The evening sun dipped low behind the marble spires of Athens, painting the royal palace in gold and crimson.
It looks as if cheers still echoed faintly from the arena where Prince Isandros had claimed his hard-fought victory hours ago. Yet, behind the grand walls of the palace, the air was heavy.
In the quiet of a private chamber, Queen Callidora poured two cups of wine. She handed one to Lycandros, who stood by the window, gazing out at the burning sky.
"I suppose congratulations are in order," she said softly, her smile warm but thoughtful. "Isandros has silenced many today."
Lycandros took the cup but didn't drink. His eyes remained distant. "You wish for him to sit on the throne, Queen Mother," he said, not a question but a simple truth.
"I do," Callidora admitted. "And with Magnus standing beside his brother, aiding him as a general, the future of Athens will be secured. But…" She paused for a moment and continued. "The ministers favor Magnus, instead. When your opinion is asked, I hope you will stand by my decision."
"No, Queen Mother. I cannot." Lycandros turned then, his expression unreadable. "I have sworn," he said quietly. "I will not meddle in matters of politics. As I deem both of them worthy of the throne, no matter who His Majesty chooses as his successor, I shall accept the decision."
The Queen studied him for a long moment, then nodded, her smile gentle but tinged with disappointment by his neutrality. "You keep hanging on to that promise. Without wasting time, I will ask Alector to name Isandros as his successor in the morning assembly."
Lycandros watched his stepmother leave, shaking his head with a sigh. "Unfortunately, your wish won't be fulfilled, Mother. The constitution of Athens won't let it."
The next day, the royal court gathered in the Great Hall. Ministers, generals, and vassal lords from every corner of the kingdom lined the marble floor, waiting for the announcement.
King Alector sat on his throne, wearing the heavy crown of Athens. His eyes—once sharp, now clouded with age and doubt—searched the crowd before settling on his sons.
Prince Isandros stood tall, blind yet unyielding, his chin lifted proudly. Beside him, Prince Magnus, still looked a bit battered and bruised from their duel, wore a quiet, uneasy look.
The King rose. "Honored citizens of our polis, wise elders, and noble warriors, I stand before you on this sacred day, graced by…"
A minute of lengthy speech later, he raised his voice. "I, Alector, son of King Erython, descendant of the Acadian Dynasty, King of the Aetherian Kingdom of Athens, hereby declare—"
Before he could finish, the chief minister, a gaunt man named Menandros, who belonged to the royal family by distant relation, stepped forward. "Your Majesty," he said, voice clear and sharp, "we cannot allow this."
The hall fell into shocked silence. King Alector frowned at the interruption, and so did Queen Mother Callidora and Prince Isandros.
Menandros then turned to the crowd, spreading his arms wide. "It is not proper that an incomplete man... someone whom God punished with a disability of lacking sight, should ascend the throne. The constitution of Athens clearly states that those who don't have the blessings of the Gods don't have the right to rule the land of men."
A low murmur rippled through the hall.
King Alector's hand trembled on the hilt of his sword. His lips tightened. Deep inside, he hated the words spoken for his son, but a part of him knew that was true. In fact, he never wanted Isandros to succeed him. But his mother forced him to make such a decision.
He sat back heavily on the throne.
Across the hall, Lycandros remained silent, his face like stone. He refused to intervene in this situation.
Meanwhile, a heavy, hollow feeling sank into Isandros' chest. It was as if his worst nightmares, the ones he kept dreaming, finally came to reality.
Then, without a word, he turned on his heel and stormed from the hall without even taking permission from the King or arguing with the chief minister, the great doors slamming open before him.
"Isandros!" Magnus called, hurrying after him.
He caught up just outside the hall, grabbing his brother's arm.
"Brother, listen to me—"
But Isandros shook him off roughly.
"You!" he snarled, his voice thick with rage. "Don't pretend! You think I can't see through your false brotherhood? You and that conniving son of a maid have conspired together against me. Under the garb of love, justice, and righteousness, you want to snatch my right from me, Magnus!"
