Shattered Crown, Rising Empress: Oriana Claims the Throne
Prologue
"Is this what you wanted?" The princess, with her thin nightgown, walks down the grand doors of the castle. The fading sounds of the angry thunder and storm as the stone walls, etched with centuries of history endlessly down to the sight, instead humming the weight of the rich past of the La Sangue Empire.
Her footsteps echoed across the polished marble floors that embodied the wealth of the bloodline, who knows how many blood or bodies laid there before the century?
Her heart sinks, trying hard to control her emotion, even knowing that what will befall her is something that will crush her heart. The beating gets louder just like how her footsteps echoed, beneath she reached her goal. The sacred grounds of the La Sangue, only the direct line of the family could ever enter, here lies the history and secrets older than the empire itself. Whispered among the ancient stones, the gold decorated doors, it is unimaginable even in her own mind, to be able to witness even what is untold.
The air grew thick with expectation, as the chamber doors with her presence lighted the way as if acknowledging her blood.
"So it was you?" She asked, there kneeling the great presence of the fallen king, with the same golden hair and the eyes that used to resemble hers.
Bright and lovely.
"Why did it have to end this way?" she repeated seeking an answer.
His eyes met hers, his gaze unwavering but his facial expression shows how tired he is, the faint smile emits nothing but bitterness. As if at any moment he will fall and banish before her.
"Oriana, the dignified empress." He called.
"What nonsense are you spouting? We both knew that the only one you see as your empress is none other than the one who was buried there?" She looked at the exquisite designed tombstone, it shows how high and mighty who is buried there.
"Enough for you to bury her body in the sacred grounds of our empire." It may sound as if mocking him, but the man didn't see it like that.
"I know how much you cared for the empire my sister, and I know that you don't have anything against my decision of letting her lay where I am soon to rest." He then turned to the tombstone and with his fingertips felt the embossed inscription of the name.
"Oh how much I wanted to utter her name, but even I do not deserve to speak of it."
"It is not your fault, and I know that you did everything in your mighty Kallistos."
"My sister, I know that you held on to the day the crown will be yours, but instead I claimed it."
"I don't hold a grudge against you and father, I see you have reasons as to why you eliminated the whole senate and seek to change even the parliament." Remember how the news was spread like fire throughout the empire, that the newly crowned king of La Sangue has gone mad and committed to wipe all those against him. At that time, Oriana was already at the North Hohenberg, married to the second prince of the royal family of Vasilis.
"I know that your heart is pure, don't be upset and I don't take it with you my dear sister Oriana." He smiled one last time to her, reminiscing the colorful youth they have shared together..
"Brother." Knowing in the depth of her heart, it is the last time she will hear his brother's voice speaking of her name. She felt how beautiful it sounded, every syllable uttered with unconditional love. But what has led her brother to give up?
"Claim the crown and be the empress that you are, I hope to see you smiling just like how we did in our youth." A bittersweet smile formed in his lips, it was not until Oriana realized that Kallistos had just been waiting for her to witness the ritual.
"Kallistos, your blood!" She snapped back as the ritual awakened with the thick flowing blood that has been passed through generations, the power that is only the direct line of La Sangue.
All this time, he is the bearer of the legendary power, Oriana felt her chest constrained as she watches her young brother perform the ritual.
"In the end, you chose to go back and refuse the fate that has brought us here.."
The last glimpse of Emperor Alexio Kallistos, " My dear sister, be well, I know you are the Empress." In the blinding light and as if the whole time and place stopped, Oriana covers her face, the echoes of the past heirs, the and the voice of her brother which she will never be able to hear again in this lifetime.
He breathed the last of his life and left her with the promise of fulfilling the legacy of the blood that runs through her veins.
Ever since she was born, she knew that it was all natural to her character, a benevolent ruler, a kind daughter and sibling, a strong-willed person, she knew the presence of the crown is for her, however, it never went that way and she has to live in the Northern Kingdom and wedded to the second prince, then betrayed as he comes back from war bringing a mistress. Losing in favor of the indifferent husband, her contribution to the country was disregarded for the sake of that love affair. Threatened to be stripped of her royal title, she fought claiming what is rightfully hers, not letting anyone trample her dignity.
She stood at the threshold, looking at the now cleared sky nearing the dawn. Left with the vast empire, this woman transformed by destiny and the fate that had brought her to this moment.
The unfortunate events that left her with no choice to leave her empire, the uprising revolution of the people who wanted to bring shame on their royal name, no matter if the golden crown will be shattered, no one can won't stop her, once again the rising of the empress, Oriana Stelle La Sangue, will claim the throne.