“I need to sit down.” Ninon said, rubbing her temples. Never had she believed that the kind, caring woman she’d known her entire life was in truth in the upper bracket of all Titanian warriors currently living. But even more confusing, was hearing that her assignment as the Princess’ guardian had given her life. She dropped to her bottom, crossing her legs. The cold penetrated her tunic, and she felt it across her skin underneath, but it helped her stay grounded during such a nerve wracking conversation.
Alda followed her lead and sat beside her. Even her nerves were overwhelming her, to the point that she found it hard to face the girl directly. But she had already made her choice, and she would see it through.
“Are you ready?” Alda asked.
“Mhm.” Ninon slowly nodded, gazing at the floor before her.
--
16 years earlier
The man wore casual Titanian clothing, a simple light-green tunic that was a milder shade of his own pupils. His red loafers were bold, and while he didn’t intend for them to stand out very much, the crossing of one leg over another caused the man sitting next to him to be distracted for a brief moment.
“S-Sorry, Your Highness,” the nobleman shook his head. “I beg your pardon?”
“Perhaps I wasn’t loud enough,” the humbly dressed man spoke with an equal volume of humility. “I said that full rights to the lands belonging to your family shall be returned to your name. In exchange, I have two demands of you.”
Emperor Halsten appeared like an ordinary man, but his presence alone was enough to garner anyone’s attention. Not through cruel words and threats of condemnation like his father, grandfather, and all his ancestors prior to the last Solich dynasty, but through diplomacy and negotiation.
“W-What would that be, Your Highness?” the nobleman asked, a tinge of fear in his voice. The scars of Emperor Henrik’s rule ran deep, and many a noble presumed that they would repeat with his son.
“15% of the revenue produced on that land, whether it be through the sale of mined ores or the manufacturing of every good, shall be given to the Crown as tribute. 25% will be divided among your men and women tenants who do the work. The other 60% is yours to do with as you wish.”
“Your Highness, I… I must confess that this is an unsustainable number to give up," the noble spoke after a short period of contemplation. "You see, during the reign of His Highness Emperor Henrik, our lands were used as a testing ground for the military. Much of the infrastructure that we use for mining is badly damaged. To give up 40% of our revenue is… we need funds to repair them.”
Halsten nodded at the nobleman, then took a pen and pad off the table between the two armchairs.
Send an inspector to Baron Simonis’ estate as soon as possible, he wrote.
“Well then, a tithe to the Crown and 25% to the workers. This arrangement will be retained until your facilities are at an optimally functioning level.”
“Th-That works, Your Highness!” the baron nearly jumped to his feet, but suppressed himself in the presence of the most powerful man in the Empire. “I can manage that.”
“Very well, then. I will have someone send you a physical contract to sign soon. You’re dismissed.”
“Y-You’re too kind, Your Highness! I promise you I will deliver as you wished.” the baron rose to his feet, before bowing. A guard on the other side of the door opened the door out, and the nobleman was gone.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“That should be the last appointment for today.” Halsten told the guards outside, who automatically knew to withdraw. Halsten disliked being surrounded by excessive security, as he feared it would make him less approachable. Being in such a condition was detrimental, not only to him but to the reputation of his family.
In order to make things right with Terra, I must make things right here first. Undoing the damage my father did is monumental, but necessary. The people of that world fear my name, but so do the people of my own,
He rose to his feet and paced around the room for a short while. His legs brought him to a window, where he had full view of his Palace’s courtyard. It was brimming with life, with servants in their downtime bringing their young children to play. He wanted his home to be a welcoming place, not a center for condemnation.
What I do is tedious, lengthy, even bothersome, he pondered as his eyes caught a child catching a large orange ball. But I can only imagine how difficult it is for you, Kallista. To try to convince your people that peace with the monsters who destroyed your home for centuries is possible is an undoubtedly arduous task. I hope my library is serving you well right now. Take all that knowledge with you when you return home.
Halsten left the parlor for his bedroom, intending to retire for the night. He washed up in the adjoining bathroom. He removed his shirt, unveiling a muscular alabaster torso, when he realized that his nightwear was still in his wardrobe.
“All this service has me forgetting my duties to myself.” he laughed to himself as he activated the motion sensor sliding door. He was about to make the 10 or so steps to his wardrobe, when his eyes almost teleported to the left, having caught something unusual.
“Is there something you…”
Halsten trailed off as he realized the woman standing in his room was not wearing the uniform servants of his were supposed to wear. He dismissed the thought of her being an off-duty employee as quickly as it formed in his head, as her face was unfamiliar to him. Halsten made it a priority to learn the names and faces of every employee who worked in the Karesti Palace.
“Who are you, and how did you get here…?” he asked, standing with his hands to his sides to show that he was trying to initiate conversation before resorting to more physical methods of getting her to speak.
The woman did not respond right away. Her mannerisms and lack of eye contact indicated that she was having a hard time trying to make conversation with him. It took her a couple of moments to kneel on one knee before her Emperor.
“P-Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I am Ilmatar Holub.” she announced, continuing to make no eye contact with the Emperor.
The sensors to the bedroom activated, and a heavily armored figure strutted in. The woman, who was perhaps a half-decade younger than Halsten’s 25, flicked her head up as she heard the clinking of the heavy armor, eyes wide with fear. No, she could feel the armored man’s aura. It was heavy. It was suffocating.
“Did you think I, Captain of the Palace Guard, would really let you slip in to His Majesty’s own chambers undetected? You may have gotten in here somehow without breaking in, but you have no permission to be here.”
The woman was too afraid to speak for herself. Halsten stepped forward, placing Ilmatar between him and the soldier. The warrior was shorter than the average Titanian man, and even with his armor he was about three inches shorter than the Emperor.
“This woman shows no intention of causing me harm,” the Emperor said. “She is clearly afraid. I don’t know why she’s come here or how, but I will get that information out of her myself.”
Gareth Koppel stepped to the side, taking off his helmet. His face was much paler, almost like his half-brother’s, and his hair was bleach blonde. He took a knee, lowering his head out of shame.
“I understand, Your Majesty. But this is a serious breach of security. I will have to make note of it.”
“Stand up, Gareth,” Halsten smiled at his younger brother. “You do your job well. But remember, not everyone is an enemy. Return to your post.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Thank you for your wise words.”
Gareth rose to his feet again and took his leave. Halsten’s smile remained on his lips even after the man was gone.
He’s gotten better at controlling himself. Good for him.
He let out a sigh, before turning his focus on the scared woman who had somehow discreetly entered the Karesti Palace.
“Ms. Holub… before I ask you what your business for being in my home is… how did you get inside? My Captain of the Guard is excellent at what he does, and he would know if an alarm was activated. But none were. It was impressive that he even caught your presence in here.”
Ilmatar finally made begrudging eye contact with Halsten and lifted her right hand. On her wrist was a clearly eroded metal bracelet, with most of it now covered in rust. But a light, powered by a tiny Utrium chip embedded inside, still blinked on its exterior.