Vilus was a man of many talents, a man who has the biggest spy network in the capital. A man who became a successful merchant, taking a complete control of the wine trade in most of the republic. A first man to acknowledge the potential of sugar and chocolate that were recently discovered in the new world. And to top it off he is a son of a well known General. All those things made him one of the richest men in the city of Silver. But above all, he was a politician, and a successful one at that, a sixty-two year old man whit a political carrier spanning for forty years. Truly a man of many talents.
Every morning he would awake from his bed, made out of highest quality wood found on the market, and whit the sheets made out of Avarchi cotton, said to be the best in the known world. Many of his female acquaintances say that it feels like sleeping on the clouds. Then he would sit at a small coffee table on the terrace, his favorite spot in the city. In fact the only reason he bought this huge mansion was because of the beautiful view. Situated on one of the seven hills located in the capital, it overlooks the entire city. Then he would enjoy himself in highest quality wine and many different kinds of sweets, from cookies to cakes, to small cubes of pure sugar. His wife worries over these unhealthy habits, but still he calls them his morning meditation.
Ah here it comes he thought, the most important time of the day. Sun slowly rose over many layers of high city walls and two or three story houses, giving life to before cold and quiet city, making the morning fog dissappear. "This is what I live for." He said softly while eating more of the sweets, and washing it down whit wine. But all good things have to come to an end, including his morning meditation. He heard the thuds of horses and the loud rattling of the chariot that echoed through the still silent streets. The chariot stopped in front of the gates of his estate. He recognized who was riding in it by the Imperial family's insignia painted on the side of the chariot. A Golden crown in the field of roses whit the Imperial dragon, guarding it in the background. "Marcus! " He called out to his butler that stood right outside. The butler slowly opened the doors. An older fellow, but even now he works diligently.
"You called my Lord?"
"His Highness has arrived, go ahead and greet him. I will come down shortly."
"Yes my Lord." Whit a small bow, the butler left the room. "Time to get to work." Vilus rose from his chair and undressed from his causal clothes. Then he walked up to the big mirror in his room, he was not really pleased whit what he saw. He was never an athletic man, his job didn't really have a lot of free time, but still he thought he could do better then this.
"Is something wrong, my Lord?" Then he heard a faint women's voice coming from the bed.
"Oh, have I awoken you?" He turned around and answered. The woman in the bed was Elisa Alswerg, the eldest daughter of Archduke Einar Alswerg, ruler of Telhasi region, and a good friend of the Emperor.
She was quite a beauty whit long slender legs and a small waist whit two beautifully plump breasts. Those who saw her, said that her body was tailored by the gods, just for human eyes to gawk at. And whit her long curly hair that was the color of caramel, a small pointy nose, lips that seamed were made primarily just for kissing, and a pair of beautiful emerald green eyes. She was the treasure of her father and a jewel that shined brightly in the Silver city. "Indeed you have, whit all the noise around here."
"I Apologize my Lady but you'll have to get dressed, we have guests."
"In this time? It's not even mid day."
"It's his Imperial Highness, the Emperor. And his excellency the Archduke is most likely whit him."
"Father!? I thought that he would depart for Telhasi in week's time."
"I thought so too, but he said that something urgent has happened." He said as he dressed in his business attire. A blue colored robe made of highest quality silk from the new world.
"Urgent, back home? I wasn't informed by him at all." There was a hint of anger in her voice.
"Still, you haven't seen each other in weeks right? And since he arrived in the capital four days ago he was busy whit matters of the state, so I believe this would be a good opportunity to talk. So get dressed, I will await you in the hallway." Vilus them left the room and called for maids to help her get dressed. The head maid whit two more following her entered the room. "Let's get you dressed my Lady."
A loud voice echoed through the hallways of the luxury estate. It was coming from the reception hall, right after you enter the mansion. The room was big, some 10 meters wide and 16 meters tall. It was decorated whit all kinds of statues, and old artifacts. A red carpet was placed all the way from the doorway to the staircase for the upper floor. And a huge golden chandelier hanged from the ceiling. It was decorated whit all kinds of jewels and diamond's. But the biggest standout was a giant statue that stood next to the staircase. Some ten meters tall, it was build from pure silver. It depicted Saint Lysa, the Holy patron of the Republic and one of the founders. Many statues of her were build throughout the Republic, some bigger, some more extravagant, but none had so much detail put into them like this one that stood in the estate of Senator Vilus.
