Volume I: Chapter 9: The Royal Harem

Duke Oliver said, looking out the window, "And there they are the diplomatic wives of the emperor."

"Wow, that one is my type. Oh, look at that, they are all beautiful," Prince Caster exclaimed, glancing over the other side.

The other three officials were seated and, sipping tea.

Princess Beatrice interrupted, "Stop being a pervert, Prince Caster." "Will you stop him? Isn't that man your fiancé?" she asked Princess Shanon.

She gently added, "Don't bring up unwanted problems here," taking another sip of her drink.

"Look at that, Does that one look a lot younger or she is just small? It seems like she is the same age as you, Prince Orion," stated Prince Caster.

Princess Shannon inquired, "Is she blonde?"

Prince Caster nodded, "Uh huh..."

"Perhaps she might be the youngest daughter from the Flower capital of the empire, Churia. Lianes Lovelle Meringue..." She continues to sip quietly.

You're right. She is young, about the age of Prince Orion," she stated.

Caster yelled, "What? So she is already a wife candidate?!" Prince Caster's careless words, "I think she might be a perfect wife for Prince Orion instead."

"Yes, indeed that's true. She is already a wife candidate and has a perfect diplomatic standing that is fit for the emperor too. You see, medicine is their specialty" The imperial princess has entered the room.

They all stood up to honor her.

"They will be staying at the Rose Garden Palace where the harem ought to stay. On the day after tomorrow, there will be a banquet and everyone will be there to welcome our lovely ladies. I am here to notify the 5 officials, that there are strictly no absences," she stated.

Everyone gave her their regards with the matter and she said, "If I made myself clear then I will take my leave," and left.

"I'm always amazed by her confidence and charisma," Caster commented.

"You did not even spare the honorary lady from your jokes," says Princess Beatrice.

In the interim...

That afternoon, precisely... After showing her presence to the emperor, notifying her subjects, and assigning all her men and ladies on command she went to her private training grounds

Another bow hit the target. Indeed, the imperial princess is training herself.

And she turned around to see the invited ones for her little tea party. The Honorary lady sent an invitation to the brides of the emperor but rather than a tea party it was a training spar.

"Should we begin?" she asked.

Due to her late arrival, Lady Luxsiel Veramine Cervanta ran across Duke Oliver by chance.

He assisted the woman in getting up and gathering her belongings, saying, "Pardon me. You're? -you're uh..." he said while helping the young lady. As they stood up noticed a folding metal crossbow.

Lady Luxsiel took it hastily covering it with her thick skirt and apologized. She stooped her head and her big hat covered her lovely face. She bowed and then took her leave.

The duke releases a sudden laughter. "Oh, Liz. You brought yourselves playmates," he said. Thinking about his cousin, the imperial princess.

"or perhaps?" he smirked.

"A rare place to see you, your highness," Kal greeted. "Are you here to reminisce about your childhood?"

Emperor Evan was silent and did not give him any response, just a sound of sigh breaks the silence.

Kal, the chief priest, speculates, "So, the harem bothers you, my emperor?"

The emperor finally spoke and coldly asked, "Why on earth are you here?"

"If I say I'm strolling around will you call for your soldiers to take me? or call for your assassins to terminate me?" he joked.

"It seems to me that you are simply feeling under pressure towards the imperial princess. She possesses the dominance, charisma, intelligence, and capacity to lead and manage just like your father, and she also gets her mother's knack for scheming and annoying people.

In short, you feel like you're strangled," he said bluntly.

When the emperor spoke again, he wished to retract what he had said.

The emperor questioned, "Like your death is beneficial to me nor the empire?" knowing that the chief priest's passing would only be a loss in general.

"However, I will. If you don't tell me why you trespass," he said coldly, thinking. 'The temple can reselect a new chief priest anyway.'

Kal started laughing. He was enjoying the company of his old friend when he exclaimed, "Oh my, Oh my. You're still heartless! you have never changed?".

Every time Evan needs some alone time to reflect or feels angry or irritated, he goes to a certain place in the second prince's palace. Despite being his dungeon, this place managed to become a quiet haven for him.

"Emperor, this time you should learn. Killing is inhumane, no one is forcing you now so at least refrain. Although some existence for you are useless, some might be essential and not easily replaceable. As someone who rules you should know the word 'potential'. It is not that easy to choose a person who will turn around and sacrifice everything because of a single oath. Losing yourself for another and being under invisible chains is not an easy practice to do nor an easy talk to fulfill, not everyone will voluntarily die for you," he continued.

The emperor's face darkens, and Kal starts laughing once more.

"Anyway, I usually do the union (like marriage) in the Royal or noble family. Even to some commoners. However, I am here just to check if you are doing fine before the next ceremony begins, and seeing you here gives me the answer I need." He said.

"That is not needed," the emperor remarked while passing.

"Why does a servant of the Heavens want to know more about a sinner like me?" asked the Emperor.

After a few minutes of silence, the emperor spoke once more.

"As the new head of the Royal Family, I am in charge of my family's affairs. I am in charge of my little sister. She is concerned about my well-being. I should as well be concerned about hers." He smirked.

"So,?" Kal wondered.

"I am marrying her off to the Serpentine Dukedom." He said.

Kal suppresses his amusement. How cunning, he exclaimed.

Following the fake ceremony, he announced his younger sister's engagement to the serpentine dukedom.

Although there was a lot of agitation in the kingdom, there was nothing wrong with the emperor's decision. Two days after the announcement, Duke George Sheldon went to the central kingdom.

Duke Oliver Cannon was making every effort to maintain formality, although he was aware of this clear disagreement. He voluntarily departs for formality purposes and to maintain protocol. Deriving the empire's crisis was cited as the reason for the Duke's visit, but everyone doubted that excuse.

"Damn, I can't believe actions speak louder than words. This quiet man is that obvious! They said that he is here because of the imperial crisis but only fools will believe that! He is here because of the imperial princess' engagement. Knowing that he is madly in love with the honorary lady is like common sense even to children," Prince Caster's sarcastic words while seeing the duke giving the imperial princess a huge bouquet of flowers.