A carriage stopped in front of a barely maintained building in the imperial palace. Teon, on a horse, stopped before it. He walked inside with an expressionless face.
"Your Highness," the head butler of the palace said, stepping forward with his head down. "I had no idea you were coming back today." Teon ignored him and walked inside.
Elwin walked in with Landen and followed Teon, paying no attention to the man standing there. The head butler, a man whose age showed in the deep lines etched on his face and the silver streaks in his hair, looked taken aback by the group's abrupt entrance. His eyes followed them, filled with a mixture of confusion and concern.
...
Teon walked into the throne room and bowed in front of the emperor. The grand room, with its high vaulted ceilings and intricate chandeliers, seemed to vibrate with the tension of the gathered council. The murmurs of the council could be heard from miles away, a low hum of discontent and curiosity that filled the air.
As Teon straightened, his gaze met the emperor's. The emperor sat on his gilded throne, a figure of regal authority draped in luxurious robes. His sharp eyes, framed by a crown of silver and gold, bore into Teon with a mix of suspicion and displeasure.
The members of the council, seated on either side of the room, leaned forward in their seats. Some whispered among themselves, their expressions a mixture of intrigue and wariness. The room was lined with opulent tapestries depicting the empire's glorious battles and achievements, a stark contrast to the current undercurrent of unease.
"Long live the sun of the empire," he said.
"You shouldn't say things that you don't mean," the emperor scolded. Teon stood straight and looked at him with an expressionless gaze. "Why have you returned?" he asked.
"I have business in the capital and decided to stop by, but I didn't know that I needed a reason to come home," Teon said.
"Don't twist my words," the emperor replied. "Anyway, I summoned you here, but couldn't you wait outside till we finished our meeting?"
"I had no idea that you summoned me, I apologize, Your Majesty," he replied, and the emperor's frown deepened.
"Then why are you here?" he asked.
"Lord Hackington asked me to be his representative for the meeting today," Teon replied, and the emperor's eyes flickered.
"And you had the guts to be late," he said.
"I apologize for my tardiness. I only came at the time I was told to come," Teon replied. "I'll take my seat now so that I won't waste any more of your time," he said and went to sit down without waiting for a response.
The emperor was grumpy throughout the meeting, his irritation palpable as he surveyed the council of nobles. The normally imposing figure was now a picture of dissatisfaction, his frown deepening with every word spoken. The council, usually a group of deferential advisors, had noticeably shifted their stance, seemingly aligning themselves with Teon at the mention of Hackington.
As the discussions unfolded, it became clear that the nobles were giving Teon's opinions significant weight. They sought his counsel on various matters with an eagerness that overshadowed the emperor's own decrees. The emperor's disagreements with Teon were met with polite but firm resistance, his once authoritative voice now overshadowed by the collective approval of his advisors toward Teon.
The emperor's frustration grew as the meeting continued, each nod and murmur of agreement from the council only serving to heighten his displeasure. His eyes darted sharply from one noble to another, searching for dissent or hesitation that might validate his own position, but found none. The room, filled with the soft rustling of papers and the low murmur of conversation, seemed to conspire against him, amplifying his sense of isolation.
After the meeting, a few nobles lingered to speak with Teon. Their conversations were marked by an air of respect and enthusiasm, as they sought to engage with him on matters of mutual interest. They seemed to value his insights and were keen to align themselves with his growing influence. However, those loyal to Vernin and Rosen remained aloof, their faces stern and detached as they avoided Teon's company.
Teon responded to each noble with a charisma that was both engaging and disarming. His ease and confidence in handling their queries only served to further stoke the emperor's ire. The nobles' admiration for Teon and their willingness to engage with him was a stark reminder of the shifting power dynamics, and the emperor's mood darkened with each appreciative nod and warm handshake extended toward Teon.
As Teon moved through the group, exchanging pleasantries and offering thoughtful responses, the emperor's frustration reached its peak. The contrast between Teon's growing acceptance among the council and the emperor's increasingly isolated position was evident. The emperor's grumbling and sharp glances were a clear signal of his displeasure, though Teon remained unaffected by the emperor's visible annoyance.
"I'll have to leave now. I don't want to keep His Majesty waiting," Teon said and with that, he left.
He walked into the emperor's personal sitting room and stood at the door staring at him.
"Why are you here?" the emperor asked, pouring himself a glass.
"Like I said, I have business here," Teon said, and the emperor frowned.
"If you're here to threaten me, give up," he said but got no response. "What? Can't speak anymore?"
"I think you're mistaken about my intentions, Your Majesty," Teon replied.
"Oh, please, drop the polite act. Look, kid, leave while I'm being nice," he warned.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I'll relay your message to Lord Hackington," he said and turned to leave.
"Don't go misinterpreting my words," the emperor said, throwing his glass at Teon, but he dodged and it hit the door. "You always find someone to latch onto. What? Did Alden finally abandon you? I told you before that I'd forgive your shortcomings if you just be a good boy and stop this pointless battle."
"I don't know why you feel threatened. I haven't done anything yet," Teon said.
"You…"
"If you want to win, why don't you start by reducing your heavy taxes? Apologizing to the order of knights for your impulsive decisions… and train your son to hold a spoon on his own," Teon said and opened the door, but saw the empress standing there. He didn't acknowledge her and just shoved past her.
"How dare y…" Teon didn't react or turn around; he just walked away and didn't pay attention to whatever she had to say.