Appendix 2: Fate Of Antheria

APPENDIX 2: FATE OF ANTHERIA

Lanfeinne returned to the capital of Antheria. He had planned to return to the throne as prime minister once again after knowing the capital survived the cultist attack. He knew he wouldn’t be welcomed there, but he has money. Money he pilfered from the kingdom’s treasury. Without it, there is no way Antheria would be able to rebuild the kingdom.

He didn’t know Altressia had abandoned the throne. There was no news whatsoever of her formally abdicating the throne. Altressia was the sole heir of the Antheria empire. The nobles on top wanted to cover her existence as much as possible and ruled from the shadows. As long as they had her seal, which they plundered from Lilianne’s corpse, they could make a royal decree. That’s why the news of Altressia’s forfeiting the throne was hidden even from Lanfeinne. Deep down, they knew Antheria was finished. Antheria had no royal heir. The queen had abandoned them. Moreover, even if she returned, she would unquestionably deliver the curse Lilianne cast upon them. The nobles would surely be executed along with their house.

When Lanfeinne met one of the nobles and knew what happened in the castle, his brow didn’t even twitch. He smiled at his good luck. He knew these nobles didn’t have any claim to the throne. And so, he claimed it upon himself the position of the caretaker of the throne. A position that was entrusted to the deceased Lilianne.

Nevertheless, he underestimated the greedy nobles below him. The curse that was cast upon them was strong. They will never be trusted nor will they trust others anymore. None will bow before them nor will they bow before anyone.

And so, Lanfeinne passed. Killed in his sleep by assassins sent by frightened nobles. All they needed was but a mere whisper about how Lanfeinne had abandoned the capital in their times of need and how much riches Lanfeinne had from the national treasury. These nobles wouldn’t dare to blatantly kill anyone of their rank for they had blood ties to each other before. However, after their betrayal with the Royal Guards, they now lived in paranoia. They fear anyone above them will deliver the judgment they are due. For who wanted a subject as evil as they? They will surely be cast out and burned for the crimes they did.

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Nevertheless, it was nigh-impossible to steal from a wolf. Lanfeinne had hidden his riches not in his house, but in a secret compartment in a secret room in an emergency tunnel the royals built for escape. The tunnel was a winding maze, not even the royals had a complete map of it. It fused with the capital sewers and took a winding turn here and there.

None knew the location of his treasure but Lanfeinne and Lanfeinne had brought the secret to his grave. He didn’t even tell his kin, who was later tortured to death for the information of the treasure. And so, all of those gold cups, jewels, silk and silver in the secret room were reduced to their inherent value. They are no different from dirt, or rocks on the field enjoyed by no one but rats and bugs.

The nobles could not decide who among themselves who shall be the new king. And thus, they formed a council of dukes. It was made to discuss Antheria's future policy. However, it was a council merely in name. They did not trust anyone nor did they care. All they cared about was their own territory, their own power. The council of dukes soon lost its members for they did not respect nor care for it. All they cared about was their own. Craving for power, the nobles even tried to sabotage the council for their own gain. However, you couldn’t steal anything from something that has nothing. And so, they starved and failed together.

Aelaranthae had similar thoughts before, minus the greed and subversion. The immaterial power they called politics. Yet they realized that such power was inherent to one person. Aelaranthae did not care nor want it before. However, they now care. For they had been beaten by such power. The nobles who did not understand will not grow. These nobles will never become great. Their territory will remain small. Their riches will not grow. For these immaterial power was an anomalous. It was a power that even the goddess did not understand.

Thus is the fate of Antheria. The faded empire. This great empire will be broken into five dukedoms later, when the council has proved to be ineffective. These dukedoms will forever be cursed into obscurity. Even until their heir took over, the mark of legal bandits will be etched unto their name. Whispered by merchants and lords alike.