"You assembled us here just for a baseless rumor?" In a large and gorgeous hall, ten people were seated in a circle. All the chairs were equal with the exception of one. This chair was taller than the others by a few feet and was the seat of the Northern Empire's Emperor. The one who spoke was a middle aged man with black hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He sat right next to the Emperor – he was seated left of the Emperor.
"Do you think the Dark Kingdom's recent attacks have been for naught?" another middle aged man answered the question with a question. He was a handsome man with a noble air. He resembled the twins Jake and John. This was their father and Grand Marshall of the Northern Empire – Sir Blunt. Few people in the empire knew his first name and those who did didn't dare to speak it out loud. But it wasn't out of fear, but respect. Although he was only a Grand Marshall, his words carried weight and his power was renowned. It was because of this middle aged man that the Eastern Empire had never been successful in their attempts to assimilate part of the Northern Empire.
"The Dark Kingdom have been running rampant for years. Even before you and I were born they were known throughout the world. How can you equate their hostility to war" the middle aged man who was seated on the left side of the Emperor spoke again. He was also a prominent figure in the Northern Empire. He was Duke Essandor. Just like Sir Blunt people never referred to him by his first name. However he didn't command the respect Sir Blunt did. Duke Essandor was a mighty man. He had attained a high level in wielding and possessed great intelligence. However he was a greedy man. He never lacked anything, yet he still wanted everything. There was no business he didn't thirst for, and no beautiful woman he didn't lust for. Whenever he wanted something he didn't care about the opinion of others. He went ahead and did whatever he pleased anyway. Because of his vast influence the royal family could only restrain him slightly, but they couldn't stop him.
Duke Essandor didn't like Sir Blunt. Sir Blunt wasn't a noble like he was – he was only a soldier. Yet the man commanded power and respect accorded to the nobles. What enraged Duke Essandor most was that Sir Blunt always tried to restrain him at every turn. Even more infuriating the Grand Marshall had a set of twins who were geniuses. None of Duke Essandor's thirty seven children possessed the kind of talent those two little boys did.
"I'm only reporting to the Emperor what I know" Sir Blunt didn't bother to argue with the Duke. The man hated him and would do anything to bring him down. The other nobles who were part of the meeting silently watched the two men. Most of them were allies of Duke Essandor. As nobles they were unified when dealing with people they considered 'not one of them'. The Emperor who had been watching silently as the two argued finally spoke
"How do you know this?"
"My sons informed me My Lord" Sir Blunt answered honestly.
His answer caused a few snickers among the nobles seated here. Duke Essandor laughed uproariously as he mocked, "You want us to take the words of 11 years olds seriously? Hahaha! You must have hurt your head in battle! Hahaha! Next you are going to ask us to allow them to sit on the throne!"
His words caused the nobles who were initially holding their laughter to finally give up. The sound of mockery caused Sir Blunt to furrow his brows in anger. He grit his teeth in annoyance, wishing he could strangle the nobles and rid the empire of these pests who knew nothing but to steal from the people.
"The Duke's words are cutting but they are reasonable. I presume that you didn't just listen to the words of your children. You must have confirmed their words through your many means" the Emperor asked. Although he didn't say anything, he was displeased by Sir Blunt's answer. If it wasn't because of the respect he had for the man, he would have ended the meeting and punished him.
"You mortals are disappointing" a melodious voice suddenly rang out. The stunned nobles turned to the source of the voice, only to see a beautiful woman leaning against the wall with two young boys standing beside her. The woman had long blonde hair and beautiful eyes. This woman was Alexis, Mane's mother and the goddess known as the Absolute Queen.
"Jake, John, what are you doing here?" Sir Blunt was startled when he realized that the two young boys standing next to Alexis were his sons. He recognized Alexis as the expert his sons had come with. Her power was unfathomably deep and he couldn't see through her. It was because of her that he had the confidence to call for this meeting.
"Auntie brought us" Jake innocently replied.
"We have been here since you started" John added.
"What a beautiful woman" Duke Essandor's eyes lit up at the sight of Alexis. He was a greedy man who went after anything pretty and valuable. He hadn't seen a woman like Alexis before. Someone who exuded such grace with nothing but her poise. He didn't know who she was, but he had already resolved to have her as his concubine.
"Badging into the palace uninvited is a crime punishable by death!" Duke Essandor screamed. However before he could continue he felt a suffocating aura pushing him down onto the ground. The aura was so strong that he struggled to breath. He raised his head with difficulty and met the cold gaze of the woman he was lusting after just moments ago. It was under the force of her momentous aura that he recalled what her first words were,
"You mortals are disappointing"
"Mortals" Duke Essandor mumbled with great difficulty. With his lust dissipated he could now think clearly. This woman called them mortals! There was no way she was ordinary.
"Please have mercy Madam Alexis" Sir Blunt bowed slightly. He didn't like the Duke, but they couldn't lose him. His intelligence was a great resource for the war to come.
"Don't think I don't know what is going on in your filthy mind. Next time you have such thoughts I would erase your memory from the minds of all who know you" Alexis coldly stated and restrained her aura. She was loving and caring when she was with her family. But she wasn't called the Absolute Queen for nothing. She wouldn't have a mere mortal realm wielder insult her with his greedy eyes.
"You are the Emperor?" Alexis asked as she turned to the man who was quickly getting off his seat.
"I am Madam. I am sorry for the conduct of the duke" the Emperor apologized. If what John said was true, then this woman had been here since the beginning yet none of them knew. Not only had she evaded the guards, she had done so whilst carrying two kids with her! What the Emperor didn't know was that if Jake and John wanted to sneak into the palace, they wouldn't need Alexis' help.
"Forgive my boldness but I have never seen or heard of Madam in the Empire" The Emperor was a man who knew how to adjust to circumstances. Although Duke Essandor had been subjected to the aura of Alexis, the others had remained untouched. They didn't need someone else to tell them that the woman before them was an expert. If she could so easily control her aura and unleash it on whom she chose, that meant she was vastly powerful; more than what any of them could handle.
"I am not a citizen of your empire. I do not belong to Zandor" Alexis dropped a bombshell on the nobles gathered here.
"Do not belong?" the wide eyed Emperor stammered in disbelief.
"You didn't think Zandor was the only planet in the vast cosmos did you?" Alexis watched as Duke Essandor struggled to return to his seat. She had decided to let the people of Zandor know. It was high time they knew about the world outside their world. That was the only way they would grow strong and have the power to go against the Dark One.