Acedic Autocrats

Chapter 10

Januarius 20th, 2190.

Alarms rang in the background of the imperial palace, guards patrolling the streets as I remained hidden in the underbrush. I held in my paws a newborn puppy, a tiny life that'd just entered the world several weeks prior, desperately clinging to life without the support of its Mater's milk.

The little pup's name was Princeps Azur Hyperius, named for Avo Paterno Suo, Imperator Azur I. That's correct, after forty years on the imperial throne, Imperator Salim finally managed to sire an heir and though possessing a feminine body, the little Princeps' eyes burned with the same fire as Il Mio Padre's, which solidified the fact that he wouldn't remain that way all his life.

As for why little Princeps Azur was hiding with me in the underbrush, and not in the loving arms of Matrem Suam, I'm not entirely sure how it occurred, as I was away in one of the four Regnums at the time however, it appeared that I'd no need for Fratres Meus' advice.

It turned out that Imperator Salim finally felt like he'd completely cemented his autocratic power and wished for a mate to father a son with to pass on both his beliefs and the empire to. While all Propinquis Meis took their time in this process in order to build a healthy, happy relationship with their mates, Mea Magna Nepotem used a different approach.

Instead of finding a mate and building a relationship with them slowly. he opted to simply find the most beautiful heterosexual female in the empire and force her into matrimony. This is where I reluctantly gave Parentes Meus credit, as though he was as much of an Acetic as Eorum Bis Nepotem he at least managed to have a somewhat normal relationship with Biologicum Mater Mea even if it didn't end well.

This was actually the aforementioned advice Fratres Meus gave me a decade prior, if the Imperator wasn't willing to form a relationship on his own than I'd just have to force him into one, and hope that it produced at least one son.

However, due to the fact, I was raised on werewolf beliefs of true love and romance, the thought of a forced relationship and arranged marriage felt shallow. Fratres Meus, Imperator Grimus shared the same sentiment, which was why he felt so ashamed, but we both knew we had no choice.

When little Princeps Azur was born, and began showing proficiency for manipulating fire, Imperator Salim knew he'd succeeded, and threw a magnificent feat to celebrate. However, what I thought was a day of happiness and prosperity masked a devastating truth. At entrée portion of the feast, Imperatrix Dalia Servius dropped dead after ingesting a goblet of wine.

Though the Imperator summoned his guards and ordered them to find the menace who poisoned his mate, by then I knew better. No doubt much too Acetic slug to support a mate who'd already served her purpose, Imperator Salim ordered his servants to pour a fatal dose of deadly nightshade poisoning in the Imperatrix's wine.

Not wanting Fillius Eius, Bis Nepotem Meus to become like Pater Eius, I stole him away shortly after the feast, and sent a letter to the Re Di Blight Valley, Re Solin Peronospora to request shelter. He agreed and informed the other three Basili to bring their own Filli to his castle as well, so they may also be protected.

Unfortunately, I was soon discovered and as a propaganda move Imperator Salim sounded the alarms whilst sending his knights after us, but in actuality, he didn't care about what happened to either me or Fillius Eius, at least until he grew tired of ruling.

"Dominus Kurin!" a voice called out from behind. In order to aid in the escape Mio Nipote sent his most trusted envoys to escort Princeps Azur and I to Blight Valley Castle. The portrayal of these events is actually the biggest major inaccuracy that not only the first volume, but all five Peccata Patris books possessed. I don't understand why but for some reason the author, believed that when one of the five Reges got entangled with Daimonum Maiorum, the other four followed suit.

That was most certainly not the case as just as with any team, just because on member wasn't as helpful as the others, it doesn't mean every member is going to be unhelpful or uncooperative. Everycreature has their own strengths and weaknesses so it's important to remember that one's inevitably going to be teamed up with another that's weaker at something that oneself might excel at and assist them with it.

In fact, it's for this reason that Patrini Et Titanfather Mea decided to entrust the safety of the empire to werewolves, pack animals, so that if one member of the pack "lost their way", the others could either help snap them out of it or get rid of them to protect the empire, which was something the books failed to show.

Arriving at Blight Valley Castle, I handed my cloak to the staff whilst I made my way to the throne room with little Princeps Azur. "Avunculus!" Re Solin called. "Are you alright!?" "Fear not nepotem," I responded. "I'm unharmed." "And is that little Azur," he asked." I handed Bis Nepotem Meus to Il Suo Zio who proceeded to gently rock him.

"This little one is strong," Il Re Del Fuoco commented. "You believe so?" I asked "Of course, this is my first time witnessing a pup sleep through noisy alarms, and an autocratic apocalypse." While he was no doubt attempting to be humorous in order to lighten the serious atmosphere, it was clear that he was rather impressed.

"Where're the others?" I asked, my mind returning to the matter at paw. "You mentioned that you were also safeguarding the other three princes as well?" "Yes, actually they're~." "Zio Solin," a voice called, interrupting from behind me.

The source of the voice was a pup dressed in the traditional Cairo Land clothing followed by three other young males. These outfits were quits similar to the ones Adulescentia Meus where, similar to the other Regnums, royal puppies wore a predominantly yellow and purple polos with white or silver accents until they reached adolescence, though, as well as the outfits from the other Regnums, that would change centuries later.

"What is it Paulo?" Re Solin asked. "When are our Paters coming back?" 'This must be Viduna's Filho,'I thought. "Soon," he answered. "Be patient." "See Paulo I told you, "Another pup retorted. "You don't have to rub it in Horatio." Principe Paulo responded.

Even back then Horatio was a rather popular name in the Peronospora family, first being used in 2060 with the birth Re Vittorio I E Principe Horatio. I Miei Genitori decided to name Il Loro Secondo Figlio Biologico, Horatio, after a legendary fire wolf who died protecting his family, and his pack.

"Oh hello," Prince Paulo said, turning his attention to me. "You must be Avunculus Kurin. Meu Pai's told me all about you." "Mi Padre too," another pup remarked. "My name is Pedro by the way. and this is Henri." "It's very nice to meet you." I said warmly. The four of them were the spitting images of Avos Eorums which made me nostalgic for a simpler time. "Who's that Padre?" Principe Horatio asked, pointing to Princeps Azur.

"This is your "Quartus Patruelis", Azur, the future Imperator of the Hyperion Empire." "Really?" Prince Henri asked. "Yes, and it'll be up to us to ensure he doesn't follow in his Pater's pawprints." The young princes crowded around the young pup cooing over him just as one would with any newborn. However, unlike a normal newborn, Princeps Azur had a big mission ahead of him, for he was the empire's last hope.