Lucious made his was to the palace and went to the emperor to give him greetings. And so he entered the throne room where the emperor was reading about the state affairs. As the emperor saw him lucious then walked closer to the throne. Emperor kishendren then stood up and went to lucious. Lucious then bowed to the emperor and proceeded to greet him...
Lucious: You majesty the emperor I lucious have returned from the campaign! I your humble servant greet your majesty the emperor with all my loyalty.
Kishendren: Lucious you've finally returned! Once again you are victorious. You have done well boy. I shall reward you handsomely for your triumph.
Lucious: I do not seek any rewards your majesty but I do seek the truth.
Kishendren: What boy?
Lucious: Your majesty is it true that you and the grand duke aren't on good terms?
Kishendren: Yes lucious... But I can't blame him too.
Lucious: Is it about the marriage proposal?
Kishendren: I guess you've heard about it. Yes it is because of the marriage proposal. Your godfather refuses the marriage alliance and he is quit upset that I brought it up. He doesn't wish for the marriage alliance to even ever be talked about even in court.
Lucious: Then he must have a good reason why...
Kishendren: Lucious do not worry about that now. We must now focus on your victorious campaign! I will grant you a lavish palace that's even bigger and more grand than your godfather's alongside with a vast wealth!
Lucious: Thank you your majesty but about the marria-
Kishendren: Lucious don't mind it I said. Me and your father will fix it ourselves so don't be troubled. I want you to enjoy the glory you have earned.
Lucious: Thank you your majesty?...
Amaris was now very delighted that the discussion about her marriage is being postponed. She now had more time of her freedom but she knew that no matter what happens her father wouldn't let her go unmarried. If it wasn't evander then she would have to make a choice between the other unmarried male nobles in Trystia. His best choices were duke maximus's eldest son and heir or lucious. And it's was very clear who she'll be choosing...
Hyacinth was currently in a good place. He was still the emperor of a very stable empire. He was now also on good terms with lucious and grand duke armista was now back in Trystia. He had all his allies secured but he couldn't make a move yet. His envoys in Trystia have sent him a letter containing the current news about armista and emperor Kishendren's fallout. He couldn't risk it as one wrong move may turn the Trystia empire against him. Whatever it may be the only choice he had right now was try to slowly convince lucious to finally go against his father in battle. His advisors said he should sway lucious with letters and gifts but he knew these times of gifts would leave no effect on a powerful young man like lucious. Instead he planned to help lucious in his campaigns to gain his trust...
Back again in Trystia emperor kishendren was now in a tough spot. His daughter was yet to be wed and his sons were not present. He needed a protector for his children but with armista gone his only choice was duke Maximus. And the duke showed great skill in doing so. He made sure not a single noble disrespected the emperor and the imperial children as he showed his wrath against those who did. But he also showed the rewards loyal followers would get once they've given their full loyalty and devotion to the emperor and the empire. The duke then began to have a higher value in court even higher than grand duke armista. Rumors then began to spread all around the empire that the grand duke was now going to be replaced by duke Maximus. But it was father from the truth as the emperor had no intentions whatsoever but instead intended to use Maximus as a bridge between them and armista to once again get closer. Once the emperor and the grand duke clashes the empire with be in chaos and the emperor could not let it happen. He knew how powerful and how loved armista was in the empire and he also saw how much the soldiers in the imperial army love and respect the grand duke with all their love and devotion. But now he was setting his sights on Maximus. He now wants to instead wed amaris to maximus's eldest son and heir. He knew she will be very well taken care of and he has his full trust on Maximus that he'll insure amaris's safety and well being. And so it was he was slowly trying to make amaris and maximus's eldest son Dallin meet on purpose. But sadly the two didn't really get along that much as their personalities kept clashing. The two would always bicker and most of the time their fights end up with them using their ranks in the empire to be better than the other. Amaris uses her authority as the princess to annoy and order Dallin around. While Dallin instead uses his men to go and spy around the princess and reports the princesses mischievousness to the emperor. And his plan was thrown out as instead of having a solution to his problems everything turned into a massive headache not just for him but the entire imperial Court. And his ministers made sure he knew what they were thinking about the marriage of those two. They were sure it'd end up in a quick divorce within a day or two. And all agreed to trash it for the peace of mind of everyone in the imperial Court including the emperor himself who made sure to cross out Dallin in the available and most competent bachelors for the princesses mischievousness and imperial love...