Malik stared out the window, trying to come to terms at what his vassals had just dropped on him a few minutes ago.
The Royal Edict Tablet, a piece of stone that his ancestors gave to those who did an immeasurable amounts of contributions to the empire, giving them the ability to wish of anything to the current Emperor with the sole exception of the Golden Throne.
Rubbing his forehead, he felt a deep migraine attacking his brain.
Malik tried to understand why in the world would someone, THE DUCHESS NO LESS, wanted to marry him. After all, his reputation was..... bad.
"Does she want to control me into a puppet? No, the Duchy couldn't be that stupid. Does she want to take power through the child that would be born from the both of us? Maybe..."
Looking at the ceiling, he recalled what he knew about the Duchess.
At the age of 12, she became one of the greatest powerhouses in the entire empire, killing dragons left and right, stopped multiple amounts of beast waves, went dungeon crawling and became the first to conquer the Deathless Iris Dungeon, hailed as one of the most dangerous dungeons for adventurers right now.
There were countless feats involving her that made him grimace. "Ahh..."
Tapping his legs, he continued to stare out of the window as countless thoughts muddled his mind.
He stayed still for a moment, before shaking his head. Cursing his ancestors, he turned around to enter his room.
***
"Capital City..." Aijira muttered as she rode on a wyvern, behind her was her old maid and flying beside her was Charlie the witch.
Below her was a large sprawling city, atleast a few ten thousands of kilometers wide. Countless tall towers riddled the entire city as well as mansions, and such. Beyond the walls were even more villages and towns.
"The city is still as beautiful as back then..." Aijira smiled while the old lady pressed her hat deeper into her head to stop it from flying away.
"It is, my lady. Though corruption should be prevalent in this city, with the nobles fighting for power, the power structure would be unstable."
Aijira nodded her head, "Yes. When i become Empress, i will immediately cull them in their sleep."
Aijira stood from her wyvern before jumping down, dropping from the skies.
Malik was inside his room when all of the sudden, an explosion sounded out from within the castle walls.
Clicking his tongue, he made a few considerations, thinking that the guards could deal with whatever was going on, he ultimately shook his head and went out of his room.
The throne room? Looking at the smoke that came out from a specific area, Malik deduced that the explosion had happened in the throne room.
Grabbing a sword, he unsheathed it as countless guards saw him, they all bent their head down as he walked towards the halls. Seeing the door of the throne room, the guards and knights opened the door to the room and knelt deeply to Malik.
"Good Morning, your imperial highness."
He heard a voice. Standing infront of the throne, the woman turned her body to Malik and bowed down.
Her red hair shone brightly in the blinding sunlight, the light shone from behind. Her purple eyes shone even when it was bright. Her face was small, but was greatly formed. Wearing a green dress with purple accents, her figure was something out of this world.
"I am Aijira Falkncast. Your eternal consort."
She spoke confidently, as she bowed down in a curt manner.
Malik stared at her for a moment, before nonchalantly started walking towards her. Still bowing, Aijira sensed Malik's presence coming near her.
Did i dazzle him with my beauty? As expected of a tyrant... Fufufufu... Grinning beneath her facade, her purple eyes shone. Touch me and i will make you suffer as your wife.
She was prepared to lash out at him if he ever grazes her skin, but no matter how much she waited, the touch never came. She felt his presence go further away from her.
Just as she was about to stand straight, she heard a voice from behind her.
"At ease, Duchess."
A voice, deep voice. Voices like those who had gone through things.
A voice she didn't expect him to have.
She stood straight and turned around.
She finally took a full look at him.
Sitting on the throne was a man with golden hair. His hair was a bit long compared to her liking, his red eyes looking at her as if she was just a bug he had stepped on and ignored. His body was built, again, another unexpected trait that she didnt expect from a spoiled tyrant.
Holding a regal sword, stabbed in the ground while sitting on the golden throne, she could see the figure of the former emperor in this one.
An aura that all emperors have till death. An aura of grace and regal.
The Aura of an Emperor.
"What brought you here in my palace, Duchess Aijira."
She heard his voice and that stopped her from overthinking.
Looking straight at the Emperor, she saw him staring at her.
This one...
Maybe some of the rumours were not true after all.