章節 23: Evil schemes
Few weeks have passed and Andrey has gotten used to his job. Although he didn't teach them how to make the dye solution, he taught the dressers in the palace how to make good fabrics with cotton and dye them to make them beautiful. He recruited people to make the fabrics while the others will make the clothing. He didn't think it was going to be so stressful since they use machines to make clothes back at home and he sold one of the most popularly used machines around the whole world.
Of course, he was successful in teaching his underlings the best ways to make clothes. The emperor himself was impressed by his work and soon enough, he became popular throughout the entire Roman empire. Although, not many has seen his face, but there was no one who didn't know his name and his position in the palace. All this only added fuel to Zeen's anger because his mistress has been pestering him to get the position for her.
When he wasn't working, he would go and visit Derrick in the East wing and most of the time, Derrick would come to visit him, mainly for the purpose of taking some clothes along, but he visits anyway.
Caesar also didn't miss a chance to look good. After he and Andrey made up, he would oftentimes visit Andrey as well and help him relieve stress in exchange for his latest fashion.
Andrey was sleeping at home on his day off when he got the message to come to the palace early.
"Why am I being called to the palace? The emperor gave me a day off personally" Andrey asked the palace guard
"I was only asked to deliver this message" the palace guard informed
Andrey felt there was something fishy. Why would the emperor suddenly send for him after giving him a day off personally? Andrey moved closer to the palace guard. He looks around to make sure no one would hear them.
"Maximus, I know you know why I'm being sent for. Just tell me, I promise I won't tell anyone" Andrey whispers as he tries to get information from him
"I was only sent to deliver the message" the palace guard said
Andrey shush him because he was speaking a little too loud. "Maximus! Don't forget you also ask favours from me! Don't forget I sell your wife beautiful clothes at a reasonable discount because you asked me to, hm? Just tell me, no one has to know" Andrey whispers again
"You promise not to get me in trouble. Chief dresser, if words get out that I'm the one who told you, I'll get my revenge" The palace guard gave in and whispers back
"I promise you this! Now tell me! I'll give your wife more clothes at a better discount" Andrey negotiated
"In that case, I'll tell you what I know" he pulls Andrey to a corner. "You know, yesterday, the emperor and first prince, Zeen had an argument. This argument led to the emperor's heart seizure acting up. Thankfully, the imperial physician was there in time to get him out of the situation. All of the most important people are in the palace now"
"Oh, that's why I couldn't find General Lucas this morning" Andrey said with a thought
"Hm! That's why I think, the emperor didn't send any message. First prince, Zeen came to me this morning and asked me to tell you that the emperor asked him to tell me to tell you to come to the palace. Wait, that doesn't make sense! He was the one who told me that the emperor has sent for you to come to the palace. He said I shouldn't convey more than I should so please keep your promise"
"Maximus, you've done me a great favour. I swear on our lives that I'll protect you from this. I know Zeen has been plotting against me ever since I got the title of Chief dresser for the emperor. Now I know what to do! Tell "the emperor" that I'll be in the palace" Andrey told him.
"I'll be on my way then" Maximus said and Andrey nodded. Maximus mounted his horse and left the manor
Andrey went into his own room. "I haven't been here in a while". He looks around the room for a while. He looked at one of the walls that was empty. He felt it wasn't right. "I think I've seen a portrait here before".
Andrey shrugged off the thought. He reached under the bed and took out a box. He opened the box and opened the blanket that was keeping his clothes safe from dusts. There was a hat, a pair of shorts and a cropped shirt. His make up and spray was also on the side.
He dye his hair white, took a shower and dress himself up. He then went to the stable and brought out his most beautiful horse. The horse was gifted to him by the emperor for his hard work as the Chief dresser. The horse had natural, long, white hair, but Andrey dye it's hair in rainbow colors to celebrate the pride month and it was gorgeous.
Andrey put on his long jacket, his hat an mounted the horse. He left the mansion with two soldiers behind him, whom General Lucas has threatened and commanded to never let Andrey leave the house alone or else he'll have their heads.
Andrey was almost unrecognizable with his white hair. Although the white hair made him look beautiful and lovable, people thought he was an old man who aged well.
Andrey got to the palace and it was crowded as usual. Everyone was greeting him, left and right, front and back, up and down. He could see Caesar and Aeskyros walking in a distance and engaging in a conversation.
"Caesar!" Andrey called out. He went closer to them and Aeskyros greeted him.
"My lord"
Andrey looks him up and down. "Aeskyros, you've grown... bigger. Caesar, what have you been feeding him?"
"I see you've dye your hair. This is the Andrey I used to know. Why are you dressed up today?" Caesar asked
"What do you mean? I always dress up. You know I love to look good" Andrey said as he wore his summer hat properly
"Today's dressing is different. Tell me, who are you here to seduce?"
"General Lucas didn't come home last night. I'm going to make him suffer. I'm going to meet the emperor, I was told he sent for me so I'll have to talk to you later. And whatever you're feeding Kyros, make it a hourly dose. He's looking good" Andrey said and he could see Aeskyros's face burn up
"It's not what you think" Caesar defended himself
"Okay" Andrey laughed and went away. The soldiers followed him to the North wing where a palace guard came to get him.
Andrey was taken to the inner court where the emperor was. Matters concerning the palace were discussed in the inner court and other trivial matters. His soldiers stayed outside and waited.
