บท 24: Framed
As they listened to Rosia's explanation, Augustus and Aelius went to fetch Caesar. Caesar arrived at the inner court a while later with Aeskyros with him. He had tried to shake him off but Aeskyros insisted on going with him.
"The Head doctor is here" someone announced from outside
Caesar came in with all confidence as all eyes were on him. Andrey went to welcome him and explained the situation to him. Caesar smirked, looking all confident. First, he went to the Emperor and bowed to pay him his greetings, then, he greeted the council of elders and the other prestigious individuals in the inner court.
"Chief dresser, what do you want me to do?" Caesar asked as he looked at the girl that was covered in red spots
"I want you to do what you do best in correspondence to providing that my dye solution is harmless. What is wrong with the girl? Treat her so that we may know" Andrey said. He was very confident in himself because Caesar was calm with the whole situation.
Caesar went to take a good look at the girl on the ground. Andrey had a look of contentment on his face. He looked at Zeen with a mischievous smile and found that Zeen was a bit distracted. Andrey the realized that Zeen was looking at Caesar.
'Oh no! I just exposed my friend to this evil fiend! I walked Caesar right to him! What to do?!' the smile on Andrey's face disappeared and he went to cover Caesar's body with his to prevent Zeen from looking at him.
"Do you want me to treat her or give her a chance to come clean?" Caesar said with an indifferent look on his face
"What do you mean?" The Emperor asked
"The girl's faking it. She's not suffering from any disease" Caesar told the council
Rosia panicked and quickly denied it. "How can she be faking it when her temperature is so high. And look, her body is stiffening! Head doctor, are you really a doctor?"
"If I wasn't, I wouldn't have been chosen by his majesty, the emperor, to be the head doctor. Are you saying that his majesty is unwise in his decisions?" Caesar bowed slightly as his head was tilted slightly to the side
'Caesar, you snake's Andrey thought
"I dare not say that your majesty" Rosia knelt down and bowed to the emperor. "Don't try to twist my words, Head doctor"
"I'm not trying to twist anything. It's simply what you implied. And yes, the girl has a temperature. Judging from the water dripping from under her dress" Caesar lifted up her dress. Everyone quickly closed their eyes and faced the other way.
Caesar scoffed at their foolishness. "Calm down everyone. Look at the truth. There's ice strapped under her dress. She's cold, that's why her body is hot and stiff"
They all gasped. Rosia's face turned pale as she was exposed. She turned to face Zeen, who was angry because Andrey was blocking Caesar from his view. Zeen quickly intervene when he saw the change of situation.
"Some girls love to stay ice under their dresses. For them, it's normal" Zeen said as he was still trying to get a look at Caesar
Andrey continues to block Caesar away from him. "I'm not a girl and even I know that's not true"
"It's unhealthy as it stops blood flow and freezes the blood" Caesar said
"And yet, you're not a girl. Besides, she has red spots on her body and we all know that is a sign of plague. It might be contagious" Zeen counterattacks
"If it was contagious, you would have contacted it by now" Andrey told him
"We don't know how long she's had it for" Zeen said
"I bet you'd know for sure" Andrey told him
Zeen moved closer with a threatening look. "What is that supposed to mean! You dare to speak to your future lord and emperor with such disrespect!"
General Lucas stood up to intervene but Pontius pulled him back
"My Lord is sitting up there and he's not getting replaced in THIS world. And, If someone like you becomes emperor, the citizens of great Rome will be in the state of unrest. Prince Pontius would make a better emperor than you. He has the wisdom and strong will his majesty. He would enlarge the Roman empire and lead us all to victory" Andrey said as he demoted the place of Zeen
Zeen was on the verge of attacking him when Caesar suddenly spoke. He had mixed some lotion on a white cloth and used it to clean the red spots on the arms of the girl.
"See everyone, this is paint. Someone is trying to defame the Chief dresser" he hands the cloth to Andrey. "I believe my work here is done. I'll leave first". He bowed to the emperor, then to the council of elders, and lastly to the prestigious individuals. Caesar walks out of the inner court with Zeen's eyes following him. He leaves with Aeskyros.
Andrey knelt down, acting all innocent and victimized. "Your majesty, please judge this matter with your intelligence. This girl here and Lady Rosia has framed me to have my ancestors' secret dye recipe that has been passed from generations to me. Don't let this stand, your majesty"
The girl knelt down and began to sob. Your majesty, please have mercy. The first prince bribed me into doing this. I'm in need of money and agreed. Please forgive me. I'll do anything" the girl pleaded
Andrey acts surprised and gasped. The entire court was filled with murmurs. Zeen quickly acts fast and defended himself.
