A minister in pink and gold robes, with golden caps on the tips of his white wings and burnished iridium hair, walked up to the emperor. “Your highness, the outsider doesn’t show—"

“Who cares?” the boy asked. “The treatises clearly state that an act by one who could not know it sinful is to be treated as an act without sin.”

“You use that argument a lot, and too readily,” the minister said.

The boy-emperor waved his hands at Leo. “He seems like a nice man, uncle.”

The minister—the boy’s uncle—frowned. “You’re too young to know that, Ri’an—sorry, Emperor Ro.” The uncle bowed and made a complicated hand gesture over the floor.

“Forgiven,” the boy said. “I don’t care what you call me, Uncle.”

Leo’s eyes widened as two other elves in red brocade, with nubs where their wings should have been, rushed up. Are they just going to ignore me?

“You are the one in error, Fire Wing General of the Central Winds Tang Xi’Shao,” the one on the left said. “The seminal treatises on etiquette promulgated during the reign of the emperor’s father Tang Li’shao—your brother I might add—clearly state that an emperor shall only be interrupted by his wingless or a guard—”

With a bit of heat in his voice, Xi’Shao turned to the interrupting elf. “I am also the protector of the realm, First Wingless Po. It’s a title that was not present during my brother’s illustrious—”

The other minister cut in, “A title you invented, which may postdate in time the restrictions but does not supersede in authority—”

Xi Shao stepped forward to tower over the second minister, and lightning played across his hand. “I can hardly advise my very young nephew if I can’t step in when—"

Icicles formed around the first minster, hovering in the air.

The boy-emperor Ro coughed. “All the treatises, old and new, agree that even accidental injury to the emperor, except antecedent to a direct and successful attempt to save his life, is punishable by death.”

The electricity and ice both faded.

The emperor held his near feminine hand out and examined his fingernails. “And all the treatise and most of polite society would agree that what you’re both doing is rude. I find this especially troubling given that you’re doing it in front of interdimensional guests, if the telepathic communications from Golden Scroll Liu Vellin, Cloudbourne of the Dragon Tower, are to be believed. I mean, of all the times for your petty games…”

Leo glanced sideways, catching El’s eye. Leo raised an eyebrow at him, and El shrugged expressively, a tiny smile playing at his lips. No flies on this one—he does his work well.

Both the wingless and Xi’Shao, the uncle, backed away from the throne. They bowed to the emperor and made the bizarre hand motion over the ground, then turned to Leo and his team, bowing slightly less and making the first half of the same gesture.

“Forgiven,” Leo and Emperor Ro said at the same time.

But all three stared hatred at both the emperor and Leo. No allies there… and unless I miss my guess, Emperor Ro is only emperor because those groups hate each other more than they hate taking orders from a kid.

Leo had no idea of the true politics here, of course, but he could recognize rage when he saw it. Can I make that work for me? Do I risk alienating the emperor, who will likely be very competent as an adult?

“The realm weeps for the impropriety shown here today, fair visitor from another realm.” Emperor Ro drawled out. “Before we open this inquiry officially, may I ask how you wish to be addressed?”

“King Leo,” Leo responded. “It is the parlance of my people to use a title followed by the given name of the holder.”

“That didn’t translate perfectly,” Emperor Ro said. “Are you an absolute ruler that answers to no one else, or do you answer to another?”

“Well…” absolute ruler sounds so awful, but… “I’m an absolute ruler.”

“Then you are not a King in our parlance, but an Emperor. I shall address you as such,” Emperor Ro declared.

There were gasps around the room from numerous ministers, and the same three hurried back to the Emperor’s side.

“My ward, this is highly—” Xi’Shao began.

“The treatises state that only the seven absolute rulers of a true vale are accorded the title of—” First Wingless Po began.

The Emperor held his hand up, and both quieted. “He comes from another world, and has mastered Travel magic to the extent he has a permanent portal from that other realm. It seems the title is warranted.”

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Xi’Shao frowned. “I think, for now, your Emperorship, that I will be exercising my veto as Protector of the Realm. His title of king will be enough.”

The two wingless nodded in agreement, and the three all glanced at each other in surprise.

Leo laughed—he bet they hadn’t agreed on anything for an entire calendar year. Glad to be of help, guys.

The Emperor folded his arms and sat back. “I don’t think you can veto this, uncle. It isn’t a change, as there is no rule for it at all, so—”

First Wingless Po stepped forward. “For once, Fire Wing General of the Central Winds Tang Xi’Shao speaks sense, your majesty. It is a change to award more than seven people the title of emperor, as the treastises clearly state only the seven shall hold it.”

The Emperor waved his hand at his minister. “Bah. Fine. It’ll be your way for a few more years, but then I’ll change it anyways, so who cares what you think?”

Leo winced. You’d seemed so mature for your age…

The wingless’s eyes narrowed behind the emperor’s back. “Of course, your eminence.”

There was a brief pause, then the emperor leaned forward, his eyes alight. “Very well, temporarily-not-an-emperor Leo, what has brought you to my dimension, from your own? Why my realm? What advanced knowledge is contained in your treatises? How powerful is your realm? Can you defeat dragons? What level is passed down among your people?”

