Twenty years ago, Victoria had started an Empire shaking love affair with the rising star of the Imperial Guard, Fredrick Gol. It was straight out of a fairy tale, she was a successful merchant's daughter, and Fredrick her noble knight in shining armor.
But when the high society of Kalynn finally discovered their whirlwind romance, they were outraged. Frederick himself was sent to the Cerulean Wall, a fortress on the opposite side of the Empire to "build character".
For Victoria herself, she and her family were ostracized from their hard earned social standing. In order to try and regain their family's former status, her father publicly disowned her as his child. Quickly abandoning her as he tried his hardest to repair his business and noble connections.
It was then that Daniel Serpens came to her, a penniless young woman with a life changing opportunity. Marry him to gain his noble title and the entirety of their fortune and use it to pursue her true love, the beautiful and noble Fredrick Gol.
Marriages between different social classes were still a great taboo during that time, and Victoria knew that while she and Fredrick shared a passionate affair, she knew that if they failed to tie the knot. He would quickly forget her, this was her chance to truly pursue a public relationship with him, though like all deals there was a price to pay.
Thanks to the Serpens being a bearer family, a rarely respected noble branch. They could get married with no one caring. But this offer came with a price. Her price to pay was that she would have to bear him a child, no more no less. She thought he wanted to revive his already collapsing family, and seeing this as her best chance to become a noble, she did it.
Everything regarding conception was done through alchemy, something that both Daniel and Victoria agreed with and wished for. The whole operation was paid in full by the last Serpens, and to the surprise of both of them Victoria was already pregnant after the first attempt.
But that was when the dreams started and it started with this white void, she would appear here every time she fell asleep. Leaving her to traverse the emptiness until she inevitably awoke. She spoke to doctors, Daniel, and even sought out back alley mystics, to try and find out the origin of her strange dreams, but found nothing.
Then her two hundredth and seventy fourth dream happened and changed everything, during her traveling through the empty wastes. It was then for her first time here, she was filled with an endless dread. A moment after a great serpent burst forth from her stomach, roaring with life while bathed in her blood. It slithered from her, revealing its seemingly endless length, as it coiled around her it was then that she saw the nightmarish serpent's eyes and their deep crimson hue.
It was then that Victoria awoke in a panic only to find that her water broke.
…
Adder strode through the Imperial Palace, which had been transformed from the stalwart and unmoving bunker. To the splendid jewel of the Empire once more, just like it had been when Adder was young.
It was five hours before the start of the ball and Adder was trying his best to not think about it. Of course he tried to get out of even going, but even with his damaged reputation the Serpent King was somehow still the man of the hour.
He had already tried to escape to some dark corner of Kalynn until it was time for the campaign but somehow the entire palace was made to keep him here. Doors blocked off, guards around every corner, even the servants seemed to keep a keen eye on him.
The training fields? Under construction. The Imperial Chambers? All of them taken for important civic matters. His own room was unavailable, due to "mandatory deep cleaning". Like it or not he had nowhere to run, along with having no place to hide.
Adder certainly could have gotten past all of that with Judgement. But even with her arriving at any moment, Adder was not confident in using his judgment, especially with his current mental state. He shivered at the thought of him losing himself right here in the palace, he did not need Judgement to know what his fate would be.
Adder straightened his new dress clothes, a gift from the Imperial Palace itself. A deep black overcoat and pants embroidered with the imagery of Serpents out of gold and silver thread. The inner shirt was plum purple and adorned similar serpent imagery.It matched perfectly with Adder's glasses and jewelry, and in all honesty Adder was going to ask if he could keep the ensemble.
A hand on his shoulder snapped Adder out of his mental spiraling, the serpent turned to discover it was Reemus. Who had taken the liberty of getting Adder refreshments, showing off a large crystal bottle filled with what Adder guessed as a liquor of some kind.
"I apologize but I don't drink, especially when I am expecting a fraught reunion."
Prince Reemus laughed as he wrapped his arm around Adder, before revealing his hand. Making sure only Adder could hear it.
"It's Cranzure Tea, enchanted to smell and look exactly like Cleardka. I haven't been able to drink it in ages, and my poor Emily can not stand it sadly. So how about it? Wish to play the role of a drunken lout with me?"
Adder smiled before laughing which Reemus happily joined, the scene made the staff that witnessed sighed at the future headache developing right in front of him.
…
Much to everyone's shock Victoria's labor was over in less than an hour, with no pain through to the beginning of the delivery. In all honesty, Victoria was happy for Danniel who held "their child" smiling for the first time in front of her.
Before he left with his child, he bowed to Victoria while thanking her. His whole hearted sincerity made itself clear, as he wished her luck with Fredrick, and for the first time she smiled at her "Husband" and wished him and his son the best.
When Fredrick returned to Kalynn he was greeted by Victoria who had received the entirety of the Serpens' family fortune. Fredrick knew some of the details of their deal, she had kept what had transpired during that one year marriage a secret. Knowing that her real first husband would be furious by the fact that she bore another man's child, even though Victoria and Daniels never shared a bed.
Four months later, Victoria and Fredrick were married. Those were the best four months of her life, planning their wedding, forcing those who scoffed at their relationship to watch it blossom. Then came the end of their honeymoon, when they returned from the island kingdom of Dál Riata.
Victoria received life changing news, Danniel Serpens had committed suicide.