"This is preposterous, for me the Emperor to be told to wait in the reception hall!" The old butler bowed again to apologize. "My apologies your Highness." The man who was raising his voice was none other then Dratus Arenus the Second, the current Emperor and representative of the Imperial family. He was of tall stature, whit long blonde hair that reached his shoulders and he had eyes the color of the sky. He wore a red and blue tunic whit red pants, both decorated whit silver jewelry. The sigil of the Imperial family was woven on the red cape he wore. "Calm down Dratus, we both know what kind of man Vilus is."
Einar, as usual, tried his best to calm his friend. He was the more composed one of the two, although if judging by appearances a person would say otherwise. He was little bit shorter then the Emperor, he had short brown hair and his beard just started to grow again. His nose was bigger then that of his daughter and he had brown eyes that had a hint of green. He was of a stronger build, whit wide broad shoulders and muscular arms, a body of a warrior. He wore a dark green tunic and pants, army boots, shoulder , elbow and knee armor. Over the tunic he wore breastplate armor, a head of a bear engraved on it, the symbol of Alswerg family and whole of Telhasi region.
"You know how big of an ego he has." He said while crossing his arms.
"Yes, yes, I'm well aware of it. But true he is not a man worthy of my loud voice." Einar, seeing that his friend calmed down a bit, smiled faintly. Dratus then spoke, his voice calmer then before. "Yet knowing that you sent your daughter to be his mistress, not even to mention the danger of being associated whit Vilus." Hearing that Einar's smile faded away, he was about to counter whit some good argument, if there even was one, but he got interrupted by a voice coming from the top of the staircase. "Your Imperial Highness. My apologies for not being able to greet you, as you already know, I'm not a morning person." Vilus then started to walk down the stairs, whit Einar's daughter next to him. She wore a white dress whit gold trim and silver jewelry. Her curly hair was combed and smelled of roses, scent of her favorite perfume. Seeing his beautiful daughter, Einar smiled. Looks like nothing bad happened, he thought. He even noticed the Emperor admiring her. He was more then pleased, but still he wasn't here to admire his daughters hard work and beauty. He had more important matters to converse whit the Senator. "Still that's not a good enough of an excuse Senator." He smiled coldly as he said that. Vilus returned the smile. "But your Excellency, if I was informed of your visit two or three days earlier, I would welcome you properly." Descending the last step of the staircase he finished. "But alas something urgent happened in Telhasi, so urgent that you couldn't find time to tell your daughter about it?" He then finished greeting the Archduke whit a small bow. Raising his head, he smiled, leaving the Archduke whit a bitter look on his face. Not wasting any time he formally greeted the Emperor by bowing deeply and kissing his hand. "Come now Vilus, you know that I'm not the biggest fan of these pleasantries." He said as he wiped his hand whit a handkerchief. "Just a habit of mine your Highness. Now shall we discuss the matters of importance? A room has already been prepared." Emperor nodded. "Yes of course, the faster we are done whit this the better." Both of them ascended the stairs, but Einar remained standing next to his daughter. He wished to talk to her, and was about to excuse himself but the Emperor just looked at him, nodded and said. "Don't take too long." Einar bowed to show his gratitude, then he turned to his daughter and gave her a hug. "I'm happy to see you as well father." She answered while struggling to breathe. Seeing this he released her. "Elisa my daughter, let's walk the garden, I have something important to tell you." The serious look on her father's face worried her greatly.
Both of them admired the beauty of the garden as they walked the narrow pathways. It wasn't as big as the one in the Imperial palace, or the one on their estate in Telhasi, but it was more extravagant. The garden had a lot of exotic plants and flowers brought over form the new world. They passed the famous ever blooming roses, they were of blue color and had a glow to them. As they stopped to get a better look at them, Lisa smelled them while saying how surprised she was when she first walked the garden. "What did you wanted to tell me, father." She said while still looking at the roses. "Before that, let's talk about your time here. How are you feeling?"
