"Just what is happening in my Empire?" Charles angrily roared and slammed the table.
Bang...!!!
The table instantly broke down as all of its four legs snapped. All of Charles's men looked terrified. They had never seen their Emperor looking so pissed before. A few of the governors were shaking in fear. Some Royal officials were looking for excuses to leave Charles's meeting room as soon as possible. While a few others got to their knees and began picking up the papers that fell with the table. These Royal Officials did not care about their status and just got to their knees. These were some of the oldest officials in the Dune Sovereignty Empire, but prior to Emperor Charles, they didn't hesitate to kneel and pick up the papers.
"Your Majesty, please calm down." Only Crown Prince Garrick remained unfazed seeing this angry and pissed side of this father. Charles was unaware that his actions had caused Garrick to lose respect for him. However, Garrick did not show it on his face. His expression remained the same as ever. 'I am starting to feel that His Majesty might be getting old. All the politics, responsibilities and the weight of being the Emperor of the Dune Sovereignty Empire must be getting to him.' Garrick thought while staring at his father. A seed of doubt was born in Garrick's heart. This seed was planted in his heart when his father did not attack the Istarin Empire when he had the perfect chance, and instead, he decided to solve the conflicts within the Empire. Now, this seed has taken its root in Garrick's heart. Somewhere, Garrick felt that the Emperor had gotten old. And now it was time for the young generations to take over. Meaning, that now it was time for him to step up and bear the responsibilities of this Empire. It was time for him to get the keys to the Kingdom. Sigh....!!!
Putting his hands on his waist, Charles sighed out loud. "Where is Prime Minister Eldric?" Charles asked in an impatient tone. "Your Majesty, Sir Eldric took a break of one hour to see his family." One of the old Royal Officials said in a fearful tone. He was afraid that his answer might upset the Emperor and he might end up dead without even realizing it. "This guy is taking too many vacations these days," Charles said out loud but he also understood that Prime Minister Eldric has been having some family issues. However, Garrick was very dissatisfied with Eldric. 'Serving the Empire should be his first and foremost priority yet in times like this, he decided to leave his work just to see his family. This is an open insult to the Dune Sovereignty and its Emperor. I wonder what action will His Majesty take against Sir Eldric.'
Since his childhood, Garrick has dedicated his entire life to the Dune Sovereignty Empire. He always has put his needs and desires after the interests of the Dune Sovereignty Empire. Without even realizing it, Garrick has developed this perception that everyone must put the Empire's interest first before anything else. Without even realizing it, Charles had turned Garrick into an extremist. The Dune Sovereignty Empire was like Garrick's religion and the Emperor was like the Pope or the Prophet. The respect that Garrick had for the Empire and the Emperor was immense. What Garrick respected was the Golden Crown of the Dune Sovereignty Empire, not the person wearing it. Even if Aditya, the person whom Garrick hates the most, were to wear the Crown of the Dune Sovereignty Empire, Garrick would still show him the utmost respect and remain loyal to him. That's how dedicated Garrick was to the Crown and the Dune Sovereignty Empire. Charles never intended Garrick to be this extremist with his ideals. But it was he who had turned his son this way. Since Garrick was born, Charles has been brainwashing him into making him worship the Crown of the Empire like a God.
"Anyways, let's continue." Seeing that Charles wasn't saying anything about Prime Minister Eldric leaving his work for his family in such desperate times, Garrick was displeased. In his eyes, Eldric should have been punished. Anyone, regardless of their status should have be punished if he/she did not put the Empire's interest first. "My apologies for interrupting, Your Majesty, but should you not punish Sir Eldric for leaving his work at such a time? Right now, the entire empire is experiencing a crisis, yet Sir Eldric's presence is so important that he left his work to be with his family." Garrick asked in a polite tone. Garrick expressed his dissatisfaction. Charles wasn't in the mood to talk about such nonsense. His focus was on suppressing all the conflicts in his Empire as quickly as possible.
Garrick's words and his questioning tone made Charles very displeased. He did not like anyone questioning his decision. "I have heard enough. I am the Emperor. I get to decide whom I should punish or whom I shouldn't. This isn't your place to talk." Charles said in a cold tone. "My apologies if I have unintentionally stepped out of line." Garrick slightly bowed and then took a step back. "Now, let's continue. We need to think of a plan to find the one who has been spreading false rumors about me around the Capital." Meanwhile, Garrick's mind was still on what Charles said. Obviously, Charles's response has left Garrick feeling very dissatisfied. 'I have put the interest of this Empire before me throughout my whole time, yet why does Sir Eldric get a pass when he does not do the same?' [Your Father is only using you. He never intends to hand the Crown to you. In his eyes, you're nothing but a tool.] [The only thing that this man really cares about is his image and his reputation. He wants the spotlight to be on him. He always wants to shine. He always wants to stay at the top of everyone. He thinks that he is a God or someone who is above everyone. He does not like people who outshine him.]
[If he wanted you to become the Emperor, then you already would have handed you the Crown and Throne by now. But even though you're already this old, your father hasn't said a word about handing the throne to you.]
[If you just observe from a 3rd party perspective, you will understand my words.]
Garrick remembered the words that he read in a letter that was sent to him a few days ago. Now he felt what he read in the letter might be true. The moment Garrick questioned Charles's decision, Charles became very pissed about it. At this moment, Garrick felt very conflicted. On one hand, his father was someone whom he had looked up to as his ideal since he was a boy, but on the other hand, he finally saw his true character. "Garrick, I want you to lead an army of 20,000 to suppress the rebels in the northern edge of our Empire. Do you have any questions?" Charles ordered Garrick. "No, Your Majesty." "I want you to complete this mission within 6 hours." Garrick was about to leave when a Royal Officials entered the meeting room with a piece of urgent news. "What news do you have?" Charles asked. "The Istarin Empire has won the war. Not only the, but they also have won the war without even losing a single soldier." Charles's expression changed upon hearing this. "Give me the full details." Garrick also stood there but to listen. "Why are you standing here? Go and complete your mission." Charles wanted to suppress the rebels at their northern borders as soon as possible. These rebels' numbers had been rapidly increasing, so it was important to suppress them before they grew too strong and became a big threat to the Empire. But Garrick was very dissatisfied by Charles's tone. But he still left the meeting room. -
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Scene Change_____
"I told you that they were going to win." Soraya was grinning was she read the letter sent by her spy. Although Soraya's freedom was restricted that did not mean that she was completely cut off from the rest of the world. Over the years, she had gained a few secret spies of her own and has used them to gather information. "Aditya is so damn smart and resourceful," Soraya said while lying on her bed. "Imagining the soul-crushing defeat that my father and brother are about to have from Aditya, I almost feel pity for them." But Soraya did not care. Their defeat would be her ticket to freedom. Besides, once her mother died, the little bit of attachment that she had with these two men also died with time. They were her family in name only. She was nothing but an expensive prisoner who was kept alive to be used as a political tool. Knowing all of this, she did not have any mercy towards these selfish, narcissistic, and superior-complex people. Sometimes, Soraya even cursed her luck for being born into this family. If she were to be born in a peasant's house, she would have been much happier. "I am going to write a letter congratulating the Dragon Monarch on his victory." Soraya sat in front of her table and began writing down. "My lady, if the letter is exposed then you would be in deep trouble." Soraya's maid advised her to not write the letter. "Don't worry, I have connections. The letter will reach Aditya's hand within a day." Soraya did not explain what she planned to do. This letter is a strategic move from her. Through it, she wants to tell Aditya that she isn't his enemy so that in the future, Aditya will not make a move against her. ----------------