Inside the Throne room
The Emperor was sitting on the Iron throne with his eyes closed. He was all alone in the vast room with nobody else to accompany, with no ministers nearby him he should be normally relaxing, however, his expression was constantly changing as if in deep thought.
Soon, few steps echoed, The Emperor opened his eyes slightly and looked straight towards the door.
The huge doors of the Throne room opened and a figure entered inside.
"Gerald.."
"Your Majesty." A slightly old and rough man stopped in front of Emperor and bowed briefly.
The man was no other than the Guardian who was guarding the princess previously.
"Did you got something?" Emperor asked.
Gerald took out a piece of a scroll and wrote a few words on it, his hands were moving so fast that they were not visible from naked eyes.
"Take a look at this" After finishing he passed the scroll to Emperor.
The Emperor grabbed the scroll and examined it carefully with a serious expression.
Eventually, he sighed. "That's it?"
"Yea, no major movements from the Maxwell's it's like they don't want to move at all and just create small troubles, as for the Farray's they prefer to proceed with caution, I believe when the time comes the Farray's are going to use Quentin's as a scapegoat."
The Emperor nodded.
"Your Majesty are you sure about betting on the Quentin's and Farray's?" Gerald paused briefly and spoke with slight hesitation. It is not his work to interfere in Empire's working but he can't just be a spectator and is sometimes forced to interfere.
The Emperor brows wrinkled slightly. "Gerald, what do you mean?"
"Your majesty." Gerald bowed respectfully and spoke.
"I believe it will be better to bet on Maxwell's instead of opposing them, today's attack was a brief reflection of their power and I don't believe their motive is to disrupt the Empire's balance."
Nord put on a thoughtful expression and glanced at Gerald with interest.
"...Than what's their motive?"
Gerald smiled wryly. "I don't know"
Nord closed his eyes considering his choices. If anybody else has said this he won't bother but Gerald is the strongest and oldest Guardian of the Empire. His words carry considerable weight.
After a while, he opened his eyes sighed. "I can't move back now, once released, the arrow can't be taken back."
"That's ok." Gerald nodded. He had already expected it. "However, your majesty must remember the Guardians work is only protecting the Imperial family and not to play for their games. We ensure that the throne falls in the hand of worthy and nothing else....If the situation worse..."
"I know, I know..." Nord raised a hand and glanced at him impatiently.
"You have already told me many times. If my plans fails your first priority will be protecting Aria and making her the next heir to the throne. Of course, I am fine with it, not like I didn't want her to inherit the throne in the first place. She herself is adamant on giving the throne to her brother, Ron."
"It's good if you understand it." Gerald nodded satisfied.
"Uh, By the way...Do you know about that new SS-rank adventurer... Leon? Did he reject my invitation? Do he think himself above the Empire?" The Emperor said with slight anger, still his tone was more of an asking opinion of Gerald, rather than complaining. It was like a father in law inquiring about son in law.
Gerald quickly understood and spoke. "Ah Leon. He is a promising young man, powerful and can also use secret arts. To be frank I can't judge if we fought today would I have been able to win or not."
"He can use secret arts!?" Nord narrowed his eyes, startled.
Not to mention the fact Gerald was unsure about his ability to defeat him is already in itself surprising enough but he can still use secret arts of Empire.
"Yea, even I was surprised, not sure where he learnt it but he can surely use them. It will be better to not offend him. There are too many powerhouses around him."
"Girls from Lurey Crea, huh, I got the news if I am not wrong he has another demigod beside him not to forget his sister is at peak of the human level."
Nord put on a pondering expression and said after a while.
"... Gerald, what do you think? do you think he is on our side or someone else's?"
Gerald smiled. "Your majesty, from what I observed he do not want to get involved in politics so there is a very low chance for it that he working for someone."
"Sigh, so there is no possibility to ally him"
Gerald laughed lightly. "I believe there is someone else who can give this answer better than me it's your daughter Aria."
Nord frowned.
"How can I marry my daughter to someone who is even above my age? " His expression changed.
