After long hours of reflection, Mero grew hungry. He decided to go to the hotel’s restaurant, hoping, even for just a moment, to regain the thrill of fresh air and escape the solitude of his room.
The hotel lobby remained of an unchanging majesty. The sumptuous carpets, the glittering gold trimmings, and the large windows offering a breathtaking view of a rapidly expanding city gave the place an aura of grandeur and tradition. Voices rose in a continuous murmur, blending the lively conversations of the guests with the discreet clinking of servants attending to their duties. This muffled noise, which could have been soothing under different circumstances, failed to dispel Mero's bitterness, trapped in this stifling opulence.
As soon as he passed through the restaurant doors, a soft light and a subtle fragrance of spices and finely prepared dishes greeted him. A quick and professional waiter stepped forward to guide him to a secluded table at the back of the room. As he wove through the groups of diners absorbed in their conversations, Mero couldn't help but notice an odd dissonance. Although the atmosphere was both refined and relaxed, something—an imperceptible discomfort, a subtle disharmony—seemed to betray the cheerful façade of the place.
Seated at his table, a richly illustrated menu was presented to him. However, his eyes quickly diverted from the dishes and their promises of flavor. It wasn’t hunger that troubled him, but rather the lack of freedom, that sensation of confinement that contrasted with what he had known at sea. Here, locked in the luxurious but oppressive comfort of the hotel, he felt imprisoned in a role he had yet to fully choose for himself.
The waiter returned to take his order. With a distracted gesture, Mero waved him away, preferring to remain silent, lost in his thoughts. It was then that a slight noise behind him caught his attention. He turned his head and saw, in the doorway, the silhouette of a dignitary. The official’s face was cold and impassive.
The dignitary slowly approached the table, bowing slightly with measured solemnity. "Prince," he said in a calm, authoritative voice, "I’ve been looking for you. There are a few matters to discuss."
A shiver ran down Mero’s spine. He couldn’t help but feel a strange apprehension: hidden within the dignitary's words was a warning, a heavy premonition of consequences to come. Without delay, Mero slowly stood up, his eyes fixed on the man before him. In the silence that stretched, heavy with tension, he understood that, despite the apparent comfort of the hotel, he was not free in his movements—a reality vastly different from the relative autonomy he had known aboard the ship. Yet, far from being overwhelmed by fear, he was consumed by an acute awareness of his position and his destiny. He knew that, as a prince, he could not avoid the call of duty.
"I will follow you," he replied in a firm, neutral tone, allowing the dignitary to lead him out of the restaurant.
Their footsteps echoed through the corridors of the luxurious hotel, each movement seemingly orchestrated with care. As they advanced, passing closed doors and plush lounges, the atmosphere thickened with an almost palpable heaviness, as if every murmur and every glance concealed state secrets. The dignitary led Mero to a small room converted into an office, its dim lighting provided by an oil lamp placed on a solid wood table. Leather chairs and bookshelves filled with ancient volumes testified to a refinement blended with imposing austerity. On the table, several documents and papers were scattered, and near the window, an Empire soldier stood with his arms crossed, seemingly guarding the entrance.
The dignitary nodded to Mero, inviting him to sit. "Please, sit, Prince. We have a few details to settle before your departure."
As Mero sat down, the dignitary’s gaze did not leave his own, as if trying to probe every corner of his determination. A soldier in the background observed silently, his eyes scrutinizing every movement of the young heir. A heavy silence settled over the room, the prelude to a conversation that would seal a pivotal moment in Mero’s destiny.
The dignitary took a deep breath before speaking in a grave, solemn tone. "The Emperor grants you his support, but he also has his conditions. There is no room for indecision, Prince. You are now bound to him. Your future, that of your family, and even your kingdom will depend on the decisions you make here."
These words fell on Mero like a heavy burden. He felt the immense pressure of this imposed fate, the heavy chain of allegiance tightening around him. Every word seemed to announce irreversible consequences, choices whose impact would be felt far beyond the quiet room where he sat.
With a calm tone and a slight diplomatic smile, Mero spoke again. "Gentlemen," he declared, "I wish to express my deep gratitude for the support the Emperor grants me. This honor and responsibility are not unfamiliar to me, and I fully understand the importance of this commitment."
He paused briefly, letting his words resonate in the air thick with tension, then continued with quiet determination:
"The Emperor can count on my full support. I am convinced that our collaboration will benefit both parties. However, it is essential that we find a balance that respects everyone’s interests. My kingdom and my family are at the heart of my concerns, and I am confident we will forge a solid and lasting alliance."
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Mero fixed the dignitary with an intense gaze, his eyes expressing both sincerity and firm resolution, while the silence lingered, giving space to the exchange of wills.
The dignitary, with piercing eyes and an impassive expression, studied each word spoken by the young prince. After a moment of reflection, he replied in a measured voice:
"I see that you understand the importance of this alliance, Prince. The Emperor appreciates your desire for balance, but know that the decisions made here are not simple negotiations. Every move, every word, will have direct repercussions on the future of the Empire. The Emperor expects unwavering support from you. The slightest misstep could compromise not only your kingdom but also your place among us."
