The tension in the royal meeting room was palpable as Duke Alistair, Lilian, Kael, and the Priest from the church took their seats across from the imperial family. The emperor, empress, and Crown Prince Adrian sat with a regal bearing, their expressions a blend of curiosity and disdain as they regarded their visitors. The opulent room, usually a place of grand decisions and diplomatic discourse, felt like an arena where a much graver confrontation was about to unfold.
Duke Alistair initiated the proceedings, his voice calm but carrying a gravity that matched the seriousness of their message. "Your Majesties, we come before you today bearing a divine warning tied to the welfare of our beloved kingdom. It concerns the planned union between Prince Adrian and my daughter, Lilian."
The Priest, an elderly figure robed in the scarlet vestments that marked him as a servant of the Scarlet God, then stepped forward. He carried an ancient scroll, the words of the God inscribed upon it, glowing faintly with a mystical light. With a reverent tone, he read the divine decree aloud, the room hanging on every prophetic word about the dangers of forcing Lilian into a marriage against her will and divine favor.
Lilian herself remained composed, her gaze steady and unflinching as she faced the imperial family. Despite the internal turmoil that the situation stirred, she portrayed a facade of calm resolve, understanding the weight her presence brought to the claims being presented.
Once the Priest concluded, the silence that followed was heavy, laden with the implications of defiance against celestial powers. It was the emperor who broke the silence, his laughter ringing out, echoing off the high ceilings, filled with disbelief and scorn.
"Divine warnings? Prophecies? This is the basis on which you would have us call off a union that would strengthen our empire?" The emperor's voice was thick with mockery, his eyes glinting with amusement as he looked towards his family, seeking their support in his ridicule.
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The empress, her expression one of cold amusement, chimed in smoothly, her voice dripping with condescension. "Indeed, it seems rather convenient to invoke the gods now when political machinations fail. We are not a superstitious folk swayed by old scrolls and priestly theatrics. We govern by reason and strength."
Adrian, who had been silently observing the exchange, kept his eyes fixed on Lilian. His gaze was inscrutable, but the intensity behind it was unmistakable. He had not uttered a word since the meeting began, his demeanor suggesting a calculating mind weighing the unfolding drama.
Duke Alistair, maintaining his composure in the face of imperial mockery, responded, "Your Majesty, I assure you, we do not bring this matter lightly. The welfare of the kingdom could very well depend on heeding this warning. The Scarlet God is not known for idle threats, and the signs have been clear."
Kael, whose expertise in magical and divine matters lent him authority, added, "Ignoring such signs has led to downfall in historical precedents. It is our duty to consider all potential threats to the realm, be they physical or metaphysical."
The emperor waved a dismissive hand, his laughter subsiding into a sneer. "Let the gods take it up with me then. The marriage will proceed as planned. We will not be intimidated by superstitions or threatened by supposed divine retribution."
The empress nodded in agreement, her voice firm. "To defy the royal command is to defy the crown itself. Do not dress your reluctance in piety and prophecy. The empire will stand, as it always has, on the strength of its rulers, not the whims of its gods."
The meeting, filled with tension and unresolved conflict, did not conclude but rather paused on a precipice of contention. As the imperial family stood, signaling the end of the audience, the atmosphere was charged with a sense of impending confrontation.
Lilian and her party rose, the weight of their failed appeal heavy upon them. As they exited, the silence between them spoke volumes. Outside the meeting room, they exchanged looks of frustration and concern.
"This isn't over," Lilian murmured to her companions as they made their way back through the palace corridors. "We must prepare for what comes next. The god's warning was clear, and we must stand ready to protect the kingdom, even from its own rulers if necessary."