10 A.M on the dot.
King Julius Tudor was dead.
"Father"
"Husband!"
"Ming Julius!"
The entire please turn rowdy when the physician confirms Julius' death.
All queens higher their sons while wailing pitifully.
~Oooooooo
"Husband, why did you have to die so soon?
No!
The heavens aren't fair!
They should've taken me instead."
"That's right, husband.
You know that if there was something that I could've done to save you, then I would.
But why did you have to get some strange illness now?
Who was responsible?
Who made you sick?" Winston's mother cried sorrowfully, knowing fully that her son was the culprit.
"Husband, without you, how am I supposed to spend my days in future?
You were my one true love, so why would you leave me now?"
All the wives gave magnificent performances, as the room was filled with court officials and nobles.
They cried, rolled on the ground, decided to kiss their husband's hands one last time and did their best to win many people's sympathies.
Plus, they wanted to do their best just in case Julius wasn't entirely dead yet.
What if he woke up a few minutes later?
Of course, he would favour the person who mourned more.
If after a while he didn't wake up, then they would relax.
Right now, they had been crying and peeking at him curiously.
They, more than anyone else, knew that their husband was a sneaky one.
So what if he and the physician made a deal and all of this was a ploy?
Everyone decided to mourn for him while also taking turns to see and hold him... Especially Ulrich.
He kissed his father's hands and secretly checked his pulse.
Likewise, everyone did the same.
Their father, husband and king was too tricky.
The Princes discreetly smiled after confirming his death.
If Julius saw this scene from above, he would undoubtedly beg the heavens to raise him from the dead so that he could curse them.
What a good bunch of white-eyed wolves.
But sadly, he was already dead and gone, leaving the wolves to do as they pleased
.
Ulrich stepped forward sternly and faced the crowd.
"Everyone!
We have lost a great monarch who meant the world to us.
But even so, we must stay strong and ensure that he gets buried according to the Deifer way.
I, future King Ulrich, will ensure it!"
"Thank you, your highness." Everyone said in unison.
The day had finally come for the devil Prince to oversee the empire.
This strikingly handsome man was a person that brought fear to many because of his methods.
Even those who opposed him dare not do so openly for fear of what will become of them.
Ulrich's body trembled with glee, but those who saw him thought he was shaking from depression instead since he had a very stern face.
"Take the body to the 15 building a and invite the royal Brogan to prepare the body for the Deifer ritual and burial.
Also, get 3 Sin-eaters for the ceremony as well.
My father's sins will be transferred to the food and wine through the ritual, and they will eat it, hence gaining my father's sins.
This way, my father will not wait too long on the line of souls that lead to the heavens.
Additionally, prepare a dead horse to be buried alongside him so that he may also move faster along the line.
Release the news of my father's passing.
And as tradition demands, the entire empire is to mourn for 3 whole days only since mourning for long might delay my father's journey to the heavens.
After the news is released, no stores or businesses are to run.
Anyone caught will be killed on the spot.
The only exceptions are the healers and council members that will welcome stronger warriors for the empire.
As for the rest of you, head back home and see me 3 days from now, first thing in the morning.
Now go!"
"Yes, your highness."
With that, the court officials and nobles rushed out of the place like crazy.
And why did they rush out?
It was because they knew that soon enough, a blood bath would occur in the palace, and they didn't want to get caught in between the mess.
.
They, as high-ranking nobles, had their factions with people supporting some princes behind Ulrich's back.
They more or less knew the friction that existed between these totals, so it was understandable that many wouldn't give out without a fight.
After all, these past few weeks, they had been visiting his majesty almost every day to finalize some things on the empire.
More still, they too had spies within the palace.
So it was during this time that some saw and heard how the princes, Julius' brothers and even princess Eldora tried to make Julius appoint them as heir to the throne.
They would be foolish to think that this group of people would go down without any form of resistance.
That's why they secretly thanked the heavens that they had this 3-day mourning period.
Even if some didn't support Ulrich, that doesn't mean that they wanted to join in the fight and have everything they worked hard for go down the drain.
They would only join if they were 100 percent sure that the person they chose would be victorious.
But with so many players in the game, it's hard to say whether some won't team up against others to eliminate the strongest or the weakest first.
With that, they said farewell and left in a hurry.
3 days from now, there will be a victor.
Some placed their best on Ulrich, while others leaned more on Winston, Bonivier, Winston and the dukes.
No one even took Eldora seriously.
The number of potential champions were many, with several having a ton of achievements under their belts.
In this matter, it was tough to know the direction of the wind
At the end, who will reign supreme above all?
This question, only time could adequately answer them.
So for now, they had to take cover by hiding themselves within the walls of their estates and manors without stepping one foot outside.
And within 3 days, they will get their answer.