C54 To Rule To Drink To Conquer

The silence was suffocating. I led the way to the makeshift throne, took my seat, and before Lucilia could react. I swooped her up, placing her on my lap.

The room tensed further. Eyes widened. Some gawked in outright disbelief. Lucilia stiffened, a tiny gasp escaping her lips.

"I... Imperator, what are you..."

I ignored her.

"Now listen here, you f*cks."

My voice boomed across the hall, cutting through the heavy air like a blade.

"It's not your f*cking business who I choose to be my date. Got it?"

The most senior official immediately snapped his answer.

"Yes, Imperator!"

I frowned. It wasn't good enough. I leaned forward slightly, letting my gaze slowly scan the room.

"It seems like..."

I narrowed my eyes as the voices In my head Immediattly started urging me to kill all of them on the spot.

"Not everyone gets it."

I let the silence drag. Then, I smiled.

"Ill ask again got it? Or should I organize some execution squads to liven up the evening?"

Instantly, the room erupted.

"YES, IMPERATOR!"

The sheer volume of their response nearly shook the walls. I snorted In contempt.

"Good."

Then, with a lazy flick of my wrist.

"Get up."

Like puppets, they obeyed. One by one, they rose, heads still lowered, shoulders still tense.

Lucilia, still sitting stiffly on my lap, could barely process what had just happened. Her heart pounded, her hands clenched into fists against her dress.

I leaned back into my throne, as I put a ciggarette between my lips and took a slow drag from my cigarette before blowing the smoke upward.

Across the hall, my grandmother watched with a raised brow, exchanging a glance with Augustus. He merely chuckled, shaking his head.

"Our stinky grandson is a real pain to deal with, isn't he?"

Constantia exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples.

"That boy… I will have a word with him."

Augustus smirked.

"Just don't expect him to listen, dear, hes not the same good for nothing brat that thought with his d*ck 24/7 anymore"

...

A few hours later of Intense bootlicking, pleasantries and nonsense talk.

Just as another official took a step forward ready to spout how high and mighty I was I finally had enough.

Alright f*ck this I cant take It ANYMORE! I NEED A F*CKING DRINK!

I thought and before he could utter a single word my voice thundered through the chamber.

"AMBASSADOR IVAN! HOW ABOUT A DRINKING CONTEST?!"

The entire room went still. Goblets paused mid air, conversations froze, and every single pair of eyes turned toward me.

At the far end of the banquet table, Ambassador Ivan, the burly, wild bearded diplomat from the frozen east, raised his head from his half empty wine goblet. His thick brows lifted before a grin split his face.

"Drinking contest, Imperator? NOW THAT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS!"

He roared, his deep voice rumbling through the hall like an avalanche. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and laughed heartily.

"But if we're gonna drink, we need to drink real alcohol, not this piss of an excuse for liquor!"

With that, he grabbed his bottle of expensive imported wine a bottle worth thousands of ducats and without a second thought, flung it over his shoulder.

The glass shattered against the marble floor, wine spilling like blood, making the gathered nobles and dignitaries gasp.

I smirked.

"ZERO ONE! SET UP A TABLE AND BRING V*DKA AND SHOTS!"

"YES, IMPERATOR!"

Zero One barked, his voice distorted through his helmet's speakers. Within moments, a sturdy wooden stall was set up in the center of the hall, flanked by two heavy chairs.

Bottles of crystal clear v*dka Imported straight from polaris empire were lined up, gleaming under the warm glow of the chandeliers.

The gathered officials, senators, and dignitaries shuffled closer, whispering amongst themselves.

"Are they really going to do this?"

"Does the Imperator actually drink?"

"This will be a slaughter… for either one of them."

Ivan stomped toward the table, his boots echoing against the marble. He reached for a bottle, but before his fingers could grasp it, I snatched one up, smoothly unscrewed the cap, and poured two glasses with practiced ease.

Ivan's eyes widened slightly before he threw back his head and laughed.

"I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE SO EXPERIENCED WITH V*DKA, IMPERATOR!"

I picked up my glass, smirking.

"Shut up and drink."

We clinked our glasses together and downed the first shot in unison. The liquid burned its way down, but I didnt feel a thing. Ivan slammed his glass down onto the table and let out a satisfied sigh.

