In this world, I believe, there wasn't a single parent who thinks any man is good enough for their precious daughter. Except Hira's mother. She thinks I and Hira are made for eachother. And I hated her for that.
Javis literally flew away from the room. The Empress of Bahamut was considered to be the scariest woman on this continent, narrowly topping her own daughter Hira. You could say Hira had inherited her mother's cold glares and "if looks could kill attitude."
Despite the fact how uncunningly similar Hira and the Empress were, the Empress was fond of her son Marcus only. She didn't spare even a hint of affection towards her daughter.
"It's a formality in every family to visit a relative if he or she is sick,'' The Empress sat herself on the couch by the fireplace, "Even if you don't like them."
I gave her a tight smile, "How gracious of you to visit me this soon," it had been weeks since I'd got hurt, so I put in the sarcasm in my greetings to her, "I feel overwhelmed in your presence, Your Royal Highness."
"Had to visit you before my wretched daughter comes back," she looked around the room as if she was searching for something, "I can't bear to be in the same room with both of you together. It's a wonder why she hasn't come back. Didn't she get the news?"
Despite my forbidding, I was pretty sure someone had already sent the news to North. Hira had a few people in the castle who directly works under her. They had probably sent her the news of me getting injured by now. However, I didn't want to spill these informations before the Empress and so I said, "Her Royal Highness the Grand Duke is currently busy with checking the security of the Northern Borders. I insisted on not agitating her with something small as this while she's on such an important expedition."
"Small?"
"The target of the assassins was I, Your Royal Highness. Had there been casualty, it wouldn't have left any material damage on Bahamut or the Lazar Throne."
The Empress seemed pleased with my answer. That I know my place, that I shouldn't ask for more- things like these always seemed to appease her. I didn't mind feeding her the carrots if it meant she would leave soon instead of annoying me all night.
"You do know your place," she said, proving me right, "I've always thought that it was quite poetic that out of all the princes and geniuses in this world my daughter could marry, she chose you. A blind fool picking a deaf oaf. Two peas in a pod. Made for eachother."
The Empress was aware of my health conditions. That I was not exactly .... normal. But Hira was normal. It was true she didn't smile much or didn't talk much, it was true she liked just randomly going to North and spending there weeks in the name of checking security, it was very true she could be eccentric and out of box more often than not, but Hira was normal. Physically and in her head. Unlike me. So it felt like an insult when the Empress compared her fully normal daughter to me, man who had health issues since birth and a head full of nightmares even since the incident in Duni.
And it angered me. "This humble servant of the Emperor wants to enlighten the Mother of Bahamut that" I said, " the only thing that is lacking about Your Royal Highness' wise, kind and brave daughter is her husband."
Empress cocked her head at one side, "You poor thing," she crooned, "You know nothing."
"Nothing that I need not to," I said, "I mustn't waste anymi of Her Royal Highness' evening," I stood up and Havard rushed to me. "Call the maids, Havard. My mother-in-law is visiting me! Why hasn't there any delights brought in yet? Where's wine?" I asked. "They are on it, Master," Havard said.
"And I presume I am to enjoy these delights and wine by myself?" Empress asked.
"This is extremely rude of me but I can't ingest such things due to my recent deteriorating health," I said, "Doctor Javis had to put me on a strict diet."
"You can't expect the Mother of Bahamut to eat alone. I'll leave first you silver tongued snake," she stood up, "You pretend as if you're smart and all yet you've no idea what's happening even within the castle walls."
"From now on I'll work harder to become aware of what's happening within the castle walls atleast," I prompted. Being in the same room with the Empress was equally unbearable for me like it was for her.
"Wait. I have a gift for you."
My jaw dropped. "I thought we didn't like eachother," I said, wanting to make sure our mutual hatred was ablaza as ever. "I just don't like owing to someone," she simply said.
"You owe me?" I couldn't even believe my own ears.
"I've heard about your efforts to not let my son get close to the Gupta Princess. You've been a sore thumb between the two of them."
"That is as per Her Royal Highness Ritaishi's request," I said, honest and bland, "She really doesn't like our Crown Prince. She'd rather spend most of her time in Prima with me than around him."
"And I want the same."
I frowned, unable to connect the dots. "I thought the Emperor wishes the Crown Prince to tie knots with the Gupta Princess?" I asked her, baffled.
"But at what cost? The Gupta Samrat has only one heir. If Marcus marries the sole heir of Gupta family, what do you think will happen?"
"The Surya Samrat will want the Princess to move in to Lotus Castle with her husband, to rule the Surya Empire side by side," I answered, "But what about Lazar throne?"
"Marcus isn't the only child of Lazar Emperor. Hira will ascend to throne in absence of Marcus with a baffoon like you by her side. What a tragedy will that be!"
I couldn't speak for a while. I had thought the Emperor wanted Marcus to marry Ritaishi to produce a child which could inherit both the thrones of Surya and Bahamut. Ofcourse, how foolish of me to believe that. The Suryan Samrat isn't an idiot who would want to marry her daughter off to the Crown Prince of Bahamut. He'd want Marcus to step down from his position first. But Marcus was still egar to do it. To follow Emperor's order word by word. Even if it meant losing his status of Crown Prince to his little sister. Even if it meant he would have to leave Bahamut and go live in a foreign country.
"Had Hira not married you," The Empress sighed, "Marcus wouldn't have to persue this ridiculous marriage. Anyways, keep poisoning the Gupta Princess' ears about this marriage so that she never gives in to any pressure. In return, I'll help you with your little investigation," she said handing me an envelope that she fished out of her long sleeved dress. It was a very small brown envelope with the Royal Seal embedded on it, "This earns you free entry and exit in the Police Department and Prima's Central Jail. All the officials appointed there will aid you with anything you want if you show them this envelope ."
"And why will I want to go there in person? I can ask someone visit those places for me," I laughed a dry laugh.
"My people informed me you were looking through the personal informations of your abducters but you haven't actually enquired them in person," she wrinkled her nose, "You were too embarassed to ask my son for a Royal Pass to order around the Security Sector as you will like. Without a Royal Pass from any of the Lazars you're practically as powerful as a private detective with only a bit of money."
She was right. Had Hira been around this wouldn't have been an issue since she could just give me a Royal Pass. At the end of the day, I'm a foreigner who had been in Bahamut for only a couple of years. No matter how important is my position is, I do not hold any actual power or influence. The Emperor of Bahamut made it that way. I am never to be considered a true Lazar. My position was as fancy as that of a respected guest of the Nation at best.
The Empress threw the brown envelope on my bed and left, "Well then, have a good evening." I bowed but couldn't say anything back. What she had gifted was truly a desirable thing. But it also hurt my pride to utilise it because after all it was from the Empress. Hence, whenever I'd use the Pass in the future she would know about my dealings.
I was frowning at the envelope so hard I hadn't noticed Javis sneaking back inside the room. "We can do brood sitting around a bonfire some other time," he consoled me and pointed at the envelope, "That looks important."
"That is a Royal Pass," I said, "I can decide when to make it important."
"Master," Havard hushed.
I sighed, "Fine, call a chauffeur, preferably someone who doesn't wanna kidnap me," I grabbed Javis' shoulder, "You should tell Javis to wait for me in my private garden, ask the maids, they'll help you to set up the bonfire. I'll back in a breath."