could it be? I heard their father wanted to make an economic proposal to the newly crowned king, so he sent them to the party"

"Wasn't lady Cipriano going to kick the bucket soon?"

They wanted her to think out of the grappling sadness.

"Could also be a marriage proposal, now that the throne needs to secure the next heirs for the throne" Daisy added.

"You're joking, Raeb has no interest in any one of them, plus last I checked Will is not interested in him either, Jacob... well he is a wild card." Bianca responded, exasperated.

It was working.

"I think the economic treaty is the main concern, considering the kingdoms will soon have to make a summit to update the status of Raeb as a King, maybe he'll import some munitions from Oz to the capital."

Concluded the princess. As she tried to look up, beyond the friends sharing gossip and rumors at the crowing ball, she realized that everything was planned far and beyond to emulate perfection for Raeb's big day.

On the dance floor she could spot royals from all around Nevermoore: Javier's dad, Daisy's mother and father sharing a piece to dance along with the other dignitaries from New Barcelona, New Gevaudan, Demark, Babylon, Zalamoor, Thalassis. Gowns and dresses lavish and overdramatic, as if her brother was ever to pick a bride.

Avant-garde pieces of decoration made of flowers, red, white, blue, black, the colors a dynasty had to bear when the child of the throne had to do so prematurely. Had a new royal taken the throne it would be a white crowning, had there been taken by force it would be red, but blue was so predominant in Raeb's crowning suit. She knew he would only be there as a regent, though this could change if she ever wanted to leave the throne.

She lost herself to the sound of music, to the visage of opulence and celebrations, she'd miss her parents another time. Remorse built up in her throat, she cleared it with a drink, chugging sweet and warm lemon flavor oblivion into her system.

"I remember I dated one of them, didn't I?"

"Javi, you have dated everyone, it is hard to keep count"

Bianca spoke endearingly, her face turning red and warm.

"I swear... I think it was Jacob, but then why would I remember him if I wrote a letter for Will back in second grade?"

"Either because you confused them or because you wanted to forget that girl from camp" Daisy nudged Javi as she sipped her pink cocktail.

"Oh yeah... Brianna, Beryl... Briar?"

"Was that her name?"

"Huh, I think I've heard it before."

Bianca responded as she and her entourage made it to the bar in the near entrance to the great hall her great-grandmother had ordered to be made when she was 16 years old.

The dance hall of the imperial palace, was a prowess of the Lisoan Era. When Queen Lisa had her own daughter, she wanted her to indulge in the matters of state from her own craft; socially organizing balls in which her daughter proved her emotional intelligence making torrid moves of social warfare, matching the sons of the duchess with loyal noblewomen. The building had to be impressive, a holographic node at the base of the chandelier displayed images of renaissance paintings of heaven, star maps, anything the royals wanted to be made and projected to match the mood of the party; Raeb had elected floating lanterns, on an open starlit sky mood, but there was so much the projector was able to cover.

Once at the bar, Javier ordered a drink to the service droid; Daisy ordered as well. Bianca had almost forgotten she was a year younger than them, she shouldn't be drinking, but then Daisy handed her a sweet orange mix, and she couldn't resist.

Then he approached.

"Excuse me"

She turned to the deep voice behind her, and there he was, golden hair and brown eyed, the heir of the Montesco fortune, he turned to her as well, face redden with embarrassment.

"My lady"

He fancied a short bow.

"Prince Wilhelm... such a fortune to see you here."

He wore a black and white suit with a golden silky vest under the blazer, rose gold buttons and a Subtle golden dress cape that fell right behind his knees, embellished with embroidered golden roses.

He stared at her, eyes locking on hers, brown that when light touched turned honey gold pierced the cold green of the princess's iris, sweet like an olive in the fields of new Verona.

"I almost thought you were far too busy back in your homeland"

Bianca smiled, tending her hand.

"I always make time for diplomacy, especially if I get to see you, my liege"

He kissed her hand, his eyes never stopped looking directly at her and her attentive smile. She turned as Jack and Daisy left her to her means with the prince, waving her good luck as they continued on a crusade to find out who would be the drunkest that night.

"Would you mind accompanying me to the gardens? I fear the air is a bit warm in these closed spaces"

She excused, fanning her hand at herself, making up an excuse so that they could be privately alone, and simply talk like real people do.

"Of course, you're the heiress of the empire, after all."

He offered her his arm, and walked down the hall to the front doors that would take them to the topiary gardens. Where she remembered a quaint little bench not so far, but not so open to the public, less so to the guests.

