Chapter 3
"What?!" Adrian exclaimed loudly when he was rejected entry from the imperial court. First, he was called here and then he was rejected entrance once he came because apparently, the meeting of the court had already started.
"Please lower your voice, Your Highness. These are the orders of His Highness, the crown prince." the guard standing outside the imperial court informed him in a curt tone which clearly suggested his disrespect.
Although Adrian was angry, he couldn't do anything. In this palace, even a servant could talk to him like that as long as they could. Even Rose didn't have to be under him but she was there because she wanted to be. Otherwise, with her talent and rank, she would be highly regarded in the whole palace.
As Adrian was about to go away, the doors of the hall opened and a sliver knight appeared from them. "You are finally here, Your Highness. Please come in."
The guard stationed outside wanted to say something but he wasn't a silver knight. He was a normal knight. Silver knight's words meant the words of the emperor. He couldn't listen to the crown prince's orders anymore. They didn't matter right now.
Adrian looked at the guard angrily but entered the room quietly without any drama. He wasn't in any better situation than the guard. The emperor had exclusively called for him. He had no doubt it was related to his rank in the test.
He entered and saw the court full of people. Nobles of different ranks. Officials of the court. Council of the Elders. Members of the church. And last but not least, the imperial family.
The family tree was very simple. Two brothers. One, the emperor, and the other, the head elder. The Emperor has three sons while the head elder has only one.
Emperor's first and third sons are married with them having their own families. The second son is unmarried and is under the mentorship of the head elder.
The head elder's son is a brigadier in the Silver Knights. A special squad for special tasks for the imperial family. He is also unmarried.
Both the emperor's and the head elder's wives are dead.
The first son of the emperor is the crown prince having three wives and one concubine. He has six children. Two from his first consort. Two from his second consort and Adrian from his third consort who is also dead. The sixth daughter is from the concubine.
Each son from the three wives is a candidate for the crown. The child of the concubine is not allowed to run for the throne.
The third son of the emperor also had two wives and from both his wives, he has two daughters with each and no son from either of them. He doesn't have a concubine either.
The family tree was fairly simple but the power politics currently going on in the family because of the two brothers, the crown prince and the third prince, was anything but simple.
To further make things chaotic, the children of the crown prince were also in a political fight to take the throne. Although in all fairness, the fight was only between the two of them as Adrian wasn't counted in the first place. Adrian was granted the right to fight for the throne not because he deserved it but because it was his right according to the tradition.
Otherwise, he had nothing to his name. No power. No backing. Even the crown prince acted as if he wasn't Adrian's father.
The court finally began when the Emperor began, "So, what do we have first elder?" He spoke in a soft but strong voice. The atmosphere in the entire court was tense. Suffocating some might find it. After all, the world's strongest people were present in this room. Even the baron in the room was of at least A+ rank. That was the rank of kings of some kingdoms.
"It seems that the Yesral County is absent today." He spoke again before the first elder could state anything.
The first elder along with everyone was speechless. Wordless might be the correct word as no one had the answer to that remark.
"Do you think the rumors about them rebelling are true?" The head elder, the brother of the emperor asked without addressing the emperor using his proper title.
"Whether it is true or not, they are absent despite a direct summon. They know the consequences yet they are absent still. How do you think I should take this?" The emperor questioned which wasn't a question but more of a decision.
"It is time for the gate of diamonds to reappear. We cannot afford to distract ourselves with something else right now, Your Majesty." The first elder advised. But everyone in the room knew that it wasn't an advice. The first elder was completely against any rash moves of the Emperor who still acted like a young man despite being a hundred years old.
"The emperor had already decided, first elder." The crown prince remarked at the first elder's suggestion. The first elder in return remained quiet. There was no need to answer someone who didn't matter.
The status of the crown prince was currently very complex. Not to mention the fact that the first elder was a neutral party and a party member of the emperor himself. The emperor wouldn't disregard his words very easily.
"Now, now, show respect to your elders, son. Or do I have to teach it to you myself?" The emperor said nonchalantly but a deep shiver ran through the crown prince's whole body. He knew that if he didn't shut his mouth right now, a severe beating in the name of education would be awaiting him.
"And what do we do about them?" The emperor continued to ask. However, the only people who could reply in the room were currently the head elder and the first elder. Everyone else was just there to present formally. They had no say in the decisions.
"I suggest buying a chef of their family and ordering him to put laxatives in the dinner of the family. Strong ones." The head elder suggested which would have seemed like a joke but it wasn't.
