"Demon Nobles are well-versed in the art of concealing their presence. It wouldn't be inconceivable for them to lurk out of the scope of our surveillance for several aethras. As for the sovereign artefacts, they might be rare in our world, but that doesn't mean that they won't be abundant in the realm of Demons." The Emperor reinforced his assumptions as he loosened his grip to let go of the crumpled parchments.
His words made the Rounds further contemplate on the matter, searching for any loopholes that might be of aid in their assessment on what actually transpired.
Meanwhile, Mikhail simply nodded his head upon being informed and abstained from any more rumination.
"Your Majesty, since we are already in possession of the Holy Grail's mana solution, wouldn't it be better if we depart this instant? Those creatures certainly won't stand by idly." The knight suggested, wanting to engage the Demons in a battle rather than merely sitting in the almost empty hall.
Percival's proposal was on account of witnessing what the Demon Nobles could do to the local dwellers. Every second that they spent without taking any significant deed to defeat the adversaries, the more lives could be unnecessarily involved in the fray. Basically, the lesser delays equated to fewer casualties.
In spite of Mikhail's reasonable concern, the Emperor appeared to have a different grasp on the issue.
"Mikhail, we've only seen the Holy Grail slaughter one Demon Noble. Hence, we have no guarantee that its capable enough to take down six." The monarch spoke, but the detachment in his voice contradicted the severity of their circumstances.
However, the glints in his gaze became even sharper. The colour of blood and the gradient palette of a luminous golden aurora recklessly swirled in his conscious orbs. It was as if a violent whirlpool containing two antagonistic elements was trapped in his eyes.
"Have you forgotten that absent a concrete plan, we're simply diving into our demise like an ignorant hero aspirant? Are you that inspired to send your comrades to their deathbed?" He questioned the commander sans the intent of admonishing him. He just coveted to remind the knight of the importance of being prepared.
Mikhail's eyebrows furrowed once he harkened the passive-aggressive query.
'Didn't he do something similar back in Ikdes? He sent us to that island without telling us that there were a couple of Demon Nobles. I should be the one criticizing his decisions. How deceitful of this Emperor.' The commander merely said the words of criticisms in his head.
Percival could not articulate it, for the reason that they delivered a fabricated account of the events in Ikdes to four of the Rounds who were currently present. Thus, the man shut his mouth to prevent busting their cover. He then shifted his stare from the Emperor to the creased documents on top of the table.
All of a sudden, the monarch's hands that were placed on the armrests balled up into fists, veins bulging in the act of tightening his clench.
"I received a communication from Axhiven stating that they're buying us some time. The second and fifth Archduke, and the seventh Archduchess happened to be visiting the Ester fief. They're doing the job of assuring the citizens of their safety." The Emperor uttered as he hurriedly stood up.
The news brought a tad of relief to the anxious Rounds.
"Leliel, Gaderel, and Rehael, guard the Soltis palace from a distance. Do not do anything that will disturb the Empress. Concurrently, help Peniel in reinforcing the security of the capital. Send a message to all of the Fief Lords to toughen the security of their territories. For the seven knights who are going to the north-eastern border, follow me to my study."
"Affirmative, Your Majesty." The Rounds acceded to their duties in unison.
"Very well." The monarch said his final words, exiting the hall promptly with the knights trailing him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Your Highness, you need to rest at all cost!"
"You are still in convalescence! You cannot go outside!"
At the early air of the dier, two ladies are in a loss on what to do, shouting frantically at their master.
Tara and Sura soughed at the sight of the Empress who was struggling to get out of her bed.
"You must stay here!"
"At this rate, you might collapse again!"
"Do not be stubborn!"
"Yes, do not be!"
Withal, the Empress refused to take the twins' advice. She continued to overexert herself, yet her body had an attitude rivalling her obstinacy.
The woman looked at her handmaidens, begging for them to help her. Her eburnean eyes dug deep into their souls, nearly urging Tara and Sura to surrender. Although, the sisters' worries prevailed over their temporary pity.
"No! I- I will not help you!"