As he spoke, he approached the table and picked up a sealed letter, placing it with solemnity before Mero. "This contains the first conditions the Emperor demands. Take a look at it and, once you’ve made your decision, let me know if you are ready to fully commit."
The imperial seal on the letter testified to the Emperor’s supreme authority. An almost tangible tension filled the room as if every gesture was being carefully watched and evaluated.
Mero felt the weight of a decisive choice pressing on his shoulders. The responsibility of sealing an alliance that would bind his fate to that of an Empire, and by extension, that of his family, was now upon him with a new intensity. Every word, every silence, mattered. Taking a deep breath, he told himself that he must carefully examine these conditions before responding. In a calm, measured tone, he said:
"I fully understand the gravity of the situation. The decisions we make here will have profound consequences, and I do not take anything lightly. Please allow me a moment to read this letter with the attention it deserves."
He stood slowly, took the sealed letter with manifest solemnity, and walked to a secluded corner of the room, where he could read in peace. The dignitary’s and the soldier’s gazes, like silent judges, followed each of his movements.
In this quiet corner, Mero carefully broke the imperial wax seal. The scent of the aged paper rose into the air, mingling with an indefinable aroma of destiny and power. Every line, written with an administrative coldness, seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders. The letter began with polite greetings, but from the first paragraphs, the tone became imperious and resolute.
The conditions were clear and unequivocal. The Emperor demanded from him, as a Prince, total and unwavering loyalty. His kingdom was to provide unconditional support. Furthermore, he was required to pledge allegiance in person at an official ceremony to be held soon in the capital. This act, once completed, would seal their alliance definitively and publicly, thus strengthening the bonds between their two worlds.
In exchange, the Emperor guaranteed the stability and security of his people. However, the letter spared no ambiguity: any attempt to deviate from this agreement or challenge imperial authority would result in consequences of unprecedented severity. The last part of the letter was merciless:
"By signing this agreement, you not only become an ally of the Emperor but also his vassal. Your reward will depend solely on the loyalty and reliability of your commitment. No misstep will be tolerated."
As Mero read these lines, his heart tightened. He understood that this alliance, while it could ensure stability for his family and kingdom, bound him far more deeply to the Empire than any vassalage had ever done. The vise was tightening around him, and he felt the crushing weight of a fate he could not refuse.
After a moment of silence, laden with emotion, Mero slowly folded the letter and pressed it against him, lost in his thoughts. He knew that the price for this commitment would be high and that every word sealed in this document symbolized a new chain that would further burden the weight of his heritage.
Turning towards the dignitary and the soldier, who were still observing him in near-religious silence, Mero sensed that the time had come to make a decision. With a determined gaze, tempered by the maturity imposed by the situation, Mero reread the letter, this time with a calculated detachment. He understood that it was merely an administrative act meant to formalize what had, in practice, already been sealed long ago. The Emperor was the unquestionable figure of authority, and his family's allegiance was embedded in an ancestral tradition.
With renewed serenity, Mero stood up and, in a firm yet composed voice, declared to the dignitary:
"I am ready to give my consent. We will proceed with this formality as it should be. Nothing will change for my house – my family's loyalty to the Emperor is absolute."
As he spoke these words, his gaze scrutinized the dignitary intently, assessing every expression, every movement, searching for the slightest trace of doubt.
The dignitary, watching every movement of Mero, couldn't help but allow a faint smile to appear. This gesture, so simple in appearance, marked a decisive turning point, a symbolic act of adherence and loyalty to the Emperor. The tension in the room seemed to dissipate slightly as Mero signed the letter with a sure and determined stroke.
Once his signature was affixed, the dignitary bowed slightly, a sign of respect for this now-sealed pact. "Your wisdom and commitment only strengthen the alliance between our two parties," he said in a calm voice, tinged with a measured sense of relief. "The Emperor will appreciate your gesture."
He then took the letter, examined it carefully for a moment, and placed it in a case, assuring that it would be immediately delivered to the imperial authorities.
Thus, Mero had fulfilled what was expected of him. The formality was behind him, and despite the vastness of the stakes, a sense of clarity began to form in his troubled mind. The dignitary headed toward the door, ready to leave the room, but before departing, he cast one last glance at Mero. "We will meet again soon to discuss the next steps," he concluded in a low, solemn voice.
Silence fell once more, and Mero found himself alone in the austere office, the heavy responsibility of his future looming on the horizon. For a few moments, he stood motionless, contemplating the imperial seal still present in his thoughts, weighing the cost of this commitment on the fate of his family and his kingdom. In this moment of intense introspection, he knew that, despite the new chains that had formed around him, his soul would remain unshaken.
The day moved slowly as Mero left the room, his heart still carrying a newfound gravity. He made his way through the corridors of the grand hotel, where each step seemed to echo like the sound of an inexorable fate. The servants and guards, indifferent to the inner turmoil of the young prince, continued their work as if nothing had happened. Yet, in every glance he met, Mero sensed the shadow of an uncertain future, where each decision, each commitment, would shape the future of his lineage.