{The continent of Alaz, the Roman Empire, the province of Light, the capital of Lutetia, the court of the Starlight family.}
{In the main manor.}
The last rays of the setting sun filtered through the oculus, a circular hole in the atrium ceiling. The majestic room, decorated with marble columns, was gradually filled with figures in white tunics. Their footsteps echoed off the walls, and their muffled voices created an atmosphere of mysterious expectation.
Adam Starlight, the governor of the Province of Light, sat on the dais, like the embodiment of power and might. His mahogany throne seemed to radiate an aura of grandeur. A snow-white tunic with scarlet inserts emphasized the ruler's status.
Adam looked like an ancient god who had descended straight from Olympus. He was tall, about two meters tall, with the physique of an athlete and a face as if carved from marble. Blond hair and a well-groomed beard framed his features, giving him a noble and wise appearance.
Adam recently turned seventy years old, but due to his status as a Holy Master (6), he looked no older than forty - in the prime of male beauty.
In a world where magic and martial arts had reached unprecedented heights, ordinary "mortals" lived from 50 to 70 years. But Adam was far from the concept of "mortal." He was on the verge of becoming a Celestial (7), and the prospect of living 200 or even 500 years was quite real to him.
Adam looked lazily from one person to the other. His posture seemed relaxed, but at the same time exuded an undeniable authority.
Only upon closer inspection could one notice the slight worry between his eyebrows and the stiffness in his movements as he nodded in response to respectful greetings.:
"I am glad to see you in good health, my king."
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Congratulations on the birth of two rising experts, Governor. The Province of Light is in safe hands."
As the last glimmer of day faded, plunging the atrium into a mysterious twilight, all the guests finally gathered. Several key figures stood out among them, whose presence gave the meeting special significance.
A blonde beauty in a white cassock, which, contrary to her intended modesty, only emphasized her expressive virtues. Eva Starlight, the first wife of the viceroy, a priestess of the church of the radiant Apollo and the betrothed holy daughter of the deity, entered the hall, accompanied by reverent glances.
She radiated grace and confidence as she took her rightful place next to her husband.
Luciel, Adam's second wife, sat next to her, as if embodying the contrast. A worthy matron and the mother of two heirs of the Starlight dynasty. She glowed with pride and restrained arrogance, trying to emphasize her importance in the future of the province.
Cardinal Allaric, a faithful follower of the religion of Light and Adam's best friend, sat quietly at a distance. A short brown-haired man with slightly sunken eyes and a long nose, he seemed to link secular and spiritual power together, recalling the close union of the state and the church in the Province of Light.
Two impressive figures stood out among the distinguished guests - Claudius and Aurelius Starlight, Adam's older brothers. The illustrious centurions stood a little apart from the rest, their powerful bodies, hardened in countless battles, radiated strength even at rest.
Once upon a time, these two fiercely fought for the throne, but lost to their younger brother in the intricacies of political intrigue. Now their gazes, fixed on Adam, expressed a strange mixture of ostentatious humility and poorly concealed ambition.
King Adam's power rested on a firm alliance with the Church of Light. In the recent struggle for the throne, it was Allaric and Eva who became his most prominent and devoted supporters, making his elevation possible.
Although the Province of Light appeared to be an oasis of peace and prosperity, dangerous currents were churning beneath its smooth surface. For a decade now, the region has been in a state of uncertainty.
After defeating the brothers, Adam Starlight took over the post of governor, but he was greatly lacking in military influence, making his position precarious. The Roman Senate has not yet officially recognized his status.
This uncertainty left a loophole for his brothers, who circled the throne like hungry wolves. They were always there, their eyes tirelessly following Adam's every move, looking for the slightest weakness, any mistake that could be the reason for a new round of the struggle for power.
Unfortunately, today they really will have a chance.
The atmosphere in the hall was electrified with anticipation. Everyone present was aware of the importance of the meeting and treated it with all seriousness.
After receiving a nod of approval from the king, Allaric rose from his seat and spoke with restraint but confidence.:
"The reason for this extraordinary meeting was two events. First of all, His Majesty Adam Starlight became a father for the fifth and sixth time in one day. Her Majesty Catherine gave birth to twins. Unfortunately, due to her condition, she will not be able to attend."
Allarik paused, allowing the audience to comprehend what he had said, then continued:
"The birth of children was accompanied by phenomena also known as peace recognition. According to legends, such manifestations testify to the extraordinary talent of infants, which is recognized by heaven. "
"Just recently, all of you could see a rainbow that covered the entire province. As messengers of Light, we can confidently state that it was nothing more than a heavenly manifestation, a sign of blessing from above!"
