Chosen Bride of the Seven Dark Princes

It was almost midnight in Erenveil and yet, the Second Prince was still standing by the fireplace within his study, staring into the flickering flames.

The warmth of the fire kept his mind anchored to the reality that he had suddenly found himself. This was one of the most explosive days in his entire life.

There had been so many things that had been revealed to him that he could barely hold onto his humanity.

There was the surety and steadfastness of his deep love for Candace. There was also the pride of finally being able to announce to the world that he was a legitimate Crown Prince who had been born to an Avgo winner, no less.

And intermingled between these two shining thoughts was the sublime satisfaction of seeing his mother's opponent finally ousted from her position.

All these things kept flashing through his mind in succession, making him dizzy at times.

"Have the visions appeared from the flames? Have you seen any way out of this dilemma you've created for yourself?" A voice called out from within the room.

Dante smiled.

"Don't you ever announce yourself when you come to visit, Father?"

"I didn't think parents had to ask permission to see their child." Another voice called out.

Mother!

Dante's eyes lit up and he turned around.

There, in the flesh, was his own parents. This was no visual or 3D call. They were really here!

The Emperor's raven black hair and stormy violet eyes contrasted greatly with his white and gold royal robes.

Standing next to him was the ethereal Anastasia, looking even more lovely than she did the last time he saw her at the Royal Ball. She was also dressed in the full white and gold royal robes that matched Father's.

Dante's eyes glistening with unshed tears as he caught the dull glimmer of the Empress crown on her head, resting on her long blue hair as if it had always been there.

Finally. After so many years, Mother had finally been able to take her rightful place as Empress of Erenveil.

He made his way to the both of them and held out his hand.

Mother ignored it and reached out with her entire body, enfolding him into her arms.

She was a tall Nymphalidaen woman but Dante was a full five inches taller than she was. Nevertheless, there was no doubt he was still the young child she cared for.

His body shrank into hers as he rested his head on her shoulder while she rubbed his back. It was as before, when she was comforting her only child.

"I was expecting to speak with at least one of you tonight, but I did not expect for you to be here personally." He whispered softly into her neck.

"It was important." The Emperor responded in his deep gravelly voice.

"We needed to discuss this very important situation with you and it must be done in person. This is in regards to the position of Crown Prince."

"Byron..." Dante sighed and paused.

He did not know what to say. The position of Crown Prince was always something he knew should have been his, but when he thought about Byron, it had always given him pause.

Byron was his blood brother. That fact had never changed.

"Byron has told us he will step down from the position. It is now your mantle to pick up, and in fact, you must do it." The Emperor's eyes were grave.

"The Empire cannot be without a Crown Prince. If something were to happen to me tomorrow, it would be chaos."

He reached out with both hands and placed them on Dante's shoulders.

"We need to ensure a calm and peaceful succession of the throne by someone powerful enough to maintain the stability of the Empire."

"Is there any way for him to keep the Crown Prince title?" Dante asked.

Although he knew it was his title by rights, it still felt as if he was robbing it from his brother.

Anastasia looked up at him, her bright green eyes, the color of glass.

"You are my son. If I am to be Empress, you must be the Crown Prince. There can be no other way."

The Emperor cleared his throat.

"I have been grooming you to take over the throne for your entire life, Dante. You are the only one I can trust to do this."

Dante looked at his father, confused. "I don't understand."

"Son." The Emperor laughed. "Why do you think I've been steering you into the role of controlling the vast riches of the galaxy?" The Emperor's violet eyes sparkled like amethysts.

"Power—real power—comes from the ability to make things happen and do what must be done for your voice to wield the power it needs to be an Emperor. People must quake at the sound of your voice."

He held out his hands in a grand gesture.

"To you, my son, I have bequeathed the real power of the Emperor's throne."

Dante took a deep breath. He knew much of what he had initially been able to attain had been with the Emperor's assistance and at his Father's direction and guidance.

He had always thought it was because Father felt guilty about not being able to treat Mother as the Empress she truly was and this was the way for him to assuage his guilt.

It was the first time he had heard his father come out and state with finality that he had been groomed to take over the throne.

Dante swallowed a huge lump that was forming within his throat. He didn't want to cry again but he could not help himself.

The Emperor cleared his throat and patted him on the back awkwardly.

This son of his had always been the most sensitive child. Who ever heard of a sensitive Emperor?

He had to toughen up his son a bit more. Teach him how to laugh and be boisterous when emotions bogged him down.

"But what will happen to Byron?"

Anastasia turned her green eyes and gazed at her son.

"He is still your brother. That will never change. However, as an illegitimate child of a woman who has been divorced from her husband, he will be stripped of the title of Prince of Erenveil and be given a lesser title of Duke…unless I agree to adopt him as my child."

Dante sighed. So Marissa had gotten a belated divorce for having a child out of wedlock, and Byron would have to step back into that big mess.

"Please adopt him, Mother." Dante stated baldly.

Anastasia gave him a hard stare.

"His mother and aunt have treated us like trash and lesser beings all through your childhood and that treatment has never changed a bit, even after you grew up."

She eyed him with a searching glare.

"Are you sure you want to give quarter where none was given to you?"

Dante shook his head.

"That was Clarissa and her sister. Byron never treated me badly. Sure, he was a bit pompous and arrogant at times, but he's like that with all the brothers, and only because he thought he was the eldest brother."

Anastasia nodded. She had taught him well.

"Understand that even if I adopt him, he has forfeited the Crown Prince title. Although he will still hold the title of Prince, he will not be able to succeed the throne since an adopted child cannot take the Crown Prince title."

Dante nodded.

That meant Dante himself would be Crown Prince, and Lucas would, in turn, be the Second Prince, with the rest of the Princes changing their succession numbers.

Those numbers in front of their titles were important designations because they denoted the placement in the line of succession to the throne. If something were to happen to him, Lucas would be the next Emperor of Erenveil.

Suddenly the thought of the shy, extremely handsome Prince taking over Father's throne made Dante laugh.

Lucas was the least capable of them all to be Emperor and yet, he was next in line right behind Dante.