The carriage stopped in front of the entrance of the Queen’s Palace and I got down. The light breeze made my black coat wave a little and I looked once at Lyall whose eyes seed to have grown sharper.
"Stay with the carriage, I’ll be back soon." I spoke.
The reluctance of letting go alone was clear on his face but he bowed obediently regardless. William Duphrey, the sa guy who had received years ago when I ca to this place was there again to greet . This ti, his hair seed to have more greys.
"How are you, Mr. William Duphrey? It’s been a long ti." I said and he looked taken aback as I recalled his na.
"I-I am well, Your Excellency." He responded and I smiled.
"Please lead the way." I gestured and he nodded before he turned and started walking.
"I-It’s quite surprising that you still rember my na, Your Excellency." He spoke as we walked through the long corridor.
I chuckled, "Well, it is my business to rember things about people,"
He smiled a bit before he stopped in front of the large double doors and opened them gesturing in.
"Please have a seat, Her Majesty will see you in a bit." He said with a bow and then left.
I looked around the parlor where I had been last ti and then walked over taking a seat on the comfy armchair with my legs crossed one over the other.
The doors opened again and a maid walked in walking over to with a tray of tea and refreshnts. Her orange hair was tied back in a bun and her green eyes lowered.
She walked up to with precise quiet steps and placed the tray down on the table in front of .
"It’s been a while, Rita. How’s work?" I asked and the maid without lifting her gaze responded.
"Everything is well, Master. Nobody doubts ."
"What about others?" I asked.
"They are doing well, Miss Keira is the lady-in-waiting for the Princess now so, you will get even more information regarding the Princess."
"I heard the Queen has given the Princess the responsibility to arrange her own debutante to overshadow the Peace Celebration." I spoke and she handed the cup and saucer.
"The Princess is already planning it but only Miss Keira could give you the deeper intel. I’m sorry, Master. "She said and I smiled as I sipped the perfectly brewed tea.
"It’s fine, you’re already doing a great job here." I said and she bowed.
Suddenly the doors opened and Rita stood back up and walked away. I placed the cup down and rose to my feet watching the Golden Serpent aka Queen Katherine Issilus Jen Marismus entering. She had a deep green dress on with the yellow sapphire ornants glinting over her body.
I pushed down my Dragon’s instincts as I kneeled before her.
"Glory to the kingdom of Sestia, I, Marquis Ocean Ryujin greets the Moon of the kingdom." I spoke not letting even a shred of my disgust show.
She looked down at for a beat before she spoke, "Rise, Marquis Ryujin."
I straightened back up and watched her as she walked over and took a seat on the couch while, my eyes briefly t Countless Villis who gave a neutral gaze before I took my seat on the armchair watching the Golden Serpent.
Her previous Lady-in-waiting Countess Mariott Belvet had died around the sa ti that Viscount Jordan was executed. The report said that she t with a carriage accident but I knew better. The King had gotten rid of her and I knew this woman might know about it as well but she was probably bidding her ti for more information.
"It’s been a while, Your Majesty since we last t but it seems like ti has stopped your beauty." I spoke with a smile.
A small smile graced her features, deepening the wrinkles around her eyes and her mouth.
"How are you, Marquis?" She asked.
"I’m well, thanks to your Majesty." I said and she picked up the tea which was brewed for her, her eyes stayed fixated on as I did the sa.
She didn’t say anything for a while and even I let the silence stretch waiting for her to speak.
"I heard your Foundation is spreading quite far and wide." She started.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And that you don’t let just anyone to get their shares in it." She prompted and I smiled.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I wish to buy so shares in your Foundation, will you still disagree?" She asked with a small smirk and I couldn’t help but feel like laughing.
The Foundation was untouchable by the royals and I had made sure to get that thing down on the first step of starting the Foundation.
"I apologise but that’s impossible, Your Majesty." I said.
"Are you refusing , Marquis?" She asked with her green eyes going sharp.
"There is a clause that ntions that the royals family could not have any shares or a any authority in the business of the Oasis Foundation," I announced and her eyebrows furrowed.
"When the proposal to open the Foundation was presented before His Majesty, he had gone through all the clauses and allowed it. I have the Imperial seal over it, Your Majesty so, I couldn’t break this rule even for you." I spoke smoothly with the false regret in my voice, placing my hand over my heart.
She looked pissed for a mont before she controlled her reaction and spoke up, "I know you have various other businesses besides the Foundation, Marquis Ryujin. You don’t need to pretend that whatever you are doing is purely for the good of the people."
