Unexpectedly

Chapter I

Apeiron Imperium is the most powerful, inviolable and prospering empire in the entire world in terms of military advancement, economic stability, strong governance, omnipotent trade and progressive developments that rules over a hundred nations in harmony and prosperity under the reign and influence of fair-minded and wise Emperor Elliot the Elder.

It famously acquires the nickname 'empire on which darkness never exists' not because of how massive its territory but rather how dominating it is in gaining lands whether in habitant of humans, tribe, kingdom or nonexistence to voyager's map.

Because of his magnificent ruling, the heaven bestowed his empress with two consecutive line of sons along with his innumerous victory; three years after, another male offspring was bore by his consort in the season of cold winter and eventually, the assumed barren queen gave birth to the fourth prince in the smiles of blooming flowers and recuperating land of Winter.

With the strong line of descendants, one shall only inherit the power of throne and will preserve his sovereignty and legacy.

Just like how great the Emperor is on leading his people, he also became a good and reasonable father to each of his son as they bloom into their own distinction without discrimination, regardless of their origin and glorified by the nobles. He closely witnessed their growth and secretly distinguished one from another in different aspects.

He gave the name 'Alexander' to the first prince, stands for 'defending men', for he is trustworthy, prudent, articulate, strong-willed and refined man with good sense of justice.

While the second prince was named 'Xavier', sighted with few resemblances from his elder brother, is a bit childish, charming, lighthearted and high-spirited, that clearly entails his name, bright.

The third prince, however, shows an odd character that is far from his other brothers, he acquired most of their father's breath-taking, youthful appearance, tremendous strength and ability, but his beauty is ice-cold, with the eyes as the burning fire in the pit of darkness marks his ruthlessness on wielding a sword against his foes, thus, earned his name 'Azazel', regarded as the demon of war.

On a brighter side, the youngest one is the most innocent, warmest and purest of them all, so therefore, he acquired the name 'Wyclef', dweller at the white cliff.

They all seem have exquisite and ravishing appearance that truly marks their royal bloodline and great personalities, but with slight similarities in following his footsteps to be a great ruler. However, his secret sympathy goes to whom among them stood out and outshines his fellow brothers in the matter of combat and gallantry but casts aside by spectators.

As time flies by, the beloved Emperor has finally perished in a peaceful slumber leaving the Empire orphan of a ruler and thirsty of his unfathomable achievements. All of the royal princes might be young but are on the right mind to determine the light and dark, the choice over the selections and the significance of the cold throne hunger of its warmth.

The first two princes along with the youngest have inherited most of their mother's lineage and were favored by the high society due to the visible remnants of the late Emperor's aspects and potential on them and the solid connection to blue bloods. On the contrary, the third prince who clearly acquire the physical appearance of their late father, earned no support from the nobles and people of Empire as the consort was from unknown roots and vulnerable to devalue in no time.

With the full support of the house nobles, aristocrats and imperialists, the Empress Dowager successfully proclaim the first prince as the heir with no difficulty nor resistance from submissive Queen and powerless consort, furthermore, the missing testaments of his late husband.

However, the church resisted on how sacred the coronation is, and pronounced that the deceased Emperor has left an important last will and testament of who will be the next in line of his living legacy and imparted inheritance for each prince.

The words of the Holy Pope brought chaos and division to the once-united noble families in patronizing the Empress Dowager, the Queen and the mixed-up to the consort.

But one stormy, grim night, the third Prince whose shadow is decently visible at night time and rarely found on daytime suddenly massacred a huge number of blue blood families associated with the Empress Dowager and the Queen remorselessly in hope of dissolving the unwavering support of the nobles, that became one of the dark nights in the human history.

Fear and terror starts to blanket everyone's heart, as the Empire with no renowned ruler to repair the broken, is torn with chaos and commotions, the nobles were threatened and even more invasive, thus, the royal palace were cornered but the Empress' deep compassion for the third Prince's anguish and close relationship with his brothers, is as pouring as the raindrops in a blissful spring. Rather than executing the mad Prince's family and banishing their people, she compelled to bind his loyalty, will and obedience to the two princes with the assistance of the Holy Church, to contain his superhuman strength, bloodlust and brutality.

In spite of the church's initial objection in appointing the next Emperor, they eventually agreed for the first Prince's temporary placement in ascending the empty throne thru the support of the aristocrats and nobles, until the last will and testament is divulged.

Old fears became folktales, nobles and aristocrats have once again united, the sky is as bright as the faces of the crowd cheering, singing and dancing harmoniously in every town filled with colorful flags and decorations, and the trumpets were blown with victory songs, parades striding down the busy streets and the Royal Palace has welcomed the society in all forms, for the day they awaited has come, the Empire will no longer be lost and at last, the sun is rising again, for the kings will bow down to a prince that will be proclaimed as the Sun Emperor of the Apeiron Imperium Empire with the blessings of Heavenly God.

In just months after the enthronement, the Emperor and the three princes had worked together to enforce justice and unity to its people. Thus, the Empire has finally settled and regained back the shining glory that the forefathers consistently uphold.

The Empire was always known for its blinding and myriad victories; therefore, the aristocrats and blue bloods are thirsty with expanding power, they joined hand in hand to influence the standing ruler with ambition to conquer the entire world under its feet, but the Emperor is kind and compassionate, he defied the persuasion and conquered only the lands with minimal casualties under the lead of the third Prince.

He sets forth to different destination in the unknown under the orders of the Emperor, from there, he brought chaos and death to the lands and seas he seized one after another with no mercy and claimed every crucial battle victoriously in full shape and small-scale of death and modest damage on cavalry.

He might have been an outlaw in the past but contemporarily, he became the feared Hero in the eyes of the people, a threat to the throne, an enemy to the destroyed, but still a fallen prisoner on the hands of the Empire and a new name arose from the ashes, 'Carmine Winter', for his cold presence shall silence every living in red to its forever sleep.

Because of his achievements, he was acknowledged by the good Emperor and rewarded with abundant wealth, luxurious and extravagant castle, power to the court, rule to the lands and most significantly, the title, 'Commander Grand Cross', the first to receive the rarest and highest rank in the Order of the Apeiron Imperium Empire.

The Emperor was evenmore praised, the second prince received more love, the fourth prince was adoredand the third prince was suddenly betrothed to a powerless and inferiordaughter of a fallen noble family.

A/N: Please check my other story, Wedding Ring in taglish.