At the Stellaris Academy
In an office deep within the academy, a woman with golden hair and red eyes wrote with such elegance that she could have been mistaken for a work of art. She was dressed in a magnificent black dress that highlighted her exquisitely pale face.
Suddenly, someone entered the woman's office.
"Princess Alice... Excuse me, President of the Student Council," said a woman who entered the office in a very professional manner.
She was the royal family's personal secretary.
"Yes, what can I do for you?" Alice replied.
The first princess of the human kingdom
"Your father, King Arthur, has called for a family meeting, and since the entire royal family is scattered between the academy and the royal mansion, the meeting will take place via magic mirror," said the secretary.
"Okay, I'll be there," Alice replied coldly.
"Why are you still here? You can leave now," said Alice neutrally.
"Don't miss it, princess. His Majesty won't be happy to hear that," said the secretary, bowing and then leaving.
Alice sighed and looked around her magnificent office. An observer from another world would have described this room as a Victorian-style nobleman's office, with dark wood paneling, velvet armchairs, and copper clocks.
'This is the year Kaen, Solvane, and Azriel are being admitted. That must be why Father is calling me and Seraphina. I've been so busy that I haven't even bothered to spend time with my sister.'
Seraphina POV
Far from the student office, a student with hair as white as snow and pale skin, but with something ethereal about her, she was like a fairy. Her violet eyes reflected something mysterious, something absolute, but in the end she was just a princess, a student.
Seraphina watched a video displayed on a crystal in her room. She toured the academy in a few hours. It was a video of Kaen fighting with a fork and knife. He was given the name "butcher" because of this.
'He finally got back on his feet,' she thought as she stared at the ceiling.
'I still remember what happened that night... The night when the Celestains, at the height of their glory, saw their future destroyed in a single night, the night when Kaen changed and withdrew into himself, when Solvane hated herself because she hadn't even been able to save her own brother from himself after their parents' death.'
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door and entered.
The room was unlike any other; it was incomparable to the others. It was luxurious, resembling a penthouse worth millions. Was it because she was a princess? No, it was because she was at the top of the second-year rankings.
"Princess Seraphina, you are expected for an audience with your sister before the king," said the same secretary who had come to meet Princess Alice earlier.
"Okay, I'll be right there," replied Seraphina, getting up from the table where she was sitting.
In a palace far from the academy, a man of striking beauty sat on his throne. The palace was, as one might imagine, a large red carpet that ran from the door to the throne. The throne was raised and separated by steps. Diamond chandeliers adorned the gilded ceiling.
The king slowly opened his eyes, revealing his golden eyes, golden hair, pale skin, and white clothes. He was the king of the kingdom of Aetheris.
"Is everything ready?" asked the king, without even glancing at the servants.
"Yes, my king, everything is ready," they all said, kneeling before the king and looking respectfully at the floor before their sovereign.
"Good. Where is Lucien?" ordered Arthur.
"He's coming," replied the king's butler.
The door swung open wide, light flooded into the corridors, and a man appeared.
His platinum hair caught every glint of light, while his gray eyes, like quartz, reflected the light, unlike his hair.
"You called me father," asked the young man, bowing. Although he did not bow his head before the king, it was not a sign of disrespect, as the entire royal family and the most noble families were allowed to do so.
"Everyone leave, except Lucien," ordered the king, allowing no one to refuse.
Everyone bowed and left.
"Father, why did you call me?" asked the prince, tilting his head.
"A family meeting. After all, tomorrow you are also leaving for that academy," said the king without changing his expression or tone of voice.
A large mirror appeared in the air and positioned itself just behind Lucien. The two princesses could be seen in it.
"We salute His Majesty the King," said the two princesses simultaneously.
Lucien stood up, turned around for two seconds to bow to his older sisters, then returned to stand before his father, bowing.
"Stand up," ordered the king calmly, but his voice seemed to echo like thunder throughout the room.
Lucien was the first to rise, with disconcerting speed and respect. Only he could be so polite and impolite at the same time.
His gray eyes seemed to be fixed on his sisters.
"So, my sisters, I see that academic life is treating you very well. How have you been?" he said with a smile, then continued, "I hope our friend who confuses duels with dinners hasn't caused you too much trouble."
"Lucien, keep your comments to yourself. The arrival of the Celestains and the demon king's daughter is a diplomatic nightmare. This is not a game," Alice replied, stating the facts and remaining completely neutral.
"Enough, your childishness has no place in this room," said the king.
"Alice, I heard that those two are coming again this year. Is that just a rumor?"
"No, Father, it's not a rumor," she replied, shaking her head.
"Then why have you gathered us all here, Father?" Seraphina spoke up.
"Can't I see my children all together?" said Arthur, not the king but the father.
Silence fell over the room.
"We are always happy to see you, Father, but we also know that you didn't call us here just to tell us that," replied Alice, the eldest of the three.
"That's true, my daughter, that's true," Arthur continued. "A long time ago, the Duke of Celestain and I had a conversation about a marriage alliance. At the time, I didn't know exactly what it was, so I didn't give a definite yes or no answer. So, if you want to marry him, Alice or Seraphina, I won't mind; please take your time to think about it."
"This meeting is adjourned for today. Don't forget, my dear daughters, what families we come from."
"We are the Morningstars."
"Understood, Father," replied the three children as the connection with the mirror faded.
"Lucien, I'm telling you this in confidence, but keep an eye on Azriel and Kaen: they could both become too dangerous," he ordered.
Lucien sighed and agreed, "Understood, Father," and left through the door.
A kind of shadow emerged from the king's throne. "Tell me why you let them scheme behind your back like that," said the shadow.
"Well, why not? Plotting is thinking intelligently. It helps them grow up faster. Everyone has their secrets, let them keep them to their graves, as long as it doesn't affect the security of the kingdom," replied the king enigmatically as the shadow withdrew.