Duty (2)

"President Marjan! What an honour," Valerya exclaimed as she hurriedly stood up. The stout, but important-looking man barely gave her a second glance before turning to his son, "Are you alright?" he asked without emotion.

"I'm fine, Mr. President," Davys replied while getting up as well. "As a matter of fact, I'm only fine because of Officer Valerya over here. She bravely took a bullet for me."

The president gave her another look, this time like he actually saw her. Valerya decided to take the bull by the horns.

"Detective Valerya D'ajnes. What an honour to meet you, President Marjan," she said as she extended her hand for a shake.

"The honour is all mine," he replied with a charismatic smile, his hand lingering on hers far longer than necessary. Davys uncomfortably glanced at them.

"Thank you for saving the future president," he said. Valerya found this odd. He didn't refer to the younger Marjan as his son, or even call him by name. "Tell me, what do you want as a reward?" So many things went through Valerya's mind: the first maestro position, safety for her sister, a better house, and a million dollars. She shook her head instead. "I appreciate your kind offer President Marjan, but it's my job as an enforcer of the law."

The police chief trudged forward. Valerya hadn't noticed he was present due to the overpowering presence of the other two men.

"Detective. You did a great job," he commended.

"And I need an explanation as to why you are so inept at your job, Joe," Davys snapped. Valerya held still. Nobody had ever talked to the chief of police like that. Hearing his given name used in such a disrespectful manner seemed offensive to her. She was sure her chief would call him to order.

"My sincerest apologies, Mr. Marjan," the chief said apologetically. "I don't know what happened, but I assure you, it would never happen again."

"I have barely been back twelve hours and this happens under your watch. I've had a lot of attempts on my life over the years, but never so soon after a trip. Are you perhaps tired of your job?"

The chief gulped, the normal reddish pallor of his face changing to a sickening grey. "I would have my top officers on the case. They would be your new bodyguards and would offer you the best protection. They are so good, not even a fly would touch you," he said desperately. "I have the finest guards on my beck and call, all third maestros. They would be here within the hour."

"I don't want third maestros. I'm sure if they were trained by you, they'd be so inept I'd be dead within the week. I want Valerya," Davys said.

This caught her off guard. "I certainly appreciate the offer, but I would have to respectfully decline."

Davys ignored her and faced the chief once more. "It makes perfect sense. For a bodyguard, I need just one criterion: loyalty. She has proven that when she took a bullet for me. There are added perks such as she's obviously highly trained, and good at her job."

"I understand you, Mr. Marjan, but don't you think you'd prefer someone more experienced? A man maybe? This is a highly risky job and you are the second most important citizen in the country."

Having been listening, President Marjan walked to a chair and slowly took a seat. "A whiskey," he stated. The chief hurriedly went to the wine cabinet and poured out two glasses. He made his way to the president and handed him one. He handed the second to Davys.

The president took a gulp of it and savoured it. "Tell me, Joe. Have you ever heard of an attempt being made on the first son's life?" he asked while maintaining his charismatic but deadly smile.

"No, I…"

"Why do you think that is?"

"To be honest, Mr. President, I just didn't think anyone would dar-,"

"Twenty-five," the president interrupted, to the chief's stunned silence.

"There have been twenty-five attempts on the first son's life since Marice gave birth to him thirty-one years ago. Do you think we sent him off to drink and waste the country's resources? No. He occasionally takes breaks to learn how to defend himself. To learn more about war, politics, culture and fighting. To be poised and rough around the edges at the same time. We haven't made the attempts public because the empire survives on the illusion of stability and safety. Once that illusion is shattered, the system would fall like a pack of dominoes."

"He has had bodyguards, so trained and so secretive you'd think they were part of his garrulous friends. How he was able to evade them yet again beats me."

Davys turned to his father and spoke matter-of-factly. "Mr. President, I believe Valerya would be the perfect bodyguard for me. She's female so no member of the public would suspect a thing. At the same time, she's highly trained and has proven she would be loyal to only me."

"And she's attractive, right, first son? I'm not a fool."

"I would admit I am attracted to her. But that is an added perk," he smiled.

"Your bodyguards are all disguised as friends and very close associates. How would we explain the presence of a police officer following you around? It would alarm the public."

"She could pretend to be my girlfriend. It wouldn't be the first time."

"And look how the last one turned out," the president retorted. Davys looked away in embarrassment.

"But who do you think could be behind it?" Chief Joe asked quietly.

"Are you asking me, o police chief? Isn't that supposed to somehow be your job?" the president asked, again, with a cutting smile.

Davys took a sip of his whiskey as he began, "I don't have a shortage of enemies. There is Thakuri Mensen, the prime minister. He has the most to benefit from my death. He becomes the next in line automatically, considering I am my father's only son.

"Auguri Rita, the head volyrt, thinks I am too immoral to be president. She may have put a hit on me on purely moral grounds. We also cannot forget the tens of division leaders from around the world. I am to run an empire by virtue of my birth, while they merely run divisions within levels. They have the most to gain from chaos. Tyleri in particular.

"Quinn Claude may have a motive." He continued. Valerya knew him as he was the richest entrepreneur in the Empire. She knew him more because his wife, Vivien was on the cover of nearly all prints in the country.

"For sleeping with his wife?" she asked bluntly.

"For sleeping with his wife." He replied.

The president stood and walked up to Valerya. "You have a lot of work to do. I put the first son's well-being on you. If you do well, till we can catch the culprit, you will be incredibly rewarded. If the first son dies and there is an all-out political war…," he trailed off as he put a hand on her cheek.

"You would be immensely rewarded as well," he said with no hint of a smile this time. He handed his drink to the police chief and walked out, without even a backwards glance at his son.