Ancient Empire Calendar, Year 1835
The Southern Lands had been under occupation by the Kislavein and Ashterah armies for a year.
Those who resisted the occupations were destroyed; those who surrendered kept their lives, property, and titles.
In the year 1835 of the Ancient Empire Calendar, the three invading armies gathered before the walls of Mah-Ehrem, the central and holy city of the Arfas Dynasty.
The number of invading soldiers was one and a half million.
At their head was Krael II Kislavein, the Conqueror of the Central Lands and the Northern Lands.
As always, Ricardo was at the very front of his army.
The entire army stood ready, awaiting the order to attack that would come from Ricardo's lips.
They all knew that after this battle, the Kislavein Dynasty would become the second empire to rule the Five Lands since the Ancient Empire.
Benjen was tired of waiting.
"Dynasty Lord, what are we waiting for? Please give the order and let us complete the conquest of the South."
Ricardo gestured, commanding everyone to be silent.
The silence was broken by the opening of the gates of the city of Mah-Ehrem.
"Are they surrendering?" asked Rogan.
"That would be the logical thing. They have nothing to gain from fighting, after all," said Marco Ashterah.
From the city gates emerged a 12-year-old girl. From their attire and the soldiers accompanying them, it was clear that those with her were important persons.
They walked and came before Ricardo, kneeling and bowing their heads.
"Who are you?" asked Ricardo.
The little girl replied.
"My name is Aishe Arfas. I am the Dynasty Lady of the Arfas Dynasty."
Ricardo was surprised.
"A child has ascended the throne of the Arfas Dynasty?" he said.
The little girl nodded.
"My brother Jamshid had no son. As his only surviving sibling, I ascended the throne."
"Then why didn't the Arfas Dynasty dissolve itself in accordance with Ancient Traditions?" asked Ricardo.
The little girl, displaying intelligence beyond her years, gave a logical explanation.
"Because if we had dissolved ourselves while the wars and occupations continued, we would have broken what little fighting spirit remained in our people. We know this is against Ancient Traditions, but we had to make difficult decisions during wartime."
Ricardo was impressed by the little girl's intelligence.
"You're right. Difficult times require difficult decisions, and difficult decisions require strong wills. So tell me, what are your terms of surrender?"
Aishe Arfas replied.
"Someone of Arfas lineage will rule the Southern Lands and will marry one of your daughters. You will harm no one."
"These terms are acceptable."
An elderly man named Arash, the leader of the delegation accompanying Aishe Arfas, asked for permission with a gesture and joined the conversation.
"We offer our respects to the Kislavein Dynasty Lord. We have heard that in the lands you conquer, you take a wife from the Ancient Dynasties to gain legitimacy."
When Ricardo confirmed this, Arash continued his speech.
"She may be young in age, but the blood of all our Dynasty Lords flows in her veins. You could take our Dynasty Lady Aishe Arfas as a wife. This would grant you legitimacy."
Ricardo objected.
"She is still a child," he said.
Arash added.
"But she will grow up and become a young, beautiful woman."
Ricardo objected again.
"I will never marry a child the same age as my son."
Arash grew irritated by Ricardo's objections.
"So, you will not accept our bride? You cannot gain legitimacy without giving something in return."
Ricardo conceded that Arash's irritation was justified. If he accepted wives from everywhere but excluded the Arfas, it would be a great humiliation for these Southerners.
"If you have a member of your dynasty closer to my age, I will accept her. As for Lady Aishe, she can be the first wife of my son and sole heir, Richard," he said.
Arash and everyone in the delegation were quite pleased with this offer.
"This is even better. If our Lady becomes Lord Krael II's wife, even if she bears a son, our lineage cannot reach the Kislavein throne. But if she becomes the next Lord's first wife, then we will be closer to the Kislavein throne."
Aishe Arfas silently listened to the old, important men around her discussing and deciding upon her life. Inwardly, she was crying.
"Why is all this happening to me? Am I really going to marry the son of the man who killed my father and brothers? Why?"
