The two boys slid into the hall as Tyrion glared at them with a stern expression.
"Sir Castro, Damien, Liam," The King sighed.
"It's a pleasure to see you ' Your Highness', Damien faced Tyrion.
"-And my precious son, Liam,"He angled his head towards his son, " I see you've been keeping up to your etiquette practice!" His father grinned, "Your tutor is quite impressed".
"Well-, well i really only wish to live up to your expectations," Liam seemed flustered as he fiddled with his index finger.
Damien snickered with his hand covering his mouth before Emperor Tyrion requested Liam to be escorted out of the room, as the two needed to discuss a 'private' conversation.
"Damien please, come closer." The emperor suggested
He never intended to stay so long with the king, however nothing ever went according to plan.
"You've been accepted into our family since the day we found you, clearly leaving for you to be seen as one of my own", Tyrion continued. "You have been informed of the upcoming action, yes?"
"Do keep Lou safe. I entrust her to you for the next few crusades." The king stated
Damien interrupted, "And Liam, 'Your royal Highness'?"
"Yes, my son too", " As well as, I entrust the power to take command after my demise."
"Take command?" Damien whispered to himself, "After your demise?"
What was he even saying?, the knight thought to himself. Damien understood the depth of the war yet he never portrayed the Emperor ever dying. The royal family was all he ever had.
As a child, Damien never experienced family. His mother and father died young, leaving the boy to scavenge on his own.
It was such fate that led the princess to him at such a young age.
The knight was only nine, when the lady Louise Ettienie came across the boy. His parents disappeared around his age of 5 as their names unknown leaving him their last name, Castro.
His past was painfully blurred, and tended to block them out.
Lou came across him young. It was a day of great remark towards the imperial armies. They had returned after an incredibly long period.
Damien however was nothing to these rankings, with his tattered blouse and beaten shoes.
At a certain young age, one should be attired to a family of any title deterring one's status for future relevance. The knight was an exception.
The Noble Princess Louise Ettienne simply came across him during his scavenges across the central village.
Letting on a brave face was best for now, hurtful memories like these, were perhaps not key for him to remember.
"Yes. Even after my demise." Tyrion stated, "As a king, an Emperor in fact, taking key precautions is needed. A conflict between two imperial Empires with numerous armies, deploys certain 'unwanted attention' between the two."
"I understand 'your highness' " The knight bowed once more.
Perhaps the emperor would have said more. But something out of Damiens eyeline caught the emperor's eyes.
"That is all for now. Whereas, this will not be the last of our splendid discussions. I will expect much from you Sir Damien Castro."
The next few days were simple. Duelling with Caspian (a Senior Knight who took a liking towards the Princess) , or meeting with Liam for casual study sessions. Liam in fact spent the majority of the time, dazed in the castle library. The poor heir was rarely taken outside ever since the war. However, that was probably for the best considering the rising action at the certain time.