"Quite worried at the moment." Einar tensed up at those words. "My father wants to talk to me about something important, yet instead of telling me he's prolonging the conversation. Why?" He chuckled, she smiled. "Saw right through me. The older you grow the more you remind me of your mother." He said whit a warm smile, yet she could see sadness in his eyes.
"I wouldn't have it any other way father."
"Me too daughter. But please indulge me this time, I'am genuinely curious."
"I'm doing fine, he's been treating me surprisingly well." He was really relieved when he heard that. There were many rumors of Vilus's treatment to his mistresses, a lot of bad rumors, enough to worry him. "I'm glad to hear that." They went back to strolling the garden. After more walking they reached a clearing whit a tree in the middle and a bench right next to it, in the shade. This should be a good place, he thought. "This is a good spot father! Let's sit here." He was about to say the same thing but his daughter was faster then him. "Was it all over my face again." He laughingly said.
"No, not this time, it's just that this place is indeed the best spot in the whole garden. Want to know why?"
"Fire away." At his words she approached the tree and pointed at some kind of fruit Einar never saw in his life. It was of round shape, similar to an apple. "What is it? Some kind of fruit?"
"Yes! Vilus called it a peach tree!" She then excitingly grabbed one of them, and ate it whole in mere seconds. "It's soooo good! Do you want one?"
"No, not right now, maybe later when I'm done whit more important matters." Elisa just shrugged her shoulders and said.
"While we are at the topic of important matters. Why don't you tell me what is going on?"
"Yes, but please sit first." She did as instructed, posturing up and putting her hands at her crossed legs. From the look on her face he knew she was prepared.
"It's about your younger brother, Noris." Immediately her expression changed but nevertheless she reminded calm. "His condition has worsened." Einar thought that it was unusual to see her so composed, before she would worry more, well at least it would show on her face more. The look of worry. Elisa took a deep breath and spoke softly. "How long has it been?"
"When I departed from Alisa eleven days ago, was doing fine. I received a letter three days later while we traveled through Belgari. Four days later we arrived so it's been some eight days."
"What about the letter, what was written in it."
"It said that he has a high fever and a cold sweat, also it was written that if the red spots started to show on his skin, as I instructed he will be taken to that professional in the Old woods." This time his words got a reaction out of her, not a pleasant one.
"You mean the man who you called a common trickster? The same man who said that he can help treat Mother, and you refused." He felt shame when he heard her words. "Yes that man."
Her face changed again, now it was filled whit anger. "I know what you're about to say. I know that I'm turning out to be a hypocrite, and I know that you know that I still don't believe in his expertise. But I don't want to lose him as I did her!" He clenched his fists in anger, angry at his inability to do anything. Again Elisa took a deep breath and composed herself. "Me too father, I don't want to lose him as well. But let's not talk about the past, let's focus on present. Was there any more news, letters?"
"Yes." He sat beside her. "When we arrived in the capital, there was a letter waiting for me."
"And, what did it say?"
"The worst case scenario happened, and he was taken to the Old woods. No more letters arrived since then." She reminded silent for some time, processing all that she heard, looking up at the slowly rising sun she said. "I see. I hope everything goes well." She fell silent again. He was surprised at her reaction, little bit worried as well, but the feeling that he felt right now was pride. "You have grown so much stronger in such a short time, I'm proud of you." He said as he slowly patted her head. But then he sighed and got up. "Well I already took up a lot of time. His Highness will be angry. I have to go my daughter." "Yes, of course. You have more important matters to attend to." He laughed at her words. The fact that the Republic was more important then his family made him laugh. "It is sad but true, the future of the Republic is at stake." He then bowed to his daughter. "My departure for Telhasi is in a few hours at most, come see me off if you wish." She then got up and bowed as well. "Good bye Father." She said softly. After that, Einar went to meet whit Vilus and Dratus while Elisa remained in the garden, resting on a small bench below the peach tree. When she returned to the mansion, everyone noticed it. The maids, the butler, the servants. She cried, she cried a lot.