Wolfsburg, Imperial Capital Territories, Empire of Wolfenium
It was a stormy morning in Wolfsburg. The grey streets throughout the capital's busiest districts are unusually devoid of life. Black drapes hung on the lamps along the roads. For the empire, this day marks the Wolfenstein Fire incident, a tragedy which killed most of the Wolfenium's royal family and plunged the nation into war with its northern neighbor Amythyist. But for one man, this day marked the end of his childhood, his joy and his life as a carefree individual in a loving family.
"Today marks the tenth anniversary of a tragedy that goes beyond human anguish," the news broadcaster reported from the television sets in one of the few stores still open, "A tragedy which marked the end of centuries of uninterrupted peace and the beginning of a new and bloody chapter in our nation's history. Never shall we forget the horror which robbed us of our beloved emperor and his kin, neither shall we forgive the traitors who perpetrated this heinous act in the name of the heretic queen of the north. But let it be known that while we will forever mourn the victims of this tragic episode, we will stand ever vigilant. We will march forward into the future! We will emerge stronger than ever before! We will prevail! Heil dir im Siegerkranz! Long live Wolfenium!"
"Oh, shut up," groaned a tall young man dressed in a black fedora and cashmere coat. He held a black umbrella above his head as he made his way into the memorial. There was going to be an outdoor memorial service today, but the sudden downpour forced organizers to shift it indoors to the imperial castle. As he stood over the burial site of the former emperor Heinrich and his kin. The dark haired man with tinted sunglasses looked down upon a single red rose placed on the pedestal. His face remained emotionless as usual, but his eyes twitched with a hint of remorse. He did not particularly miss the emperor. He was not very close to him personally, but the fact that they rarely interacted was indeed a source of eternal regret for him. He had not quite enjoyed his interactions with the former emperor, but they were memorable nevertheless. But those days were long over and having stayed away for so long during those days meant that he no longer had another chance. Forever.
As the man drifted deeper into his thoughts, another figure, a young brunette with short hair approached the man. She was dressed in a white and gold Orden military uniform and held a similar black umbrella above her head. The young girl silently clenched her right fist and brought it up to her left chest in salute.
"Your majesty," she said, "you really should go back to the castle now. The memorial service is about to start."
"The young man turned his head around. He knew she would be coming. "Just a bit longer... I don't like to hang around with a bunch of hypocrites..."
"But your majesty," the girl replied, having dropped her salute, "you shouldn't be walking around in the streets alone. You're not just another person, you know."
"I know Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel), I just... needed some time alone..." He turned back to the pedestal, his mind deep in thought. "Grouchy old man... All he does is give me the face... I don't think he ever smiled in his life... and yet..." As he spoke, a small tear rolled down his cheek. The man tried hard to hold back any more tears. Nothinh, he felt, was worse than a man breaking down.
"You do not need to hold it back, your majesty," said the concerned officer, "if you need to..."
"It's OK, Oberstleutnant Yagami. I'll be going back now..."
The officer stared on at the man with worry. This was a man forced to stand as a god to his people in their hour of darkness. A man who literally led the fight on the front-lines against his advisors' wishes. A man who lost almost everything the day his parents and grandfather was killed in the twisted web of political intrigue. He may be an emperor, but he is still human, one weary on the constant tragedy unfolding around him.
"Jahowl, mein Kaiser," said the girl, as she began escorting the emperor out of the memorial grounds.
.