Ancient Empire Calendar, Year 1836
Preparations for the final wedding before the Kislavein Dynasty moved to the Central Lands were complete.
In the city of Kislathor, Ricardo would marry off his daughters Demether and Selia.
Demether would marry Mathew Marclavein, son of Marco Kislavein.
Selia would marry Njassar Rappa Ashterah, the Heir to the Ashterah Dynasty, to solidify the Ashterah Dynasty's legitimacy in the Eastern Lands.
Ricardo gazed at his city from the window of the room where he had spent so many years.
The years he had spent in this city and this palace flashed before his eyes. He tried to comprehend how the years had passed so quickly.
As Ricardo drowned in his deep thoughts, three knocks on the door snapped his attention away.
"Dynasty Lord, the preparations are complete. Everyone is waiting for you."
Ricardo moved away from the window. As he walked towards the door, he saw himself in the mirror. He had aged.
"How old am I now? I remember now, I am 41. When Richard turns 18, perhaps I should abdicate the throne and retire?"
As Ricardo drifted back into his thoughts, a voice from the door called out again.
"Dynasty Lord, are you available? Everyone is waiting for you."
Returning to reality once more, Ricardo called out to his steward waiting at the door.
"I'm coming, Steward. You may go."
"As you command, Dynasty Lord."
When the steward left, Ricardo was alone once more. He took a deep breath.
"Well then, let's go."
Ricardo ordered his guards to open the door.
"Open it."
The two Blood Falcons standing by the door opened it. When Ricardo exited the room, they bowed their heads in salute.
"Let's go."
At Ricardo's command, the guards waiting outside fell in behind him.
As Ricardo walked through the palace corridors, he kept reminiscing about the past.
"Now it's the next generation's turn to marry. Next year, I will see my first grandchildren. This is truly a strange feeling. I wonder if my father thought the same when he saw his first grandchildren."
As Ricardo was about to leave the palace, he encountered his daughters in their wedding gowns and their future husbands. The four of them knelt slightly and bowed in greeting.
Ricardo acknowledged their greetings.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"We are ready," the young ones replied.
"Good. Make your final preparations and rest a little. I will be waiting for you in the square."
After this conversation, Ricardo left the palace, mounted his horse, and rode towards the square.
After some time, Ricardo and his accompanying soldiers arrived at the square where the wedding would be held.
Ricardo moved to the point where he would officiate the young couple's vows.
"There's still time before they arrive. I'll sit for a while," he thought.
Ricardo sat on the magnificent little throne prepared for him and waited for the young ones to arrive.
About half an hour later, the wedding carriages arrived at the square.
When Ricardo saw the carriages, he stood up, walked slowly to the place where he would officiate the vows, and took his position.
When the carriages stopped, the two grooms descended first, then, with their help, the two brides. They walked with slow steps towards Ricardo.
Mathew and Demether, Rappa and Selia stood side by side before the Kislavein Dynasty Lord.
Ricardo looked at his daughters and sons-in-law for a brief moment.
"Just yesterday, I was in their place. I had my sisters, I had my brothers-in-law. Now I have my children. Time has passed so quickly, and my life is almost complete."
Ricardo decided to stop thinking so grimly.
"Today is these children's happiest day. I must not spoil it."
"MY PEOPLE, TODAY WE HAVE GATHERED TO WITNESS THE WEDDING OF MY CHILDREN!"
After addressing his people, Ricardo raised his arms to the sky and prayed.
"SPIRITS OF MY ANCESTORS, TODAY IS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. GRANT THEM LONG LIFE, HEALTHY CHILDREN, AND A HAPPY LIFE!"
When the prayer ended, he looked at his daughters and sons-in-law.
"Do you accept each other as husband and wife until death do you part?"
The brides and grooms answered simultaneously.
"YES."
Ricardo smiled.
"THEN I, KRAEL II KISLAVEIN, THE 66TH DYNASTY LORD OF THE KISLAVEIN DYNASTY, PRONOUNCE YOU HUSBANDS AND WIVES!"
The people of Kislathor applauded, cheered, and as after every wedding, the celebrations began.
For a long time, Ricardo had not participated in the dances and celebrations. After all, he was getting older. Instead, he chatted with his old friends and comrades.
"Our children are getting married, we are having grandchildren... our time is passing."
"You are right, Dynasty Lord. But this is the natural flow of time. We took the place of our parents, and they took the place of our grandparents. It's a natural cycle."
Ricardo took a sip of his drink.
