<div style="text-align: center"><i>Lysandria has found itself in a slow decline in the last three decades. A great war had ravaged the land as the Church of Athwan waged war on neighboring countries with the power of the crown behind it. Though it had been a power play, the common people were too devote, where the nobles weren't but the need to keep a stable country was too great for the last King to deny the Church its war, or its representatives pushing and enforcing laws they wanted. This of course was the down fall of the royal family, it brought purest nobles down on their heads, nobles who followed the countries old ways before the Church became so powerful, when old gods held power. When magic wasn't seen as a darker force when not guided by Athwan's light.<br/>
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One night brought great and devastating change on Lysandria. A group of old powerful nobles had the royal family assinated, with the intentions of the ring leader from the House of Crerelli taking the throne. However, the late King had a trusted adviser who was of the second most wealthy and powerful House in the country and he made a power move taking the throne public and clear and the people supported him. The noble houses had no choice but to fall in line with the Duke of Caspian, the people spoke and with them the Church sided with him, after all the Duke was a devote man.<br/>
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Upon his death his only child, Lady Violet, took the Regents throne to continue to rule until she had a worthy heir, for women only held power men allowed them. With her son being but a child at the time her power came from him. Under her care the people didn't suffer much, but the kingdom began to decline, other countries sought to take power and land from Lysandria with a woman on the throne. When the young Duke Nikolas Caspian took rule a few years back he tightened the borders, but the weakness made the nobles restless and seeking control once more. They make moves in the Grand Council to stop laws passing to help the people and flourish trade, seeking the upper hand with bribes, trade, and deals. Something the Caspian Duke tries to avoid mixing in best he can for the betterment of the country, for he doesn't want to be beholden to anyone, a puppet ruler.<br/>
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Though the Court has been sent in an uproar of late when news came that one of royal blood coming back to take power and once more rule. It has been said the Late Princess Jessamine who had been just blessed with child before the attack escape and stayed hidden, birthing the only Heir to the Lysandrian throne.....</i>​</div><br/>A heavy sigh passed slightly parted lips as an index finger and thumb gently pinch the bridge of his nose. For a handful of long second the dark behind closed eyes was a blessing from the Gods, old and new. A throat clearing to his right however destroys that beautiful illusion. Slowly thick lashes part revealing lavender colored eyes which lightened as he adjusts to the sun coming in through the windows at his left. Those unique eyes turn on to the tall red haired man beside him who looked sorry for the news he bore as he lifted the letter in hopes of having it taken from his hands. Delaying the issue just a moment longer long pale fingers sifted through long raven waves as Nikolas pushed his free flowing hair from his face.<br/><br/>"I had hoped to avoid this a few more months, I did not expect the problem to travel so swiftly," smooth tones drawled as at long last those elegant fingers pulled the rolled paper from the red haired man. Said redhead gave a one shouldered shrug of his broad shoulders. He stroked his neatly trimmed ginger beard as a hand rested on the worn pummel of his sword. "Wish I could tell you otherwise Your Grace," he didn't even sound bothered by it. Then again Vincent Bramble had been over this issue several times with Niko in the last two months since word reached the capital of Lysandria and cause near hysteria in the Grand Council.<br/><br/>Things had been rocky of late and to know that the government was to only become more unstable and Niko was a perfectionist who took each failure to stabilize and fix the issues in the Court and kingdom personally. To know that the large amount of power he held now would be taken when some stranger shows up, well, its been stressful. Vincent could only prey that this 'King' was worthy.<br/><br/>"Right well, return to your post, I want you personally there when they reach our gates, escort them. Only allow your most trusted guards around them until I get the chance to meet him and we can establish a protection detail for him. Last thing I need is one these bull headed nobles murdering some naive fool on our doorstep and the common people thinking Athwan is punishing us for our sins or some wildness like that. If he dies I'll have you hung by your testicles Vincent,", Niko informed him as he briskly left his study to head to his mothers rooms. Mother must know she was good for calming his nerves, by tomorrow the Palace would house the King once more and it was the worse news that could have ever been told.....<br/><br/>News via one of Vincents messenger boys came 3 hours ago, the day after their chat in the study, that 'new king' had arrived. In that time Lady Violet made sure her personal ladies attended the travelers to get washed up, some rest and safe food. She watched as he son fussed over his appearance, an ease source for his frustrations as he waited to go meet this strange man he would need to protect and turn into a rightful king. Still young at 33 he was fine young man, lean and tall, standing just short of six feet. He was no solider, a scholar, politician, and noble. His very posture demanded attention and awareness of his power and birthright, back straight, a sort of easy dancers grace to every motion. Today he looked fine in black and purple, clean black boots, black pants, a long sleeved black shirt that fitted his lean figure well, a deep dark purple sleeveless coat over it all with silver buttons in chase he chose to close it reached the back of his calves. He was striking, princely. She gave a sad little smile before standing and crossing the room to the mirror as he tugged his lapels straight. She picked up a brush from her vanity and used it to pull half his hair back from his striking unique eyes and tied it off with a leather thong. Her blue eyes met his violet ones in the mirror from over his shoulder as she ran comforting hands over his arms. "All will be well my Son. The kingdom has you looking out for it. Now stop fussing and go meet your new Lord,", she said pushing him towards her door to make him leave.<br/><br/>Niko offered his mother a smile and bowed deeply to her making her giggle before he left her. He pushed back all thoughts and doubts as he headed for the rooms Vincent said he set the new king in. Best he was the first to truly meet the man. Stopping outside the door the guard knocked for him and waited for a response before opening it for the Lord Regent to enter the room, making a point the close it behind him. The moment Nikolas stepped into the suite his eyes scanned the room for this stranger in his home, wanting to see who this man could possibly be.