The chaos took over the meeting room where the Grand Duke grasped the opportunity to die down the noises.
"You have violated the contract, Mr. Mackenzie. I am very disappointed in you. First, you engage yourself into something illegal and not related to the business. Next, a great loss that this company is experiencing right now, all points to you. And lastly, you harmed and ruined the reputation of the company and its people. I wonder what will happen if I report this to the President." He summed it up with a smirk on his face.
Mr. Mackenzie quickly begged and asked for forgiveness, knowing that he was in a dangerous spot.
"Please forgive me! Forgive me, Vice President! I'll make it up to you, just don't end our contract!" he begged in desperation while some of the board members silently mocked him in their minds.
Most of the board members never liked Mr. Mackenzie because of his obnoxiousness and self-centeredness. They all knew he was a troublemaker and yet, they wondered why the President accepted the partnership with him. Grand Duke Arthur showed no mercy nor compassion towards him, as he never liked him to begin with.
"Leave." He demanded sternly.
It was the only thing Mr. Mackenzie heard from the Grand Duke. He knew that if he leaves everything ends there, "Please, Vice President! I'm begging you."
The Grand Duke felt irritated by his exclaims, Mr. Mackenzie's voice really annoyed him that made him felt like his ears were already bleeding from his cries. Due to his annoyance, the Grand Duke commanded Kalios to force buy out his stocks. After that, the royal guards took him out of the office whereas Mr. Mackenzie continued to shout and resent him.
Grand Duke Arthur didn't even bat an eye on him then faced the rest of the board members, especially Mr. Johnsons.
"This will be considered as a warning to you all. And I hope that Mr. Johnsons will think of a solution to this problem. Consider this as your last chance, Mr. Johnsons. Meeting adjure."
After he warned everybody in the meeting room, he and Prince Nikolai along with Kalios and royal guards left. The rest of the board members sighed in big relief from not being able to breathe while the presenter almost puked and fell unconscious because of it.
When Prince Nikolai and Grand Duke Arthur were a few meters away from the meeting room, the third prince decided to ask as he began to remove the earphones in his ears.
"Wasn't that too harsh, Uncle?"
The Grand Duke glanced to his nephew back to the corridor.
"They should know their place. Your father would have done the same or worse." He replied.
"Father seems nicer, though." Prince Nikolai retorted back then went back to plugging his earphones.
He somehow felt dejected by his nephew's remarks, but decided to brush it off. He then called Kalios to inform the emperor regarding the meeting. He and his nephew proceeded to his office to continue his work while waiting for his brother.
Emperor Charles was busy sorting out his work in his study room; an hour had passed when the telephone suddenly rang. His personal secretary, Gilbert Marcos, happened to be with him so the emperor asked him to pick up the call for him.
Gilbert talked to Kalios on the other side of the line, they exchanged a little information before he decided to give it to the emperor. "Your Majesty, Kalios wants to speak with you," he bowed and he handed him the telephone.
Emperor Charles took the telephone and asked, "What is it?"
Kalios informed him of the events and problems that the Grand Duke encountered during the meeting.
"I see. My brother is as harsh as ever. I'll be there in an hour." He proclaimed.
He sighed in disappointment since he thought he could finish his work early and spend the rest of the day with his Empress. However, to his discontent, he couldn't because he needed to go to the company to discuss with his brother to save the company from being completely ruined.
He stood up then instructed Gilbert to get the car and some documents ready. When he left his study room, he went to the Empress chamber to change his clothes. He chose his royal blue suit pants, he matched it with a white polo underneath and royal blue necktie with polka dots in it.
Empress Jasmine went inside when he noticed her Emperor getting ready. She went near him elegantly as she stared at him looking puzzled.
"I thought you were supposed to stay here for work?" she asked.
The emperor responded while fixing his suit, "There's a problem in the company."
"That looks disturbing." She was compelled to respond.
