When Owen opening the door, there's a nobleman in front of the door.
"Your Highness, Your Excellently Duke Tanzanite are here." *reporting*
Duke Tanzanite are younger brother the current Emperor. He's the second line to the throne after the Emperor in the past. But he didn't want the throne and to prevent war, he come back in his mother family and became a Duke in there.
Since he become a Duke, he become the most trustworthy person in the Emperor eyes. He's an important nobleman in the Empire.
"Uncle Duke, what's bring you here?" *the Second Prince asking curiosity*
*standing and bowing* "Greetings Your Excellently Duke Tanzanite, it's been a while since our last meet. How have you been?" *calmly*
He's a Duke like me, and I think his personality are similar to mine (don't have any ambitions for wealth and positions). He's one of a few nobleman that I put my respect wholeheartedly.
*bows and then smiling* "Greetings Your Majesty and Duke Amethyst."
Edward and Owen bows to him.
"I'm here as His Majesty representative, His Majesty the Emperor wish to meet with Duke Amethyst" *smile*
I know it
*reluctant* "When must I meet the Emperor, Your Excellently?"
*frown* "Just call me Duke Tanzanite or Uncle Duke like Your Highness the Prince. Aren't we in the same positions?" *looking at the Prince and the Prince nodding*
*smile friendly* "Alright, I'll call you Duke Tanzanite from now on."
*smile* "Thank you. His Majesty said you should met him immediately. His Majesty said 'It's rare for him to get out from his room, he's too stubborn on his work. I even worry about Lydia, she must be lonely. When he's coming, tell him to get prepared on my scolding.' Hohoho"
*dumbfounded* "A... hahaha" *force laugh*
I forgot that Lydia are like his own daughter for the Emperor
*laugh* "Hahaha, Uncle Duke you really have a talent for imitating His Majesty. Look, brother Verduny get stiff right away."
The prince laugh happily while Edward and Owen trying their best to hold their laugh. They know very well, whenever His Majesty start scolding, he won't stop anytime soon. But Verduny get scolding whenever the Emperor summons him.
There's one incident that I can't forgotten, when I'm still a child I once get scolding from His Majesty because collapsing in the academy due overwork. His Majesty nagging about my stubbornness that keep rejecting his offer to help my works.
Well, I just worry my citizen will go crazy, reckon the exploiting incident and I don't like my people to get ruler over by other people. The main reasons are I just don't trust His Majesty wholeheartedly. Furthermore, because I keep rejecting his offer, he made me going to a war as penalty. I protect my people from exploiting but the truth is I get exploit myself.
Anyway, His Majesty made me kneeling and hearing his nagging that take almost for more than half a day, at that time I almost collapse again.
*smile* "Duke Tanzanite, I was on the way to have lunch with my wife. Please tell His Majesty the Emperor to wait for me a bit." *smile calmly*
Everyone shocked except for the Second Prince. He just quietly observing. The air and atmosphere in the rooms suddenly getting intense. It's because Verduny behavior are really rude to dare make the Emperor wait for him.
*break the silent* "Yeah, I was about to join them too" *smile*
*look at second prince then smile* "Hohoho, then I'll comply your reply to His Majesty." *giggles* "Then farewell to you, Your Highness, Duke Amethyst"
They're bowing at each other
"Hehehe, good luck Brother."
After Duke Taaffeite leaving, the prince and Verduny searching for Lady Alexandrite and Lydia. Along the way, they have a small talk.
"Are you really be okay postponing the Emperor degree, Brother?" *looks worry*
*glance* "Stop it, I don't like it!" *annoyed*
"You misunderstand me, Brother. I know you don't really like His Majesty, I don't like him either. You know right?"
"Yeah, I know. You don't like him since childhood. Poor him, even though he loves you so much. You didn't return his love even for a tiny little bit." *smirking*
*grin* "You must be joking, Brother. That old bastard never love me in his life. He just want my talents." *sinister smile*
"I know, I know. I'm your nanny after all. I know everything about you." *bragging*
"That's true. At that time if it's not because of you, I won't stay alive right now." *remembering*
*glance* "It's nothing. We're brothers after all. You said it yourself"
*surprised* "Right, we're brothers. I thought you only see me as nuisance because you never respond on our talks about becoming brothers." *smile happily*
*ponder* "Well, it's true that you're a nuisance. I'm glad you're aware of it yourself" *nodding*
*shocked like being stabbing* "Re..ally?" *sad*
*pfft* "Hahaha, of course. You're a nuisance little brother." *laugh*
*dumbfounded* "Don't scare me like that, Brother. That's too mean for a joke." *sulking*
"My bad, my bad." *keep laughing*
"What are you talking about?"
Lady Alexandrite and Lydia approaching them
"We're just joking around. We've rare opportunities to meet after all." *sad smile*
"Yeah, we both have a lot of works."
The two Ladies get quiet, they took a pity for the two of them.
"Anyway, it's seems you can laugh too, Your Excellently." *giggles*
"Don't be too surprised, Mary. It's not like it's his first time laughing" *chuckles*
*irritated* "What do you mean? I'm a human, it's not surprising for me to laugh."
"My Lord, you look more charming when laughing." *smile*
*startled* "Is that so. Anyway, let's go have lunch. We'll meet the Emperor after lunch."
*surprised* "Ah... Yes my Lord."
They have lunch together in the west palace's dining room. They don't want to meet the first prince, so they have their lunch far away from the main palace.
After lunch
"Brother, it's time for you to go." *smile*
*glare* "Let's get going Lydia."
"Yes, my Lord." *standing*
"Brother, I'll wait for you in my room. Come to me after you finish, please be careful!" *serious*
*astonished* "As your command, Your Highness." *bows with smile and then leaving*
"Good luck for the two of you" *smile with worry*
"Yeah, thank you Sister Mary."
Lydia leaving with Verduny
"Your Highness, are your discussion not finished? Are the problems too serious? Is there anything I can help you with?" *worry*
*smile* "You know the Emperor are a cunning person, he like exploiting people. Brother Verduny are one of the Emperor victims. Whenever he get summons, he will receive a very hard task. Even though he don't like the Emperor, he still finish all his task perfectly. He just don't want to fail even for once."
"Are you worrying about the Duke, Your Highness?" *curious*
*smile* "His kindness and his pride become his weakness. I'll tell you a secret. Brother Verduny, actually he can ran away when he was force to became a Duke in the past. But he choose to stay because he can't leave his people in here."
*disbelieved* "He was forced to became a Duke? Aren't people usually looking for a wealth and positions?"
*smirking* "He's different, just like uncle Duke. He want to became an adventure in the past, he even have his own party. He once told me, he secretly sneaking to go adventuring with his party whenever he get the chances."
*curious* "Then why he didn't ran away? It's easy for him."
*giggles* "Of course, just like I said before. If it's not because of Amethyst's citizen begging and crawling at him, he'll ran away without a doubt."
*disbelieved* "Just because people begging at him?"
"Yes, he said 'I used to help people in the past and that won't change'. Aren't he too nice?" *chuckles*
"I don't know he has a kind hearted personality."
"Yeah. He removed all the greedy counts in his territory. It's not easy to remove a counts, furthermore there're a lot of them. But, his actions resulting the Dukedom lacking of managements. With his ability, managing the Dukedom are easy task for him but he's human after all, he get tired too. He often force himself with magic to get to work." *depressed*
"..." *feel pity for Verduny*
*smile and rubbing her head* "I hope you keep this as secrets and don't look at him with pity. His pride won't allow it"
*smile* "Yes, Your Highness"300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHZlH7g0E3