Magnus flinched as if struck. "Isandros, that's not true," he said. "I never—"
"Go away, Magnus," Isandros spat, blind eyes burning with fury. "Otherwise, the fire of my wrath will burn you." Isandros pushed Magnus away with brute force, the latter crashing onto the wall as a result.
Without waiting there any longer, he continued to walk away in a hastened pace.
—
Meanwhile, inside the throne hall, the court remained silent for a moment, stunned by Isandros' outburst. Then, like vultures circling a wounded animal, the ministers turned their eyes on King Alector.
The chief minister, Menandros, stepped forward once again. His voice, cool and assured, cut through the charged air. "Your Majesty," he said, bowing slightly, "Prince Isandros' reaction has also made it clear that he doesn't have the patience to defend himself. If His Majesty is really in a hurry to appoint a Crown Prince, I propose Prince Magnus to be named the heir of the throne."
A murmur of agreement rose among the ministers. Heads nodded, whispers grew louder.
King Alector looked across the hall. His gaze fell on his elder half-brother, Lycandros, who stood quietly at his seat, his expression indicating that he had no intentions to speak.
His gaze then fell upon his mother. The latter understood the meaning behind his gaze and rose from her seat in the royal gallery, her face calm and composed. "I grant my consent," she said, voice firm while glancing at Lycandros. "For the sake of Athens' future."
The King sighed, the lines on his face deepening. "Very well," he said at last, his voice becoming heavier with each word. "By the will of the council, judiciary, people's association, and by the authority of the crown, I name Prince Magnus as the rightful heir to the throne of Athens."
The hall erupted in cheers, the sound bouncing off marble pillars and domed ceilings. But beneath the celebration, a shadow lingered. Lycandros remained still in his place, offering no applause or protest. His thoughts were captured by Vesna's curse. Her words began ringing in his ears like an echo.
—
A couple of weeks passed in the blink of an eye.
Majorly, over the kingdom, the common citizens were pleased with the news. Not only was their future king's name announced, but they were also relieved of the tax for this year.
Elsewhere in the palace, Isandros locked himself away in depression.
He did not come to the training fields. He did not walk the gardens where he once listened to the winds. He did not dine with his family. He did not even have a talk with his own mother, Queen Brynhilde, either.
Days slipped into nights, and nights into days, but he remained alone, his heart hardening with each passing moment.
King Alector paced on the balcony of his private chambers, worry gnawing at him like a persistent worm.
"I fear for him," the King muttered, running a hand through his greying hair. "I fear... what isolation may breed. I need to do something. Something that can remove that darkness in his heart. Or else, who knows what he will do…"
All of a sudden, footsteps gathered his attention. They could be heard behind, getting louder each second. As he turned around, he saw his mother.
Queen Mother Callidora, ever composed, laid a gentle hand on his arm, approaching him. "Alector, I need to talk about Isandros."
Alector sighed, dropping his shoulders. "I, too, am thinking about him."
Callidora then said. "There's only one way I can see to help him out.
The King turned to her, searching her face. "How?"
"A marriage," she said simply. "Not to some minor vassal lord's daughter, though. We need to marry him off to an independent King so that he can atleast gain an assurance that his future remains secured."
"Ugh…" King Alector couldn't help but groan when he heard those words. "Mother, the last time you did that, you almost brought a storm to the kingdom."
Callidora flinched, remembering the incident of the Princess of Baltica, the wrath of Hercules, and her curse. But she composed herself again and let out a forced smile. "This time we will be careful. Don't worry. Whatever trouble that will come, Lycandros is there to take care of it. The most important thing right now is to make Isandros feel like he hasn't lost his dignity."
King Alector thought for a long while, then nodded, shoulders relaxing a little. "Yes. You are right, Mother," he said. "If even I can be redeemed by marriage, Isandros can change too. But, who will be the perfect match for him?"
Callidora let out a smile. "Recently, I heard a piece of news that Goddess Hera had blessed someone with…"