In the meeting room, there was no music to be heard as the emperor stood with his back to the seated officials.
"So, that Duke Ulfric has obviously lost all respect for me as the emperor."
The officials of Louvaros were not sure what to say to him as they had not managed to convince the duke to join them on the trip.
They all seemingly had a bewildered and fearful expression on their faces while shrinking back in their seats, not too sure how to smooth over the situation with the emperor.
There were one or two who were covertly rejoicing about this development. The two imperial officials simply sat with their heads down.
Next to the emperor was a tea set, he slowly picked up an empty cup, looked at it for a minute as if thinking about the situation.
Then they suddenly heard a crash as the fine porcelain shattered into pieces. They could feel their hearts almost jump out of their throats at that very moment.
"You useless things are still in front of this Emperor?" asked the emperor in a calm voice as if they had not just witnessed him destroying the extravagant cup.
The officials panicked as they stood up and deeply bowing to the fuming man in front of them before shuffling out of the room as if there were a devil biting at their heels.
"Minister Vilaro, the meeting will commence on another day. I have a personal matter to discuss with the General."
The Minister of Defence and the Secretary stood up at the emperor's statement.
The Secretary left first but Minister Vilaro glanced at the fact that the Commander had not moved but he couldn't find another reason to stay since it was apparently a personal discussion.
"As your Majesty requests," he said with a bow before walking out as well.
The general signalled to his subordinate who went to stand guard outside the doors of the meeting room. The emperor turned around and sat in his seat.
The other officials had already scattered but Minister Vilaro was only a short distance away from the door when he noticed the general's subordinate exit the room and stand guard in front of the door even there were already imperial guards already there.
Strange.
The situation annoyed him but at least this gave him a chance to see the one person he had come to the palace to see. While walking along the outdoor corridors, he saw a familiar figure approaching followed by two maids.
When she was closer, she stopped in front of him and curtseyed.
"Minister Vilaro," she said softly without looking up at him.
"Princess. Why are you coming from that direction?"
"I was in a carriage from the Academy Office. Dean Tusi had requested to see me to give me some extra work, Imperial Uncle. I excused myself from the banquet with the Empress Consort. I'm heading to my quarters now."
He saw the thick volume and leather folder to which supported her story. The girl was too timid for his liking, and it was always frustrated him trying to interact with her but sometimes he thought he saw a certain inexplicable glint in her eyes.
He gestured by turning his head slightly pointing with his chin and she walked away.
The minister continued making his way to the banquet and arrived just in time to see his intended target stand from her seat.
Some of the individuals paid their respects to him as he walked through the crowd. He glanced a private area where a few ladies sat with the empress consort but continued walking.
"My Empress," he said with a smile as he bowed in front of her.
"Just in time, dear brother," she replied with a small smile of her own.
He offered her his hand as she came down the step and held onto his arm. She slowly fanned herself as they made their way out of the banquet hall in conversation.
****
"That old goat certainly knows how to get on my nerves."
"Your Majesty, he sent his sincere regards, in not so many words," replied the general with slight smile.
"I'm sure that's not what he said."
The emperor's steward poured him another cup of tea which he drank while thinking about the situation.
Now that all the officials had been thrown out, he realised that it was just the general and his subordinate left from the travelling party.
"He didn't even send a direct family representative even though I've requested you to come all the way to Capital. There's not a single Ulfric who's an official here?"
"Does he still want to be a duke or not?" continued the emperor.
It was not that they were threatening his status, but everyone needed to strong allies and family inside and outside if they wanted to keep any political position.
Without such support, officials and the families who backed them would hatch up all sorts of schemes. Family could be the strongest backers but also the worst enemies, a strength, and a weakness.
"Your Majesty, other than the prime minister and a few other family members at court, his son has taken to representing him at certain events. But even though he's the current Duchess's son, he hasn't been officially announced as the heir. Actually, the Ulfric travelling with us is not a distant relative."
The emperor and commander both glanced at each other, the emperor wondering who this family member was and the commander just remembering that he had not shared this vital piece of information with the emperor.
As for the conflicts of announcing an official heir, they could understand why he had not sent the son they had heard about. His reputation certainly preceded him.
"General Kasabien, why keep us in suspense?" asked the commander with a smile as if it was the first time that he was hearing about such a thing and the general almost choked before continuing.