At that moment, Aishe Arfas's nanny gently touched her shoulder.
When Aishe looked up, she met the eyes of her nanny, whom she saw as a mother.
"You must be strong, My Lady. I know your heart aches, but throughout history, there have been many women who married lords who were the killers of their families. You will be just one of them. I will always be by your side, but you must be strong and steadfast. You will have your revenge when your future son sits on the Kislavein throne and rules the Five Lands."
Though not consoled by her nanny's words, Aishe still tried to be strong.
That night, in the city of Mah-Ehrem, Kislavein and Ashterah soldiers celebrated their victory.
"VICTORYYYYY!"
"THANKS BE TO THE SPIRITS OF OUR ANCESTORS!"
"WE WOOOOON!"
"HURRRAAAAAA!"
As the celebrations continued, Arash brought two people before Ricardo: a man around thirty years old and a woman around forty.
Arash and the man and woman behind him knelt and bowed their heads.
When Ricardo signaled for them to rise, they stood and lifted their heads.
To introduce those behind him, Arash first looked at the man on his left.
"Dynasty Lord, this man's name is Kaveh Arfas. He is my son-in-law. He has shown great success in wars and in the governance of the Dynasty. He was elected by a majority vote in the meeting of Arfas Dynasty members."
Arash then looked at the woman beside him.
"This woman is my daughter, Parisa Arfas. She too was chosen by the vote of the Dynasty members to be presented to you as a wife."
Despite her age, Parisa was a slim and attractive woman, dark-skinned with sharp eyes.
"One is your son-in-law, the other your daughter. Tell me, Arash, was it also you who spoke for your Dynasty Lady Aishe? This situation draws my attention a little."
Arash admitted without objection.
"Nothing escapes your notice, Dynasty Lord. Yes, the strings of this Dynasty are in my hands. Thanks to you, all my rivals died in the wars. Now, the power in the Dynasty Council is in my hands, and of course, yours."
Ricardo laughed heartily.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Well, look at that! It seems this war benefited you the most. Very well, your name is Parisa, right? Did I kill your husband or children in the war?"
Parisa confirmed.
"Yes, my husband, my two sons, and my daughter-in-law were killed in the war by you or your soldiers."
Ricardo was suspicious of Parisa's gaze, which showed no trace of anger.
"I killed your husband, your sons, and your daughter-in-law, yet you don't seem very angry. Either you are a good actress, or you are an emotionless woman."
Parisa replied with cold-blooded calm.
"I never loved my husband. It was an arranged marriage. The man I wanted to marry was killed during the Western Campaign of the former Dynasty Lord, Hasan Arfas VI. My father forced me to marry that man. Every time he touched me, I felt as if I were being raped. When I became pregnant, I wanted to hang myself. I never wanted his children, never loved them. When I heard they were all dead, I was so happy I wanted to throw myself at your feet. As a token of my gratitude, I want to dedicate myself to you."
Ricardo was horrified by what he heard, and so was everyone else who witnessed this conversation.
"A complete psychopath. I have met many women in my life, but I have never seen one like her. One should fear people like her. However, to secure my legitimacy, I must marry this woman chosen by their Council."
Ricardo stopped thinking.
"Very well. Since you want to dedicate yourself to me, I accept. I will take you as my wife."
Parisa was overjoyed, butterflies practically fluttering in her stomach.
"I am grateful. You can be sure that I will bear your children and serve you faithfully."
Ricardo did not want to prolong this matter further, so he looked at Darius.
"Tomorrow, the Arfas Dynasty will be dissolved. Have you thought of a name for the new Dynasty you will establish?"
Darius confirmed.
"Yes, Dynasty Lord."
Ricardo asked.
"What will its name be?"
Darius replied.
"The Cyrus Dynasty."
Ricardo repeated.
"Cyrus... a good name. Then go and prepare for your coronation ceremony tomorrow."
Darius offered his respects one last time and withdrew.
The rest of the night was spent in celebration.