A wave of admiring gasps and muffled exclamations swept through the hall. The faces of those present lit up with joy and hope. It was truly a happy news that everyone had been waiting for for so long. The Province of Light finally has worthy successors!
Despite the fact that the joyful event was supposed to strengthen Adam's position, there was no joy or excitement on the viceroy's face, only frowning and concern. Meanwhile, Aurelius and Claudius were smiling casually, looking forward to the priest's next statement.
"However, as you may remember, the blessing was interrupted by an unexpected eclipse. Night has fallen on the entire province, and according to our informants, it has spread far beyond its borders, possibly enveloping the entire Roman Empire or even the entire continent."
It seemed that having come to their senses and remembering the frightening events, the faces of those present instantly lost all excitement. Deathly silence enveloped the hall.
"As everyone knows," Allarik continued, "a night at an untimely hour is considered a bad omen. Worse, she interrupted the heavenly manifestation, causing the youngest son's hair to turn dark."
This sensational news had the effect of an exploding bomb. It was as if a short circuit had occurred in the minds of everyone present. They all stared at the governor in amazement.
Outwardly, Adam seemed unperturbed, waiting for the continuation of the speech, but inside, under the burning gazes of the nobility, he was seething with rage and embarrassment. It was a bitter pill, but he had to swallow it.
Aurelius leaned over to his brother, his eyes gleaming with malice: "Ahahah, it looks like our little brother has become a cuckold after all. What kind of omen nonsense is this? He's clearly trying to protect himself," Aurelius whispered in his older brother's ear.
"Hold your tongue, Aurelius. Do not question the honor of the family! It's a blow to all of us." Claudius replied in a hushed voice.
Aurelius lowered his voice, "Do you think he will send Katerina into exile?"
"He wouldn't dare. Have you forgotten that she's practically a Celestial (7)? Adam would rather go into exile himself than risk her wrath."– Claudius shook his head.
"But what about the opinions of the masses?"
"Have you seen her? She is so beautiful that even I am ready to kiss her feet. What was our brother thinking, leaving her in the cold palace? Well, now he's eating what he sowed. I want to see how he's going to turn out this time."
Meanwhile, Allarik continued his speech.
"We are still awaiting an official statement from the capital regarding the causes and consequences of such an extensive manifestation. For its part, the Church of Light, under the guidance of the holy daughter, will request an audience with the divine messengers."
Allaric paused, as if gathering his strength before saying the next words.:
"It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you that His Majesty Adam Starlight has issued an urgent order to revoke the status of heir to his newborn son. The Province of Light cannot end up in the hands of an unlucky star."
A murmur of surprise and alarm swept through the hall. Allaric raised his hand for silence and continued:
"The newborn will still be raised in the royal palace. His awakening ceremony will take place without any changes. However, he won't be able to claim the throne."
Finally, having finished his speech, Allaric retreated, giving way to the heavy silence that hung in the hall.
At that moment, Aurelius leaned over to Claudius and asked in a hushed voice:
"Do you think this decision will greatly anger the third Majesty? Should we contact her?"
Claudius narrowed his eyes and replied:
"I don't think the time has come. Katerina is not stupid. She will understand that Adam's decision is the only right one. He can't let a bastard claim the throne. It was an extremely restrained move on his part, preserving her reputation."
"You're right," Aurelius agreed, "but don't forget that women can never be reasonable when it comes to their children."
"Perhaps," said Claudius thoughtfully, "but I still suggest we put it off. There's nothing stopping us from staying on the sidelines and seeing what happens. With this decision, Adam will not be able to completely wash away all the shame. His reputation will be tarnished one way or another."
"I admit, I am impressed by his composure," Aurelius added, "He was able to contain his rage and try to direct the rumors in the right direction. There really was an eclipse, and everyone witnessed it. This way he will minimize the damage."
Meanwhile, Eva held her husband's hand tightly, silently expressing her support. Her touch was both comforting and disturbing to Adam.
Deep down, the Governor understood how much he had neglected Katerina. He had ignored his third wife for too long for one reason or another.
Eva knew exactly these reasons, but she had no right to interfere. It was beyond her competence. Moreover, she herself played an important role in their strained relationship, subtly manipulating the situation in her favor.
However, neither she nor Adam himself had expected such a turn of events. Worst of all, they couldn't openly blame Katerina. All they could do was to expose the dark-haired boy not as a product of adultery, but rather as an unwitting victim of mysterious circumstances.
And all this was due to the fact that the third Majesty was the strongest person in the entire province of Light, practically a Celestial (7). Her power was so great that even the king himself could not openly resist her.
The meeting ended amid heated discussions. Night was falling on Lutetia, bringing with it the shadows of uncertainty and change.