The Hidden Prince: A Dark Fantasy MM Romance (Ascension Book 1): Book 1 - The Ascension Trilogy by Lyra Thornton

Author:Lyra Thornton [Thornton, Lyra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-18T16:00:00+00:00

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“…as we celebrate seventeen years of the Ascended Empire.” Jasiel’s hands gripped the podium. “We can only hope that the Gods continue to bless us by extending the peace into the many centuries ahead of us. So we must continue to work together to make sure that the fallacies of the past never repeat themselves, evidence of which are displayed around the Exhibition this evening and for the weeks to come,” Jasiel recited.

He briefly gazed over the mass of the crowd so he did not have to see any of the guests’ faces. The lessons from last night guided his voice and pace, something he’d spent some of the morning practising further.

The presence of the Lord Ascendant to the side of the podium, along with the Councillors on the other side, kept him flanked within the highest ranking of the Realm. However, the reporters all crammed at the front made his stomach twist the most, knowing they were hanging onto every expression and every word to dissect to the public.

Now, he began the part which caused his stomach to lurch with conflict. “My family made many mistakes…” he trailed off, memory slipping as a bead of sweat trickled down his back.

Right now, he was supposed to reel off some facts about the ex-Royals which were displayed around the Exhibition. But what if his family saw this reported? They published their messages in the news pamphlets…if the messages about the kajura were real.

He had even rolled his sleeves up as a message just before getting onto the podium, in case someone was here—watching him from the Exhaltus. The exposure of his band in place would tell them that his words meant nothing, that his loyalty had kept his Mark hidden. At least he hoped so anyway…as it was a huge risk having his arms exposed right next to the person who shared his Mark.

Surely that would speak volumes more than any words he could utter. They had made mistakes, and if his parents took back power…he could not let them repeat the past.

“Mistakes which cannot be made again,” he continued, breaking from the script. “I did not know the excess in which my family spent during their reign on such extravagant and useless parties, which entertained the elite of society whilst the Atilan River ran dry through Empyria and the crops failed in their droves. All I can do is apologise for the destruction which was carried out under my family’s name.” He paused, swallowing the lump in his throat.

The notes in front of him wavered a little, but he straightened his back and looked at the sea of faces before him.

“But Empyria looks so ethereal from my bedroom window here in the Palace. The snow on the top of the mountains shines like jewels in the Yule sunlight and I try to wake up as early as I can to watch the fishing boats leave the harbour to travel out to sea. I always pray to Nereus for their safe return and that they bless the boats with heavy loads to bring back to the markets.

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