I am eating lunch inside the garden. The weather is good and the day seems brighter, Michael does not want to kill my father. I was simply being hysterical. “What shall we have for dinner tonight?”
“The chef said he would make...” I listened as she listed off the dishes, meals in the palace were more extravagant than back home. Though the first meal had a large number of mushrooms, luckily that was the only case as I dislike mushrooms.
“Have you begun to settle in?”
“The servants... most are just fine.” I raise my eyebrows. Cecilia is the personal servant to the empress. Who would dare attack or mock her? “Some of them have some arrogance, it will merely take some time for them to have their ego shattered for their pride earns them the scorn of God.”
“Is that so? Do not hesitate to use any force necessary to ensure they comply.” I put the matter to the back of my mind. Today has been a rather shocking day, it started with the Emperor fainting due to over working himself.
I hadn’t realized that he had a sleep issue but it doesn’t surprise me. “My majesty, it... it seems the Emperor is up an about. Could you, perhaps, convince him to rest?” I look over to see Luca, he usually is by the Emperor’s side.
“Hm?” I look at Luca, not fully registering what he is saying. The Emperor was completely out cold just a while ago, he has hardly rested since he collapsed. There is no way he could be up and moving! “I will go check on the situation immediately.”
I get up and follow Luca to the study, how the hell could he survive if he treats himself with such blatant disregard for his own personal health? I See Matteo standing guard, the moment he notices me he smiles in response. “Watch out, he has been in a foul mood all day.”
I knock on the door. At first, I believe Michael hasn’t heard me but not long after doubt begins to set in my worry is absolved. I walk through the door to see him working on paperwork. “The doctor said that you should be resting.”
“I did.” He looks up to me and then back down to his paperwork. I simply sigh in my head. When the doctor had informed me to make sure the Emperor takes time to rest he hadn’t meant for Michael to take a small nap. I walk over to be next to Michael, it seems as if he is working on the ledgers, while I understand the numbers there is too much for me and I begin to get a headache looking at it.
“You should preserve the imperial body, come and join me for lunch.” I say extending my hand, Michael merely looks at it weirdly. I don’t know what he is thinking behind his beautiful red eyes, I wish to know more about him.
“Very well, I shall escort you to lunch.” While sleep would be preferable anything is better than doing work, which does make me wonder. I have never seen Michael do anything for leisure, he is always working.
We sit in complete silence eating lunch. I can see the tiredness in his entire being, he hasn’t been sleeping. It makes sense, I don’t remember the last time he came to bed. Most nights he spends in his study.
“You have a good relationship with mother.” I have found it odd but he will often seek mother out during celebrations and balls, even on our wedding. Though I guess it is a good sign he doesn’t hate both of my parents.
“She is a very pleasing person to be around.”
“That she is, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever met. I wish that I was half as beautiful as she is. She is also better at socializing than I am.” I spent too much time learning from my tutors rather than tea parties. The grass sways as the wind blows giving way to a beautiful picture.
Suddenly Michael leans his head onto my shoulder. I almost jump back in shock because of this sudden touch. It is not common for us to meet out in public and even less common for him to touch me in public. I feel waves of embarrassment begin to spill forth.
“Don’t move, I am tired and want to rest.” Michael commands and I completely stop and obey his command to the letter. I listen to his breathing. It is deep and rhythmic. Suddenly I feel myself dozing off to the soothing sound.
I refocus myself and begin looking at the Arrian Flag out in the distance. The double-headed eagle, the crown, and the strips. It evokes a feeling of nationalism that makes me smile. Out of every country in the world I was born to Arria, it is my home and nation.
“You are prettier than your mother.” Michael whispers into my ear. I look over to see him still resting but judging based on his breathing he has woken up. He must not be a deep sleeper if he can doze off and wake up again.
“I’m prettier?”
“Do you question me?”
“N-no, of course not.” He opens his eyes slightly before closing them again, within seconds he is asleep again. I touch his hair, it is soft. What an amazing world it would be if he loved me rather than hated me. He hasn’t disrespected me but that was a long way from love. And while he hasn’t been loving he has never been cruel.
I shouldn’t have doubted his intentions towards my father, despite his hatred Michael is a wise and benevolent ruler. Arria will prosper under him. He will do his duty to his country and I will do mine as well, to him.
A/N: At your guys request I have changed some political stuff about Arria(You guys didn't request it but you did bring up issues and I decided to fix them). The Arrian court is vastly improved but still has the Autocratic vibe that I am looking for. That means I have changed Day of Triumph as the chapter delved a tad bit into Arrian Politics. The previous system had everything decided by the emperor with the court merely giving advice. The new court system gives more power to the nobles of Arria as they are the ones who actually decide on matters but keeps Michael as the absolute ruler, his word is final. I hope this is much more realistic and doesn't break the immersion I am trying so hard to build.
Loving it so far, keep up the good work. Realistic politics for the win! Thanks for the chapter.
I am glad, I was looking at things and I am trying to make it more believable about how Giovanni took control of the government. I also felt that the previous system, while not absolutely atrocious, didn't help with immersion. I want to make it harder for Michael and so I took some power away from him. I, however, had to do so without making it seem out of character for Arria. Thank you for the support.
Eagle on flag, arrian /aryan race, chancellor/former regent taking power away from the emperor. Arria = Prussia?
Prussia is one of the places that influenced Arria but other places do too. There is a slight influence from the Ottoman Empire. I challenge you to see If you can find it. The eagle is actually more Roman than Prussian but the flag is totally inspired by Prussia. The only reason I think Arria seems to be based only on Prussia is because of modern perceptions on Prussia and the fact I the flag I am using is based on the Prussian flag. If I had to name one country as an inspiration I would have to concede Prussia is the biggest.
@Mizu Actually, I got the feeling that the people traits being stern and could only be read through their eyes reminded me of Germany so I thought it was based on German people
@rojy Totally has a ton of influences. Prussia was the German state to eventually unite Germany and thus it can also seem similar to it. I have two things based on the Ottoman Empire but nobody has mentioned them yet.
@Mizu I can't get my mind on that one but wish to know it. If I notice it I will tell you
@rojy It is very subtle. One is related to Lucifer though, the other has to do with an organization within the Arria. The best example of the second would be Luca. Good luck.
@Mizu I got interested on the matter itself
@rojy Glad you are enjoying this, I wish you luck in finding them. One of the examples can be found in the chapter Lucifer's Law. On another note...
How are you liking the rest of the book? Who is your favorite character?
@Mizu I like the book and it has nice pace. I am also interested in how is he going to achieve all that glory mentioned in the prologue and how his relation with his wife will turn out (I am sucker for arranged marriage romance) and what will happen to her father. I like the male lead and how I get to know what's inside of his head and behind his cold demeanor and I also like his wife but Matteo is my favorite one so far. He is playful funny and witty at the same time.
@rojy I like Matteo too. There is a lot to him, perhaps more than most people realize.
@Mizu I believe that too. That's why I added witty