…
Adder watched on with glass in hand, as the ball unfolded before him. Nobles from all around the Empire, dressed in expensive silk and acting as if there was not going to be a war tomorrow. His judgement refused to stay silent as it delivered him scattered information as he scanned his eyes across the banquet hall.
Norn Corrence, oldest son of the Hallway knight family, is in a love affair with a married woman of a higher standing, is bored and wishes to leave.
Candice Hallway, youngest daughter of the Maru ducal family, recently married, unknowingly two weeks pregnant, excited for her future.
Gordon Maru, happy to see his daughter happy, is not aware of his heart issues, Tired but hopeful.
Tanner Hallway, rising star of the Imperial Dragoons, excited by his recent promotion to custodian of his unit, hopes to do right by his young family. Fated to die, during their first charge.
Georgina Kannel, matriarch of the count Kannel family, knows of her wife's affair with the oldest son of the Corrence family, already has plans set in place for both of them.
All of this random information was burned into the Serpent King's mind, he sighed as he drank the surprisingly pleasant floral tea. Reemus who sat beside him was really laying on the drunkard act.
Slurring his speech, swaying as if he were on the stormy seas, and his face could be best described as a mix between a mad man and an oath. Said display made those who wished to speak to the Serpent King think twice, but sadly it was not full proof.
Adder bowed when he noticed prince Romulus approaching, which both princes forced him to rise, especially since he was the guest of honor. Prince Romulos was the first to speak to Adder.
"It seems you have made friends with my dear elder brother, I wish to thank you for being able to endure his more eccentric quirks… Is that Cleardka?"
Prince Reemus played the role of drunk with a well practiced ease, though due to Adder's oath he could not join in the charade. But the great disparity between the drunken first prince and the seemingly stoic Serpent King made them even more attention grabbing if both of them were "drunk".
Reemus babbled something in response to his brother, but both Romulus and Adder could not understand him. Adder took it as his cue to stand from his table and ask a question he had been dreading.
"You have a need for me, Prince?"
Romulus smiled as he nodded, gesturing to the crystal bottle whose smell could bring down a horse. Asking if the Serpent King was good enough to go, Adder chuckled at that before grabbing the large bottle of Cranzure Tea and donning the whole thing right in front of everyone who watched.
The strong smell of Cleardka filled the large ball room as Adder guzzled down the floral tea. Adder carefully placed down the crystal bottle as Reemus slurred out his complaint of the Serpent's gluttony.
"This stuff isn't enough to bring me down, so Prince where must we go?"
…
When a bearer family is brought down to low numbers, the strain increases leaps and bounds. Making the surviving members of that particular clan suffer in ways unknown to the common man.
Thanks to his family's natural decline, the serpens family in just a few generations numbered in the single digits, and when it finally got to Daniels' generation he was the last one. His existence was pitiable and lonely, and by the time he was an adult he wanted nothing more than to end it.
But he couldn't for he was the last, and if he were to die with no family to take on the burden of sealing away the Basilisk. The Venomous Calamity would once again be unleashed upon the realm, something the Empire would never allow to happen.
He needed to be free, so he needed an heir. During this great time of pain and listlessness, he discovered Victoria and for the first time in his life he thanked fate. He went to her and made a deal, a deal he would follow to the letter.
How could he ever transgress against the one who would help free him from this lonesome and cruel fate. He gave his savior everything he could, money, holdings, even property. His diligence in this act, seemingly, was repaid by the quick appearance of his heir.
Of course he hired the best apothecary, alchemist, and wet nurses he could find, even selling his family's only treasure to make sure his two saviors would be well taken care of. They were going to give him his freedom, how could he not make sure that they were safe and sound.
Then it happened, in the middle of fall his heir was born, a boy who had his hair and his mother's brown eyes. Oh it was the happiest day of Danniels' life, a fact he made clear to his first saviour Victoria. Before disappearing from her like he had promised, with his heir in his arms.
Sadly he could not instantly liberate himself from this world, no the bureaucrats needed to make sure that his son was strong enough to handle the burden by himself. This idea made Danniels furious beyond measure.
That child was his great liberator, born solely to take on his burden and allow him to finally know peace. How dare anyone look down at his miracle child, it was nothing short of total heresy. Thankfully his son's constitution was proven strong enough, and Danniels was given permission to liberate himself from corporeal life.
Before leaving it all behind, he wrote three letters, one to his child, one to the Imperial Times, his favorite newspaper, and one to Victoria, the one person who helped him be free.
…
The young Romulus escorted the dignified Serpent King to what he recognised as a trap. With an audience made up of every social class and age group. Noble to staff, old to young all had their full attention on either Adder or the woman who stood opposite of him.
Her rich black hair rivaled the night sky combined with her fair skin and noble demeanor. Gave her the air of a regal and respected Queen, her dress was a beautiful and delicate daisy yellow which matched her deep crimson fan that she used to hide the bottom half of her face.
Romulus presented the woman as a family member finally returned to his side, a present, a welcomed surprise, and not as a reunion between an abused animal and their terrible owner. Adder watched as Victoria Gol straightened her posture as she spoke her already prepared lines.
"It is you."
Curt, cold, and completely devoid of any sort of love what so ever.
'Just as I remember…'
Adder thought to himself as he chuckled and bowed to the matriarch of the Gol knight family. Before answering in a sweet but hollow tone.
"Yes, it is me!"