THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

Princess Elyssira sat quietly as her maids helped her dress for the Duke's trial, their movements practiced and efficient despite years of unused skills. The ornate silver mask that had once been a necessity to hide her pain-clouded features was now positioned with care, concealing her sightless eyes while adding to the mysterious aura that had always marked her presence.

Freedom, she thought with quiet satisfaction. For the first time in years, I can leave these chambers without agony overwhelming my senses.

The elixir David had given her didn't cure her prophetic abilities or restore her sight, it simply suppressed the overwhelming flood of visions that had trapped her in isolation. Where once every stimulus had triggered cascading prophecies that threatened to tear her mind apart, now she could control the flow, choosing when to peer into the streams of possibility.

Her confidence had never wavered, even during the worst years of confinement. But now that confidence could finally be expressed beyond the walls of her sanctuary.

The chamber doors burst open without announcement, causing her maids to scatter like startled birds. Prince Apolloes Solaria strode in with the casual arrogance that marked all his interactions, his tall frame cutting an imposing figure against the ornate doorway.

He was the very image of imperial nobility, pale skin that spoke of generations of royal bloodline, golden blond hair styled in loose waves that framed his face with calculated precision. His sharp eyes, half-lidded and cold as winter steel, radiated the confidence of someone who saw the world as existing solely for his benefit. Every line of his expression was aloof, almost disdainful, yet carried a dangerous allure that had charmed many into forgetting his calculating nature.

His attire proclaimed his status with shameless excess, a lavish royal ensemble that blended black, white, and crimson in patterns that seemed to shift and flow like living things. Intricate gold embroidery covered the fabric in swirling designs that resembled arcane sigils, each thread placed with meticulous care to project both wealth and mystique.

The crimson interior lining of his cloak caught the light like fresh blood, a subtle hint at the violence that often lurked beneath courtly manners.

His chest was partly exposed, adorned with gold chains and ruby jewelry that suggested both arrogance and a divine splendor he felt entitled to claim. Crimson gem earrings and a matching pendant gleamed like drops of blood against his pale skin, reinforcing an aura that balanced obsession with calculated danger.

When he spoke, his voice carried the honeyed poison of a born politician. "Cousin," he said, dismissing the remaining servants with a gesture that brooked no argument. "I confess myself surprised. After years of confinement, you're suddenly well enough to attend imperial proceedings?"

His eyes studied her carefully, noting her improved posture, her steady breathing, the absence of the trembling that had marked her previous condition. This was not the frail, dying girl he'd grown accustomed to dismissing as politically irrelevant.

"I am much better, cousin," Elyssira replied with practiced politeness. "Recent events have... stabilized my condition."

Apolloes's political mind immediately began calculating possibilities. "Interesting. You know, with your... unique gifts... you could be quite valuable to the right alliance. My faction could use someone with your abilities."

The offer hung in the air like a predator's invitation. But Princess Elyssira had not survived years of court intrigue by being naive about family members' motivations.

"I serve the crown, not factions, Apolloes," she replied with polite but absolute finality.

****

Prince Apolloes escorted Princess Elyssira through the palace corridors, their relationship maintaining the strained courtesy that marked most imperial family interactions. His mind continued working on ways to bring her into his sphere of influence, prophetic abilities were too valuable to waste on crown loyalty.

As they approached the Sun Doors, they encountered Prince Sunis Aurealis Solaria, and the contrast between the two royal cousins was immediately striking. Where Apolloes cultivated flamboyant menace, Prince Sunis commanded attention through pure presence alone.

The previous emperor's son stood tall with pale skin that matched his royal bloodline, but his sharp blue-gray eyes held depths that spoke of battles fought in silence rather than court intrigue. His platinum-blond hair was carefully styled, swept back with refined elegance that emphasized the aristocratic angles of his face. His expression remained stoic and unyielding, carrying the weight of command rather than the theatrical arrogance his cousin preferred.

Unlike Prince Apolloes's ornate robes, Prince Sunis wore a dark military-styled uniform decorated with ornate golden embroidery and royal insignias that proclaimed his status without ostentation. His aura was less flamboyant but far more intimidating in its silence, the quiet authority of someone who had earned respect through action rather than inherited it through accident of birth.

Without even acknowledging his presence, Apolloes walked past Prince Sunis with characteristic dismissiveness. But the military prince's reaction was telling, his blue-gray eyes tracked the snub with calculating precision, filing away another piece of evidence about his cousin's character for future reference. This was not the forgotten royal relative David's previous assumptions had suggested, but someone who observed everything while revealing nothing.

The sound of marching boots echoed through the corridors as the Sun Empress approached with her entourage. Empress Solaria appeared in full military regalia, not the flowing robes of ceremony, but the practical uniform of a war leader who had personally faced demonic threats and emerged victorious.

Her recent divine transformation had left subtle but unmistakable changes. While she had always commanded respect through sheer force of personality, now there was something deeper, an authority that existed on multiple levels simultaneously. She was still recognizably the Sun Empress who had ruled for years, but touched by divinity in ways that made even looking at her feel like staring at controlled stellar fire.

Behind her marched her most loyal guards, not ceremonial palace troops, but battle-tested soldiers who had proven their worth through service rather than birth.

Both royal cousins immediately sensed the fundamental change in their aunt. The divine authority she'd displayed against the demon had altered her presence in ways that transcended normal imperial majesty.