"I have come to confirm the date of our marriage, your imperial highness."
Aijira spoke with a graceful smile, one that made Malik's eyes twitch.
That action didn't escape Aijira's superhuman perception.
"I see." Malik nodded his head, before turning to his vassals, who had just arrived.
"I will leave it to you." He then turned back to Aijira and spoke.
Sitting still, he leaned back even more on his golden throne and watched as Aijira just stared at him with a smile.
"What is it?"
Malik gave her a glance before closing his eyes.
Aijira stared at him for a moment, before asking, "Is your imperial highness displeased by what has happened?"
Malik gave it a thought for a moment, before opening his eyes, his red pupils staring straight at her.
"I do not care, Duchess. If you want to marry me for some reason other than love, then i can understand what you want. But i do not care what will happen to you, or to this empire."
A sheathe appeared infront of him and Malik slowly sheathed the sword as Aijira listened.
"If you want power over the imperial family, if you want to use its influence for whatever agenda you are planning with your faction, then so be it."
He stood up and walked towards her, slowly, confidently.
Aijira finally saw his full height. She was someone who was tall for a woman, maybe even taller than most men but Malik? The Emperor? He was atleast a head taller than her. She felt dwarved by his height over her, towering her.
When he finally stopped, he was just a few inches away from her as he whispered in her ear.
He whispered something.
A warning.
"Disturb me from my research and your head will be severed from your body."
Research?
Aijira's eyes narrowed as Malik walked pass her. The vassals trembled under Malik's gaze and stepped out of his way as Malik exited the throne room silently. Only when he was out of view did the vassals let out a breathe of relief and turned to the woman standing infront of the throne.
They walked towards her and deeply bowed their heads.
"We hope you are well, Dear Consort."
Aijira nodded her head and turned to the vassals, "Thank you for the care."
The countless vassals smiled and nodded their heads. They indulged in small talk before Aijira walked towards the Golden Throne, she then turned her head to the smaller one, the Silver Throne. Only the Consort of the empire was eligible to sit in that throne, countless curses and hexes were casted into the throne that only the Consort was immune to.
This is why nobody wanted to sit on both thrones, even if they were the only ones in the room. If you ever even touch it, you would be cursed by all kinds of malicious hexes.
Aijira touched the Silver Throne on the armrest, the many vassals gasped and some even warned her not to touch it until the Marriage Ceremony had finished but Aijira ignored them.
She sat on the throne and leaned her back casually. The vassals gasped as they witnessed Aijira casually sit in a throne that only the Consort could sit on.
Aijira stared at them while familiarizing herself in the new seat that she would spend most of her time with.
She gave each of them a glance, all eye contacts. Almost all of the vassals flinched and immediately bowed their heads when they made eye contact with Aijira, some was stubborn but they relented after the pressure emitted by Aijira was too much for them to bear.
After seeing all of the vassals bow their heads to her, she nodded her head and addressed the most senior member of the council of vassals.
"Can i commence an impromptu meeting to discuss agendas?"
The Chancellor, Redrick, nodded his head and spoke, "As the soon to be consort, you have the right to hold a meeting with the council anytime at the permission of the Emperor."
"I need to get permission from the Emperor himself before i can call everyone?"
Redrick nodded his head, "Yes, as the soon to be consort. That will change when you become the Consort, Duchess Falkncast."
Nodding her head, she stood up and spoke, "Then prepare for a meeting. I will get permission from his Imperial Highness himself. We will hold the meeting this evening, i want all the vassals and those in power to attend the meeting."
Everyone nodded their heads and bowed. Aijira stared at them for a moment, before swiping her hand and made them leave.
Slowly, vassals exited the throne room, leaving Aijira alone sitting in the Silver Throne.
"Charlie."
A woman in red robes slowly appeared behind Aijira.
"Yes?"
Aijira gave her a glance and spoke, "I need you to make me an extensive list of everything in the capital city. With the manpower we have in our Intelligence Agency, tonight would be enough time for you to get information?"
Charlie smiled and nodded her head. "Of course."
Aijira nodded her head and told her to leave. Charlie disappeared as Aijira waited for a few moments.
Soon, her old maid entered the throne room, upon finding Aijira sitting on the silver throne, her eyes went wide for a moment, before it shut tightly and she slowly went to the back of the throne.
"Milady."
"Therese..." Aijira muttered softly.
"Yes, my lady?"
Aijira stared at the doors of the throne room for a moment, before looking towards Therese, the old maid.
"It seems the plan must be thrown away."