And Emperor Charles slightly droops in disappointment, "Sigh… Yes, it is."
Empress Jasmine chuckled at her husband's remarks so she went to him and offered to fix his necktie.
She then started the conversation, "So, how did your brother deal with that matter?"
The emperor told her, "As harsh as ever."
Empress Jasmine giggles and tells her husband, "Aren't you the same?"
Emperor Charles tilted his head with a questioning look, "We are?" he asked and the Empress nodded then gave him a peck on the cheeks. Suddenly, Prince William and Prince Alexander appeared out of nowhere.
They both stared at their loving parents, Prince William gave them his usual expression while Prince Alexander cringe. Their mother chuckled because of their expression whereas the father raised one of his eyebrows.
"Can I come with you, Father?" Prince William asked when they heard their conversation a while back then.
Emperor Charles welcomed him too, so he immediately excused himself and went to his chamber to change his clothes. Prince Alexander pouted since he'll be left in the mansion. He would sometimes come with his father but he felt his laziness kicking in.
"Hey, Dad. Where's Nikky?" he asked as he was referring to their youngest sibling.
The emperor replied to him, "With your uncle," as he fixed some of his things.
"Man…what changed him?" Prince Alex asked himself and the Empress went near him and kissed him in the forehead.
"Isn't that a good thing, my son?" she asked.
The prince shrugged his shoulders, not knowing what to answer. Empress Jasmine offered him to go with his father, however, he rejected then asked her.
"Nah, too lazy to see the outside world. Will you train me instead?"
He looked at his mother in plea while Empress Jasmine chuckled. "That would be nice since you rarely train," she commented and Prince Alexander immediately asked for the schedule of their training.
The empress chuckled as she said, "My, my… Well, aren't you motivated?" feeling happy and excited for her son.
Prince Alexander responded, "Just felt like it." He supported his head with his hands.
After that, Prince William arrived and told his father that he was ready to leave. Both the empress and Prince Alexander escorted them to the main entrance as the father and son left. When they were already out of their sight, the prince stared at the view.
"They look like twins." He commented.
His mother smiled at him and said, "Come, we have some training to do."
Prince Nikolai followed him as the main entrance closed. Emperor Charles and Prince William with Gilbert in the front seat, along with the royal guards on the other cars as they convoyed. The ride was peaceful and quiet as they reached the remote road, Prince William took the initiative to ask his father but was interrupted when the car suddenly stopped.
They almost hit themselves that made the first prince almost yell. "What are you—?!" Prince William was cut off when an arrow was pierced through the car that landed between him and his father.
He looked at the person wearing a black cloak with a mask formed like a fox. Some of the guards went out of the car then charged at him, but he was quick to defend himself and toss one of them to the rest. He quickly escaped and Prince William was about to chase after him, till the emperor spoke.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked without batting an eye on his son.
The prince asked back, "Aren't you going after him?" as his expression turned sour while thinking of the sudden ambush.
Emperor Charles informed his son that they still need to go to the company and that the company comes first. The eldest prince was about to protest but the emperor reassured and promised him that he would do something about it.
Prince William didn't protest anymore and said, "You'll worry mother if she finds out about this."
And the emperor responded, "Only if someone will tell her."
The prince stared at his father in disbelief, "You want me to lie to her?"
Then Emperor Charles gave him a 'You-know-that's-not-what-I-meant' look on his face. Prince William crossed his arms and he leaned his back on the car seat.
"I hope you will discuss this with Uncle, Father. And just make sure you and uncle won't hurt yourself or it will be hard for me to keep this a secret. Mother will surely get mad about this." He reminded him.
Emperor Charles nodded and replied, "I know. So, keep this a little longer until we manage to capture him. I hope you understand."
They all proceed to the company even after the incident and the prince nodded in assurance. As the driver drove them towards their destination, Prince William stared at the window as he clenched his jaw and silently flickered with rage.
...