"Haha, your majesty then you have to be disappointed because it seems like your daughter has other plans for him"
The corners of Nord's mouth twitched. "I know, ..."
"Her behaviour was a little different than usual today."
A hint of irritation was visible on his face as if the cabbage he has grown for years is stolen.
"Your majesty, you aren't thinking of opposing them right?" Gerald narrowed his eyes and said. He was not worried about Leon but the Emperor.
"Do you think that girl would listen to me once she had made her mind? It's just worry of a Father can't help..." Nord shook his head helplessly and smiled wryly.
Then, he lifted his head and glanced at Gerald "What do you think how much influence he possesses?"
Gerald was startled slightly. To be honest he also searched Leon's background and was surprised by the results.
"Influence? Let me think... If I am not wrong he can control the whole Imperial capital Guild, both sisters, Ellen & Yves are on his side. As for others, he knows many SS-rank adventures Swordgod, The Dwarf and not to forget Alex whom he was referring to as Austin. He keeps following him around. The main problem is the girls from the Lurey Crea family, their contacts are huge. The girl Yves personally knows Irene the headmistress of Imperial institute which in itself make it hard to touch him not to forget her little sister Ellen is on good relation with Liadella and rest of the members of Mithras Empire's Imperial family..."
"Mithras Empire, sigh... Don't they carry the bloodline of Hero Mithras... "
"What are your odds if we go on a war with them?"
Gerald strengthened his back and spoke confidently "I would able to defeat any of them easily except for..."
"Except for??"
"Alidiya Erbein... The strongest warrior of Mithras Empire. If I was in my prime I may be able to defeat him but now not sure... Additionally, there are many unknown factors on Mithras Empire such as Bestia which occupies 30 per cent territory of Mithras Empire where beastmans rule... I have also listened to the rumour of a mythical being controlling them don't know whether it's true or not." [Authors Note: Mythical Being= Godbeast/Pseudo-God level being]
Nord sighed. "So it's better to leave him for now... Isn't it?"
"I think so as well." Gerald paused in between and looked at Emperor hesitantly. "Uh, ... By the way reports are Leon was last spotted near House of Dreams and smoke."
"Ana, huh... " Nord sighed and got lost. In his memories even today he can remember the women who mesmerised him... Unfortunately, even though he was Emperor he wasn't able to even see her face...
"Ahem" Gerald coughed and woke up the Emperor from his fantasies.
Nobody talks about Ana in the Imperial family maybe because of Lilia. Gerald has also seen Ana once but just after a glimpse, he turned around as not to get affected by her charm. In his lifetime he has experienced enough that sometimes it's better to avoid women if you want to live a healthy and long life maybe that's the reason he is one the oldest humans alive on the Silveria.
"Your majesty, when you meet Leon it will be better if you maintain a smile in front of him. He is the type of person who won't care about you as long as you left him alone. It's better if you don't try to play any tricks." Gerald suggested, more like a warning.
Nord, enraged. He stood up and said in a high voice. "Are you saying me the Emperor to bend in front of him and let him willingly take away my daughter?"
Gerald smiled helplessly and shook his head. Why do these people holding power has such ego?
"You are seeing it from the wrong perspective, think it as siding him on our side. And don't forget about your daughter your majesty, He can protect her... I don't have much time left."
Emperor frowned slightly and sit down on the throne again.
Gerald paused slightly and dropped the final bomb, he hit the Emperor where he is the weakest. "In case your plan fails You don't want your daughter to become a plaything for Maxwells right? I don't think there is any better person than him to protect her."
Gerald sighed inwardly. Now he even has to manipulate the emperor whom he was supposed to protect all because of a single person.
But what can he do? Aria calls him as Grandpa...
It should be ok if he stoops a little low to help that girl. Right?
Emperor took a deep breath and nodded." I got it... For Aria."
"Yes! For Aria." Gerald nodded satisfied. The Emperor really has soft spot for her daughter.
"Remember the time you meet him, it is all about your attitude so please be stiffen up your lips and be a little nicer."
Emperor nodded. "Got it..."