Andrey could see many people in the inner court. 'Zeen, what do you have planned for me today? You seem to have plotted well. Huu, the emperor is here, Amelia, the fourth princess is here, Pontius , General Lucas. And why the fuck is he glaring angrily at me! Creepy! I see Zeen is also here and the council of elders too. You must have spent so long setting this plan, hm?' he thought to himself
Andrey bows to the inner court. "Your majesty, you sent for me"
"I didn't send for you" the emperor said with a faint voice and a tired look on his face
"See, father! This man purposely intrudes on our very important gathering. He lacks such little manners. Is this the man you chose to be the Chief dresser?" 'Zeen came out.
Andrey had the most innocent look and meek smile on his face. "And I suppose you should've been chosen! Your majesty, I would like to defend myself" Andrey requested with a respectful bow
"Thank you, your majesty. Council of elders, everyone, I woke up this morning with the knock of a soldier on my door" Andrey started and General Lucas stiffen where he sat
"The soldier said there was a palace guard downstairs waiting for me with a message from the emperor. Then I began to think, the emperor himself told me personally yesterday not to come to the palace today. He said I should use today to relax and ease up from all the work I've been doing" Andrey said and the emperor nodded in confirmation
"So, that's how I went downstairs to receive the message. I saw that the messenger was truly a palace guard because the helmet of the palace guards was on his head. Then the guard told me that the emperor has sent him to call me out of my day off to the palace. From everything I've said, it can now be proven that the emperor didn't ask me to come to the palace, it was someone else. And who is this person? Let's all reason together to find them because I also want to know the person who knew that there was a hearing today and decided so early in the morning to call me in and frame me for what I knew nothing about" Andrey concluded as he looked as Zeen
"I didn't call you in. Stop looking at me" Zeen said
"First prince, I never said you did. I'm also asking you to reason with me" Andrey moved closer slowly, making General Lucas stiffen more in his seat. He was gripping Pontius' shoulder tightly
"Who is the person who objected his Majesty's decision when I was made the Chief dresser because he wanted the position for his mistress who kept pestering him for it? Who is the person making evil schemes against me, that sabotages each and every one of my work just to get me relieved from my position? This person is the person that antagonizes me in the palace. He's the person who makes things hard for me. He's the reason why his majesty gave me a day off from work. He's also the reason why I'm here today in front of the council of elders and the royal family. He is the first prince" Andrey concluded
Zeen was getting angry. "This is too much accusation for one person. Chief dresser must have conive with the General to frame me in court for such a trivial matter and make me lose face"
Andrey acts surprised. "Oh? But, my lord has been in the palace all this time. And he didn't even come home last night. I was alone in the manor" he glare at General Lucas as he made emphasis with a smile on his face. "How could I have possibly planned anything when the messenger came to my house this morning?"
"How dare you try to frame me, you pest?! You must be a bastard of your mother, insulting a prince in this way" Zeen got angry and tried to cover for himself
Andrey acts scared and began to whimper. He kneels and bend his head to the ground. "Your highness , I know you've always hated me to the guts, but it is too much too insult my mother" Andrey raise up his head and looks at the emperor. "Your majesty, not having enemies is better than holding a position in grief. I don't want to get plotted against anymore. If it means the first prince will no longer bother me, then I'll leave my post for his mistress" he bend his head again. "Your majesty"
There was a huge grin on Zeen's face. The emperor saw that Zeen was happy with Andrey's decision and realized that Zeen has been giving Andrey too much of a hard time. He then made a declaration.
"From now on, the position of Chief dresser will remain in Andrey's household. No one has the right to change this law, including myself. Chief dresser is now a hereditary position" The emperor declared and the inner court was filled with murmur.
The council of elders tried to reason with the emperor but the emperor shut them all up saying, "If this young man can make such progress with clothing, his lineage should be able to do better". A smile lit up General Lucas's face and he relaxed. Andrey thanked the emperor and stood up
"Father, this is not right. Andrey will die without a child. He's the General's mistress" Zeen said angrily
"I can have a child if I want to. Besides, General Lucas is my household". Hearing that coming from Andrey was making him lose his composure. He felt he was going to die of happiness. Pontius just watched and made fun of him
Just then, a young lady came in with another girl covered in red spots. Seeing this Zeen's face lit up. Andrey knew it was going to be bad with Zeen smiling like that.
'What do you have planned now Zeen? I'm ready for whatever you throw at me. I'll catch and rub it right in your face'
The young lady knelt down in front of the council. "My name is Rosia of Rome. I am her to announce that this poor innocent girl is suffering from an unknown disease confirmed to be caused by the dye in this cloth"
Andrey smirks in victory. 'This little trick is what you got planned. Even this is not enough to take me down's
He knelt down beside the young lady. "Your majesty, I would like to defend myself"
"Go ahead. I hope you can find a good explanation for this" the emperor granted him permission
"Father, there is nothing to explain. He's endangering the lives of many people in the palace. Let him tell us what the dye is made from and how he makes it. Only then can we know if the dye is safe or not" Zeen intervene
'Oh, so that's what you're after? My secret dye recipe' Andrey scoffs. "My dye is a dye that can never be revealed to anyone how it's made. There's another way to prove that it's harmless" Andrey stands up and called out.
"Brother Augustus, Brother Aelius!". The two soldiers from earlier came inside the inner court. "Get the imperial physician". With that, the two soldiers left
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