"And what did you have in mind exactly?" I asked, my hands continuing to flip through the information packets Fiana had meticulously prepared for me. Each page fed my growing excitement about the possibilities the future held, yet it was prudent to deal with the present to prevent any future disturbances.
I didn't look up from the papers as I added, "You want to test my motivations, isn't that right? So what's it going to be? Are you going to ask me a hundred philosophical questions, or something else? We both know my past is a no-go, so what do you have in mind exactly?" My voice was calm, but there was a hint of impatience. The sheer volume of more important things to do made it difficult to remain patient.
The Emperor, after a thoughtful pause, chuckled lightly. "Nice suggestion," he replied, though his tone carried an edge of skepticism. "But I have a better idea…"
I could tell my words hadn't quite earned his trust. "And you'll be happy to know that this will be much faster than trying to decipher the 'truth' behind your responses—especially given the 'wall' you've put up between yourself and the world."
His comment was meant to provoke, but I barely acknowledged it. I could understand the Emperor's frustration; no one likes dealing with someone they can't read. Unfortunately for him, I had no intention of lowering my guard like a bride revealing her face on her wedding day.
'He's not nearly pretty enough for that,' I mused, the thought sparking a sly smile, one that caused the Emperor to shudder.
I raised an eyebrow as he continued, "So?"
He got the hint, thankfully.
"It's simple," he said, the grin returning to his face. "If I can't judge you, I'll bring in someone who can."
The shuffling of pages halted as the weight of his words sank in. 'There's no way he's that stupid, right?' But still, I had to ask.
"The Magi?" I kept my tone level, but there was a lethal edge beneath the surface. The wrong answer would mean the end of this discussion. If he thought he could use that man as a threat, it would be a disastrous miscalculation.
I'd have no choice but to burn everything down.
The Emperor, however, was smarter than that.
"Of course not," he rushed to clarify, sensing the unspoken threat. "I'm sure he's the last person we'd want interfering in our... negotiations."
"Naturally." I stared at him coldly, silently warning him that even the hint of such a suggestion was not something to joke about. The Emperor winced under my gaze, seemingly regretting his ill-timed attempt at teasing me.
'At least he knows better,' I thought. Any involvement from the Magi King would spell disaster—not just for me, but for the Emperor himself. While I held knowledge that would make any ruler tremble, the Magi King would be no exception. There was no need to elaborate on how valuable that knowledge would be, nor how greedy the Magi King might become in pursuit of it. Yet I wasn't worried. My earlier encounter in the forest and the strength that I had gained as a result, left me confident that while I might not outright win in a confrontation, I could at the very least force a stalemate.
In short, I was equipped to protect my treasures. I was the merchant with enough muscle to deter would-be thieves. They would have to pay the full price for what I had to offer, whether it was the Kingdom of Aetherfall or Alkavia. The only reason I was still entertaining the Emperor was because it was easier to bargain from a position of power, ensuring that when I eventually approached the Magi King, it would be on my terms.
'Or better yet, when I don't need to negotiate at all and can simply take what I want.'
Only when both parties had equal power did a deal hold weight.
"So, who is it?" I asked.
A glint of something clever sparked in the Emperor's eye as he replied, "Why don't I just bring her in person? It'll save us the talk. You'll understand when you see her."
Without further explanation, the Emperor stood abruptly and hurried out, his usual regal decorum abandoned. The doors of the royal library closed with a thud behind him, and I resumed reading through Fiana's notes, waiting for his return.
I didn't have to wait long.
"Thuck!"
The sound of the doors echoed again as the Emperor returned, this time with a companion—or rather, it seemed he was being led by her. A young girl, likely no older than a child, sat beside him in what appeared to be a gold-trimmed chair. It wasn't just any chair, though—it was a wheelchair, engraved with delicate carvings of roses, beautiful but functional.
The cold reality was unmistakable.
'She can't walk.' It was the first conclusion that came to mind. And while most would feel sympathy at such a revelation, I felt nothing but curiosity.
The girl, her head bowed low, her white hair cascading over her face, trembled visibly. Her frail, pale arms rested on the arms of the chair, her entire body shivering as if in fear.
'She's trembling?' I noted.
Her actions made me unconsciously check my surroundings.
'I'm not leaking even a trace of my aura, and it's not that cold, so why exactly is she acting this way?'
Before I could dwell on my question, her shivering caused her hair to part, giving me a clear view of the young lady's face.
What I saw could only be described as the picture of excitement.
'She's trembling with joy.'
"Nice to meet you, little miss," I said, extending a cordial greeting. But the girl was too emotional for words, her throat seemingly choked with joy. I shifted my gaze to the Emperor, who looked more like a happy old grandpa than a ruler at that moment.
"And who is she?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Despite my best efforts, I couldn't quite place her. She wasn't a historical figure or someone I recognized from my readings; clearly, she wasn't important enough for me to remember.
"Her name is Delila," the Emperor explained, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, though whether to soothe her or signal her to calm down was unclear. "She's a kind little girl whose favorite hobbies are reading and watching her sister work. Her favorite food is Crystalwyne Crab, and she just can't contain her excitement to meet you. Isn't that right?"
Whether the Emperor's words were meant as an answer or a tease for the little girl, I didn't care. I wasn't in the mood for such games.
"Stop wasting my time." My voice might have been harsher than I intended, but it was enough to change the atmosphere from sweet to cold.
"Who. is. she?" Each word was pronounced distinctly, an effort to make him understand that I wasn't interested in his games any longer.
I ignored the shocked expressions on their faces, allowing my gaze to grow deeper, more piercing.
"Ahem." The Emperor straightened his clothes, corrected his posture, and stood before me professionally. He seemed to realize that the respect he'd lost since his return was now necessary.
"She's Fiana's sister—" he began, his tone sugary sweet, as if unaware of my displeasure.
I wasn't interested in his pleasantries.
"—and why do I care?" I didn't shout or scream; I merely spoke in a voice so sweet it could give anyone who heard it diabetes.
I could see the Emperor's mind racing, analyzing how quickly I regained control over my "outburst." However, my annoyance at the situation outweighed his attempts to assess me.
"Last chance, Mr. Emperor," I warned him, my patience fraying. "Get to the point, or I'm sure Azuleth would be happy to take over that seat you're currently sitting so comfortably on."
"This is my test," the old man replied, his voice low but firm. "Delila here couldn't wait to meet you after I told her about you. So I wanted to see how exactly you two would interact. How about it, Delila? Now's your chance; take it or leave it…"
He turned his gaze toward her, patting her shoulder as if to encourage her. However, I offered no such encouragement, pinning her down with my sharp gaze.
To my relief, she raised her head. Our eyes met, and I could see the sparkles dancing in her irises.
'A glance, just a glance, and I understood what this whole thing was about.'
What I saw within those soft, pearly, innocent blue eyes was unmistakable. A flicker of pleasure washed over me; the Emperor's gesture had been a wise one.
What did I see hidden deep within her gaze?
I saw hunger.
'It's still in its initial stages, but I'm sure it's there…'
An all-too-familiar hunger.
A hunger for strength.