Chapter 2 The Final Banishment

The morning light was cold as two heavy guards pushed Kaelen’s wheelchair down the long hallway. Kaelen sat quietly, his hands resting on his lap. His trousers were clean now, but the humiliation of the banquet still felt fresh in the minds of everyone who saw him.

The guards stopped in front of the great doors of the audience hall. Without a word, they pushed the doors open and rolled Kaelen inside.

The room was vast and quiet. At the far end, sitting high up on a grand seat, was the Emperor. He was an older man with graying hair and a stern face, wearing a heavy crown. He was busy reading a scroll, not even looking up as his youngest son was brought to the center of the floor.

Standing to the right of the throne was Duke George Vance. He was a wealthy man with a thick beard and small, greedy eyes. He wore a fine velvet coat and smiled slightly when he saw Kaelen roll in.

The guards stepped back, leaving Kaelen alone in the middle of the empty room. For a long time, nobody spoke. The only sound was the rustle of the Emperor’s papers.

Finally, the Emperor lowered the scroll. He did not look at Kaelen’s face. Instead, his gaze fixed on the wheels of the chair.

"You caused a scene last night, Kaelen," the Emperor said. His voice was deep and completely devoid of warmth.

"I only attended the banquet to wish you a happy birthday, Father," Kaelen replied softly, keeping his voice humble.

"And you managed to turn my celebration into a circus," the Emperor said, his voice rising slightly. "A prince of this empire should inspire respect. Instead, you sit there like a broken toy, letting your brothers pour wine on you while the whole court laughs. You are an absolute embarrassment to the royal bloodline."

Kaelen lowered his head. "I am sorry, Father."

"Your apologies cannot fix your uselessness," the Emperor said coldly. "I have tolerated your presence in this palace for nineteen years out of pity. But a royal family cannot afford to harbor dead weight. Starting today, your royal allowance is completely gone. You no longer have a place in this capital."

Kaelen gripped the armrests of his chair. He knew this day would come. "Father, where am I supposed to go? Without an allowance, I cannot even pay for a servant to help me."

"You are going to the Border Town," the Emperor declared, waving his hand as if dismissing a piece of bad meat. "It is a lawless place. Perhaps the rough life there will teach you how to be a man, or perhaps it will finish you off. Either way, you leave the city before noon today."

Before Kaelen could reply, Duke George Vance stepped forward, bowing low to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty is most wise," the Duke said, his voice smooth and fake. "A troublesome prince must be removed. And concerning our little agreement from last night?"

The Emperor finally glanced at Kaelen, a cruel smile touching his lips. "Ah, yes. To ensure you do not wander back to the capital, I have arranged a marriage for you. Before you pack your bags, you will wed the eldest daughter of the Vance family."

Kaelen looked up, his eyes wide with terror. "Lady Aurelia? But Father, everyone knows she is... she deserves a true lord. Why force her to marry a cripple?"

"Because it is a punishment for both of you," the Emperor said plainly. "The Duke’s daughter has grown too proud, refusing every noble suitor in the capital. She thinks she is above every man. Let us see how her pride holds up when she is legally bound to a husband who cannot even stand."

Duke George chuckled, nodding his head. He did not care about his daughter’s happiness; he only cared about pleasing the Emperor to secure his own wealth and lands.

"A perfect match, Your Majesty. It will humble her completely."

"Bring her in," the Emperor commanded.

The doors opened, and a young woman walked into the hall. It was Lady Aurelia Vance. She was twenty years old, tall, and carried herself with absolute grace. Her long raven hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her violet eyes shined like rare jewels. She was breathtakingly beautiful, but her face was cold.

She walked past Kaelen without looking at him, stopping before the throne to bow.

"Aurelia," Duke George said, his voice strict. "The Emperor has spoken. You will marry Prince Kaelen today, and you will accompany him to his new home in the Border Town. Do you understand?"

Aurelia stood straight. She looked at her father, then slowly turned her head to look down at Kaelen. Her eyes searched his pale face, his plain clothes, and his useless legs. There was no sadness in her eyes, only deep disgust.

She did not argue with the Emperor. She knew it was useless.

"I understand," Aurelia said. Her voice was entirely devoid of emotion. She did not say a single word to Kaelen. She did not even acknowledge him as a human being.

"Good," the Emperor said, standing up from his throne. "The priest is waiting in the small chapel down the hall. A quick signing of the papers is all you get. After that, a carriage is waiting outside. Get out of my sight."

Ten minutes later, the legal papers were signed in a dark, empty chapel. No vows were exchanged, and no rings were given. It was less like a wedding and more like a funeral.

The guards pushed Kaelen out to the palace courtyard, where a small, old carriage was waiting. The horses looked tired, and the wood of the carriage was fading. It was a clear sign from the royal family that they wanted Kaelen to disappear.

The guards lifted Kaelen out of his wheelchair and practically threw him onto the hard seat inside the carriage. They folded his cheap wheelchair and strapped it to the back.

A moment later, the carriage door opened again. Aurelia stepped inside. She wore a simple dark dress now, having already changed out of her fine palace clothes. She sat on the bench directly opposite Kaelen.

The door slammed shut, and the carriage began to move, bumping against the road as it left the grand gates of the palace behind.

The silence inside the carriage was heavy. Kaelen looked out the small window, watching the grand buildings of the capital city slowly fade away. When he turned back, he saw Aurelia looking out the opposite window. She kept her arms crossed, her body leaning as far away from him as possible.

Kaelen sighed, this was his life and he had no say in it.