"This girl is lying. I didn't bribe her. I don't even know her. I'm being framed by the Chief dresser"
"How am I the one framing you now. The girl confessed. The truth is undeniable. Even if you don't know this girl, your mistress, Rosia, most definitely knows her" Andrey said and gasps could be heard coming from every possible angle of the royal court
"Did you all not know that Rosia is the mistress that First prince has been trying to get my now hereditary position for? I said too much" Andrey smiles shyly. "Anyway, evidence is clear, the first prince and his mistress tried to frame me to get my now hereditary position. This should not stand, your majesty" Andrey bowed
Zeen kicked him in the leg and Andrey fell to the ground. "How dare you show such disrespect!"
General Lucas stood up once again but Pontius pulled him down one more time. "Calm down! He can protect himself. He has a very intriguing way with words" Pontius whispered as he tried to calm him down
Andrey whince in pain as he held his leg. "First prince, hurting an innocent man, who you framed, is too low even for yourself. Your majesty, you must find justice for me"
Zeen kicks at him, but before his kick could land, a slipper went flying at his face.
Pontius laughed silently and pat General Lucas. "That was very funny, I'll give you that"
General Lucas glared at him. "Wasn't me though. It was the emperor"
It was indeed the emperor. He was missing one slipper
"Enough Zeen! You've shown enough disrespect to the Chief dresser. Your actions are dubious and wicked. You are to be confined in walls for a week to resent on your actions. Lock his lady in the dungeon until further notice of execution"
Zeen was extremely furious. "Father, you'll confine me for a mere man? I am your son yet you're siding with this man! He's trying to frame me, don't you see?!"
"Two weeks! Meeting dismissed for today"
The emperor was escorted back to his chamber. The council of elders were all in shock by the actions of the first prince.
'Are we right to support his ascension to the throne?'
'We'll all suffer if that happens'
'He's a total fling and he frames people now? No no no. The empire we've spent out sweat and lives to build will fall if that happens'
'Third prince is a better choice now'
'He always has been'
'Good thing I attended the meeting today's
'Right? All the drama was pretty entertaining'
'I'll come all the time now'
'Yes me too. Let's inform the others too'
Andrey was satisfied with the comments he was hearing from the murmurs of the council of elders.
"Chief dresser! I'll kill you with my bare hands" Zeen threatened
"Do you possibly think I'll let you touch me with those shit you call hands? Go suck yourself!" Andrey said back as he gripped his leg that was hit and hurting.
Zeen was taken away by the emperor's personal guards. Finally, Pontius let go of General Lucas. He quickly picked Andrey up and hugged him.
"You're such a good prosecutor. You even won Pontius some favours, me and yourself too. Sorry I couldn't stand up for you. Pontius held me back"
"If I didn't, you would have gotten yourself and him killed. Father didn't even spare Zeen, his own son. Do you think he'll spare you?" Pontius walks towards them
"Now I want to kick him" Andrey said with a dead cold look on his face.
"Let's get you treated first"
Andrey stood on his own. "I'm fine, it's just acting. I'll go home instead. I need to finish my sleep" Andrey walked out of the inner court as General Lucas followed closely behind him. He went to the stable to collect his horse
"You look nice with silver hair. Makes you look cute and hot and sexy" General Lucas grabbed him from the back and kissed his neck.
"Hey, stop that" Andrey shrugged him off
"Why should I? You've been seducing me all day today. I can't hold it anymore" General Lucas held him tightly so that he wouldn't escape again.
Andrey could feel something poking his back. 'Don't tell me he got a hard on! I'm not even doing anything. It's so hot it's driving me crazy'. "Still, get off me". 'I won't give in that easily'
"Let's do it. Right here" General Lucas kissed his neck
"Are you insane? Someone might come in"
"I'll go lock the door" General walked to the door
'Horny bastard'. Andrey rests on the wall. "Ouch, my leg!"
General Lucas went running to him. "What's wrong?"
"My leg. It's hurting again" he stands on one leg and held the other leg with his hand
"Wrong leg, Andrey" General Lucas said with an indifferent look
Andrey saw that he was holding the wrong leg. He quickly lied to cover up. "No, this one really hurts. It's been stinging since this morning. I was in a rush to rub the anti sting lotion on it. Help me get on my horse"
General Lucas knew he was lying but he helped him get on the horse anyway. Andrey rode off with General Lucas beside him on his horse, and soldiers Augustus and Aelius riding behind them.
"I see you've dyed your horse with your hair. Suits you"
"Stop acting sinister"
"You're gorgeous" General Lucas blew him a kiss
"It doesn't sound special coming from you" Andrey teased
"Why? Does someone else call you that?" General Lucas was a bit in rage
"Maybe, maybe not?" Andrey went ahead of him
"Wait! Come back. Who is it? I'll have their head!" General Lucas went after him
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