Chapter 6: The courtroom
Gustav exited the adviser's area to go back into the castle. The castle gate crossed, he went straight to the courtroom, located on the second floor of the castle. To do so, he had to go back to the lobby, climb a set of stairs and cross a wide but short hallway.
Two guards were standing in front of the door to the courtroom.
"Who comes to his majesty, the emperor, court?" asked the guards located on the left of the door. The guard obviously recognized the fourth prince but etiquette wants what etiquette wants.
"It is I, Gustav van Enid, fourth prince of the empire"
"And for what reason are you coming to the courtroom, my prince?" asked the same guard, while he and the other guard slightly bowed to Gustav, showing both the respect, that Gustav's rank deserves, and the slight disdain that they hold Gustav in.
"I do not know the reason. I only know that my father, your emperor, has summoned me" answered Gustav. "And as you know, a summon from the emperor is an absolute order than one must obey."
"I will let the seneschal know of your arrival, my prince," said the second guard, leaving his post.
A few minutes later, the guard came back to his post. "The seneschal went to inform the emperor of your arrival. I was tasked to ask you to wait, my prince."
"Well, your task has been accomplished guard" answered Gustav, a slight smile showing at the corner of his lips.
Gustav had to wait for about an hour. During this period of time, Gustav took a closer look at the guard. None of those were very tall but they were built as bulls, with a thick neck and thick arms, so thick that their arms were as big as Gustav's thigh. Bored from waiting and standing straight, Gustav went near the wall of the hallway to sit on the ground, his back resting on the wall.
"He doesn't even have the mentality of a prince. How does he dare sully his rank by sitting on the floor? " thought the two guards.
Finally, the door opened and trumpets started to sing.
Hearing the noise, Gustav stood up and directed his step towards the courtroom.
"Sitting as always, my prince?" asked the seneschal before adding with a loud and clear voice "His Majesty the fourth prince, Gustav van Enid enters the courtroom."
Unlike Gustav's expectations, the courtroom was not empty. On the left side were, standing straight, some of the most influential individuals of the empire, generals, mages, and ministers. And on the right side were some members of the imperial family, Gustav's big brother, Fallon, the second prince, as well as the princess, Mallory, only daughter of the emperor and jewel of the crown. Unlike those unexpected bystanders, the emperor was not yet present in the courtroom.
Gustav kept walking until he reached the other members of the imperial family, which he saluted. The salute he gave to his sister being much warmer than the one he gave to his brother. He, then, saluted the generals, mages, and ministers, respecting the court etiquette which wants that first the members of the imperial family must be saluted, followed by the court advisers. Gustav was then bowed to by the officials.
Gustav looked at his sister, a fond look in his eyes. Mallory, just as Gustav, would soon turn sixteen and undergo the awakening ceremony next week. Mallory was a slender, young beauty. She had silver-grey eyes, a common physical trait among the imperial family, long black hair and a thin waist. She looked back at her brother with the same look in her eyes. The two siblings always got along well. Gustav and Mallory taking at the turn, the defense of the other one in front of the other family member, especially when facing Fallon. However, unlike Gustav, Mallory was a pure blooded imperial, her mother being the second and last wife of the emperor.
The cold Fallon, a tall and thin man, looked at the two siblings with ice in his eyes. He always hated Gustav, the bastard. And while Mallory was, just like him, a pureblood, seeing her always reminded him of the shame his mother had to bear.
"His Majesty, Hector van Enid emperor of the Alst Empire, enters the courtroom" exclaimed the seneschal.
At those words, the three siblings bowed at the same time to their father, their left fist hitting their heart, while the officials kneeled, with one knee on the floor.
"All rise," said the emperor, once he sat down on his throne.
Gustav took a deep look at his father, a man he only once in a while. Hector van Enid had deep grey eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. Just as most of his children, his hair were black, a deep black with some blueish shades in them. He was neither fat nor thin but a wild energy could be perceived from his body, even at the age of fifty-eight.
"You may wonder the reason for your summon my children" started the emperor. "Well, it is very simple. As you know, in a week from now the awakening ceremony will be held, here in this very courtroom. And while in the past such ceremony did not hold much importance in our eyes, that was in the past. The times are changing and great tumult awaits. The flow of history is coming and if we are not careful, the empire could be taken into its abyss. Troubles are arising on our borders. The recluses from the Archipelago are becoming more and more agitated. As for the Bain continent, well, the drums of war will soon be ringing between the various kingdoms and empires within.
"As such, next week ceremony holds much importance to us, the emperor and to our nation."
"My daughter," said the emperor.
"Yes father"
"How are your feelings regarding the ceremony? What are your expectations?"
"My feelings are positives father. I do not dread the ceremony nor do I fear the failure to awaken.
"Haha, that's my daughter," said the emperor, his eyes, and face full of smiles. "What about you, my son?"
"While I do not fear the ceremony, I do not know whether I will be successful or not, father. As you know, one can never truly know if one is going to awaken or not prior to undergoing the ceremony. Of course, our family legacy and the fact that no descendant of our line failed to awaken, an exception is always possible" responded Gustav.
"Especially when one is not of pure bloodline" added shrewdly Fallon.
"Your turn has not come yet Fallon, my son, even you are right." "What you are saying is also correct Gustav. But never forget that your bear my name and as such, you must be confident of your success not for yourself, but for me, your father. I will not suffer from any disappointment. Am I clear?" asked the emperor, his tone cold.
"I will do my best, my emperor" answer Gustav, his tone as cold as the one from his father. "Even though I have no mean to control the uncontrollable" he added in his mind.
"How dare you speak with such a tone to our imperial father?" exclaimed Fallon. "You bastard, son of a vulgar concubine, nothing more than a whore to our bloodline and family"
"Fallon! You better watch your tongue or you might never wake up to use it again! I will not suffer from any disrespect directed at my mother! Especially not from someone whose sole accomplishment in his twenty years of existence had been to be born from a noble bloodline." Retorted a furious Gustav.
"SILENCE!" "The both of you better hold yourself properly in my presence and in the presence of the imperial advisers. Do not throw the face of the emperor away" exclaimed the emperor.
"Yes, father"
"My apologies, father"
"Mallory, Gustav, the two of you have been told what was to be said, you may go now"
"Yes, father!" said the two siblings at the same time.
"The rest of you stay behind," said the emperor.
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