"You're right, Heinricht. But still, getting older and approaching death always feels strange."
"Why have you started thinking like that? Anyone would think you've reached sixty. You're only forty-one. You're still young. It's only been sixteen years since you ascended the throne. You'll go another thirty years."
Ricardo laughed.
"Haha, Benjen. Without you, there's no one to make us laugh."
"There are now, Dynasty Lord. The Dwarves are funnier."
"Get out of here, Arael. I'll always be funnier!"
Those sitting at the table burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Alright, alright, you'll always be the funniest of us, Benjen, haha!"
Setting aside the jokes, Ricardo turned to Heinricht regarding a serious matter.
"Heinricht."
"Command me, Dynasty Lord."
"Since Marco is gone, I need a new Chief Advisor. After me and Marco, you are the most intelligent. What do you say? Will you be my Chief Advisor?"
Heinricht felt a deep sense of pride in the depths of his heart.
"I WOULD BE HONORED, DYNASTY LORD!"
"Good. From today onward, Heinricht, Dynasty Lord of Fraus, is my Chief Advisor. Now, I will give you your first task, Heinricht."
"Command me, Dynasty Lord."
"After the First Great Kislavein-Ashbrum War 500 years ago, the Turvig and Arfas Dynasties pressured us into signing a treaty. They wanted to prevent us from growing too strong and also to prepare for the possibility of a similar invasion happening to them in the future. Do you know of it?"
"Yes, I know, Dynasty Lord. The Ancient Dynasties Accord. That treaty limits the amount of money and territory that can be taken after a war."
"Exactly. Now that we are the only remaining Ancient Dynasty, there is no point in keeping that treaty in effect, is there? Your first task is to abolish this treaty."
"As you command, Dynasty Lord. I will see to this matter tomorrow morning and finish it before the day's end."
"Good."
As Ricardo and his friends continued their conversation, the hours flowed by like water. The brides and grooms had left the square to retire to their rooms.
"Well, since the brides and grooms have gone, let the celebrations continue!" said Benjen.
And just as Benjen said, the celebrations continued throughout the night.
The next day, everyone woke up late, feeling the effects of celebrating until the early hours.
Ricardo lay in his bed, naked. Beside him was his wife Marilin, also naked. When the wedding festivities ended, they had retired to their room and continued their own celebrations.
"Are you awake?" Marilin asked, tired and sleepy.
"Yes, I'm awake," Ricardo replied.
Ricardo lay down behind Marilin and embraced her, feeling her bare, soft skin.
"No matter how old we get, I never tire of this."
Marilin smiled, agreeing with Ricardo's thought.
"Neither do I."
Ricardo ran his hand over Marilin's soft skin.
"You gave birth to twins recently, yet you look as if you've never given birth. Do you have a secret?"
"Hmm... it's something innate, I suppose."
It wasn't a lie. He and Marilin were the most perfect examples of genetic crossbreeding that had been done in secret for centuries.
Ricardo kissed Marilin passionately on the lips for a long while. Then he sat up in bed and began to dress.
"I suppose it's time to get up. The time I like least."
"Indeed."
Marilin lay on her back, looking at the ceiling.
"I don't want to leave. I love this place."
"I love it too. But now we are going to rule the Five Lands. So we have to move to a place that is the exact center of the Five Lands."
"I know, my love. But I will miss the years we spent here."
After a moment of silence in the room, Marilin decided to change the subject.
"When will Rappa ascend the throne?"
Ricardo replied.
"Soon. The Ashterah Dynasty Lord is waiting for the right time to abdicate the throne to Rappa. Probably sometime after we move our capital, he will abdicate."
When Ricardo finished preparing, he headed for the door to leave the room.
"You get ready too, Marilin. I'll be in the Throne Hall."
"Alright, I'll come."
Ricardo left the room and walked towards the Throne Hall. After a while, he arrived. The Blood Falcons at the door announced Ricardo's arrival.
"KRAEL II KISLAVEIN, DYNASTY LORD OF THE KISLAVEIN DYNASTY, HAS ARRIVED!"
The doors opened, and Ricardo entered the hall. He walked a short distance, climbed the steps before his throne one by one, and sat down. He straightened his back and prepared for a new day.
Towards evening, many people came and went from the Throne Hall. The last to come was Heinricht.
"I greet the Dynasty Lord."
"Have you completed the task I gave you, Heinricht?"
"Yes, Dynasty Lord. As of today, this 500-year-old treaty is abolished."
"Finally."