Umpisa meaning; the beginning, the rise
News of the new member of the royal family being born has spread throughout the Endora empire. The Emperor, Artheous (pronounced as; Ar-the-yus), has ordered the people to celebrate the arrival of their new and first princess.
Meanwhile, inside the palace, the Empress, Kathiris, holds their new child while her three other children, the princes of the Empire, patiently wait to see their sister.
"When can we see our sister, father?" Prince Alejandro (pronounced as; a-le-han-dro) the first prince asked. The two other princes, Alain the second prince, and Asterio the third prince were eager to get an answer from their father.
"You are beyond excited to see your sister Alejandro, when your mother says we can come in, the maids shall open the doors." The Emperor, Artheous answers and smiles at the three boys.
The two doors to the Empress' chamber opened and let the four in. The three princes rushed to their mother's bedside and the emperor's eyes shined as he gazed upon his first daughter. "She truly is the star of the Empire," he said in thought.
The Emperor, Artheous, approached his wife and newborn daughter. The Empress handed their daughter to him, and he carried her gently and caressed her daughter's cheeks.
Atherina slowly smiled with her eyes closed and held her father's finger. Artheous smiled as he slowly went down to the princes' level and they approach their sister slowly, not waking her up.
"She's so small" the second prince, Alain exclaimed. The Emperor and Empress laughed at their son's statement, "You were this small too Alain. Wait until your sister has grown and she will be big as you are now, and you will be bigger" The empress said.
"Can I hold her?" the first prince, Alejandro, asked. "Me too! Me too!" the third prince, Asterio also followed. "You both can, but you have to be careful. She's very fragile and you might wake her up." The Emperor, Artheous says as he hands Atherina over to her brother, the first prince.
Atherina coos as she is held by her brother, Alejandro, and it made the other princes want to hold her more. "Alright, that's enough, your sister and your mother both need rest." Their father, Artheous exclaimed giving Atherina to the royal nanny as they will take care of the newborn royal as the empress needs to rest after giving labor.
The two other princes awed in disappointment but reconsidered that their mother had to rest after an exhausting labor.
"Thank you darling." the empress exclaimed her thanks to her husband, the emperor. "I'll see the three of you later after I have rested. Do well on your classes my princes and don't disturb your sister's slumber." their mother said.
"Yes mother" the three princes said in unison as the three of them left the Empress' chamber followed by the emperor who kissed the Empress' forehead,
"Rest well darling, you have done well" the emperor says as he followed the three princes and left the room.
"Your highness, I have a report about the Empire of Drerian." the Head of the Imperial Baccays (meaning; Imperial Guard), Rogelio [pronounced: Ro-Hel-Yo] exclaimed as soon as Artheous left the Empress' chambers.
"Withold the information until we get to my office." Artheous says as the two of them along with the emperor's aid, Luca followed.
The three of them got to the Office of the Emperor and Artheous sats down with Luca by his side as he listens to Rogelio's report.
"The Drerian Emperor has been killed by his brother, and his son is nowhere to be found. We believe that the emperor's brother, Johan Vicente Drerian, formed a revolt against his brother the emperor for a while now. But we have had no idea what he'll do with his nephew, the crown prince, Jairo Clifton Drerian."
"What about the Empress? Any reports about her?" Artheous asked.
"She was killed alongside the emperor." Rogelio answers.
"The crown prince is only a toddler. I doubt Vicente's going to let the only heir live, get a private search party to find the crown prince of the Drerian Empire and bring him over to the ruby noble district, in the spare building I own." Artheous orders.
"Yes, your highness."
"Look for a hidden entrance outside the Drerian Empire. There will be a secret room and there you will find the Crown Prince along with his Imperial nanny and maid." Artheous says in a stern voice.
Rogelio and Luca looked shocked as they heard this from their Emperor. "How do you know about this your highness?" Luca, the Emperor's Imperial aid asked in a surprised voice.
"My wife, the Empress is the sister of the Emperor of the Drerian Empire. Before I left her chambers earlier, she whispered something to me, and that's when I knew it was time. I already expected you to give that report to me before we came here to my office."
Now, go look for the missing crown prince I will explain it more as soon as you've arrived back to the palace." The emperor says.
With the two shocked at this revelation, Rogelio left the Imperial Office immediately and followed through with the order.
"What do you plan on doing to the Crown Prince, your majesty?" Luca asks in question.
"I will raise him in secret, but he will yet still have a normal life. I will let him gain his own reputation, and when the time is right, I'll let him go home." the emperor, exclaims and sighs.
"But what about her highness, the princess?" Luca asks in question.
"What about my daughter?" The emperor replies in confusion but with obvious anger forming within his expression.
"Isn't it her fate to also help the fallen empire? You've told me before as I was studying in the Imperial Library Vault about the Oracle that she will be the cause and she will also be its savior." Luca explains.
"My daughter is not the cause of a revolt between brothers against the throne in that Empire. I will see to it to still look over other kingdoms and see." The Emperor, Artheous exclaims in an angrily tone.
"Very well, your Majesty." Luca answers. "I have yet to do my work, please excuse me your majesty. I have a meeting with the imperial accountants." Luca says as he was about to step out of the Office, the Emperor calls him.
"Luca."
"Yes, your majesty?" Luca answers.
"As soon as the crown prince of the Drerian Empire is here. I want you to be the one who monitors him for me." The emperor says.
"But who will do the work around here your majesty?" Luca asks.
"You have been there with me since I studied in the academy. You are one of the few I trust to do this work, don't worry about the work here in the castle. The empress has been studying the ins and outs of the finances, politics and has the side of the nobles and heads of different departments of the castle. Think of this as, your last job with me, you are the son of a marquis Afterall." Artheous says in a softened tone.
Luca laughs, "Is his Imperial Majesty firing me?" he says and grins.
"Well." Artheous pauses and snickers,
"After this job, yes, I am. You can give me your daily reports about the crown prince. Adopt him if you must as a coverup as taking him in as so there will be no questions amongst the imperial court and other nobles." The emperor says.
"I know you've been wanting a child of your own. Maybe this can be of practice to you once I've paired you up with a noble lady." The emperor says in a teasing tone.
"Oh, please your majesty, you shouldn't."
"I'm only kidding Luca. Now, go along and do your work." the emperor finishes and Luca, the imperial aid finally leaves the office.
As the private search party along with the head of the Imperial Guard sets off to look for the missing crown prince in the outskirts of the Empire, Luca, the Imperial Aid instructs the change in the emperor's order. He goes home and starts to forge documents about the Crown Prince's identity in the Empire.
Layton Maxwell Canencia will be his new identity, as the son of the Canencia Marquis household.
A name, Luca has been wanting to name his very own one day.