The light was still dim and Nakito von Sahlert asleep when he heard a knocking at his door.

  He had dark blonde hair, blue eyes and pale skin. His build was slim and athletic, his facial features fine, those of a noble.

  "W-who's there?" Mumbles Nakito, slowly opening his eyes. He sits in his bed, looking around. The sun shines through the big window on his right, red sunlight covering his white, stone ground. On his left are bookshelves with books of his favorite philosophers, lawyers and famous nobles.

  On the front was the door to the hallway, made of oak wood. "It's me, Johnson, your servant, sir." Johnson is the servant of the family von Sahlert. A kind man who is very loyal to the family. "I was put on to tell you to go downstairs. It's already 9 am and the family is waiting for you at the breakfast table."

  Then he leaves. Alright, time to get ready, Nakito sighs.

  He puts on his fine white shirt, his dark blue silk robe with the family emblem, a badge, pinned on it, a red dragon on blue ground, also white socks and black trousers.

  Time to go down. The young man opens the door, walks down the old, wooden stairs to the ground floor and then heads right to the dining hall.

  "Your late, my son" His father says as a greeting. Duke Thomas Sahlert is a chubby, pale man with a round face, wearing a silk robe. He is a resolute man and very easy to anger. As the head of one of the noble houses of Lorrain, the kingdom of mankind, a lot of weight rests on his shoulders. Often the love for his children got suppressed by said burden.

  On his left is his wife, Dutchess Kathleen Sahlert. She wears a red and blue silk dress, her long brown hair bound to a bun. She isn't as high born than her husband, but her family, vassals of the von Sahlert family, owned a lot of land in Silesia.

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  Next to her is Sarah Sahlert, Nakito's younger sister. Long blonde hair, tender facial features, a lady, yet ambitious beyond that. She never understood why girls couldn't be heirs to noble families. She studies hard, always trying to earn appreciation by her father, but she never gets any, just because she's female. That's why she hates Nakito and there is a big rivalry between them. Whatever Nakito does, she must do it better.

  Opposite to her sits Anne Sahlert, the youngest of the three. Brown, curly hair, playful and full of energy, eager to prove herself. She is playful yet spoiled and struggles with playing the role of a lady even more than Sarah does. Anne is looking down at her plate, angry. She had been caught by the guards last night, trying to sneak out of the house.

  Under the table, there lay Astor, the shepherd of the family.

  Nakito goes around the table and sits down, on the right of his father. "You're late, didn't you hear our father?" bickers Sarah. *And another happy family morning* thinks Nakito. "I did hear him...I am sorry father" mutters he. "I practiced for a very long time for the new year's tournament today." The new year's tournament starts on the 1.1 every year, to find the strongest fighter in Lorrain.

  "Oh, you plan on taking part? That's good son...our family should be represented" *Thomas nods proudly*.

  "But father! I will take part too!"

  Calls Sarah in between. Her parents started laughing. "Oh nononono, you won't, little girl" Chuckles her mother.

  "That wouldn't be very ladylike, would it?" Sarah's face turns red. Nakito, already seeing the conflict coming, has eaten up his food as fast as possible. "I am done father, and I would like to prepare myself, watch my opponents..."

  "Yes, of course. We will be there in about an hour too...I hope you bring honor to the family" The duke says, looking sternly in his son's eyes:

  "The other noble houses are competing as well. We can't allow ourselves to look weak, not in general, and especially not during these times. They are scheming...the king doesn't seem to notice, but I do. Bad times lie ahead. You will either be a strong heir...or none."

  "I will win, father" Promises Nakito, as he turns around, leaves the hall and shortly after the house too.