Commentaries on the Scandals of Society
"Your reputation remains spotless, unless it makes a better story."
Volume XIII – The Grand Duke's Secret
It is often said that the East offers little to society beyond heat, rough manners, and hardened soldiers. But, my darlings, it seems His Excellency Skandar Aleksandr Konstantin has returned from the dunes with something far more thrilling than sand in his boots.
A child.
Indeed, my dears, not a squire nor a ward but a son. A boy of no more than six springs, escorted by none other than the infamous Grand Duke himself into the heart of the Imperial Capital. Observers clamor that the resemblance is... uncanny. From the tilt of the chin and amber eyes that gaze just like his supposed father's.
But who is this mysterious child? And more importantly... who is his mother?
Naturally, speculations linger like perfume at a noblewoman's salon.
Whispers suggest the child may be born of the East, from a Sonomian woman hidden away and shielded from society by the ever-private Grand Duke. If true, one might wonder why she was never brought to court. Or has she… vanished entirely?
Others believe the boy bears the irrefutable pallor of a Northern lineage. Was it during a fleeting diplomatic mission? A snowy tryst, you say? A passionate encounter across enemy land. So deliciously poetic, if not tragic.
But the real scandal here, my dears, is not in the child himself but in the timing. With the Empire's founding festivities in motion and the Crown Prince's coronation close at hand, one cannot help but wonder:
Why now? Why bring the boy into the light?
Is it a distraction? A declaration? A warning?
Whatever the truth may be, rest assured: the ballroom will not be the only stage this season.
Let us all look forward to all the delicious events in store for us.
Until next time, my doves...
~ The Lady of the Crimson Quill
I frowned at the boisterous laughter of the man in front of me. His annoying mug, like always, is begging to be punched. I reeled it in however, since a child was accompanying us at the moment. Exposing a child to violence at such a tender age goes against my morality.
"My dearest brother, it seems you are the Capital's favorite subject of gossip. I'm dying to know the conversations about you that goes behind closed doors. I bet they'd be very entertaining."
I sighed at this comment that obviously thrived in my own misfortune. Not that it's anything new. I am well aware of my fame in the Capital, no, in the whole of Yarina. I couldn't really blame these people. Even I would be intrigued if I were in their shoes.
After all, aside from being the ruler of one of the reclusive and mysterious Grand Duchy of Sonomi, I was quite the eligible bachelor. Impeccable in all aspects, be it in manner, status, wealth, and beauty. Who wouldn't be curious about such a man?
However, being stuck with a powerful being who has a fondness for being annoying and a child who was adorably gullible still does a number on my nerves. It's a surprise that I can still uphold my composure.
One might be curious as to why I got myself in this situation in the first place. It all started with an unwanted invitation.
"Your Excellency, a letter from the Capital has arrived."
I lifted my head from the stack of documents I was currently engaged in, my eyes narrowed slightly at the interruption.
A polite smile, perfected through the years, automatically surfaced. I couldn't help it. It was almost a reflex at this point.
With an internal sigh, I accepted the letter from the old butler's outstretched hands, his expression betrayed nothing.
I do have an inkling about this particular missive, though. Correspondence addressed to me was usually handled by the butler himself. Only a select few was deemed significant enough to require my personal attention.
And indeed, my suspicions were correct. The letter bore the seal of the imperial crest, its intricate design embossed in gold. As always, it was an ostentatious display of authority that was, quite frankly, unnecessary.
I dismissed the butler with a nod, allowing my gaze to linger on the letter. The imperial palace certainly had a penchant for dramatics.
The letter was a formal invitation from the emperor himself, requesting my attendance at the official proclamation of the Crown Prince. Which of course, also extended to the festivities commemorating the founding anniversary of the Yarina Empire.
Not that any of that concerns me, specifically.
The Yarina Empire is an old and powerful nation, one that has withstood the test of time for more than a century. Its foundation is built upon a so-called principle of peace and acceptance, priding itself on equality, regardless of origins.
But let's be real, when they speak of equality, I'm pretty sure they do not mean moral virtue. Rather, a mere tolerance of the unnatural.
Yarina is home to a diverse array of people. The Children of Mana, more commonly known as magicians, the warriors who wield aura, and even those of non-human descent, be they beastkin, elves, or other species.
But all this supposed inclusivity is but a comedic farce. It's all hypocritical bullshit.
There is a vast difference between acceptance and tolerance. To tolerate something does not mean one welcomes it. It merely means one endures it. And given the right circumstances, endurance can wane.
Especially in the light of benefits.
But I digress.
Anyhow, it begs to be told why I am a recipient of such an important invitation. This is because in the far East of the empire lies Sonomi. A vast land that possessed the deadliest terrain. As much as the empire wanted to conquer it during its founding, they were unable to.
