It overjoyed the emperor to meet Alfred and Veronica because they were the emperor's most powerful and intellectual leaders in his realm. Without them, the emperor could not have established this dominion. He bound them with his magical contract so that he could use them however he wished. Because of the magical contract that tied Alfred and Veronica together, they couldn't defy the emperor even if they wanted to. They had a duty to follow the emperor's orders, no matter what they were.
Draven spoke out with excitement. "Alfred, I was waiting for you. You have a knack for igniting interest in others."
Alfred could see that the emperor was grinning slyly. Even though Alfred didn't want to go to the banquet, he did so for the sake of the courageous soldiers and not for the lusty, wicked monarch. Alfred could have chopped off the head of the emperor right now if he had the ability to do so. But his hands were bound by Draven's magical contract.
