BANG!
The door was opened too hard that all the utensils are blown away. Following that smokes came from the door and enveloped the surroundings.
"Finally! I've done it. My last recipe. This will be my parting gift for them" a haggard-looking man came behind the door. He was holding dishes from the tray. A look of delight can be seen from his face.
He's Alexander Flame, a normal-looking guy and a chef. Maybe.
As a leader and a chef, I think this is necessary. Afterall I'm leaving soon and this will be my parting gift for my friends and the Empire.
While he was thinking he heard a soft knock on the wooden door.
Knock knock
"Your Majesty?"
The door was opened and a little girl was seen. She has red hair and red Crimson eyes. She wears a Gothic dress lace bowknot. The size is just fit for a small frame. A walking definition of Princess Lolita. But don't misjudge her size for her age. She is old enough to be your grandmother. In other words, she's a grandmaloli.
"Everyone is ready, you're the only one who hasn't arrive," said the little girl
"Wait Charea!" Alexander called the little girl named Charea before she can close the door.
"What can I do for you, Your Majesty?" she wondered
Alexader thought for a moment but nothing came up to his little brain.
"Ahh nothing, nothing. Yeah nothing you may go now" embarrassed Alexander waved his hand as if shooing Charea
"You're really weird, Your Majesty" then Charea closed the door.
Alexander was left dumbstruck.
Good lord! I don't know how to say it! What if they won't permit me to leave? But wait, I'm the Emperor, so why do I need their permission? I can do whatever I want! But what if they asked me to take them? I can't take them because the Empire will fall if we will all leave.
Countless thoughts floods Alexander tiny little mind. This is his problem since he decided to leave and do his personal mission. So, he made a present that he painstakingly did for long just for today. So he can bribe them to allow him to leave. Yes, to bribe them.
"With this dish in my hand! I will make sure to win!" he raised a plate in his hand and motivated himself by saying "I can do this!"
-------
Meanwhile, a couple of people was sitting in a round table. They are the closest friends of Alexander and the executives of the Empire. Together they built it from a scratch. Before they are holding their meetings in the cheapest room of inns but now they are holding the meeting in one of the sacred places in the Empire.
They have too many stories together, histories and experiences. They started as a small/regular (french) fry to big/large fry. Most of the time they almost died together. Until they reach what they are now.
You can say that all of them can be the Emperor but they decided to pass it on Alexander, why? Because in this world strength is the lord. And Alexander is the strongest. So...
"Alexander is acting weird these days, yesterday I saw him in the corridor and he immediately hugs me so tightly. He also told me that he will miss me, so I need to take care of myself" the one who spoke is a man who has a bear-like body. He is the commander of the First Army, Raul.
"Yeah, I also found him weird. The other day I saw him sneaking outside the Palace late at night. I want to follow him but I still need to patrol, plus, he is Alexander for goodness sake." the one who spoke this time is the opposite of Raul. Thin and weak looking, but if you look at him that way then goodbye. He is the leader of the shadow/assassin organization, Tim. You can say that he is the personal bodyguard of Alexander, in the shadow.
"Don't think weirdly, he called us here so I guess there's some important announcement" Charea said while serving everyone a tea. Charea is the personal maid of Alexander.
The group discussed some various topics while waiting for Alexander to arrived. Even thou they are from the same Empire it is rare for them to gather around like this. Things are not the same as before, they don't have much free time due to responsibilities.
-------
Soon Alexander is done fixing himself. While looking at the mirror and staring at his hopefully handsome face.
When he was satisfied with his look he started to walk to the meeting hall.
He arrived when they are on their heated discussion. Raul and Paro are in an argument.
Paro is the Prime Minister of the Empire. There's no need to waste words to explain his job.
They are discussing how to deal with the remaining remnants of the Organisation that they destroyed not too long ago.
Raul wanted them to be destroyed and killed to avoid troubles from growing. In other words to eliminate the root. While Paro wanted to ask for money then let them go. This will help the Empire a little and it is also good for the Empire's image.
Ehem ehem
Alexander coughs a few times to stop them from going to far.
It is effective because they stopped talking. Both of them looked at each other for a few seconds but their eyes as if it says 'later homie' then they sat on their respective sit.
"Alexander are you sick?" asked Lucy, she is the vice leader back then. But now she is the Head physician of the Empire.
A healer, despite being a healer other than Alexander she is the highest damage dealer. Because other than healing magic she can do dark magic such as curses and poisons. She is fierce and the most feared individual in the Empire. But she is the most docile girl in front of Alexander. You know what I mean.
"Ah no, thank you for asking" Alexander waved his hand. Alexander is no exception he is also somewhat afraid of her but knowing that she will do any harm to them ease his feeling a little. But, he knows, if someone annoyed her, that person will wish he/she was dead.
"On what reason did you call us here, Big Brother?" Zach asked he is the Imperial Prince. Alexander's only blood brother.
"I was getting into that. So, first of all, I want to say thank you for all the time that we have spent together. Thank you for being my friends, brothers, and sisters. You are all precious family, and I'm glad that you are." Alexander's eyes are moistened
"Are you leaving?" asked Zach
"Yes, thou I don't want to but I need to want it"
Wahhhhh
The gloomy atmosphere was destroyed by the earth-shaking cry of Raul. Yes, Raul.
"Alexander (sob sob) why?!" Raul said while sobbing "Are you sick?! And that you're dying!? No Alexander you're still young!"
Waah
"You old geezer Paro! Isn't your healing magic is the best?! Heal him!" he added
Paro was dumbstruck by the sudden remark. He was wondering when did he ever have healing magic, if he has, why he doesn't know?
"Ehem, it is Lucy, right? Or Paro has it too?" confused, asked by Tim.
Alexander didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He just wants to say that he is leaving for personal reason but all of a sudden he is dying in the eyes of his friends.
"Stop jumping into conclusion, why do we just let him finish what he is saying? You cry as if tomorrow we will be mourning for him!" annoyed Charea said while looking at Raul sharply.
Alexander looked at her thankfully.
"Lucy, why don't you checked Alexander's condition? Maybe he is really dying," she added
Alexander almost coughs out blood by sudden remarks. He thought that Charea knows the real reason or understood him but she's also one of them.
"Alexander, I know what you're thinking. But I also want to know about your condition. You can't blame them for jumping into conclusion because this is too sudden." Charea said while looking at apologetically.
Alexander fell silent for a while, thinking about how to say that he is leaving. But not because he is dying but because there are things that he needed to do.
Sigh
"I know this is too sudden, I called you here to tell you that I'm leaving." Alexander seriously said.
Raul wanted to say something but he was interrupted by Alexander.
"I'm not dying nor sick. I will leave because there's something that I need to do." he continues
"What it is Alexander?" Charea asked.
"I need to find my wife"