A couple of hours later, I had all of my stuff and was currently loading it onto the carriage when a familiar red-headed figure with a deep voice called over to me.
"Lev! What's going on?" Oryn asked with a flushed and confused face.
"Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you. Three days ago I was ordered to leave your estate to go to the palace to escort the Crown Prince to the peace council, which is in…about a week," I explained.
"HUH!? Why you? And why didn't you tell me?" The Duke exaggerated with a hurt expression on his face.
"I kind of forgot too, plus I didn't want you to worry and try to convince the king to have someone else go instead," I retaliated with a bit of coldness in my voice.
"Hold on, you said you'd be in the capital for another week! I had a lot I had planned to do with you, but most you shrugged off because you had work to do, so I thought I'd double it up on the other days, but now I found out that you're leaving!" Oryn troubled still soldering a hurt expression.
"...Dude, are you throwing a fit?"
"...What…"
"Nevermind! My point is, stop exaggerating and complaining it's not like I can disobey orders," I then walked back to the carriage door, "Plus this is how I planned it out."
"You…Planned it to go this way?" He questioned.
"Well, I originally planned to leave yesterday but then two days ago I got the letter that ordered me to be Prince Emeric's escort so I had to stay in the capital, but I could still carry it out by leaving today," I explained with a malicious tone and smile.
"You were using me for my money to get you those things weren't you?" Oryn replied.
"Ah! You finally get it, I had indeed asked you for those favors to be able to save my own money, hehe," I jested.
"But why? I mean, you're too nice for something like that, so I don't understand why."
"Dear, why would I want to spend my own money on things when I could have someone else who is willing to supply me with them? And why? Well for revenge."
"Revenge!? But you said you forgave me!" Oryn recalled.
"I did, but I love getting a good revenge, and I saw just the chance," I related.
"Then why did you kiss me?" He wondered.
"Oh, that? I was just going with the flow, and I wanted to, I mean did you honestly think I'd let you fuck me and then forgive you with nothing more than a few gifts?" I then booped him on the nose, "Well, I'll be leaving, bye-bye now."
I then shut the carriage door in his face and had the coachman leave immediately, i then proceeded to peer out the window and laugh to myself.
"Um, M'Lord…" Victor said with visible concern.
"Hm?" I hummed turning to him with a malicious smile painted on my face.
"N-Nevermind, my apologies for bothering you."
"Hehehehe," I said as I continued to chuckle as I looked at the Casilda dukedom as we got further away.
'Sweet sweet revenge'
***
When we got off the carriage and to the grand entrance of the royal palace, I was greeted by a curly head of dark red hair, violet eyes, and a blank expression.
"I greet the star of our empire, your humble servant has come at you're father's request," I said, trying to sugarcoat my clear annoyance.
"Haaa, please Viscount there is no need for such formalities, just treat me like you would any other noble," The Crown prince said with a burdened expression.
"Then shall I call you Prince Emeric, or perhaps 'Your Royal Highness'?" I asked.
"...Just call me Prince Emeric…"
'What a humble person.'
"Understood, Prince Emeric," I said standing up straight with a smile.
After we exchanged our greetings a servant led us inside to a tea room, where we were served tea and snacks. A few moments passed before one of us got enough courage to try some small talk.
"This is quite the nice enterer you picked for this room, and the flowers that decorate the table smell quite nice, did you perhaps pick them yourself?" I asked with actual interest.
"Yes, I did. I've recently taken up an interest in flowers and they're meaning, so I thought that I should place some in the room for today's meeting," Emeric explained while smiling.
"I have also taken up an interest, perhaps we could sit down and talk about them some other time. Oh, and I must say the Gladiolus you picked out are quite lovely," I responded with a smile of my own.
"Pfft- thank you, and I agree we should."
"What are you laughing about, Your Royal Highness?"
"Ah, my apologies, it's just that I recently witnessed a few noble ladies talking about things similar to what we were just discussing and our conversation reminded me of them," Prince Emeric continued to laugh.
"Hahaha, I see, yes I suppose what we spoke about just now did make us sound a bit like noble ladies," I said laughing it off.
After our little spout of laughter, we continued to talk about different topics, i wasn't exactly planning to chat with the Crown Prince about anything other than the trip, but I saw this as an opportunity to get on his good side.
Plus, I had already planned to try and get his favor, if I was going to be his escort for the next week and a half I had to get his trust. Not only for that but for other reasons, I showed him a few of my abilities, considering that I was the only necromancer in the kingdom, he was awed and accepted my abilities with wonder.
One of the reasons I did this, was indeed for his trust, but also so that if there was a time when I had to use these abilities to protect him, he wouldn't be afraid. After I showed him my bone manipulation he asked me to make them dance, so I tried my best to re-create the chicken dance for his amusement.
"HAHAHA! What is that dance, it's hilarious!" The Prince laughed.
"Hehehe," I laughed back.
If I had to be honest, I was indeed having fun chatting like this with him, but I knew that I had to eventually get onto the serious business.
I did eventually get to that, just a couple of days later, and also the same day that we would leave for the capital. But just as I was about to address the signals and drills, His Majesty the King of Pettiness, decided to make an appearance.
"Father," Prince Emeric greeted.
"Hello there my son, and hello Viscount Andraste," King Rhys said smiling.
"I greet the mighty sun of the Kingdom," I said as respectfully as I could muster while giving a slight bowing.
"Hahaha, there's no need for that, just a simple 'Greetings Your Majesty Rhys' would be fine!" Rhys laughed.
"Thank you for your hospitality, i will refer to you as Your Majesty then."
