Tale of a Hedonistic wizard

The palace stood as a masterpiece of ancient craftsmanship; the towering spires and intricate stonework were a marvel of the ancient grandeur.

Right now, the snow is covering the spires and roofs of the palace. The paths inside the palace, a sprawling network of buildings forming a labyrinth of corridors, courtyards, and halls, were all now blanketed with snow.

Men, bundled in thick brown cloths, diligently swept the snow from the paths, making sure the pathways remained clear despite the relentless winter.

The cold breeze whistled through the narrow paths, filling the atmosphere with a sense of quietness.

In the palace, on a certain small bridge with a closed arched roof, intricately carved with symbols of lore, the bridge connected the main halls to the inner halls of the palace. The core of the palace. Navigating the palace was no easy task; one would easily lose their way if they entered first time.

The palace was heavily guarded, the main being the Order of Chryso Knights and then came the palace guard knights. And there were a total of 500 servants who worked tirelessly to maintain the palace's splendour.

On that bridge, a person entered the way and was now walking towards the inner halls.

The inner halls were surrounded by balconies and archways, and though the season was harsh, the area was warm enough for the exotic flora to thrive. Lanterns hung from the wrought iron posts.

That person kept walking in a specific direction.

The snow outside started to thicken, chilling the atmosphere. The cold and crisp air outside would make one jump in, shivering.

That person reached an ornate door and pushed it open. He entered the room, and confusion wrinkled his face as he didn't find anyone.

Then a maidservant entered the room from the other end of the room.

She bowed to him and said, "Your Majesty, this way, please." She then showed her inside the room.

The person entered the room to see a woman sitting on the sofa with a young man to her opposite. She said, "Lorcan, you have come."

Lorcan beamed a smile and walked to her side, "Mother."

Salotara smiled gently and patted the seat beside her. Just like her husband, she was also a gentle soul and loved her family dearly, and to her, three sons of them were her world. Being married young, they were given the duty to give male heirs to the family, and she had done a great job of giving birth to three of them.

Zenumus and Salatora were proud parents, but they were always concerned with Lorcan and his estranged behaviour.

Unlike him, his two brothers were doing well, amassing merits in the crown system. And Lorcan, just as always, wasn't motivated and just gave up his right to the throne, joining his brother.

Before them, sat Vlaran, a figure of formidable aura. He was about 6'3'' tall and had a well-defined muscle body. He was a sword practitioner and a skilled one at that. From a young age, he excelled in sword arts and now reached the rank of Grand Knight. He was the Grand Knight to reach the level.

Vlaran had now gained the approval of the elders and was the frontrunner for the crown prince. He had been amassing the credits and even gained the support of the elders in the family. It was sure that he would become the crown prince.

Few others were giving him the competition, but Vlaran wasn't worried.

"Are you just philandering in that mansion again?" His mother asked after a quick glance at him.

Lorcan smiled wrily and bowed to his brother, "Elder Brother."

Then he said, "No, mother."

Vlaran then asked, "Little brother, I must say this to you now; Mother is worried about you and your ways of living." His expression now seemed gentle, but Lorcan knew it wasn't the case.

Lorcan brows twitched slightly. Lorcan feared and respected his brother, and he had always helped him when he was in a bind. It was also one of the reasons he supported his brother.

Vlaran, on his part, followed in his father's footsteps; no matter what differences they had in the family, at the end of the day, they were all family, and they needed to take care of each other.

Zenumus and Salotara had never neglected their children in their times of need, tending to them.

Of course, they didn't know about Lorcan's involvement in Jaegar's case or what he did.

"My apologies, mother and elder brother," responded Lorcan.

Salotara said to her children, her voice softer, "It's my duty to worry about your well-being. I don't know how long this system goes, but you should be careful. From past weeks, I hardly get to see any of you."

Vlaran assured her, "Don't worry, mother."

"Lorcan, you should refrain from doing such things from now on. Your fiance has arrived in the empire," she observed her son.

Lorcan replied, "Yes, mother. I've heard she is coming to the palace in a few days."

"You should talk to her and get to know her," she advised Lorcan.

"I will do so, mother," Loran obeyed.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Salotara rose gracefully, her gown flowing behind her, whispering against the stone as she moved toward Vlaran. "Vlaran," she said with quiet authority, "take care of your younger brother. He looks up to you more than you realise."

Vlaran, the dutiful son, held his mother's hand, a faint smile touching his lips. "I will, mother. You don't need to worry."

Satisfied with his answer, she nodded, her eyes shifting to Lorcan, who stood quietly nearby. Her concerned gaze lingered on him before she swept from the room, her pressure leaving a lingering sense of authority and care behind her.

After she left, Vlaran looked at him and said, "Do you know that Jaegar was dismissed from his charges?"

Lorcan's expression turned dark and he looked at his elder brother quickly, "I…"

Vlaran raised his hand, stopping him, "You have done enough. Be content that mother and father don't know about this. Just be prepared to meet your fiance. I heard that she is a fierce woman. Gain her trust; you can have a kingdom at your disposal."

"I understand, elder brother."