They walked a good far, noticing the complacent stares, of a handful of royals. Bianca had the idea that perhaps, they were just as surprised as she was the first time, she saw Wilhelm after the battle of Eylenos, he had changed. He turned from a stuck-up brat that used to pull at her hair and tumble down her toys when they were kids, to her then accomplice when puberty was beginning to kick in; Planning on spending their evenings playing video games until late, eating junk food and pulling pranks on Will's younger brother. Now he was a man, a war hero who had battled the elite hound dog of the ice queen and had survived, he was now tall and handsome, and a legend.

Bianca had no idea of the rumors of the people, but she had heard once or twice that she was pretty, but Will had heard them in full detail. They said she was as beautiful as the light of the sun, they didn't lie, she was round faced, her cheeks meaty and plum, her chest was full, as well as her hips. Her shape had full calves and curves, her hands tiny and soft, delicate, as well as her feet, and her long black hair glistened, it cascaded down with curls and waves to her lower back. Elder noblemen said no one could ever be bored when talking to her, she had amassed trivia and knowledge from all over the realms. They said she was quick-witted and kind in demeanor, you could ask her for any explanation over any topic, and she wouldn't make you feel lost or dumb around it.

"Have you enjoyed yourself at the party?"

"Well, to be honest I quite needed a pick me up" She responded

"How is your brother doing?"

"He is still himself, at the very least he'll be joining high society once he feels at ease with the new hand council"

"I can only imagine."

"And your brother..." she intended to ask as she continuously had searched for him too.

"He stayed behind, taking care of our grandma in Aurora's palazzo"

"Is she Alright?"

"She will, though I should count my blessings as well as her days"

"I'm so sorry"

"Well, she lived a good 101 years." he smiled at her, as she smiled him back.

Just as they were to get to the garden doors, out from the left, the newly crowned king appeared.

"Ah, Prince Wilhelm, just the man I was looking for, I need a word with you if you'd be so kind"

Bianca turned red as they stopped so abruptly.

"My king"

Will bowed.

Bianca made a curtsy, a bit anxious.

The princess looked at the king, his posture ever gracious, his hair trimmed to the shoulder's length, no hair out of place, no sweat on his brow or sign of tiredness, he was definitely having the time of his life, why couldn't she ever be any little bit like him?

"Brother... I"

"Don't worry, it's all just state affairs, I'll give him back in one piece, I promise"

He assured her with a smile.

It was funny, Raeb always had contorted his anguish in upmost calm, never loosing face, never longing, ever genuine, but that smile was off, something crept in the back of her ear, an itch she was so familiar with.

"Shajae, can you wait right here with the princess?"

"As you wish, your highness" the advisor spoke in a delicate voice.

Shajae looked dazzling, her beauty though not originally from the kingdom was something undeniable, she wore make-up that fitted her so well, her lashes, the lights, Bianca wondered if she could ever teach her to hide her freckles. But her true beauty were her hands, her nails were decorated in beautiful patterns, stars, flares, natural scenes even paintings could be lying underneath your eyes without noticing. Whoever made her nails must be an artist of great mastery, Bianca was the only one who knew Shajae did her own nails, with no help, no magic and tons of patience.

"Princess, how are you?"

The Muslani woman spoke with an accent almost unrecognizable.

"The party is really great"

She responded.

"I asked about you dear, how are you doing?" She asked yet again, patiently and softly, a voice genuine she had longed to listen somehow.

"I-I I Think I'm nervous you know, it's been a rough bimester, and, I-I'm not sure I'll return to classes, at least not yet."

"No wonder, I understand what you are going through, do you remember my sister?"

She did.

"I knew her a bit."

They used to be friends too.

"When she died, your brother, was there for me, and he told me that all this grief I felt, was something natural that needed to be felt as long as It should, otherwise it would fester, and then make me feel like I would be next"

She could imagine Raeb, the way things were back then, made it seem so easy, so comforting, now... he barely saw her.

"I can tell you this, your grief needs to take as much time as you need, but you too need time for yourself, if you ever need time for that, just let me know, I know a friend or two who might help you."

"Thank you miss Lahav"

Said Bianca, as she contemplated the King and the prince approach back from the entrance to the main hall where they held their disclosed conversation. Raeb seemed calm, though uneased, Will seemed reflective, thinking as if he had said something wrong, but there was hope as well, a glimmer fearful of the powers that may be the king would enact on the heir of the principality.

"Carry on, my endeared guest," Raeb spoke in a delightful tone that sent shivers down her spine "As for you dear sister, remember that the gardens have cameras, I'll be watching you two" he took a step closer and raised his hand to place back a lock of black curls that had fallen close to her ear pulling them back.

"don't do anything I wouldn't" he whispered and winked at his sister "I have to go, I'll see you around" he spoke once more, Shajae behind him fading into the opulent cadence that ensued at the crowning ball.

Bianca resumed her walking with the prince and followed onto the grand gardens of the palace, trading the illusion of an open sky filled with lanterns into the glistening mantle of the night, with all her sparkly entourage of stars.