Your Benevolent King O' Moths

Noble Six: Do I even weigh anything to you?

Jorge: ...No, it"s like holding a couple of grapes.

Thank you so much for the ask! I had SO much fun answering this one!

Character: Zagan Dandridge | Series: Gods Inside My Inkpot

"What does Zagan's day in the palace look like?"

Morning

Zagan's day starts at sunrise each morning. He wakes up to the golden sunlight blessing his room, reflecting off the many glistening and jewelled objects in his chambers. He personally requested that he be awakened by his Knight and First Attendant, Azazel (belongs to @moffkyng), every morning. He is woken by a gentle kiss to his head, and his hair played with, then a kiss to his lips. Once he is awake enough, Azazel will summon Zagan's personal attendants to help him ready himself for the day.

Azazel will brew his favourite lavender tea, while Zagan selects through various outfits, presented on silver trays by his servants, which are suitable for the day ahead. For days that fall on religious holidays or public events, he doesn’t have a choice in what he wears. His clothes are chosen for him by his father or the High Priests in the Temple. While his face is washed, and his hair is oiled and brushed, Azazel will review and inform him of his schedule for the day. Sometimes Azazel will tell him stories of his travels or his life as King of Serubia, as Zagan can quickly grow restless sitting still.

The first event of the day is, of course, breakfast. Unlike previous generations, the current Dandridge family all take their breakfast together. In the warmer months, they take a light breakfast in the gardens. During the winter, the servants will open the private eating hall for the family. Fires are lit to heat the cold flagstones, and the table is decorated with seasonal flowers and symbols of resilience and endurance. His Highness Morax will then send his servants to his children's chambers when he is ready for their company. As High Father Nithe was banished to the Temple of Heavenly Piety, his company is only requested on public holidays or religious events. Morax is the head of the table, sitting upon an ornate throne. The only other person who sits on a throne is Zagan, though it is simpler in comparison to Morax’s.

The family will enjoy a hearty breakfast, discussing various current events, public opinions, and their personal lives. Zagan is usually served an assortment of yoghurts, cereals, pastries, and fruits, as he doesn’t like to eat much in the early hours. The others normally dine on many meats and breads to start their mornings. Once over, the other children dismiss themselves, while Zagan stays behind. Each morning, Morax will teach Zagan a new lesson on what it means to be the King. Whether it be asking how he would handle hardship, the order of importance of daily tasks, or how to rule in line with the Three’s teachings. Once the instruction is over, Morax will request Zagan to play an instrument for him to measure how his proficiency as a bard is progressing.

The rest of Zagan’s morning is frequently spent attending lessons. Some bore him immensely, such as finances and etiquette. Though dictations about geography, spellcasting, and botany are among his favourites. Some of his lessons are taken in his private quarters with a personal tutor. Others, he learns at Celion’s most prestigious private school. The majority of the attending students are the children of the Royal Court, or the Royal Families of other nations. Zagan has many friends here and immensely enjoys these lessons.

Afternoon

After a light lunch, his lessons continue. The afternoon is dedicated to physical training, such as long-distance running, sword fighting, and horseback riding. This is Zagan’s favourite part of the day. After weeks of begging his father, Morax finally permitted Zagan to be taught by his sister, Mozuun. Mozuun is the leader of the Knights of Tenrion and Zagan’s best friend. This is one of the only times Zagan is permitted outside of the Palace grounds without a gaggle of guards to serve as babysitter. The pair will often race each other on foot or horseback across the beaches and into the forests behind the palace. Mozun and Zagan spend most of their training gossiping about current events and recounting stories. Mozuun doesn’t hold back when she trains with him, unlike his previous instructors. Although his body and demeanor would suggest otherwise, Zagan is physically stronger than most.

As Azazel is from Serubia, the home of the aquatic Kraskath, he personally requested Morax to allow Zagan to take swimming lessons. When these lessons were permitted, Zagan first thought it was just an excuse for him to see his love in less clothing. But upon seeing Azazel swim, he realised he was being serious. To begin, Zagan was a very poor swimmer. He almost asked Azazel to stop teaching him, as he deemed it a hopeless affair. Azazel eventually ran out of patience and decided to try something unorthodox. He took one of Zagan’s ducks out to sea and forced him to rescue her. He was absolutely distraught that this wicked monster could do such a thing to one of his precious babies. But upon realising he had saved her, and she was unscathed, he realised what Azazel’s intentions were. It had forced him to learn. Zagan will now often bring his ducks along with him so they can swim together, which causes him immense joy. These lessons normally end with the pair sitting upon the sand, drying as the sun begins to set.

Evening

After the sun sets, Zagan must attend one of the temples or shrines around the castle grounds. Though he isn’t supposed to, he sneaks out to visit the Temple of Heavenly Piety, the temple his brother was banished to. When a new temple was built on the east side of Celion, people stopped attending the one on the west, as they believed it was too far to attend. However, as the temple wasn’t officially closed to open the one on the east, it is still fully serviced. Morax purposefully sends people he doesn’t favour to this temple, as giving them a prison sentence would ruin his image of fairness and equality. Zagan is one of the only visitors to the temple. The clergy is headed by his brother, High Father Nithe Dandridge, Father Celeste Morvayn (belongs to @confusedyonko), and Father Terza Ryuvia (belongs to @moffkyng) Nithe knows his daily routine and makes sure he is unavailable whenever Zagan visits. As such, he normally takes blessings and confessions from Father Celeste or Father Terza. Zagan will always bring them novel gifts, baked goods, and entertainment to help them pass the long days of silent meditation. Zagan knows that Nithe is purposefully avoiding him, so he leaves all of his gifts and letters for Nithe with Father Celeste so she can pass them on to him.

Once he has prayed, the rest of the evening is his to enjoy. Zagan is a very popular guest at the many balls and operas hosted by the Royal Court. He is often flooded with invites to these events, and he couldn’t possibly turn down an official invitation. When he isn’t dancing the night away or overindulging in alcohol,  he will seek out his brother Sargrith and sister Alaria. Sargrith is the leader of The Fairmont Physicians, the health service on Celion, and Alaria is the chairman of the Wellspring Bank. The pair will often be found in the palace library, discussing many new ventures over a glass of Renay Rosato, Celion's most favoured wine. They will discuss all sorts. Ideas for new hospitals and clinics, a local Viscount who has gotten himself into debt, or locations for Zagan’s upcoming shows and galas. They will often call for a servant to serve them their evening meal in the library, as the conversation is far too controversial for their Father's ears.

When it is time to sleep, Azazel will help Zagan to undress and wash before bed. Zagan found it too overwhelming having so many hands on him before bed, so Morax permitted Azazel to help. Azazel will take his time brushing his hair and washing his face so that he is relaxed enough to sleep after a long day. It is also Azazel’s way of showing him affection, when the walls have eyes and ears. It pains Zagan every night to have to sleep alone, watching Azazel snuff out the candles and go to his own neighbouring chamber. Zagan will cuddle up to a nearby pillow he scented in Azazel’s cologne, and often cry himself to sleep.

Borderlands 4