General Karesti had a satisfied, but numb look on her face as a set of double sliding doors shut behind her. She donned an ankle-length, purple robe that exposed her well-defined arms while giving her a distinct, womanly look. Although dressing in a feminine manner was far removed from her typical martial look, she had a reason to dress in such a way. She was visiting the Royal Palace, and military uniforms were not permitted unless one was a member of the Castle Guard or as a bodyguard for an important person. The General of the Titanian military was no exception, even though she could’ve struck down the rule as de-facto ruler of the nation. Tradition mattered to her.
Returning to the home at the centre of Xanadu City where she’d lived in until age 16 brought back a plethora of memories. Some good, many impartial ones, and others which would’ve left her reminiscing that her path towards the head of the military was the best she could’ve taken. She glanced back at the now closed doors and sighed.
“Whatever will become of the first in-line when Halsten comes back?” she asked herself in regard to the barely teenaged occupant of the room. She was not worried about Silvan, an intelligent and observant young man even though he sometimes came across as aloof. However, any decisions made by and pertaining to the General’s young niece would be scrutinised and seen by the nobles of the nation. The girl’s very existence was unique, a living contradiction when it came to the Titanian ways of succession. But she was only still 13. She had three more years until she’d reach the age of majority, when she’d take the crown and rule for herself. Well, until Halsten could be restored. That was why the asset had to be brought to Titan as soon as possible. The first-in-line could not become Empress of the Titanians, and Rhona would do everything she could to make that happen.
“Erm, General Karesti,” the steward of the royal household, a man who went by title and name Count Moller, said. “We’ve received a guest of the military here at the Palace. He goes by Major Maedoc Antelius.”
Rhona’s eyes widened in surprise, not aware that the young soldier had returned to Titan, let alone recovered to the point that he could visit the Palace.
“I—I wasn’t expecting any visitors. Has anyone signed off on this, Steward?”
“He presented a letter of approval from Lieutenant General Salomon, which we authenticated.” the noble servant confirmed.
That damned Fabian. Always giving me surprises.
“Take me to him.”
She never enjoyed using elevators, considering them a barbarian Terran invention that the Titanians had adopted and modified over time. So she followed him down the stairs, despite the discomfort her high heels had given to her. She’d never understood how past Karesti woman had been able to endure them for so long.
The eyes of dozens, perhaps more than a hundred large statues that lined the Great Hall seemed to be fixed on her as she and the Steward crossed it to reach the antechamber where Maedoc had been instructed to wait. The constructions depicted past Karesti Emperors, all of them being the General’s father, grandfather, or grandfathers with some degree of ‘great’ before it. However, not all Titanian Emperors were present in statue form in that room, as not all of them were Karesti. There was a reason that the Millenium War on Earth lasted for as long as it did, and it wasn’t because of the Terrans.
Servants and employees of the Palace stopped to give curt bows to the nominal Titanian princess, although she was hardly aware of them as her only desire was to meet with Major Antelius. The young but relatively highly tenured soldier turned away from the wall he had been staring at for some minutes, remembering the tempo and weight of the Steward’s footsteps as they approached him.
“Where’s the General, Steward?” Maedoc had asked, seemingly oblivious to the woman’s presence just behind him.
“I’m right here, Major.” Rhona said, her mouth posed in a friendly grin.
“You’re…” the major started but trailed off. He hadn’t expected the current most powerful person of the most powerful nation in existence to be clad in such a normal dress, let alone look pleasant in it. His hand quickly flew to salute her. “I’m honoured to be in your presence, Ma’am.”
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“I wasn’t even informed that you’d been released from the hospital, Major Antelius. What a lovely surprise,” Rhona said. “How are your injuries?”
“I’ve never felt better. I’m certain it was that message from Major General Vang that quickened my recovery.”
He really does believe that he’ll be my adjutant. I’m horrible at making up lies.
“I’m pleased to hear that,” Rhona said. “Let’s walk as we converse.”
She dismissed Count Moller before she and Maedoc segued into the Great Hall again. He was amazed by the brilliant, intricate details crafted by the greatest Titanian sculptors throughout the years. Glistening chandeliers of golden light shimmered above his head. As a commoner Titanian, he had never had the opportunity to enter such a marvelous building. Other than becoming a servant, joining the military was the only way for him to be able to awe at the architecture.