"Your Majesty, the boy who is the captain that'll be awarded tomorrow is the duke's youngest son."
"He's the soldier we've been hearing about this entire time? Why didn't I know this?" asked the emperor.
"Sorin and the Duke are not on the best terms. We didn't even know he was his son until a year ago at the funeral. When he enlisted and even as he climbed the ranks, it was under his mother's maiden name."
"I'll give that reckless boy credit but I'm guessing that he wants nothing to do with any talk of political positions. An untainted mind, maybe I should recruit him," pondered the commander.
"Commander, it wouldn't be fair to take all my budding talent. The royal army has already poached a few of them, the Commander should be aware."
"Oh, that fool of a king."
"Yerlan!" warned the emperor using his name instead of his title.
"What? Your Majesty has the same opinion. That's why we couldn't even talk to him about this."
Emperor Yasir shifted his position as he finished drinking the tea and the general spoke up.
"As for the report, I've made sure to record every detail. In short, the mines are safe, but the trail of the smuggling ring has completely gone cold with that last batch we caught, and the chaos caused by the battle."
"I'm sure it'll be a year or two before they can completely pick up operations again. There's no doubt that they'd dare especially if they have a powerful backing colluding with them from our side."
The very thought of it had the commander so annoyed that he had to drink it down after he had said it.
So, he poured himself a cup of water as the other two sat in silence. Things had become complicated too fast but at least the physical battle had been won.
It would buy them at least a year or two to focus on other problems as well while adding this to the investigation list.
"General Kasabien, I know you're not a part of the royal army and this is not an official imperial command, but I'll have to trouble you and the duke to assist us in watching the borders of Surcaster. At this point both the north and south."
"Understood, your Majesty. We'll do so in the north as discreetly as possible."
"Did you get that? Make sure to fully cooperate with the duke," said the commander while looking over his shoulder and there came a nod from the shadows before there was stillness again.
How long had the person been standing there and if they hadn't been there the entire time, when did they come into the room? Even though the commander was younger, General Kasabian had to admit that he was formidable.
The man had not simply taken the title because he was a prince, but he had earned every bit of his reputation whether he was fighting on or off the battlefield.
"There'll be senseless talks amongst those official if this takes any longer. Dismissed," said the emperor.
The general stood and bowed before heading out of the room.
****
It didn't take long for the trio of young women to get ready. Kamaria turned in the mirror, while looking at herself. She could barely believe how bright and glamorous she looked. Lili had even added small jewels around her eyes to heighten the ethereal look.
There was just one thing missing.
She pulled out the comb from Urien and carefully slid it into her hair. Everything was ready. They just had to make sure to be back before midnight.
"People might think that princess is the goddess's incarnate," joked Raisa.
"Auntie certainly made of that," she said as she took one last look.
When Kamaria and the girls finally caught up to Khayri and Nima, the two young men could barely close their mouths at the sight of her.
Khayri was hardly a person to be surprised but she fully had him in disbelief. How was it that the attention was not on Kamaria at every single banquet?
The girl knew how to hide otherwise as her brother he would always be fighting off suitors from every direction trying to protect her.
Urien was his friend, but Khayri had to admit that he would not have stood a chance if Kamaria bothered to appear at socials. She likely would have been engaged before she was eighteen.
The two young men were hidden in the darkness of the forest outside the castle walls with three horses. Kamaria was familiar with the path, so the moonlight was adequate for them make their way to the meeting place.
"I wasn't told that I'd be escorting some mystical being. I don't think we'll be going anywhere tonight. I'd rather be in my residence with my head on a certain Nima's lap than be a bodyguard," said Khayri with a smile.
"Your Highness!" warned Nima while trying not to blush at the prince's ridiculous statement.
The shameless flirt just never knew when to stop.
"Stop playing around, I'm hungry. I've been looking forward to this the entire night," insisted Kamaria as her brother helped her mount her horse.
Raisa was riding behind Nima while Lili sat behind the chaotic prince. And just like that, they set off for a night of youthful fun.
A night where they could temporarily put aside being part of imperial court and just be young people in costume attending a popular festival.
It helped that people barely knew the faces of the imperial family, so they had a chance to have some real fun.