Rhys smiled and hummed a bit, and I noticed that the Crown Prince looked a bit antsy, so I gave him a little nudge with my foot.
"Um, Father, may I ask why you decided to come here?" The Crown Prince asked.
"Oh, I just thought it'd be nice to see my Son and our newest Viscount off on their way to the Ender Empire, especially since it's for a peace council," The King said leaning forward and giving a little wink.
"Your Majesty, while I am eternally grateful that you have decided to grace us with your presence and come to see us off, it is best that we start to leave, especially if we want to get there before sunset when we arrive that is." I jested while sounding serious to not make it so obvious.
'Thankfully I had Victor calculate the time of arrival yesterday.'
"Hm…I suppose you are right! Well, best wishes on your trip," He said patting the Crown Prince and me on our arms and walking away before turning back to give one last warning, "And Viscount, I expect you to protect my son as best as you can, if only you come back, I will come for your head."
"HAHA! You have nothing to worry about King Rhys, I can assure you that Crown Prince Emeric is in good hands," I reassured the king.
"Yes, that is what I hope…Well, happy travels!"
'What a two-faced bitch.'
***
A week later we arrived in the Ender Empire, when we arrived we went inside of the imperial palace, where we were greeted by a woman who introduced herself as Astrid Phrona. She was the commander-in-chief of a division made up of Swordsman's and Mages, she was ordered to be our escort during our time in the palace.
Astrid had platinum blonde hair that was in two Dutch braids, and sharp violet eyes similar in color to mine. She was wearing a dark green commander's uniform that had a cape attached to it that had fur in it, as well as a black and silver hat that had the empire emblem on it. At her side was a pouch, I sensed mana from it, though it was pure mana, not dead mana.
"Then I shall escort you to the throne room, the Emperor is waiting there, it's best not to make him wait," Astrid said with a glare and resting her hand on her katana handle.
"Thank you, Commander Astrid, I feel bad for troubling you," Prince Emeric said apologetically.
"It's nothing to be sorry about, I am simply carrying out my orders as I was told," She replied coldly with no emotion in her voice.
'She seems a bit cocky'
A few moments later the end of our silent walk to the throne room ended, and we were greeted by large doors made of obsidian, and black marble, and you could see a few emeralds in them that made it look like stars. In the middle was the Empire's emblem, two dragons flying back-to-back.
"Impressive entrance," I added, "It makes me feel like a little cub in front of a lion's den."
"Hm, yes I suppose that is how the Former Emperor wanted it, though it's an accurate description of your position right now," Astrid added.
"Ho? Excuse my impertinence, but exactly are you suggesting?" I jested.
"...Enough chit-chat, the Emperor is waiting," Astrid rejected.
'Heh, she's good. Not easy to fall victim to a little poke, she is indeed suited to be a commander-in-chief.'
Opening the doors there was the throne room, it had the same black marble pillars in front of the wall as the door did, and in the middle was an emerald green carpet leading to the throne of the Emperor. The floor was made of anthracite, and the walls had both obsidian and anthracite in them. There were empty suits of knight armor in front of each pillar, like that you would see in the movies of a show. Hanging over top of the Throne were banners that had the Imperial family's emblem on them, which were a giant Ouroboros and an Imougi.
Before I got to see the throne or any characteristics of the Emperor, I was to kneel. Now it's not that I don't know what the Emperor looks like, I just don't know who is ruling at this time.
In the novel, the Emperor's brother, Tristan Lorcan, did a coup D'etet for the throne and ended up becoming known as 'the tyrant of the Ender Empire' because of it. But even he eventually got caught up in the war with the demons, and unfortunately caused the fall of the Ender Empire.
I honestly couldn't say whether the collapse of the Empire was a good thing or not, there were indeed some benefits to the protagonist and his party because of it, but at the same time, there were also benefits to the Demon King.
'If it's Tristan, this could be bad.'
"I greet His Imperial Majesty," The trio of us say in unison. Unfortunately, Victor wasn't able to accompany me here, so I sent him back to Zyon to take care of estate matters.
"Commander Astrid, you may raise your head," A deep voice sounded from in front of us, I assumed it was the Emperor.
"Thank you you're Majesty," She said. Peering over to her, I could see that she took off her hat and was holding it over her heart.
"...Introduce yourselves you two, I would like to hear your identities from your mouths," He ordered.
"Thank you, your Majesty, my name is Emeric Fortunata, first son of Rhys Fortunata, and The Crown Prince of the Quare Kingdom."
"And my name is Lev Andraste, Viscount of the Viscounty of Zyon City, and Lieutenant Colonel of the Quare Kingdom's 4th knight order."
"Haaaa, you two may raise your heads," The Emperor commanded.
Looking up I could see a man leaning with his legs crossed on a throne made of black Onyx, he was very obviously the Emperor. His aura and demeanor were that of a ruler who remained unchallenged, authoritative, and commanding.
He was carrying a straight face, and looking down on us while not even bending his head, he was definitely the dead emperor in the novel, Arik Lorcan.
Arik had wavy dark brown hair and green eyes, and the jewels on his crown made the color of his eyes stand out even more. He was sporting a gold crown with light gold armor over top of his, very luxurious clothes, I could also notice a small gold ring on a chain around his neck.
Next to the king, leaning on the side of his throne in a stand, was a magnificent gold spear that had a ribbon tied around it.
"My name is Arik Lorcan, the Emperor of the Ender Empire" The Emperor introduced himself whilst standing up, "Tell me, what business does the Crown Prince and Viscount of the Quare Kingdom have with me?"