Leo held a hand up slightly, not sure of the etiquette and not wanting to get the three prissy stooges involved again. But the emperor stopped his speech.

“Please speak, not-yet-emperor Leo.”

That phrase is going to be rubbing salt in minister’s wounds. “My realm is actually smaller than yours, your eminence,” Leo began. Don’t plan to explain how much smaller. “Or at least less populated. I claim territory over about five hundred miles at its full length on my home world.”

There were a few gasps at that from among the ministers, so Leo assumed this valley was notably smaller. Although claiming I have that territory just because a line drawn from Starport to Hywyl pools is nearly that distance feels deceitful. Close enough for government work, though. Heh.

“However, my reason for opening this gate was to trade—we are a major trade nexus on my homeworld, and already have access to a second dimension as well, one where we claim considerable additional territory.” of ice and snow and barely ten thousand people in the whole realm and duchy both. “But we lack for a people with skills where we might trade for new and interesting finished goods. So, when the gate was opened, I guided it with my spirit to a place that felt similar—I assume the gate opened here on account of you being cultured, worthy elves, even if a bit different than my variety of elf.”

Leo hesitated, but had to know. “As to your last question, what do you mean, what level is passed down?”

“Your ancestor’s levels? What level is being passed down?” The emperor asked, confused.

I think I’m about to learn a rule of the universe I didn’t know. “I was the bastard son. My father and all of his trueborn children were slain in a dragonflight fifty years ago. I have inherited no levels—I have earned mine.”

Emperor Ro gasped. “I had hoped the pestilential dragonflights would have been overcome on your world. It pains me deeply to learn that they haven’y been, and that they interrupted the march of the honored ancestors. What level are you?”

Leo hesitated, but couldn’t see a way around answering. “Sixteen.”

“I’m so sorry,” Emperor Ro said, his hand going to his throat, his eyes wide.

It seemed extremely high to most people I’ve met, Leo thought irritably. “What Level, um, did you inherit, Emperor Ro?”

“Forty-Seven, but I’ve only managed to access about twenty levels of that so far, and a limited number of memories.”

Leo’s eyes widened in turn. This jackass is like Neha! Some random child-looking thing that is crazy powerful!

Then Leo grinned a bit. Although I’ve heard nothing about humans on this world. I wonder how strong he really is at the moment. I’ve beaten people more than four levels above me on quite a few occasions.

Leo glanced sideways at Neha, who had a smug smile on her face where she sat on Juri. Yeah, Sprout, you’re higher level as well.

“So you wish for trade?” Emperor Ro asked.

“I do,” Leo said. “Trade makes everyone stronger and richer. And trading with us will mean being connected to an ever-expanding inter-dimensional trade network.”

“What would your fees be if we traded to or through you?” Emperor Ro asked.

Before Leo could respond, the three stooges descended again, the two wingless fluttering their hands and Xi’Shao shaking his head.

First Wingless Po said, “My Emperor, you cannot change who collects trade fees. That privilege goes to the Golden Coin Kun De, Cloud Bourn Trader of the Seven Wheel Exchange. We cannot pay this man duties, he must pay Kun De, who will give you your percent.”

“Isn’t Kun De your uncle?” Emperor Ro asked. “Given the position when I was four?”

“A very capable man that I am proud to be related to,” First Wingless Po said.

“It wouldn’t be wise to allow this man to set the tariffs,” Xi’Shao said, his arms folded across his chest. “For the second time today I find myself supporting First Wingless Po.”

“Wait, wait,” Emperor Ro said, waving his hands at his ministers. “I can’t change anything, but I can appoint people to vacant positions, correct?”

There was a long hesitancy while the three glanced among themselves. Probably trying to sense the trap, Leo guessed.

“Well… yes,” The second wingless, whose name Leo had already forgotten, said.

Hugh shuffled closer to Leo. “What’s going on?”

Leo waved his hand at Hugh in turn.

“Well, then I will simply appoint to Leo to be the master of coin—”

“Only vacant ones!” Po said.

“—for the new dimension!” Emperor Ro finished triumphantly.

“That… makes no sense,” Xi’Shao said. “We have no land there.”

“I can appoint people if we have an alliance to hold positions in other realms,” Emperor Ro said, moving his hands up and down. “So, I just make an alliance and—”

“They have to be Gifters,” Xi’Shao said. “Normally, people don’t try to become gifters until they’re Level Twenty.”

Leo was utterly lost now. Gifters?

But he did know one thing. He tended to fight above his level. “I think I can handle it,” he said.

Xi’Shao smiled. “Really? You would challenge for the right to gift the emperor, and thereby become able to accept positions under him? I would withdraw all my objections if you did, as you would have shown yourself worthy and kind both.”

It took a minute, but First Wingless Po added, “I would back that as well.”

Leo knew they thought they were putting him into a trap—but the rule about humans still applied. He did fight over his level, like most human heroes did. He had far more abilities and perks than would be expected. He was pretty sure he wasn’t being an idiot to take the challenge, even though he didn’t know exactly what it entailed.

And, worst come to worst, he could teleport out of whatever it was and go home, and shut the dimension down behind him.

“I accept.”