(Authors note- this is the first book I have written so I apologize in advance for any mistakes or bad writing. This is a project I am working on for school, but this may be left unfinished too.)
Fürstenreid Palace, 1514
'Immortality is an incredible fate of eternal suffering, I have come to think…'
'To live that long, surely one would go mad, with knowledge or ideals. Yet I cannot help but wish for it all the same. I should think Man does not fear death directly, but what will happen as we die. It must hurt a lot, to die alone.'
A taller, graceful lady wondered to herself, watching from a distance as a spectator, leaning on the intricate wooden railings governing the higher level of the courtyard. She was not ugly at all, but not outstandingly gorgeous. She had a pale, defined face one could forget unless they looked too long, then they would always remeber her. The young girl wore a long, velvet black dress and silver adornments.
Today, on a glorious and sunny day under the heavens of the Motherland, Emilia Zilch watched her father perish, his line of life drew short like a candle blown out.
As daughter of the great Emperor Fredrick II, she had many riches and entitlements, but just as many duties and responsibilities in the crumbling world she called home.
"Oh-! My dear, my dear Fredrick, you left me too soon…" her mother sobbed by his body, laid in waiting to be taken to be buried under the warm, orange sunlight outside.
Empress Annalise covered her eyes, her thin lips quivered uncontrollably as she tried to control her manners. The older lady suddenly drew herself together upon realizing her daughter was watching and smoothed the fabrics of her luxurious morning dress, sweeping back her curled brown hair.
"Dear, Emilia, come down. You shouldn't be watching like a ghost all the time. Your brother is expected to return anytime today as well.
Then we can have a proper burial."
Annalise held back her tears around her only daughter and wiped her red eyes.
Emilia quickly, but carefully greeted her mother, coming down the palace steps with the clack of her heels.
"How were Heinrich's travels? Did he send you any letters today of the war?" Emilia asked to fill the otherwise, dreadful silence in the huge, older styled castle.
She was also fairly interested in the political scape of her country, in the science of people and how they acted as well, but because she was a lady, others did not like her intelligence.
Many oil lamps normally lit the darker castle, its tall spires, gothic design, and brick walls kept the royal family safe, but also isolated sometimes. In the past, any lighting had been tended to by the Light Keepers who could manipulate particles of light to their will, but since the Second Instance Era, most had died out.
"He's good, he is good, doing quite well. Along the border nearby Antonia there has been some perils but nothing to worry about, dear. This war will be over soon."
Emilia did not ask of her second brother. She stood closely to her mother, but never too close.