"A CONTEST ISN'T A CONTEST WITHOUT A BET IMPERATOR!"

He declared.

"IF I WIN, THE IMPERIUM GRANTS THE POLARIS EMPIRE FULL DOCKING RIGHTS FOR OUR EASTERN FLEETS!"

The crowd gasped. That was a heavy demand.

I leaned forward, meeting his gaze.

"And if I win, we get priority access and discounts on your exported natural resources."

Ivan stroked his thick beard, eyes twinkling with amusement.

"VERY WELL, LET'S DRINK!"

The first bottle emptied in mere minutes. One became two. Two became four. Four became six. The onlookers were no longer whispering; they were openly staring in shock.

"Are they even human?"

"I've never seen anyone drink like that!"

"By the g*ds… the Imperator is still going!"

Sweat glistened on Ivan's forehead. His grin had faltered slightly, but he pushed forward, grabbing yet another glass and downing it in one swift gulp.

I followed suit, my own body radiating heat, my fingers tingling from the sheer volume of alcohol coursing through my veins.

More bottles arrived. More glasses were filled. The room spun slightly, but I stayed focused, watching as Ivan lifted another glass…

And then, his hand trembled.

His eyelids drooped. He swayed slightly in his seat. Then, with a sudden THUD, his forehead smacked against the table.

His thick arms went limp, and within seconds, soft snoring filled the space between us. The room went dead silent. I stared at his unconscious form, then smirked.

"Hehehe… I win."

With a triumphant exhale, I pushed my chair back and jumped onto the table, my half cloak, coat, and jacket long discarded, my shirt half unbuttoned. I spread my arms wide and roared.

"LET'S SING!"

The military orchestra scrambled to start, instruments raised in preparation. I took a deep breath, my voice ringing loud and clear over the hall as I began the anthem.

"Through fire, through steel, through blood we rise,

Great grandchildren of Kronos, grandsons of Zeus, sons and daughters of Ares, children of Nova Roma!"

...

A few minutes earlier.

Lucilia leaned against the cold marble railing of the grand balcony, her arms resting lightly atop it as she stared into the night sky.

The stars shimmered above, untouched by the upheavals of the world below. The crisp night air was a welcome relief from the suffocating tension of the ballroom, from the scrutinizing gazes, from the whispers that clung to her like cobwebs.

She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, letting her shoulders relax for just a moment.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?"

Lucilia nearly jumped, her head snapping toward the source of the voice. There, standing with an air of casual authority, was a woman she had only seen from afar, Constantia, the Imperator's grandmother. The former Empress.

Lucilia swallowed hard, straightening immediately.

"Madam Empress..."

A wry chuckle cut her off. Constantia waved a dismissive hand.

"I am no longer an Empress, dear that stinky brat of mine made It so. Just the wife of a Consul now. No need for formalities."

Lucilia hesitated before nodding, though the unease remained. Constantia's gaze was sharp, assessing, but there was something else, amusement? Curiosity?

"So,"

The older woman began, stepping forward to lean against the railing beside Lucilia.

"Have you two already f*cked?"

Lucilia felt her entire body seize up. Heat rushed to her face so fast she thought she might faint.

"N... No! Absolutely not!"

She stammered, her voice slightly higher than usual.

Constantia's brow lifted in surprise.

"Really? That's… unlike my stinky brat of a grandson. Did he give you any signals then?"

Lucilia shook her head fervently.

"No! Apart from him suddenly saying I would be his date tonight to ward off In his words Teutonica vultures. That's it."

Constantia hummed, tilting her head as she studied the younger woman.

"Interesting…"

A pause. Then, her eyes flicked up and down, scrutinizing her figure.

"Well, you certainly fit Von Deaths tastes. Shorter, big t*ts, good shaped a*s, narrow waist, child bearing hips, long legs... Yes, that's exactly the kind of woman a Von Death male likes. I should know, I married one."

Lucilia opened her mouth, then closed it, her face now a deep shade of crimson. She didn't know whether to be flattered or mortified.

"So,"

Constantia continued, her gaze now piercing,

"What are your intentions? Do you want to become Imperatoress or not?"

Lucilia paled.

"No! No, I have no such intentions! I'm just his secretary!"