The meeting had finally adjourned, and the room began to empty. But Circe, the Head of the Imperial Magic Department, remained seated, her eyes fixed on Alberto with a piercing gaze. Her military outfit, adorned with a maroon overcoat and gold bullion fringe, seemed to radiate an air of authority.
< | The Imperial Magic Department's job is to research various things and assist the Imperial military in battle when necessary. They are currently working together on the Science and Technology Department for developing special weapons for the Imperial Army so that the soldiers can fight against supernatural enemies.
However, there are very few people within the Imperial Magic Department. Alberto wants to summon more people for the Imperial Magic Department in the future. But the mages were very valuable. There was also a certain limit to how many he could summon. Also, Archmages like Circe are only available through Hero cards or mystery boxes. |>
Alberto, sensing her gaze, turned to face her. "Circe, do you have something to say?" he asked, his tone neutral, but with a hint of curiosity.
Circe's hands slammed down on the table, making a loud noise that echoed through the room. "My lord, have you forgotten your word?" she demanded, her voice laced with anger and disappointment.
Alberto's expression faltered, confusion etched on his face. "Excuse me, but what are you talking about?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
Circe's finger jabbed at him, her eyes blazing with intensity. "Your Highness, how could you forget it?" she shouted, her voice rising in indignation.
Carl, standing beside Alberto, stepped forward, his face pale with concern. "Lady Circe, correct your manners! You are speaking to the Emperor," he admonished, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his voice firm but respectful.
Alberto raised a calming hand. "Carl, calm down. Circe, then what are you angry about?"
Circe's anger seemed to simmer down, replaced by a hint of sadness. "Majesty, you said we would go for a tour of the city. But it's been a long time since you said that," she said, her voice laced with a hint of longing.
Alberto's expression softened, a hint of guilt creeping into his eyes. "Oh! About that. But I was very busy. Also, we had a lot of work," he said, his voice apologetic.
Circe's eyes flashed with frustration. "But my lord, you have built this city. But if you cannot enjoy its beauty, what is the value of all this? All your work is done today. Let's take a look outside," she said, her voice rising in passion.
Alberto thought for a while, his eyes locked on Circe's. "Okay," he said finally, a small smile playing on his lips.
Circe's face lit up, a smile spreading across her face. "Really!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.
As they prepared to leave, Carl spoke up, his voice laced with concern. "Your Highness, give us some time. I am arranging security," he said, his eyes scanning the room.
Alberto waved him off. "Carl, I don't want to draw attention. We'll go incognito," he said, his voice firm.
Carl's face fell, his eyes clouding with worry. "But your Majesty, about your protection?!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in alarm.
Alberto's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Carl, what do you mean I'm not safe in my capital?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Carl's face paled, his eyes darting to Circe and back to Alberto. "No, umm... I didn't mean that," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Alberto's eyes seemed to bore into Carl's soul, his gaze piercing. "Carl, don't worry. This is my capital," he said, his voice firm, but with a hint of reassurance.
Carl's face relaxed, his eyes dropping to the floor. "I-I Understand, Your Majesty," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
As Alberto and Circe left the room, Carl felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He let out a deep breath, his eyes scanning the room.
Alfred approached him, a handkerchief in hand. "Sir Carl," he said, his voice soft.
Carl took the handkerchief, wiping his sweat-drenched brow. "Ah! Thanks," he said, his voice grateful.
"Sir Carl, Don't mind for majesty's words. He is a very good man at heart," Alfred said, his voice reassuring.
Carl's eyes clouded, his face falling. "I know that. I don't care what he does to me. Because he is our only purpose for living. Our purpose is only to serve him. But I am only concerned about his safety," he said, his voice laced with worry.
Alfred's face softened, his eyes filled with understanding. "But Highness has forbidden you to do so. He will only visit around the city secretly," he said, his voice gentle.
Carl's face fell, his eyes dropping to the floor. "Don't worry. I won't do anything. I'll just ask the chief of police to increase security a little today," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
___________________________________________
As they walked down the corridor, Circe's voice was laced with concern. "Umm…Your Highness, you shouldn't have been so hard on him," she said, her eyes darting to Alberto's face.
