161 Meeting the Emperor (1/2)
After the match
”Your Majesty...” Braiden bowed politely as he bit his lower lip nervously. He knew that he could not go over his mother's head and talk to his Royal Father or uncle first. So, after the match between Keaton and Greyson was over, he swiftly walked over to her separate housing, the Hellebore Palace.
”Oh, Braiden, no need for such formalities. What brings you here to visit me?” Although her words were spoken nonchalantly, the coldness and alienation in her eyes and tone were evident. Flinching almost imperceptibly, Braiden coughed to clear his throat a little.
”I have something of great import to report. I thought it would be best to let Imperial Mother know first since it is related to the His Grace, Duke of Mendenhall.”
”Father is it... Alright, tell me the situation.” Sighing with a hint of impatience, the Empress spread the fan in her hand seemingly trying to hide her deep frown. Hearing her words, Braiden quickly went over the course of events from earlier as well as inputting his own thoughts on how the situation should be handled. When he got to the point where Duke Mendenhall openly showed hostility, the Empress just scoffed. Ignoring her mood, Braiden wrapped up his report. When he stopped speaking, the room descended into an uncomfortable silence. The Empress paused her fanning and abruptly snapped the fan shut. Squeezing the item in her hand, she finally regained her impassive expression.
”Hohoho, my dear younger brother Keaton sure is quite the handful. My father tends to baby the sons in our family. He even lowered himself to glaring... I understand the situation, my son. I will come up with some measures to keep my father calm.” Stressing the words in sarcasm, the Empress waved to dismiss Braiden from the room. Not staying a minute longer, Braiden bowed and turned heel to make his way out of the room. Only once the bedroom doors closed behind him did he finally release the breath that he did not realize he had been holding. Although he wished to know more about the specifics of her plan, Braiden was aware he was not close enough to his mother for her to disclose her plans to him. Massaging his head once again, he groaned in frustration.
”If she said that she had the situation under control, I guess I will just have to believe her.” Shrugging helplessly, he understood that there was nothing else he could do other than wait and see. ”I should probably go inform uncle and father of the situation, as well.” He murmured to himself. However, the people he wished to inform were already having discussions of their own.
At the same time...
Walking briskly down the hall of the imperial palace, a middle-aged man with the royal family's signature black hair and blue-grey eyes marched directly towards the Emperor's study room. Standing outside were the two guards and a servant who announces the arrival of any guests. Startled by the man's sudden appearance with no prior appointment, the servant quickly began to introduce his name to the Emperor inside.
”Announcing the arrival of His Grace, Duke of Winterbridge! Would Your Imperi-... wait, Your Grace!” Before he could finish his announcement and ask for the Emperor's permission to open the doors, the Duke knocked the guards and servant to the side and pushed them open himself.
”Your Imperial Majesty, I have an important report.” Succinctly bowing with just the right amount of etiquette, the Duke looked towards the man in front of him. The Emperor and the Duke shared an uncanny resemblance towards one another which was to be expected as they are brothers from the same parents. Unexpectedly, the Emperor looked to be brighter and more easy-going than the Duke, who usually wore such a grim and serious expression.
”Oh, younger brother, it must be something special for you to personally come to inform me and in such a rush as well. You are normally such a stickler for manners.” While he spoke as such, the Emperor did not look up from his documents and continued signing and reading. The servant saw that the Emperor did not say anything more, so he just signaled for the guards to close the door. Duke Winterbridge did not seem to take any offense towards the clear inattention. Such was the life of a true ruler, neverending amounts of work, and reports to sign off and make decisions on.
”For the selection this year, there has been a shocking dark horse.” Winterbridge began.
”Zaire, surely you have not come to bore me with such news. Every other selection has some form of a dark horse.”
”I would never bother Your Majesty with such trifles if it were not so different from the rest. It's not as if every other selection has a 15-year-old magister level stage five magician.”
”Yes, that's... wait, 15?!” Now, this got the Emperor's attention as the quill stopped moving and his eyes looked up in shock towards his younger brother.
