4 - Caelum

4 - Caelum

I take a deep breath. The pre-dawn air is my favorite thing. It’s clean and crisp no matter the season and it isn’t tainted by the work going on in the kingdom. The bakery and restaurants haven’t started their morning ovens. No one is driving across the territory. I can hear the farmers beginning to get equipment out which will give the air a taint of diesel within the hour. The castle is about to start waking up and running like the machine it is. We don’t have any current guests so the pomp and circumstance can be left out for the first time in a long time. Copyright ©️ 2026 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions

Working with my father has shown me much of the world. I see how Lycans, Werewolves, Witches, Warlocks, Vampires and other creatures navigate the world amongst humans. We are all superior to their weak and frail little bodies, but what they lack in natural strength and abilities they make up for in fear and retaliation. That fear has spurred some of the most advanced weaponry we know and we have all found it is easier if humans do not know of our existence. That doesn’t mean we ignore the ingenuity they have brought us. Electricity instead of magic to power lights, advanced farming and construction methods have brought an abundance to our world as well as theirs. My father and ancestors have worked har to preserve the castle while keeping up with modern amenities and it has yet become an eyesore or hindrance. The old world charm of the castle remains because of modern technology and preservation. Our vast rooms and stone work haven’t lost the charm they had more than three hundred years ago. I usually skip the elevator running the center of the royal family wing and take the long winding staircase so I can enjoy the sunrise and the quiet.

Night Song Keep has been hosting visitors from Lycan packs for the last three months. Some just show up and others make arrangements. My mother is too polite to turn anyone away. At least the royal family’s quarters are at the opposite end of the castle from the guest quarters.

I take one last deep breath appreciating the colors of the sunrise on the reflecting pool in the courtyard and head back to my desk. I choose the most urgent of the tasks I have left this morning and take them down with me. Thaddeus will have an agenda that I can’t wait to mess up, or attempt to anyway.

“All ready at it this morning sweetheart?” My mother coos, kissing my head as she walks past.

“Good morning, Mother. I don’t know if I will ever get used to this part of the job. The never ending paperwork is insane.” I say not looking up, signing another document giving the go-ahead for assistance in a pack dispute. At least most of the requests come in as a precaution to avoid any kind of argument. Wolves can be aggressive in a way lycans aren’t. They are ruled by emotions and start fights over the smallest things. I think that’s why the Moon Goddess created lycans, to mediate over werewolves and keep them from exposing the supernatural world to the humans.

Next is a treaty with vampires who want to open a blood bank near a human village. This has been the latest trial in overcoming their affinity for human blood. Humans are paid for their donation and vampires get fresh blood and there is a lot of profit in it for us.

“You know, your father once believed that he could solve a week’s worth of problems before breakfast.” my mother quips and i smile, still looking at the fine print on the bloodbank agreement.

“And did that work for him?” I ask.

“No. He simply skipped breakfast. That is until we had you.” I give her my full attention and smile. “Then you both skipped breakfast together.” I laugh this time.

“One more mother and then you will have my undivided attention.” I grab the last document. This one is a pack report. All packs in our kingdom send monthly reports of births, deaths, matings and pack transfers. There isn’t much to do with the information, but it help with demographics and my father loves a good spreadsheet.

“Your highnesses.” A guard calls from the door. A visitor from House Vale.” His tine is formal, but Bertram’s smile tells me he’s enjoying my annoyance. This pompous asshole lives in the castle and finds some reason to ‘speak’ to my father daily. He is currently visiting, so my mother and I have been the lucky recipients of his attention.

“Be nice.” My mother whispers, buttering toast. “He may enter Bertram.” She calls out.

“I am always nice!” I whisper back as the man himself walks down the long hall. He stops next to my mother and across from me. I won’t acknowledge him. Not yet. Some people need to sweat just a little. My mother won’t force it either. It’s not a submissive thing, she knows the game I am playing. She taught me well.

I set the last folder aside and look at him. “What can we do for you today, Thaddeus?”

“One of the Southern packs has become ambitious.” He hands me a letter that has clearly been read many times. The creases are permanent, and yet the paper flops open in my hands. Has he been sitting on this information? Or did it arrive like this? “There are suggestions of information being used as leverage, your Highness.” He hates using my title since I am not the king, but with my father away, my mother and I rule in his stead, there is no choice.

“Has my father been notified?” I ask re-reading the letter. If he hasn’t been made aware there is some duplicity going on based on the state of this letter.

“Not yet, sire.” Copyright ©️ 2026 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions

Something is off in his tone, but I don’t detect a lie. “I’ll handle it.”

“Of course, your Highness.” His bow is to my mother, not to me, but I won’t rise to his childish games. The man is almost a century old, if he wants to behave like a brat so be it.