The Minister of General Affairs bellowed, his voice like a thunderclap, instantly silencing the chamber. The heavy echo of his command lingered, pressing down on the room.
The three ministers froze mid-argument, their voices cut off. The once chaotic chamber, filled with furious debate, now sank into an eerie silence, the air thick with tension.
"We apologize, Minister"
The words came the stiff, reluctant words from the Ministers of Gold and Land. Their voices, stripped of their earlier defiance, carried the weight of submission. They lowered their heads slightly in a gesture of respect—no, fear—before retreating into their chairs, their bodies stiff.
"Hmph-!"
The Minister of Commerce, however, made no such effort. He leaned back in his chair, arms folded, exuding an air of nonchalance.
His eyes remained half-lidded, his expression impassive as if the General Affairs Minister's fury was nothing but a passing wind.
"...."
Silence swallowed the room whole. It was not mere quiet—it was the kind of silence that clawed at one's throat, heavy with unspoken fear.
Then, a shift.
A sensation.
The Minister of Commerce felt it immediately—a gaze. A cold, piercing gaze bore into him. He turned his head slightly, and his eyes met the searing green of the Minister of General Affairs.
A warning.
For a moment, the Minister of Commerce hesitated. Then, realizing the weight behind that stare, he exhaled sharply and muttered through clenched teeth,
"Ap-apologies."
The General Affairs Minister held his gaze for a beat longer before shifting his focus towards Young Minister.
"You are aware that a minister must never address another minister, or even himself, by name, are you not?" The words were calm, but their sharp edges sliced through the tension.
The Young Minister's bravado cracked. His gaze darted, searching for an escape from the suffocating pressure. His voice, once filled with authority, now quivered.
"Ye-yes, Minister. I apologize."
"See that it doesn't happen again."
The Young Minister swallowed hard and nodded, knowing there was nothing else to say.
The Minister of General Affairs turned his attention to another target.
"Minister of Commerce."
The man lazily looked up, feigning disinterest. "Minister."
"Explain it to him."
A sigh escaped the Minister of Commerce. He bowed his head slightly before speaking.
"The reason we wait...is because we have no choice. You proposed halting trade, Young Minister. But the consequences…"
His voice was subdued, hesitant. He exhaled slowly. "We cannot predict what the Duke of the North will do."
The Young Minister scoffed, incredulous. "You're suggesting the Duke would wage war against the Empire just because his trade has been cut off? That's absurd."
"That is exactly what I mean."
A dry chuckle escaped the Young Minister's lips. "Hah! You're being paranoid, Minister of Commerce. The Duke of the North is the Empire's protector. A loyal follower of His Majesty. He wouldn't da—"
"You are mistaken."
The words cut through the Young Minister's sentence like a sharpened blade. The Minister of General Affairs spoke carefully, deliberately, as his green eyes flickered across the room, as though checking for unseen ears.
"He is not the protector of the Empire," he stated, his voice barely above a whisper, yet somehow heavier than any shout. "The only thing binding him to the Empire... is the Emperor himself."
A hush fell over the room, the revelation stripping the Young Minister of his confidence. His once-defiant eyes wavered, and his face paled. His hands clenched into fists beneath the table, but no words came forth.
"Tell me, Young Minister," the General Affairs Minister continued. "Do you know why this council was convened today?"
"By the orders of the Second Prince... for discussion regarding the Oracle."
"Correct...but do you know why only the four of us are present?"
The Young Minister fell silent, realization dawning on him like a creeping shadow. His gaze lowered to the table, unable to meet the knowing eyes of the General Affairs Minister.
"...I see you don't know. Allow me to enlighten you. You and the Minister of Gold are here... because of the Second Prince. The others, however, did not come because—"
The room chilled as his voice darkened.
"—because of the First Prince. The sole disciple of the Northern Duke."
A sharp intake of breath was heard. The mere mention of the First Prince sent a shiver through the chamber. The Minister of Gold trembled, his hands shaking uncontrollably. His face turned ashen, his thoughts spiraling. _What if he was listening? What if he came?_
The Young Minister, though shaken, managed to force out a question. "Then, why are you and the Minister of Commerce here?"
A dry chuckle left the Minister of General Affairs. "Because—"
"Because," the Minister of Commerce interrupted, his voice uncharacteristically grim, "just as you serve the Second Prince... we serve the Emperor. It is our duty to obey the Imperial command. Blindly, if necessary."
[KNOCK-KNOCK]
The sound echoed through the chamber like a gunshot. Every head snapped towards the sound. Ministers flinched, the Minister of Gold nearly choking on his breath.
"Come in" the Minister of General Affairs commanded.
A man in black formal attire entered, his steps silent yet deliberate. He approached the table, bowed slightly, and whispered into the Minister's ear.
The General Affairs Minister's eyes narrowed. He processed the information for a long moment before, ever so slightly, a smile tugged at his lips. He nodded once, dismissing the man.
A woman followed, her poise elegant, her attire the same somber black. She carried a gold plate, placing it before the Minister of General Affairs with a graceful bow before silently departing.
Suspicion filled the air.
"Ministers," the General Affairs Minister announced, his voice carrying a weight that sent shivers down their spines. "The response from Archduke Dominus Vindex has arrived."
The golden lion emblem on the seal was unmistakable. The weight of the letter was equal to that of the Emperor himself.
But—no one dared to lay a hand on it.
The Minister of General Affairs finally spoke, his voice cutting through the hesitation. "Shall I?"
Everyone nodded, unwilling to take the responsibility themselves.
Without hesitation, he picked up the document, let his green aura seep into the seal, and watched as it crumbled away. The Young Minister's eyes widened slightly—Ministers were rarely known for their skill in aura manipulation.
The General Affairs Minister unfolded the letter, scanning its contents. His expression remained composed, but the flicker of shock in his eyes did not go unnoticed.
"What does it say, Minister?" the Minister of Gold asked, his voice betraying his unease.
"Archduke Vindex... will be arriving at the Imperial Palace sooner than expected."
A collective intake of breath. The Minister of Gold clenched his trembling hands under the table, his carefully laid schemes unraveling before him.
"Is that all?" he pressed, trying to maintain composure.
The General Affairs Minister's cold gaze met his. "Looks like you misunderstand me, Minister. Do you need me to repeat myself?"
"N-no, Minister. That won't be necessary."
"Then this meeting is adjourned. The Duke of the North will be sent a...gentle request. However... " he added, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "if no response comes within three months, we will proceed as the Young Minister suggests."
With those final words, the council meeting drew to a close. The Minister of Gold and the Young Minister rose from their seats, their movements deliberate as they turned to leave.
"Young Minister,"
Just as they reached the door, the firm and measured voice of the Minister of General Affairs cut through the air.
"You claim our orders are absolute. Haha... But perhaps you should remind yourself—we, too, are merely following someone else's will."
The words, though spoken lightly, carried an undeniable weight. A subtle sting pricked the Young Minister's pride, but he refused to let it show. Instead, he met the gaze of the General Affairs Minister with a warm, unreadable smile.
"I will, Minister."
[THUD]
With that, he stepped out, the heavy sound of the door closing behind him echoing through the chamber.