The trio made their way back from the Sunspire Fields, the gold of the shrine still
shimmering in their minds. As they entered the cool, echoing hallways of the palace,
they ran into Sora and Sparta, who were moving with the brisk eficiency of men who
actually had jobs to do.
Upon seeing the princes, the two subordinates stopped instantly and ofered deep,
disciplined bows. "A pleasure to see the First and Second Princes," Sora said, his
eyes bright. "May we ask where you've been wandering this fine morning?"Ryuki immediately jumped in front of Snowman, waving his arms like a frantic
windmill. "Hey! I'm here too! Don't I get a greeting? Ask about me!"
Sora blinked, looking past Ryuki's head. "Oh, Ryuki. Didn't see you down there. Sorry,
were you saying something?"
"I'm a master of shadows!" Ryuki shrieked, his face turning a comical shade of
green-red. "How can you not notice me?!"
Leo ignored the goblin's tantrum and looked at the subordinates. "We've just returned
from the Capital Shrine. We went to visit the High Priestess."
Sparta raised an eyebrow, his lizard-kin scales catching the light. "The Shrine? It's
rare for youth to seek the divine so early in the day. What was the occasion?"
"Little brother had some doubts about the world," Leo explained.
Sora turned to Snowman with a gentle smile. "And did you find what you were looking
for, Second Prince? Are your doubts cleared?"
Snowman gave a small, appreciative nod, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"The story of the Dragons was beautiful... but I still have things I don't understand."
"Tell me," Sora said, leaning in. "I'll do my best to answer anything that troubles you."
"I want to know how an Empire actually works," Snowman said, his voice quiet. "How
is it organized? Who is in charge of who?"
The hallway went silent for a moment. Ryuki, Leo, Sora, and Sparta all shared a look
of surprise. It wasn't the kind of question a ten-year-old usually asked while hunting
for snacks.
"You want to know the hierarchy?" Sora asked. He cleared his throat, glancing at Leo.
"I'll try to explain the structure, though I'm just a student of the blade. Prince Leo,
stop me if I'm inaccurate."
Leo nodded, and Sora began to map out the world with his hands. "An Empire is
fueled by the hard work of millions, but it is steered by those at the top. At the First
Rank sits the Emperor or Empress—the ultimate authority. Under them, in the Second
Rank, are the two Kings who manage the vast territories. Each King is supported by
two High Archdukes at the Third Rank."
Sora's expression became more focused as he continued. "Below them, each High
Archduke oversees three Dukes, who hold the Fourth Rank. Each Duke manages four
Lords at the Fifth Rank. Then come the Royal Knights at the Sixth Rank, and finally,
the City Guards at the Seventh. This chain of command exists to protect the civilians
and maintain the peace."
"So boring!" Ryuki groaned, clutching his head. "Rank this, Duke that... can we just
go inside and eat something already? My brain is melting!"
No one answered him. All eyes were on Snowman. The boy had gone very still, his
gaze fixed on the floor.
"So..." Snowman finally spoke, his voice tinged with a deep, quiet sadness. "Is it
because of all that? Because of all those ranks and responsibilities... is that why he
forgot about me and Mother? Was he too busy running the world?"
The air in the hallway turned freezing. Sora, Sparta, Leo, and even Ryuki answered in
a chilling, perfectly synchronized union. Their voices weren't loud, but they were cold
as the void.
"No," they said together. "He's just lazy and hates taking responsibility.