Alberto's expression was calm, but his voice was firm. "Huh! Circe, never mind. But subordinates shouldn't be so indulgent," he said, his eyes scanning the corridor.
Circe's face fell, her eyes dropping to the floor. "But your majesty, his intentions were not bad," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alberto's expression softened, a hint of guilt creeping into his eyes. "I know. But I got a little angry because of someone. And I took my anger out on him," he said, his voice laced with a hint of regret.
Circe's eyes snapped up to Alberto's face, her expression curious. "Umm.... It's me you're talking about?" she asked, her voice hesitant.
Alberto's eyes locked onto Circe's, his expression calm. "Of course," he said, his voice firm.
The tension between them seemed to dissipate as they walked down the corridor, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls. The corridors were 15 meters wide, and the high ceilings seemed to stretch up to the sky.
As they walked, a few maids passed by them, their crisp white uniforms and aprons a stark contrast to the opulent decorations of the palace. They were young women, their faces smooth and unlined, their hair pulled back into neat buns. They wore white gloves and carried small baskets of linens and cleaning supplies.
One of the maids, a petite girl with a smattering of freckles across her nose, caught Alberto's eye. She curtsied deeply, her eyes cast down at the floor. "Your Majesty," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alberto nodded, his expression gracious. "Good day, Yara," he said, his voice warm.
The other maids followed Yara's lead, curtsying and greeting Alberto with soft voices Then they left. Circe watched them with a smile, her eyes shining with amusement.
Circe's voice was soft as she spoke up. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. For my behavior," she said, her eyes dropping to the floor.
Alberto's expression softened, a hint of warmth creeping into his eyes. "Very well. I forgive you now. Because I forgot my promise. So it was my mistake in the first place," he said, his voice gentle.
Circe's face lit up, a smile spreading across her face. "I understand," she said, her voice filled with relief.
As they continued walking, Alberto's pace quickened, and Circe quickly followed him, her eyes fixed on his back. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the corridor, a sense of anticipation building in the air.
★★★
Alberto and Circe cruised down the highway in the sleek Audi Q6, the four-lane road stretching out before them like a ribbon. The city was alive and pulsating, the sounds of car horns, chatter, and music filling the air.
As they approached the intersection, the red light loomed ahead, and Alberto brought the car to a smooth stop. People began to cross the road, a sea of faces streaming past the car. Alberto and Circe watched as several boys and girls in school uniforms made their way across the street, their backpacks and bags slung over their shoulders.
They also caught sight of several policemen standing at the intersection, their eyes scanning the crowd as they worked to maintain law and order in the bustling capital.
Alberto turned to Circe. "So where do we go now?" he asked.
Circe's eyes sparkled with amusement. "There's going to be a concert today. Let's go there," she said, a grin spreading across her face.
Alberto's eyes widened in surprise. "Concert?" he repeated, his voice filled with excitement. "Haven't heard it in years."
Alberto chuckled. "Where will it be? Do you have a ticket?" he asked.
Circe rummaged through her bag and produced two tickets, which she waved triumphantly in the air. "Yes. My assistant purchased two tickets. I took them from her," she said, a sly smile spreading across her face.
Alberto raised an eyebrow. "Eh! You took it from her by force," he teased.
Circe laughed. "It's not like that. I gave her double the money," she said, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
Alberto chuckled. "Ah! So where will it be?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Circe's eyes shone with excitement. "This concert will be on the fortieth floor of the Mile-High Tower," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alberto's eyes followed her gaze, and he looked up at the towering structure that dominated the city skyline. The Mile-High Tower was a marvel of engineering, its sleek glass and steel façade glinting in the sunlight.
According to Alberto, it would have been impossible to build such a massive structure without the system. He felt a sense of awe and wonder at the sheer scale of the tower.
"Okay," he said finally, his voice filled with excitement.
As they made their way to the Mile-High Tower, the crowd began to grow, a sea of faces streaming towards the tower. The police were out in force, trying to control the crowd and maintain order.
"A lot of people came to see the concert. It's very crowded," Alberto said.
Circe nodded, her eyes scanning the crowd. "Um...I heard that the most famous group in the country will be here today to perform," she said, her voice filled with anticipation.