That was because Sonomi was already ruled by a family whose roots ran deeper than Yarina itself.
The Konstantin family.
Their unfathomable strength proved to be an unworthy risk for what was then an unstable empire.
Thus, an allegiance was instead forged with the condition that Sonomi would become a part of the Empire in name, and the Konstantin family would be granted the rank of Grand Dukes, an unrivaled title second only to the royal family. In return, the Empire swore an oath, no ruler of Yarina would ever interfere in the affairs of the East.
And so, the Konstantin family became the sole holders of the Grand Duke title, governing Sonomi with absolute autonomy. A kingdom within a kingdom, so to speak.
And I, Skandar Aleksandr Konstantin, am the current head and Patriarch of the Konstantin family, the ruler of Sonomi. The Grand Duke of the East.
"How troublesome." I muttered, tapping the elaborate, scented invitation against my desk.
I have never liked the capital. I despise the social pleasantries that come with it. Yet, duty calls, and obligations such as these are ones I cannot so easily ignore.
My parents, ever so carefree, had left the burdens of this title upon my shoulders at the tender age of eighteen. Responsibility was thrust upon me whether I liked it or not. Though there wasn't really much of a choice, in the first place.
My mother so kindly ensured, as well, that my upbringing left no room for failure.
Ah, my wonderful mother. A woman of elegance and ruthless discipline. Her lessons were carved into my very being, engraved upon my soul as if they were law. If I were to recount every grueling hour spent under her tutelage, it would be enough to reduce even the bravest of men to tears. Some traumas, however, are best left buried.
The result? Even if I wished to abandon this rigid propriety, my body refused to comply. My etiquette had been molded to perfection; my expressions trained to exude nothing but grace that would put even royalty to shame.
Take the incident earlier, for example. As much as I wished to scowl, my face instinctively arranged itself into a cordial expression. It was a dreadful affliction, truly. No matter how impolite I tried to be, the world perceived me as nothing short of charming.
How hateful!
This is why every social season has become a trial of endurance, especially for my nose. A battlefield where perfume is weaponized to the point of suffocation, and noblewomen paint their faces thick enough to redefine their very identity.
Alas, if only they were at least half as attractive as I am, it would have been fine. What a pity that they couldn't even come close.
Of course, the women aside, the noblemen are divided into a few factions with one being more insufferable than the other.
Some boast of their wealth. Oh please, all of them combined can't even measure up to a tenth of mine. I sometimes wonder where they get the audacity to boast such meager means.
Others are muscle-headed fools, constantly seeking duels as if that is all their existence is about. And they don't even learn their lessons. Beat them once and they will keep knocking on your door for more beatings.
And then there are the mages, the ones who sneer down at those without magic, basking in self-proclaimed superiority. They irritate me the most. If their abilities were as impressive as they claim, then why is it that my Sonomi is the leading manufacturer of magical devices, and not their so-called prestigious magic towers?
Haaaah.
I can already predict the hardships that await me.
Perhaps my distaste for all this is more than just personal preference. Maybe it is because of the secret that runs in my family's bloodline.
The Konstantin men inherit something unique.
The memories of a past life.
On the eve of our seventh birthday, those memories awaken, granting us knowledge of a life before this one. No one knows how it came to be, but this gift has shaped the legacy of our house for generations. It has ensured our survival, fortified our power, and forged a unity among our kin that is unmatched.
And it has made us indifferent to the struggles of succession. The Konstantin heirs do not fight for power. On the contrary, none of us wish for the burden of ruling preferring the life of a vagabond instead.
They do fight it out, but the losers are the ones who must govern.
For those whose generation only has one heir, they can only resort to giving birth to heirs as early as possible. My dearest father is a magnificent example.
Thereby, being the sole successor of this generation, I have been resigned to my fate the moment the gift manifested itself.
I had no hopes for a sibling as well since my father refused to let my mother suffer the pains of childbirth for a second time.
I guess my birth has been traumatic for his poor, infatuated heart.
That aside, my past life was vastly different from the one I have now. It is not even in the same world.
I once lived in a world called Earth, a place with no magic, aura, or supernatural forces. Yet, its science and technology far surpassed anything this world has to offer.
I was an archeologist and a history professor at a prestigious college. Even in my past life, I have to say I was quite well-known.
I do have a peculiar penchant for reading web novels and comics with villains and anti-hero tropes.
I indulged in them with great fascination, drawn to the complexity of characters who defied the norms of morality. And now, in this new life, I had the chance to become what I once admired.
My gaze returned to the letter, the gold lettering glistening under the light. The coronation of the Crown Prince. The Empire's Founding Anniversary.
A villain would never let an opportunity like this go to waste. It's a perfect time to debut.