Thinking back, honestly, the space outside the room I was in before was not even one percent of this whole structure. I thought that room was big, but witnessing the outside changed the perspective entirely. How could he not think like that? The distance and time it took to even reach the Great Hall, located in the middle of the palace itself, took 10 minutes. The palace itself was such a magnificent show of architectural marvel, with every corner made and decorated with engraving. Looking up, those who walk in it could marvel at the height of the castle ceiling, which itself was almost equivalent to two houses standing on top of one another. Moreover, the corridor leading to the prince's bed chamber had many windows leading across the entire space of the corridor, and you could still see the garden outside the castle from there. Not to mention the numerous stairs that led to who knows where. But as eager as he was, he could not venture nor explore the palace; after all, he was but a human youngling.
Now, in front of the door separating the Great Hall from himself, was the Emperor Cedric, Eckhard's father. Nonetheless, from the look of it, he was already waiting in front of it for quite some time, wasn't he? He probably was busy spending the time before meeting them taking care of the ceremonious preparation, thought Eckhard whilst looking at his father from head to toe.
Moreover, his attire was the same as them, just a little more shiny, perhaps it was the aura of a grown human adult, yet none of the things awoke Eckhard's curiosity more than what awaited between this door and them.
This would be my first experience living among so many humans. Exciting!! Thought him, clearly looking forward to the occasion.
As his mother walked toward his father, "You look splendid, Cedric," she complimented him.
"Of course I would look great for both you and our son, Veen," he answered whilst taking one of her hands into his and kissing it.
Oho, Father refers to Mother in such a short name. This must be how humans talk to their spouse, thought Eckhard.
And thus, with one hand holding his beloved's hand, the King and the Queen entered the Great Hall through the double doors.
Wohoo, this is it! Eckhard screamed in enthusiasm in his mind.
And then….
Haih, this isn't what I thought it would be. Eckhard sighed, full of disappointment.
Ultimately, his expectation was met with disappointment. Not only was it not exciting, but it was also very boring, just a bunch of people who looked toward him and his parents, nothing more. At first, he was raised by his father, and then for some reason they all cheered. Then he was given to this guy who wore white all over his body; the emperor said he was the honored Sorcerer of sorts. Then he brought out a ball for him to touch. What did the ball do? It was, in fact, nothing but a glow, yet somehow people were even more excited after seeing it. I thought it was something special, but apparently it's just boring all over? Why bother arranging these then? I can touch balls in my room too? he thought.
Afterward, there was supposedly another ceremony, which was called a Royal Levee. Supposedly, it was the meeting between the new royal and the existing nobles. Thus, the first noble was a duke from the imperial capital.
"Greeting your Majesty and our little prince," an old man said while bowing in a weird manner.
"Drop the act, Duke Aldryn Veinheim," Eckhard's father said.
"Huh, you're still as detestable as ever, "Son-in-law,"" he replied, still bowing.
"Both of you…" it was the empress's voice; her voice instantly shutting both of them down.
"Sorry, my daughter," he apologized quickly while raising his head.
"Are you forgetting your grandchild, then?" the empress added again, still not satisfied.
"Of course not," he said while suddenly raising his hand.
And then two men came; with them was a box.
"What is this?" asked the emperor.
"I don't know what to give, either something for his age or something for his future, so… I brought both. One box contains 12 pieces of land, one box contains some magical tools and books. Isn't it perfect?" he said, smiling at both the empress and the prince.
"I appreciate it, father," the empress smiled back.
"Well, see you soon, grandchild," said him one last time before going back into the masses.
The crowd whispered among themselves after witnessing the duke and the emperor's interaction.
"Seems that the duke still doesn't like the emperor…" one of them whispered.
"Of course he would, the empress is his only child," one of them added.
So the old guy earlier is Mother's father... he doesn't seem to like my father though. What a stingy old man, still clingy to his daughter. Childish even, Eckhard thought.
After the interaction from the emperor and the duke, nothing exciting happened, just a regular session of attempts to get on the emperor's side. Moreover, some of the nobles took it so far as to offer their own daughters as the prince's playmates. Luckily, such attempts were noticed by the queen. Therefore, the queen brought herself to remind them to mind their words in front of her by giving the same look she had given to the duke and the emperor earlier.
Even I, without the prior knowledge about how this civilization works, find that to be disgusting. How could they use their own offspring like that? Why go to such lengths as getting a child if you're giving them away for free? That's greatly a waste and highly inefficient. Not to mention that such people as the empress would surely find that disgusting too, aren't they courting death? thought Eckhard.
Indeed, such a thing is disgusting—to use other human beings, moreover your own flesh and blood, for some benefit, is a disgusting act. Alas, such things aren't rare; in fact, it is commonly done in the world. While it's not necessarily done in the same way the nobles had done, it happens in some way. In fact, some adults use humans to do their bidding to attain something they couldn't. The children were mistaken as an extension of their own being, not an individual. Children are forced to do numerous things in their parents' name, leaving nothing to themselves.
After that came the emperor's speech.
"I, as the Emperor Cedric Rwindell, thank all of you for coming to this ceremony. Thus, let it be known from the capital of Rwindell Rowand to the very edge of Rwindell Mardis that the prince has been born. The prince from the love of me, Cedric Rwindell, and Queen Ravenna Veenheim!"
As the emperor's speech was done, the knights came one by one in front of the throne, forming a line, each of them carrying the seal of the noble house they were from. Thus, they kneeled in front of the royal family before chanting:
"Long live the Rwindell Imperial Family! Long live Prince Eckhard Rwindell!"
After that, the ceremony quickly wrapped up, and those nobles one by one went back to their home.