"Duke Ezra, why don't we turn back why we still can." Tilo whined to the Duke. "Why should I ? This is the first time in years that my father granted me an audience." That's what I'm scared about, I don't want you murdering the Emperor.
"I won't kill the Emperor, don't worry." This made Tilo worry the more but honestly the Emperor was out of his mind granting the duke an audience. It seemed like he was asking to die.
Ezra and Tilo enter the Imperial court. Ezra hasn't been here for years not after he killed General Oasis as a result of a pointless argument. He was banned obviously, the court were outraged why his position wasn't even stripped from him, he wasn't even the crown prince.
A rumour did go round, the duke had dirt on the Emperor. People could not help but conclude this rumour was true. But then again what was so bad that the Emperor did nothing concerning the problematic duke.
The door opens revealing the closet if the Emperor's consort. Every single man here had a beefing with the Duke after he killed their dear old friend.
All eyes lingered on Ezra, indistinct chatter bounce back and forth in the room.
Tilo stood close to the imperial guards while Ezra found himself seated on his previous spot.
"Duke Ezra, it's been long." Lord Magnus muttered to the Duke, Ezra commend his guts, he was expecting to be ignored. "Not long enough Lord Magnus. As much as I'd like to not be here the Emperor said it was urgent. I don't think I will be returning to the court." If it had been then then he was banned, Ezra would have been thrilled to hear his ban was lifted quickly.
But now he had no interest in the court, he just wanted his father to appear and tell him what was so urgent they he had to leave his estate.
Soon, trumpets signalled the Emperor's appearance. He was followed by two of his recent concubine. No matter how he thought of it, Ezra despised his father's polyamorous nature.
The Emperor sat on his throne as everyone bowed, well everyone except for duke Ezra. When the Imperial guards noticed this they each rush to him and pointed their weapons against him.
"How dare you not bow to the Emperor of Cordenia." One of the guards castigated him. "Tilo put away your sword." Tilo as well drew out his sword the moment they cornered his master. He wasn't thinking at the, he acted out with instinct.
"Tilo, put away your sword." Tilo had no choice but to put it away slowly. He didn't have a chance with the eight imperial guards at Duke Ezra's neck.
"Now, you all should put down your swords as well. Don't you think ?" In this kind of situation you negotiate or at least apologize. Ezra was stubborn.
"We don't take orders from the likes of yo.." Ezra interrupts the guard speaking, immediately Ezra has his hands behind his back. The other guards were baffled on how quick he took to take pin down their comrade. Before Ezra could rip the guard's arm off the Emperor called his attention.
"Ezra please yield, Linus has a wife and he's expecting, unless you intend on paying life support I advise you yield..." The Emperor's voice was calm but stern. Ezra got off Linus and sat right back on his seat. The Emperor signalled the guards to retreat as well and the atmosphere slightly went back to normal.
"I know that I don't have that much of a good reputation so let's keep this short. What was so urgent that you lifted the ban.." everyone nodded half heatedly agreeing with the Duke. "Your Highness, the duke is right he doesn't deserve to sit in the same room with your highness."
"Are you considering finally punishing him for his misdeeds. You've turned a blind eye for too long." The emperor raised his hand as silence followed.
"I heard you're courting Hivera's daughter. You seemed to have taken a liking to her. I could have sworn you said you want nothing to do with women, what changed ?" The room went silent after that. And Ezra....
He was building up in rage. He didn't expect much from his father but he just wasted his time journeying to the palace when he could be attending to salient matters.
Duke Ezra got up. "Is that all ?" The Emperor sneered, his son hasn't changed at all. "I heard you're getting married less than a month from now. If you need any help the Imperial Pillars would be happy to lend financial assistance."
"I don't need it. If that is all I must be on my way. We have to visit the temple to perform our rites." Ezra turned his back, he hasn't even left yet but they didn't hold back their thoughts.
"That's proud bastard, how dare he deny the Emperor's kindness."
"The Emperor is too kind, I would have locked him up in the dungeon by now."
"Always doing what he wants, crazy bastard." Ezra stopped and turned. "Oh, I've seen the handwork of the Imperial Pillars, you all gave me a hard time I must admit but I'm glad my fiance won the case." His smile on his face was meant to be cheerful but it still shook the bones of members.
"Anyways I won't let this slide next time. The woman is important to me If you dare try something like this again and I find its all of your men doing with your acknowledgement, I might just finally murder you with my own hands father..."
"Did you just threaten the Emperor ?"
"That's the same as Treason, you've gone too far."
The Emperor raised his hand granting silence once more.
"Ezra, you are aware that girl has Imperial blood. You know what those with Imperial blood are after." The Emperor muttered.
"Well she's not interested in your bloody throne. She just wants to live and even though she was interested, I really don't have anything to lose she will be doing me a favor." Suddenly everyone went mute the moment the talk about Anthonette's origins was brought up.
"Even if you have no feeling for your father, what about your estate ? What about the people of Cordenia ?
Why would you associate yourself with that murderer ?" The Emperor remarks but it felt nothing more than provocation.
"Then tell me father, why did you betroth her to me ?" Ezra already knew the answer but he wanted the Emperor to confirm it with words. "Why else, you had no interest for women you were chosen along with her other suitors for the purpose of killing her. But it seems like she's informant on witchcraft." Ezra composed himself, he was getting pissed off, it was weird that he was this angry for someone who wasn't other than himself.
"I won't kill her for now but I won't speak for everyone here. If anyone comes after your fiance you have every right to do with them as you wish but I want a favor returned." Though the offer wasn't fair Ezra couldn't miss out on this opportunity. Though some of them will try to kill Anthonette, they wouldn't be hidden by the Emperor's immunity once they are caught.
"What's that ?"
"The crown prince is returning." Soft spoken, almost inaudible noise disperse the room.
"I understand the grudge you hold against your brother but please pardon him for the time being. Also he'll be coming to your wedding so be at your best behavior..." Ezra didn't want anything to do with this but he did promise to protect Anthonette, this was his surest deal.
"Fine, as long as you keep your promise I'll keep mine." Ezra turned calling out to Tilo so they could leave. "Oh and if the crown prince unexplainably die, I'll have Anthonette killed." Ezra nodded he didn't need a lecture on what he had to do. Before he leaves slowly backtrack. "If Anthonette dies unexplainably, same goes to the prince..." The Emperor smile after that, was nothing but a scorn to Ezra.