Not My Sins

"May we see your pass?" Some of the Palace guards ordered making the carriage stop abruptly, the guards explained further. "No one is allowed to enter into the Palace unless we have confirmed their identity."

"What do you mean?" Arcane, one of the ducal guards, Elias's most trusted solder asked curiously. He got off his horse and walked towards them. "Do you not recognize the Heraldry of the carriage that is about to pass?"

"The orders are the confirm the identity of the carriages," The Palace guards remained their ground, refusing to yield to the pressure of Arcane who is possibly their senior. "The Carriages shall not pass unless the conditions have been met."

Arcane let out a frustrated sigh, this was the first time they had to face such an embarrassment but it could probably be because the guards were new and they didn't know.

"The carriage belongs to the Duke of Elderslot," he declared his eyebrows furrowed together, their faces didn't hold much of a surprise since they knew his insignia. "Do you know what the emperor would do if he found out you disrespect the Duke?"

 They still refused to move away, in defeat, he had to walk towards the carriage, and he knocked on the coach door.

"My lord," he greeted first, from the slightly transparent curtains he could see the Silhouette of the Duke reading a piece of paper. "The guards have refused us entry."

"Did you not inform them of my meeting with the Emperor?" Duke Elias muttered as he flipped the pages in between his fingers to the next page. "Why are they still adamant?"

"It seems like a newly enforced law, they demand they inspect the carriage."

A small smirk tugged at the lips of the Duke, could this be the way the Emperor wanted to fight back?

He seemed like a weak and incompetent king, but now he was baring his fang...

It's quite interesting.

It wouldn't hurt to play along with it.

"A physical screening would do, right?" he asked curiously and Arcane nodded his head.

"I believe that would be most efficient."

"Duke Elias..." The Emperor of Aubreun, Emperor Ra'ail Mazim II Aubreun acknowledged with a hearty smile on his face. "...I have been waiting for you."

The Emperor revealed a set of pebble white teeth, smiling sheepishly, the golden hair of the Emperor glistened in the sunlight, it shone even brightly as he descended the throne.

 Elias returned the energy as he suspected that the king was trying to pretend.

"The new guards don't seem to recognize my Heraldry hence the cause of my lateness." He bowed slightly to show his respect. "I apologize for wasting your time, Your Majesty."

The smirk remained on the emperor's face as he arched further towards Duke Elias.

"I apologize, my good friend," he muttered. "Times are changing and everything that is done is a measure to protect the future Crowned Prince of the empire, I hope you understand."

"Is that the reason why you summoned me, Your Majesty?" 

 Elias's eyes widened in surprise almost immediately, this was the first time the king had addressed his other prince as the crowned prince... what could this mean?

"Yes, it is." He stroked his golden beard slightly as he walked the Duke towards the outer space of the royal court. "After so much deliberation, it pains my heart that I have to say goodbye to my son Reynold this way."

"It is indeed a tragedy," The Duke shook his head gravely, though he couldn't ever relate to what it feels like to lose a child. "However, the welfare of the people comes first."

 The Emperor nodded gravely again, he proceeded to enter the garden of the sun, the biggest and the most beautiful garden in the Palace. On rainy afternoons and breezy evenings, anyone could find the Emperor strolling along the garden. As he usually strolls with his beloved wife.

 He gifted the garden to his late wife and the first Empress, Empress Roxanna Lena I, even though their marriage was arranged by the former emperor, he loved her with all his heart, until the time she died. Even though he had other wives in his harem, no one was able to get the reins of his heart.

"I know that much." He muttered with a slight smug hanging on his lips, memories of his beloved wife flowing into him. "That's why I'm preparing for the coronation of Prince Aryan, I believe I have left the position vacant for too long."

Duke Elias noticed the king's sadness, and in times like this, he knew the king needed a friend more than a Duke. He pats the Emperor's shoulder and smiles lightly.

"It's not your fault, Your Majesty." He started. "You did everything you could for Crown Prince Reynold."

"It wasn't enough." He grimaced as he recalled the incident. "How am I supposed to face my wife when I finally die? I promised her that I would protect him."

"That is why you should make haste, so you can protect Prince Aryan." He advised, the emperor nodded his head. After all, it would become truly tragic if he lost two of his sons. "I will make necessary preparations, Your Majesty."

"You're the only one I trust," The Emperor assured him once more and Duke Elias forced a tight smile. "Please help me protect the prince."

"I swear on my honor, Your Majesty." He bowed again before leaving to perform the orders of the Emperor.

"Brother?" The Duke was about to leave the inner Palace when he heard the familiar voice of his cousin.

He hadn't seen her in a while, it wasn't as if he had missed her or the sort.

But it had been so long.

He had been so busy with ducal duties, but it was for the best they met like this.

"Your Majesty," he paid his respect by bowing his head to her first before walking up to the overly dressed young woman.

 Just like him, she had bright red hair, and sky-blue eyes to compliment. She was adorned in all the fine gold of the empire, some of the jewelers belonging to the first Empress. Her servants and the royal guards that guarded her stood at a safe distance, allowing her enough privacy to talk to her brother.

"Have you heard the news?" She asked him curiously, her eyebrows shooting up happily. "His Majesty would finally crown Aryan as his successor."

Even though the Empress seemed quite excited the Duke remained unfazed.

"How should that be a call for celebration?" he muttered uninterested. "You were unable to fulfill your duties as Empress yet you seem so joyous about just the announcement."

The smile on her face wears off, her happiness seeped out of her as fast as they came.

"You are unable to claim the Emperor's heart as yours, what was your use if you're just going to let me do all the work?" His cold words cut through her like daggers, tears well up in her eyes. "The only reason why the Emperor is planning for a Coronation ceremony is because I pressured him. How long do you think I have been trying to convince him?"

"It's not my fault the Emperor is so hung up on a dead woman."

Elias's lips curved in a smirk.

"It's your fault a dead woman seems to have more relevance than you." He tucked the uneven strands of her hair behind her ears. "You couldn't even bear the Emperor a pure-blooded Aubreun."

Her eyes widened in realization, but she clenched her jaw tightly.

"Do you think I would never find out?" he grabbed her arms tightly, dragging her away towards the pillars.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She denied it, and even though her voice seemed to shake, she tried to remain confident. "Are you doubting my credibility?"

"How long do you think you can deny it to my face, Vermil?" His grip tightened against her and she shivered. "Then how do you explain the unusual purchase of hair dye? I have reports that you always purchase a specific hair dye at the end of every week."

Her eyes widened, and she was even more surprised; she knew about her brother's influence but she didn't know he could also infiltrate her quarters in the Palace.

"Do you have a fly in my Palace?" There was no way he could have known about her hair dye purchase. "Answer me, do you have eyes in my Palace?"

"I pray you keep the identity of that man a secret." He threatened. "If I find him, I will kill him and it wouldn't be too long until I figure him out."

"Brother..." He interrupted her sharply. "You don't understand."

"If the Emperor ever finds out Aryan isn't his son, I will personally behead you. I will not allow you to ruin all my efforts," He straightened himself. "You know how hard I worked to make you into what you are now, don't you ever forget that."

Silence engulfs them and the Duke clears his throat.

"Please have a nice day, Empress Vermil."