I kept my smile intact just to unnerve her, "I understand, Your Majesty. But unlike Your Majesties who are the most perfect people in the kingdom and only think about the good of the people. I’m a re businessman, I will always look for my gains along with others."
[Goddess of Wisdom has shared her popcorn with Defender of Divine Glory and Giver of Gifts.]
These guys sure had a good show, well, why not give them so more?
"I hope you might have the information about whatever has been going regarding the Peace Treaty and how Prince Carlos was humiliated not only by the Crown Prince of Denril but by Prince Eric." She spoke and I placed my empty teacup down.
"Yes, I have the complete information regarding that matter." I answered.
"Then, you must also know how barbaric Prince Eric and the Crown Prince of Denril are." She prompted and I observed her.
"I fail to understand, Your Majesty. What might you be trying to say?" I asked.
She gritted her teeth for a mont before she inhaled and exhaled bringing her kerchief up to her nose, "It’s such a sha that the kind-hearted Prince who could protect the kingdom was brushed aside by brute force. Don’t you think it is an insult for the royal family of Sestia?"
I suppressed my smirk as I understood her point and I decided to play along, "Yes, indeed, Your Majesty."
Her eyes sparkled as she said, "Then you also believe that Prince Eric is unfit to be the ruler and the kingdom needs a just and kind-hearted King?"
She was literally trying to put the words into mouth and it was almost comical.
"I believe that the kingdom needs a kind-hearted and just King, Your Majesty." I said and she smiled.
"Then, I wish for your assistance, Marquis." She said and I tilted my head ever so slightly.
"How do you wish for to assist you, Your Majesty?" I asked.
I wouldn’t say it for her, she would have to voice her dirty thoughts with her own mouth.
"It’s not who you should assist, Marquis. It is Prince Carlos. After returning from the borders he’s been really disheartened that he wasn’t even invited to Denril."
I almost clapped at her obnoxious demand and let her continue.
"He needs strong assistance and I deem that you are worthy of fulfilling that role. So, I want you to support Prince Carlos with all of your power." She commanded and my blood sizzled.
[Giver of Gifts wonders what you will say now.]
[Goddess of Wisdom cheers for you to beat her at her own ga.]
[Defender of Divine Glory asks you to not use violence.]
"Just what do you guys think of ?" I thought and then added with a small smirk, "I just make her swallow her teeth."
"Wouldn’t it be unfair for to be a suporter for Prince Carlos while Prince Eric is currently rising to power?" I asked and her eyebrows twitched
"Do you an whatever they did with Prince Carlos was fair?" She asked through her teeth.
I placed my hands over my thighs as I maintained a relaxed posture, "I believe the sources said that Prince Eric and Prince Carlos both fought against Crown Prince Arian of Denril in the duel which Prince Carlos lost and Prince Eric won."
Her face darkened, "That’s all a lie, Prince Eric conspired against Sestia to get the throne."
I smiled, "Your Majesty, Prince Eric hasn’t even been announced as the Crown Prince so, is there any reason why you are so worried?"
The air around us froze and I could feel her trying to suffocate using her power but it wasn’t having any effect considering her level was way below mine.
Her eyebrows furrowed and her lips turned downwards in a frown as she noticed still sitting leisurely.
"You dare refuse my command," she gritted through her teeth and I sighed.
"I am a businessman, Your Majesty. I will never do sothing that would bring losses-"
"Are you saying supporting Prince Carlos will bring you losses?!" She almost shouted slamming her hand over the table.
I was unfazed as I sighed again and looked at her with a sympathetic smile.
"I didn’t say that supporting Prince Carlos would bring losses, but getting involved in the royal family politics ans that I won’t step out of this unscathed and I don’t want to take that kind of risk unless I’ve made sure that I’m investing in the right Prince." I spoke in the calm and composed tone.
"If you wish for your business to run smoothly then you will know that it’s the best for you to follow my orders." She threatened and I chuckled.
Her eyes widened as she saw laughing so blatantly.
"You dare laugh at !" She snarled.
"I’m not laughing at you, Your Majesty. Please don’t misunderstand and listen to my proposal first." I tried to calm her but she seed too pissed off at this mont.
The spell that she was using to suffocate was starting to go awry and I could see her two ladies-in-waiting having difficulty breathing.
"All right, I shall do as you say." I announced.
[Goddess of Wisdom shouts at you asking you to watch what you promise.]
[Defender of Divine Glory asks Goddess of Wisdom to calm down and watch.]
Katherine’s eyes narrowed a little and her spell seed to have dispersed as the two ladies relaxed a bit and the color slowly started returning to their pale faces.
"But, I have a condition."
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