In the center of the main Imperial palace there is a round room, the biggest court room ever made. With two hundred seats, two main balconies, one centar lectern, four diagonal entrances it only lacted a place for the prisoners. But such great room wasn't in need for such feature, after all this is not a place for criminals. It would be irrational to hold prisoners in presence of the Imperial family, the palace had cells, of course it did, you could never know what crazy things can happen in any given moment. A staff member could be caught trying to steal something valuable, there could be a conflict, even a fight among the knights in training, or the worst situation of them all. Someone could be plotting a murder. Even committing it.
That worst situation of them all unfortunately happened this very morning of the court assembly when the Imperial palace has the most strange visitors and the most security known to men kind.
Anybody can come in with a special pass regardless of their true identity, there was also an option to bring guests since this is the only time of the year when the Gold gate is wide open.
All royal knights and guards were instructed to keep their eyes and ears wide open and to not leave a member of the Imperial family alone in any given moment.
It is not that there is a specific person who means harm but rather many of them. Empire of Arthein in new, only holding the status of the empire for fourteen years. Previously a kingdom, sometimes small and sometimes large, Arthein existed for many centuries. Family De Rilibera was the original founder of the kingdom and has ruled it for centuries, never lacking to put a direct heir on the throne. One of those heirs is the current emperor.
When Evan II de Rilibera declared his kingdom an empire and himself the Emperor, it caused and awful political reaction. Many protested saying that his family should no longer rule and that if the kingdom is to become an empire there should be a new family ruling it.
This was, at first, just a silly subject of a drunken bar conversation amongst farmers and merchandisers that was overhead by some low noble man who thought it was a great idea to over throw the current Imperial family and replace it with a new one. Such as his own for example.
It is difficult to assassinate such a well protected family, also very expensive for a small village noble man, so there must be another way of doing it. Another much crueler way.
Marriage.
For the first time in history, in family De Rilibera a daughter was born. Her name is Nefeli and she is a princess, not some lady that happens to be born as a De Rilibera but a daughter of the emperor. Now, even if these village noble men don't have enough money to hire an assassin capable enough for their task, they have sons. And because they are men they think is a rather easy task to make the Imperial princess fall in love with one of their sons who would then abuse their wife's power to over throw her own brother from the throne and take the crown with their family name.
They were stupid.
Stupid enough to underestimate Her Majesty the Empress. Of course a princess will never marry just any man that offered his heart to her or any man at all.
The heir to the throne is yet to be decided, even if it is already certaint that will be the first born prince his is yet to receive the title of the Crown prince. Until that day comes there is still a small chance of princess Nefeli becoming the Crown princess.
That is exactly why the Empress forbidden any marriage from happening in the Imperial family until a official heir is named.
By making a decision to grant her son that title it seems like she is bitting her own tounge. Whispers are already spreading about her private meeting with the High priest.
What could this mean for her daughter's future, even for the whole family?
Nothing and she will make sure that everything stays the same, even if it could cost her a life.
"Mother, have you seen Marquis Favora?" Nefeli asked her mother while sitting in her room and waiting for her to get ready for the assembly.
"I haven't, is there anything in particular that happened?"
"He is going to be present today. He didn't even leave the palace to see his daughter."
"Marquis Favora has a job to do today, very important one, but I am sure he is not here because he wants to."
Nefeli looked at her mother's face in the mirror during this whole conversation, her eyes always stay closed while the maid is styling her hair. Her mother's expression hasn't changed once during this conversation, it remained as it was, with no movement at all.
"Is it safe to have him in the courtroom?" For princess Nefeli this is the first time she appears in the courtroom, on her mother's side nonetheless.
"Of course it is, his is seated on your father's side, so even if he tries to do something there is a great distraction between us." The Empress stud up from her chair and sat beside her daughter. She was in a gold dress showing her collarbone for the first time in a while. On her neck sat a beautiful necklace with a big diamond pendant, her hands remained glowed like they always do and her dress was wide and puffy like the ones she wears at all social events. Big skirts make it easier to keep a proper distance for people who do not know how to respect boundaries. No one is crazy enough to step on the Empress skirt, are they?
"There will also be plenty of guards and my personal knights present, so worry not my dear. You are safe, no one will dare to touch a hair on your head."
Only if Nefeli could tell her mother's that is not her own safety she is concerned with but her mother's. But for someone, especially at Nefeli's age, it is rather hard to speak about those things.
"Alright, if you say so I shall belive you Mama."
A smile shined on Empress's face. "Mama? I haven't heard that one in a while."
"We should go now!" Nefeli hurried to say. "The Empress can't be late!"