Chapter 3: Crown Prince Leonard Lawson

Chapter 3: Crown Prince Leonard Lawson As Leonard stepped past the grand threshold of the ceremonial hall, all eyes locked on him. There were noble officials, each holding a sustainable amount of power within the Aldros Empire. The current Valdoria Continent was ruled by the Aldros Empire. Feeling the numerous gazes, Leonard remained composed and inspected his surroundings. The majestic interior was draped in crimson and gold, opulent banners fluttering subtly in the breeze drawn in by open archways. Towering marble columns lined the path to the dais, upon which the emperor’s throne resided—an intimidating structure forged from celestial silver, dragonbone, and enchanted obsidian. It shimmered faintly with ancient runes. The nobility filled both sides of the aisle, men of high status clad in dazzling robes adorned with sigils and family emblems. Their expressions were unreadable masks, yet Leonard could feel the waves of scrutiny, doubt, and veiled hostility pressing down on him like invisible weights. Among the crowd, his elder and junior brothers stood at the front, their regal bearing and polished uniforms drawing much attention. They said nothing, but their eyes showed a cold and indifferent tone. ’So these are the main competitors,’ Leonard thought as he walked. Each one of them could potentially be the culprit of the recent poison incident. With each step he took toward the raised platform, the music swelled, crescendoing just as he came to a halt before the emperor’s throne. Sitting atop that grand seat was Emperor Aldros, a man of formidable presence and austere majesty. His eyes were very piercing and severe as he surveyed Leonard with an unreadable gaze. Clad in a dark robe adorned with the sigils of the imperial phoenix, the emperor looked more like a war-hardened general than a ceremonial figurehead. The music died down, and silence reclaimed the hall. Leonard kept his composure, but deep down, he felt a sense of fear. It reminded him of his old world, the same sense of dread of standing before his stone-cold father. ’No, this should be the original Leonard’s emotion and not mine. This is my first time seeing him.’ Leonard hurriedly pacified himself. While Leonard was struggling to calm his emotions, an attendant from the side began speaking. "Leonard Lawson of the Lawson branch of House Aldros, kneel and receive the decree." The attendant’s hand was holding a majestic scroll, ready to be unveiled. With the majestic scroll in appearance, many princes standing on the side were disgruntled. That majestic scroll was the decree that elevated a prince to the rank of crown prince. Such an honor should have been theirs! Yet they could only swallow their anger and watch as the cowardly and incompetent 5th prince, Leonard Lawson took on such a position. Everyone knew this was Emperor Aldros’s decision, and raising any opposition was equivalent to going against the emperor. Thus, no matter how unwilling anyone was about the situation. They could only put on a satisfied expression. Leonard knelt on one knee with his head low. Seeing that, the attendant didn’t say much. He turned around and glanced at the emperor. Only when the emperor gave him the signal did the attendant proceed with the ceremony. A ceremonial blade was handed to the emperor by the attendant. Its design appeared quite ancient, and the blade itself faintly glowed. The emperor stood up, placed the flat of the blade on Leonard’s shoulders, and recited, "With this sword, I name you Crown Prince of the Aldros Empire. A moment passed, followed by a wave of energy that pulsed through the air—an ancient magic that sealed the appointment. It was the Empire’s spiritual contract, binding the Crown Prince not only to his duty but to the very will of the land. "You shall bear the Empire’s burden and its glory. Rise, Leonard Lawson, Crown Prince of Aldros." Leonard stood up. He didn’t speak yet. Instead, he raised his head, his eyes unwavering as he met the emperor’s gaze. The crowd erupted into applause. Yet even amidst the clapping, Leonard could sense the hesitation behind many of them. The applause was a protocol and not a praise. ’Seems like I have been pushed to the front to become the main villain.’ Leonard thought. His thought remained unaware to all. The emperor continued on with the ceremony and gestured to a nearby steward. "Present the crown." The steward stepped forward with a velvet-lined case, within which lay the Crown Prince’s coronet—smaller than the emperor’s crown, but no less magnificent. Forged with dragonsteel and engraved with sigils representing balance, wisdom, and conquest, it glimmered with a subtle pulse of life. With solemn grace, the emperor took the crown and placed it upon Leonard’s head. A low hum vibrated the floor beneath Leonard’s boots as the crown acknowledged its bearer. It was another enchantment, albeit this one was subtle, ancient, and protective. "I shall serve the Empire with all I have," Leonard declared, his voice calm, strong, and carrying across the hall. Naturally, he was putting on an act. His dialogue was all given to him by Spencer. Similar to how Emperor Aldros was reciting the protocol, Leonard was also doing the same. As Leonard proceeded to step back, a herald stepped forward and announced, "This concludes the investiture. All hail Crown Prince Leonard Lawson!" "All hail!" the crowd echoed, though some voices were clearly louder than others. With that, the formalities ended, and the ceremonial gathering moved into its next phase: a public banquet hosted in the imperial gardens. But Leonard knew better than to think the danger had passed. ’Now that I’ve taken the crown, the game truly begins,’ he thought. Sometime later, at a private venue separated from the imperial garden, Leonard faced his father. Emperor Aldros, otherwise known as Kaelion Aldros, was the most powerful man in the Valdoria Continent. Yet the current him didn’t exert any of those imposing aura. "I’ve heard a maid named Bea attempted to poison you. Is that correct, Leon?" Kaelion said. "Yes, that is correct." Leonard nodded. "Based on their statement, it was said that you requested poison initially." Silent, Leonard’s expression remained stoic. But secretly, he was wary and cautious of how his father learned of this incident already. The precise event of the incident had been suppressed by Spencer. Yet he still learned of this news. Such a simple phrase exposed his intelligence network. And Leonard was certain that his father did it on purpose. ’Just what can this father be scheming against his cowardly son?’ He wondered.