"Your Highness, please don't make it difficult for us."
Their answers saddened the Empress, goading the woman to slump back down on her bed. The maids soughed heavily, unable to resist their master any further.
"We get it." They declared in unison.
"We just need to notify the Emperor, correct?"
"We're going to do it on your behalf."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Duke Zelel Claudas, who was standing by the doorway, bowed his head when the Emperor ingressed the purview of the study, walking behind him were seven of the Rounds.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty."
"Bring them out, Zelel," The monarch commanded, leaving his proper greeting as usual.
It's in deliberation whether it's a good or bad thing that his subordinates were acclimated with his rudeness.
"As you wish, Your Majesty." Zelel promptly heeded the order.
Subsequently, the Prime Minister made his way towards the bookshelf situated at the left side of the room. During the interval, the Emperor went straight ahead to his working table and addressed the knights.
"The wrong use of the invocatory verses will incur the wrath of the Angels. Our previous attempts wherein we utilized random summoning spells on magic circles that they have poor compatibility with now seemed so foolhardy. We were blindly inviting the anger of these supreme beings." He uttered in a tone indicating that his calm had been reinstated.
The Emperor was clearing the clutter on his desk while discussing the issue. He needed some space on the untidy furniture top for the items that he ordered Zelel to procure.
Opportunely, he finished on time of the minister's arrival. The knights who descried the identity of the rolled parchments in his arms were awestricken. They held their breaths out of bewilderment, wondering how these things made their appearance.
Duke Claudas carefully placed the scrolls on the clean part of the table, directly in front of the Emperor at the centre. After his task, Zelel took his position beside Mikhail.
The monarch picked up one of the scrolls and surveyed its entirety.
"Judging by the piercing scrutinies coming from the lot of you, you're all insisting for an explanation. Be that as it may, I'm not certain if my limited knowledge will be able to satisfy your curiosities."
A suspenseful quietude sprung up once the Emperor halted his speech. He purposefully left a window of pondering for his knights to possibly lower their expectations and suspicions.
Amid observing the countenances of the Rounds, he permitted the silence to prevail, breaking it once a while had passed.
"I received these scrolls at the beginning of this dier, around seven hours agone. I heard a knock on the door to my chamber, yet there was nobody outside when I decided to inspect. However, these scrolls were sprawled throughout the corridor, along with another note where the details are written." The Emperor elucidated, oblivious of the fact that his explanation alarmed his audience.
"Someone adeptly entered your palace inconspicuously and managed to get away with it?" Mikhail breathlessly blurted out.
He was taken aback that there existed an individual who could assassinate the Emperor without them knowing. Nonetheless, the monarch did not appreciate his worriment that was far from their priority.
"Mikhail, I'm alive, aren't I? Stop thinking about useless things and simply invest your energy in our mission." The Emperor tried to console the knight.
Regrettably, it was ineffective.
"What are you saying? What if that unknown person attacks you in their next visit?" Mikhail rebutted, more panicked than his initial behaviour.
"Cease diverting the focus of our conversation. The defeat of the Demon Nobles is our priority, else I will kill myself afore you."
The opinions of these two people rarely aligned, putting them into a state of perpetual conflict with each other.
Accordingly, Zelel was tormenting his brain to think of something that might put an end to this argument. Luckily, he remembered seeing one of the nobles that could be involved with their present problem.
"Come to think of it, Your Majesty. I chanced upon Viscount Suma pestering a palace guard to let him meet you almost a mensith ago. Lamentably for him, the audience room was closed. I assume that he's still in the capital since there was no report stating his departure."
The temperature in the study abruptly dropped to a level imitating a subzero environment. It might feel like that to the people inside, but it was only a psychological effect of being exposed to the Emperor's raw emotions. It had been a long time that he was this enraged, considering that the Rounds could clearly see the air around the Emperor distorting.
His ensuing threat made the knights scared for the noble's sanity.
"Let that disgusting swine live for now. Once we return from dealing with the Demon Nobles, I will take the head of that damnable noble."