Hey former firelord Ozai, why did you keep disappearing from the palace when you were a prince? You don't seem like the type to go out for a walk. Were you running away from your daddy Azulon? Going out for drinks? Finding a courtesan? Looking at the horizon with malice? You can count on us, we won't tell your kids.
To my insistent correspondent,
How dare you presume to question me? I find myself wondering if you truly grasp the gravity of your insolence. I am the Phoenix King, the true Fire Lord, and the most powerful bender the world has ever known. I am the Scion of Sozin and Azulon, the head of the Great House that forged an empire.
Of course, in my current... circumstances, such titles seem to hold little weight for you. I only respond because, quite frankly, I have nothing better to occupy my time.
You ask why I was so frequently absent during my years as the second prince. What did you expect? I was scheming. When I wasn't orchestrating the removal of those who stood in my way, I was indulging in the common distractions of the flesh.
I had to be discreet, of course. I was watched like a hawk. Contrary to what the common folk believe, royals are strictly forbidden from keeping courtesans or mistresses unless they are brought formally into the palace. The Sages spout endless drivel about the “sanctity of the bloodline” and the “peril of bastards”. They fear a succession crisis where illegitimate whelps start civil wars over the throne.
I never had to worry about such things; I followed the rules. The last thing I wanted was a brood of common-born nuisances. Furthermore, no courtesan ever pleased me enough to make me consider a second marriage.
Well... perhaps there was one. She was entirely too ambitious and far too intelligent. Dangerous, that's what she was. Funnily enough, that very ambition has landed her in this same cage now. It has been quite pleasant to become reacquainted with her of recent.
My wife, by comparison, was a bore. I am not blind; I knew she didn't love me, and her lack of enthusiasm was tiresome. I suppose I simply wanted to experience someone who could at least pretend to find me desirable. However, most of my time away was spent on more productive matters: hiring assassins and thinning the herd of those who obstructed my path. Does that surprise you?
It is a lingering regret of mine that I didn't hire someone to dispose of Zuko years ago. It would have saved me a great deal of trouble. Perhaps Father would have even offered me his pity, a grieving father mourning the tragic loss of his firstborn son. It would have been a masterful stroke of estate planning—what I believe the commoners now call “inheritance assurance”. I needed people out of my way, including a certain nephew of mine, several meddlesome in-laws, and various maids who knew too much.
Sometimes, I simply needed to vent my rage. Other times, I was busy building the network within the court that would eventually support my ascension. I was ensuring that while Iroh held father's favour, I held the power.
In hindsight, I could have saved myself significant effort if I had managed to convince Ursa to join my endeavours earlier. It is a pity she lacked any real ambition; had she been power-hungry, we would have escaped the miserable position of spare and consort much sooner.
But that is mere wishful thinking. Tell me, are you disappointed? Do you wish it were more sordid? Perhaps less?
I hope my response was satisfactory. Do write again; I find I enjoy the stimulation, even if the source is somewhat underwhelming.
And bring tea next time.
