The nobles gathered, the atmosphere was a bit gloomy and down, was it because of the recent defeat no. The empire is strong, they could gather another 100 000 soldiers anytime that's what it meant to be an empire of course they wouldn't, even if they've got numbers cluelessly matching to the battlefield was a deathcall, Duke Bryand suffered for making that call.
Someone was already stirring trouble.
"What? Why did the kingdoms suddenly call an alliance meeting amidst themselves"
"They didn't just call an alliance meeting Viscount Defrithiel, they brought a proposal to break the alliance."
"What the hell is this"
The Viscount shouted.
Another man spoke, he was a duke.
"You really have no respect for the Imperial majesty... Raising your voice like that in the presence of the Emperor"
Viscount Defrithiel cleared his throat, "but what I'm trying to say is -"
"It's obvious someone is pulling strings on us, someone from the inside that is"
As Ajett walked into the hall while talking his voice rang throughout the whole hall.
"And such person might be as powerful as I am"
The emperor finally talked. "You mean there's someone else like you serving your god"
"No, he seems to be an enemy. He's the one pulling all this". Ajett went on his kneels.
"I'm sorry I failed to predict this"
"No it's okay. We were all focused on the war, we didn't see this coming"
"But you majesty!, what ever reason this stranger should be punished...we trusted him so much we handed the fate of our empire yet see where it brought us. If we loose the alliance we would be weaker than even the Culin empire."
"That won't happen...."
"What can you even do about it?"
"That's enough Viscount Defrithiel." Duke Fagors cautioned him.
"I still don't understand how you all got bewitched by him, even the emperor."
"Now that is no way to talk to your Emperor is it"
The voice was different, it came from the outer hall of the imperial courtroom but the voice was recognized, just that they don't often get to hear the voice so often.
The tall slim man walked in, he was very tall and his gaze were sharp and unpredictable. He's eyes were white, no eyeballs.
He walked to the middle of the courtroom between all the nobles and in front of the Emperor.
He walked towards the Emperor slowly and looked up at him in his high seat. He then grabbed the Azure sword which was beside the Emperor's footstool and unshealthed it.
"I've always respected your lineage, but it's becoming weaker..."
He walked back to Viscount Defrithiel's front and swung the Azure sword.
π΄πΈπΈπ°π°π°π°π΄π©
He's head fell to the ground.
No one dared to make a sound as the head of the lousy Viscount dropped on the floor.
The man then threw the Azure sword that was stained with blood at the footstool of the Emperor.
The Emperor glared deadly at him. Even though this man was very old the emperor was looking way older than him.
"What's your name again?" He faced the emperor and it was clear who he was talking to.
After seeing how he spoke to the emperor some loyal subjects were unable to take it, but they knew better the power of the pillars of Azure, the high mage Jorek was a good example. But the person that stood before them was a hundred times scarier and stronger than Mage Jorek, they were incomparable.
However there would always be one who does not know.
He pointed his large sword towards the man's neck, he was holding it with one hand considering his body build it wasn't a surprise, his huge biceps and triceps showed as he raised the sword up at the man's neck.
Every noble in the hall saw this and were trying whatsoever sign they could to tell him to stop because no one dared to speak.
"I don't know who you are but this is where my patience ends, I watched you use the authority of our empire to kill its subject, not only that, you threw the sword at the feet of the Emperor as if telling him that you can make his authority crumble at his feet. Now you dared to speak so rudely to the sky of this Empire!!" he ended with a loud shout, one could tell of his loyalty to the empire in his speech.
The man smiled.
"I like you"
"Apologize to the Emperor..."
"Oh you want me to..."
"... Enough!"
The Emperor finally talked, "drop that sword right now"
"but father..."
"drop it"
He slowly lowered his sword.
The man touched his shoulder, "you must be a special one. I've never seen you before. Every prince have always visited my quarters, either to seek power, or pay respect or to seek my support. However not only have I not seen you, you don't even know me"
"He grew up in the Fresian kingdom"
"You sent an imperial prince to a kingdom to grow.... For the sake of an alliance, as the empire grown so much weaker you now think you need a kingdom to be strong...?"
"You have no id... -" The Emperor stopped as the man raised his hand.
The man faced the prince, "what's your name...?"
"why would I -"
The atmosphere became intense as the man released his killing intent and directed only to the person standing in front of him.
The prince fell to his kneel, "M.. i.. r... ieum"
"Alright Mirieum" The atmosphere disappeared and Prince Mirieum quickly huffed as he tried to catch his breathe.
The man from the shoulder pulled Prince Mirieum up that even his leg was not touching the floor. It was a sight weird sight, the man with his slim body was able to lift a huge guy with one hand.
He continued, "Look Mirieum, that's your father's throne, Do you want it?"
Prince Mirieum groaned as he talked, "why would I, it's my father's"
The man dropped him.
"I am Regalius"
The prince's eyes widened, no one was not familiar with that name.
"The sword of the first Azure."
"So do you understand now, that sword is not your fathers authority but mine, authority is not passed down, it's earned. Even though the throne belongs to him, it'll be foolish to think you have all authority because you sit on the throne, you'd just be like an empty can... Even your father has failed to understand that, such is why a subject would dare to raise his voice in the imperial court. I remember Marius was just like you, brave, reckless and strong."
"Is this the reason you have come here today sir Regal...." The Emperor talked.
"ohh... I came not for this of course little boy. I came to tell you, you will be dethroned. You know this is the very reason I lived this long and will still continue to until I find someone worthy to pass onto, you are now like a sounding brass, no more fit for the throne. Your time's up. Well then prince Mirieum, I'll be expecting you"
He disappeared into thin air.
The courtroom still continued in silence even after he had left. The prince was the most dumbfounded of all.
"How on earth can someone live so long.... The first Emperor's sword.... Just what exactly is he..."