Chronicles of the Red Sovereign

Kai led me to a path at the side of his house. The path apparently led to the backyard of the West Courtyard, where what he wanted to show me was located. Although there was only silence between the two of us as we walked the dark path only illuminated by lighting ores, I could see the excitement on his face. Wherever he was taking me was really something he treasured and willing to share with me.

-Why would he share it though?

I used to wonder, but once I got there, I could totally understand the reason why he liked that place.

We reached the backyard minutes later. Since there were clouds in the sky, I could only rely on my eyesight that was trained to see in the dark due to the activities I used to participate in back in the Celestine Territory. Plus there were also a few lighting ores strategically placed around the area.

The backyard had a pond that took most of its space. I could see a few grown plants at the sides but the pond was definitely the biggest part of the backyard. The pond had a small pavilion that housed a marble table and four seats and beyond that was a sort of dock one could walk on to observe the pond. There was even a space where I thought one could stay if someone suddenly wanted to go fishing in the pond.

What I thought to be the most unusual thing about the pond though, was that how it had purple lotus flowers on full bloom despite the cold temperature. As Kai and I passed the pavilion and stepped on the docks, I noticed that the further we go, the colder it got.

I couldn’t help but shiver at the drop of temperature.

All of a sudden, a coat was draped on my shoulders. I saw Kai adjust it on me and smiled. I was worried he might be cold as well, but he just shook his head like he knew what I was thinking.

“I spend most of my time here, so I’m used to it.”

I nodded and we continued walking.

We reached the part of the dock with a bigger area and stayed there. I was really baffled at what Kai was trying to show me so I asked him about it.

“Wait for it.” he pointed upwards and I saw the clouds slowly part.

Kai tugged at my shoulder and then pointed to the pond. Just as the moonlight hit the flowers, it slowly released a soft purple glow. I couldn’t help but marvel at the sight. The more the sky cleared the more lotus flowers illuminated the same purple hue.

“This is… wow.”

I heard Kai chuckle beside me, but I did not take my eyes off the glowing lotus flowers in the pond.

“It’s called Moon Lotus. It’s a native in the Northern Continent so it likes cold weathers. It blooms only once a year and only for a day and a night, during the winter solstice. And if it happens that a full moon falls during a winter solstice, the blooming flower will glow with the help of moonlight.” Kai explained. “Nobody knows how it works or why it works that way but these flowers like the cold.”

“They’re beautiful.”

“They are. That’s why this place is my most favorite spot in the entire imperial residence.” he paused, as if thinking. “My mother and I were the ones who took care of it whenever we visited Praiji Empire when she was still alive. The lotus was actually a present from Archduchess Celestine during her exploration in the Northern Continent years before I was born.”

-Aunt Zaira did?

“The Moon Lotus’ flowers have two colors; purple and white. She gave the purple ones to my mother, and the white ones to another person, though I don’t know who.” he added.

“So you’re saying, whoever had the white moon lotuses, it’s probably glowing white right now?” I asked.

“Yep.”

“Are they perhaps magical?” I wondered out loud.

“Who knows? I’ve never heard of any legends about glowing lotuses.”

“Me either.”

“Still… It’s beautiful and really nice to look at.”

“True.”

We spent the next few hours talking about random things, like getting to know each other even more. Although I asked the most questions and Kai was the one who shared a lot more than I did. During that time, I got to find out about his life in Syna Kingdom, before he was taken in by the Emperor.

Grand Princess Shuri was wed to Syna Kingdom’s crown prince and gave birth to Kai a few years after their wedding. But since polygamy is a thing in Afasia, the Syna ruler had many concubines and consorts.

I had always believed that the internal struggle of a ruler’s harem, the scheming between the wives, was as dangerous as war and politics. It could be as bloody as well if not properly regulated. Kai and his mother took the worst of that internal struggle.

Even though Grand Princess Shuri was named Queen of Syna Kingdom, it was only in name. The king had no affection to her whatsoever. What did someone expect from a political marriage?

And since Queen Shuri was an outsider, the other wives had no respect to her and would even sabotage her when given the chance. Queen Shuri and her son Kai did live a hard life.

“That’s why mother likes visiting Praiji.” he said. “At least here nobody would blatantly offend us and scot free with it.”

Hearing his story, I began to regret asking him to share his life story. I was glad he was very open with it, but it just showed me that he was willing to tell me whatever I wanted to know of him and I wasn’t even the same.

“It got worse when they found out my blood could heal light injuries and recover thirty percent of the magic power that a mage lost.” he continued. “When that came into light, mother immediately contacted Uncle Ivan and asked him to take me in.”

“Why?”

“Attempts of abduction, death threats and assassination attempts became a regular thing, and I was only nine years old. Mother had to get me away from that place. Thankfully, since Syna became a vassal kingdom of Praiji since they lost the war, my father couldn’t refuse. At least publicly.”

I wanted to tell him that if he didn’t want to share he could just stop and not tell me anything, but I felt like my throat was somehow clogged up and I couldn’t utter a single word.

He continued…

“Three days before I was supposed to depart, the part of the castle where my mother and I lived was attacked. My mother died protecting me.” I could hear him sigh shakily, as if remembering a very horrible memory.

“Kai… you-“

“I want to tell you. I told myself that the more I’m open with it, the sooner I’ll be okay at the mention of it.” he smiled and I could only nod. “My imperial uncle heard of it and immediately ordered the archduchess to take me and my mother’s dead body, no matter what method she used. My bastard of a father and those who wanted me couldn’t do a thing when Archduchess Celestine openly took me and announced that she’d be taking me. I’ve been living here ever since.”

I suddenly remembered the previous assassination and abduction attempts on Kai years prior and weeks after school started.

“Kai.” I called. “Those times when you almost got killed and kidnapped, did your father have something to do with it?”

“Maybe.”