The emperor was seriously contemplating it while the first elder replied, "No matter how strong, it wouldn't last long. I suggest putting a loperamide(a herb that causes constipation)."
The ridiculous conversation regarding feces was being discussed with great seriousness among these old men. The others in the court could only listen even though the conversation was ridiculous.
After some time, when they came to no agreement, the emperor spoke, "What about using both?" The other two old men contemplated seriously at the emperor's suggestion.
It took some time for an agreement to be made and they came to a unanimous decision of going with the Emperor's suggestion. Less about punishment and more about being curious about what the outcome of doing so would be.
Finally, the ridiculous agenda was gone. Then the issue regarding the gate of diamonds came up. The issue was to decide who would be in charge of the raid and after intensive discussion among the three men, the second prince was selected for the task.
Some more issues came up that were resolved by the old men and yet, none of the other people present in the room were allowed to speak.
Finally, when everything was done, a sentence was uttered by the emperor that froze Adrian on the spot.
"How was your test result, Adrian?" No title or privilege was mentioned which meant it didn't matter in the least. Adrian lowered his head and replied, "I was accepted, Your Majesty."
He was shaking in the legs but there was no hitch in his voice as that would anger the emperor even more.
"How did your Granddaughter do, Richard?" The Emperor asked again but this time from an older man among the nobility stands. Adrian on the other hand, was even more humiliated at that move of the emperor.
The Emperor was asking how his fiancée had done compared to him. Everyone in the room knew the motive but no one snickered or ridiculed Adrian. Afraid that if they did, they might catch the attention of the emperor. They would be treated the same.
"She was lucky enough to be accepted in the elite class." The older man, Richard, a duke of the empire replied.
"Lucky indeed. Wouldn't you agree, Adrian?" The emperor remarked and then asked turning to Adrian. Adrian was wise enough to know that there was no answer to that question nor did the emperor require one. He was currently humiliating him and all he had to do was stand there quietly and take it.
Luckily, that moment came to an end when the first elder declared the end of the court without consulting with the Emperor.
Adrian left the court but since they were no longer in the court, the scorn of everyone and remarks of ridicule and snickering were entering his ears said by many in the hall.
He hurriedly left for his quarters with his head down. The anger in his eyes was stronger than ever. While he was heading down the hallway to his room, he heard a conversation between two maids, "Did you hear? Lady Alicia received another blessing and she was accepted in section A."
The other maid replied, "Of course, she was accepted. They would be stupid not to accept her. She is the saint of light after all. She speaks directly for the goddess."
Both maids marveled and praised her a bit more before the conversation steered in the direction of Adrian.
"Apparently, His Highness the fifth imperial prince also made it to section A." She said sarcastically while the other maid replied with a scoff, "Huh, we all know how he was accepted. Everyone knows of his rank."
Adrian clenched his fists in anger at the gossip and disrespect of these servants but he was constrained. His reputation was already at rock bottom and if he did anything right now, the emperor would throw him off his seat without a second thought. The tradition meant jack sh*t to the emperor.
He suppressed his anger and was about to leave when he heard more from the maids. "They are miles apart. Yet the status allows even a person like him to sit in an equal position."
The maid tutted as if it was great injustice which quite frankly it was but not for Adrian. For him, this was nothing but humiliation.
Just as he was about to go and punish those servants regardless of the consequences, he heard another charming and eloquent voice call out to the maids.
"Please check the progress in the kitchen. It is an important day and we cannot have any problems and have the guests leave dissatisfied." It was none other than Alicia, a black haired beauty. She had long silky smooth black hair that went past her waist and almost reached her knees.
Half of her hair was braided while the other half was let loose. Her charming and round golden eyes exuded benevolence and kindness. Her equally round face which made her even more beautiful along with her milky white skin, she was an unprecedented beauty.
Yet there was no one who lusted after this beauty. Even lustful men turned to believers in the presence of this beauty. She exuded a sense of protection that made one want to protect her regardless of their gender, age, or status.
Of course that didn't apply to Adrian, who hated her more than anyone right now. It wasn't just now, it was his whole life when he was compared with Alicia because they were of the same age and born on the same day.
He was sick of being compared to Alicia and being compared to her today of all days made him angry more than ever.
That anger was the same reason he had come to a decision that wasn't very pure and might be disgusting for many. A sinister grin formed on his face as he followed Alicia to the library.