A smile was plastered on my face as I walked down the centre of the Main Hall, I couldn't keep it off my face as I took in the scandalised looks from the nobles and their daughters. Their looks intensified as their eyes fell on Xenia, who proudly strutted in front of me.

Xenia was another thing that caused them to shun me. Animalian women were told since even before birth to be ladies of refinement, many never walked outside their homes besides to go to the market or visit their friends. To many Animalians, if a male received a predator like a lion or a wolf as his spirit animal, he was praised. A female was praised if she got something of a gentler nature, such as a butterfly or doe. When I was paired with Xenia, the court went into an uproar, they told my mother I would never be a respected lady, instead, I would be a wild child, an embarrassment to the Drogonir name. They were right in that sense and I couldn't be happier, I saw the envy in the eyes of the Animalian women as I interacted openly with males and formed friendships with them, something that their families would be disgusted by.

I walked up to my seat on the raised platform, brushing my hand against the Sanrakhuskan, the fountain that acted as an indicator after the Great War. As long as the water that flowed down from the top remained clear, we were safe.

I saw the many eyes that followed me as I sat down on my throne, I smirked as I crossed my legs, exposing more of my legs, the audible gasps made my smirk widen.

"Seraphina, what joy do you get out of this?"

I feigned a look of innocence before my mother before looking at my nails.

"Oh, how we have degraded. We were once proud fierce warriors who won the Great War, now look at us. Still riding on the coat-tails of our past as we grow fat with wealth and excess, turning upon the people we once called our allies. The shifters and sirens tossed and treated like second-class while we put ourselves on a pedestal..."

"Seraphina hold your tongue."

Anci stamped her hooves again only to shrink back as Xenia growled at her. I twirled a lock of hair around my finger before sending a patronising look to my mother.

"Boilla, maya. Sataing shangdan, alma?

Her jaw clenched but the sound of trumpets interrupted whatever she wanted to say to me.

"Announcing the arrival of His Royal Majesty, King Damon Ozera Drogonir!"

The people stood up and bowed as my father walked down to us.

"Oh joy, here he comes."

I snarled at my mother as she pinched my side for my comment. My father walked up the stairs, his lion, Kava, following closely behind. He sat down on his throne, a large chair made from wood from the Great Oak, ornate with rubies and diamonds.

"My love."

He leaned over to press his lips against my mother's before reaching across her to reach for my hand that rested on the armrest of my throne.

"Seraphina."

I heard him and my mother sigh as I placed my hand on my lap instead, turning my face away so that I would not have to acknowledge him. Kava growled at my rejection, my hand flying to Xenia's fur as I felt her hackles raise.

My eyes lit up as the trumpets sounded again, everyone besides my parents stood up to bow to my brother. I barely contained a laugh as I watched him waddle down, his movements restricted by the many layers of cloth that he was stuffed into, his stag, Luco, strode proudly beside him, keeping his body close to my brother's in case he lost his balance. Luco had always been a sore point for me as Xavier never got any criticism for having a deer as a spirit animal, in fact he got praised for it as the nobles thought that this was a sign that he would become a gentle king. Nevertheless, my brother managed to walk down the entire stretch without stumbling before falling into a kneel before my father's throne.

I scowled as I saw the look of pride in my father's eyes, something that he rarely showed me. It might seem petty to be jealous of my brother that he had our father's affection, but it still hurt to remember that all the things I did, to train myself to be the best so that he would be proud was all for nothing as he threw those reports and letters into the fire, my heart crumbled like the paper in the fire.

"My dearest friends and family..."

I could barely hold back a scoff, these so-called 'friends and family' would have stuck a knife through my father if they could. The once famed 'Animalian comradery' now laid in tatters as the people grew hungrier for power.

"We are gathered here today to witness my son, Prince Xavier Orion Drogonir, became not just the new Chief General Commander of our mighty army, but also the Crown Prince of the Drogonir Empire."

Gasps were heard throughout the hall before it erupted into loud applause and cheers. My breathing stopped as I took in what my father just said, I shared a look with my brother, whose eyes were filled with regret and sorrow. He knew about this, he knew this would happen today and yet he never told me. He always said that he never wanted power and I believed him, I believed that he was the only one in my family that I could trust. I guess I was wrong.

Animalians never followed the tradition of passing the mantle to the oldest. We believed we had to prove our worth to our parents to ensure that the Drogonir Empire would have a strong leader who could bring it to greater heights. Now I see who our parents found worthy.

Xenia let out a small whine before brushing her nose against my hand. I looked down to see the crescents imprinted on the skin of my palm, I didn't even know how hard I was pressing into my skin till Xenia nudged my hand.

The applause seemed to last for an eternity before it stopped. I could barely contain my rage as I looked at the smug triumphant looks thrown my way by the various nobles of the court. This was their ultimate victory in my life, for now, it was finally thrown in my face that even my parents found me a disgrace.

"My son has never let me down, his victories in combat against the outsiders..."

I saw Anitha's eye twitch as my father continued speaking of my brother's victories against her people as well as all the others whose ancestors helped mine.

"He is and will be forevermore, a badge of honour to the Drogonir name."

The hall erupted with cheers again as my father embraced my brother, the look of pride shining on his face.

My father brought his hand up to shush them before walking up to retrieve the sword that sat on top of Sanrakhuskan. It was the sword that my ancestor wielded to kill the Great Serpent, Drakon, which brought peace to all the lands. Its name was Ratiska, hope, for it brought hope to the world. It was a simple thing, no jewels covered its hilt, its only decoration where the Ancient Animalian scrawl, that was so old that even I could not decipher it, ran up the blade.

My father picked it up from its pedestal before holding it in front of my brother. It was time for him to say his vows that would cement his position. The original ceremony was traditionally supposed to be in Ancient Animalian, but since our native tongue faded in popularity with the people, leaving only a handful who could speak it and even a smaller pool of those who could write it, we had to make a few adjustments.

"Xavier Orion Drogonir, do you promise to live your life, no longer for yourself, but for the people?"

"Tiate"

It had taken me weeks to drill that one word of Ancient Animalian into his thick skull.

"Xavier Orion Drogonir, do you promise to live your life justly, no matter how hard it might be?"

"Tiate"

"Xavier Orion Drogonir, do promise, if the time comes, to lay your life down for your people?"

"Tiate"

Yes, just for our people. Who cares about the shifters and sirens? It is not like they have ever spilt their blood to save us.

I started to zone out as more promises were made, Anci nudged my knee as she took in my vacant expression. I scowled at Xenia as she let out a bark of laughter.

"My dearest friends and family, I present to you Xavier Orion Drogonir, the Crown Prince..."

"Father, wait."

My eyes nearly fell out from their sockets as I watched my brother stand from his kneel. You could hear the disbelief in the air as he took the sword from my father's hands.

Gasps filled the air as he walked up to my throne. Shouts of indignation and anger took over as he placed the sword on my lap.

"What are you doing?"

"I can't do this anymore, Seraphina. Not to you."

*Boilla (Bo-il-la)- No

Maya (Ma-ya)- Mother

Sataing (Sa-ta-ing) shangdan (shang-dan), alma (al-ma)?- The truth hurts, doesn't it?

Tiate (Ti-a-te)- Yes