“This palace is amazing, General.” the Major said, expressing his heartfelt beliefs.
“To look at, it certainly is,” Rhona said, entering a long hallway separated from the Great Hall by massive doors. “In other ways, that statement is arguable. But let’s not carried away by that. Major Antelius, you fought the Red Devil himself and survived. That is not something many men can relate to. I commend you for that.”
“I was the only one who made it out.” Maedoc sighed. His many subordinates, with whom he’d spent a number of years building rapports with and bonding with, had been brutally slaughtered remorselessly by the long-missing Angel Slayer with the help of the very individual he had been assigned to capture.
“My condolences,” she said, extending her sympathies to Maedoc personally. “Your men and women had no premonition of his appearance, yet they fought valiantly until the very end. They embodied the Titanian spirit all the way through. If I’d had more information earlier, I would’ve sent out Team Zero instead to fight and detain him.”
Maedoc said nothing as he and Rhona entered a parlour room to continue their conversation. Sitting down on one of four soft, cozy couches in the room, he found words to break his shyness and humility. Even though the General was as respected, and in many aspects, feared by the elite populace, she was to be his immediate boss. He had to get comfortable around her.
“Colonel Kirchner told me that the Angel Slayer, or as you and Lieutenant General Salomon call him, the Red Devil, had some history with us. If you will, could you tell me more about him?”
“Colonel Kirchner? Oh, the highlight of that fool’s career was recommending you for the assignment to capture the asset. He got what he got,” she smirked, before relaxing her face. “It appears that I’m getting ahead of myself. The Angel Slayer is only my elder bastard brother who was born because my father couldn’t wait until my sick mother got better. She did end up getting better, of course, because I was born. Not for very long… But from the moment Gare—the Red Devil learnt that his existence was ‘other’ to the pure-race, he fought. It was only a matter of time before he did what he did.”
“That man is half-Titanian?” Maedoc asked, surprised. “And a son of the late Emperor no less. I knew he was no ordinary Terran.”
“And by default, no ordinary Titanian either,” Rhona added. “After we found out about his survival, we’ve shifted our recovery priorities from the asset to Red Devil. The fact that he went that long undetected and alive means that he was planning something nefarious and must be apprehended as soon as possible. My martial advisors are drawing up plans for that.”
“Well, on the topic of Terra, I just remembered the reason I came here in the first place.” Maedoc said, as he had been distracted by General Karesti’s enchanting manner of speech and uncharacteristically casual yet alluring appearance.
“Go ahead.”
“I wanted to tell you in person that we’ve received a venue proposal for the New Years’ conference.”
“I believe I put Major General Salomon up to that task.” Rhona recalled.
“Yes, you did,” Maedoc said. “But he delegated it to me as soon as I was released from the hospital…”
Fabian sees something in this young man, Rhona thought. I forget that his surprises are results of his impressive intuition. It’s never wrong.
“…the proposal is from Egon Linden, Baron of Shargara. He wishes to host the conference at his manor and as for why he believes it to be a suitable location, it’s because, as he wrote here,”
He took out his holographic communicator, showing Rhona the form filled out by the Baron.
“It’s as close as the conference can get to where the action will be carried out.”
“I never thought such a low-grade noble would have the audacity to even send in a proposal. But I like his reasoning,” Rhona said, recalling that Shargara was the capital city of the Titanian Terran Territory. “I won’t rule him out. We’ll give him a chance.”
“I’ll let the Governor of Terra know as soon as possible so that he can relay your wishes to the Baron.” Maedoc said, getting to his feet.
“Wait, Major,” Rhona beckoned. “Are you heading to the Military Headquarters?”
“I am,” he confirmed. “Is there a problem with that? I’ll stay here if you need me to, of course.”
“No. Just show your letter of approval from Lieutenant General Salomon to one of the colonels or lieutenant colonels there, and they’ll set you up with a study right away. That’s all I wanted to say.”
“I was wondering about that. Thank you, General.”
The Major offered a parting salute before he left the parlour. Now alone, Rhona reclined in her couch.
“That young man… he’ll be of use after all.”