”Yes, 15. There was also a situation with Duke Mendenhall.” Duke Winterbridge continued to explain the situation afterward.
”Hmph, the Mendenhall family is truly overstepping its bounds lately. To think I even have to worry that they might act against such a powerful asset for the Empire. It really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.” Sneering with derision, the Emperor showed clear distaste for Duke Mendenhall.
”Even if you say it like that, the imperial power that Your Majesty holds is not enough to suppress the Mendenhall family. You are clearly aware that they currently hold too much power. Your Majesty will probably have to bring out something valuable and negotiate with them.”
”My, my, Zaire, must you say it like that. You are going to hurt your older brother's feelings.”
”It is the reality, nothing more.”
”Haahh... I understand. I will speak to my Empress about this. We will probably be able to come up with something.” Burying his face in his hands for a moment, the Emperor replied begrudgingly.
”If I remember correctly, we have a healing potion in the vault that could heal that Keaton's wounds right away. As long as he can keep a place in the 10 representatives, they probably would not act out.” Duke Winterbridge suggested.
”Hmmm... I will consider this solution.” The Emperor nodded before waving his hand to dismiss the Duke. Bowing once again, the Duke turned around to leave.
”Zaire. You know that you can come just to speak to me sometimes, right?”
”Did I not just speak with you now?” The Duke responded without turning around.
”Haha... well, I guess you did, didn't you? Nevermind, then. Go on.” Chuckling wryly, the Emperor just shook his head and did not say anything more. He watched as that familiar back continued to walk out until the doors shut behind him.
...
Greyson spent the next two days after the match to relax. He ate well, took hot baths, and slept a lot. He felt that his animal companions were starting to rub off on him. Only on the third day was a servant sent to call him. Apparently, the 10 representatives were to have an audience with the Emperor. Most likely because they were aware of his situation, the servant also provided appropriate attire for the occasion. It was a white suit with silver linings and a matching blue-grey cape that went over his right shoulder. The embroidered decorations were also in silver thread. He was to meet with the Emperor privately before attending a ball to celebrate. He still had a couple of hours left before he would be led into the palace, so Greyson just sat around feeling jittery. Actually, he had never been taught the proper etiquette for such a situation. He had no idea how to greet the Emperor or others properly. What if he committed a grave faux pas?
Little did he think that the answer to his worries would come knocking on his door on her own.
”Grey Grey, go out and play with me! I want some good food.” Leilena barged in on her own.
”Teacher!” As if a light went off in his mind, Greyson's anxious expression dissolved as he smiled joyfully at this unexpected guest.
”Hm? Wow, you are so glad to see me? Did my cute student miss me more than I realized?”
”Teacher, you are part of a noble family here and you said that they taught you proper etiquette, right?”
”Yes...” She quickly grimaced at the thought.
”Can you teach me? I have an audience with the Emperor soon and have to attend a ball afterward. I do not need to know everything, just the most obvious things that could be offensive.”
”But that's just the thing, dear student. When it comes to nobles, everything is offensive and distasteful...” Leilena frowned.
”Well, all the more reason we should start reviewing now! Just try to cram as much knowledge as possible into me in the next four hours.”
”Ok, if you are sure. Listen carefully.”
...
When Leilena finally left, Greyson felt like his head was about to explode with all the new information he was supposed to memorize. Thankfully, he would not have to attend events like this often otherwise he felt like he would suffocate under all these ”unspoken” rules. No wonder his teacher wished to run away. Nobility was not all it was made up to be it seemed.
When he looked at the clock, he knew that he did not have much time left until the servant comes to pick him up. Quickly picking up the suit, he tried to figure out the buttons. Admiring himself in the mirror, he nodded to himself thinking that it suits him quite well. A gentle knock at his door brought him out of his narcissistic reverie.
”Mr. Greyson? I'm here to escort you.” It was the same voice as the messenger from earlier.
”Alright, I'm coming out.”