[The Imperial Palace — Eshkaran Empire — Great Banquet Hall — Birthday Ceremony — Continuation]
"That was fun."
Vaerun’s expression remained stern, but Seyra giggled anyway, swinging her legs as he settled her at his side and offered her another bite of honey cake.
Vaerun’s expression remained stern. "Your definition of fun is becoming increasingly concerning."
Seyra turned towards him, her little cheeks puffing up. "But Papa, I didn’t do anything!"
Malik let out another quiet chuckle. "Leave her be, Azram. I believe Lord Ashur has learned something valuable tonight."
"That his son should keep his mouth shut?" Seyra asked.
Malik chuckled and Seyra giggled.
The little girl was thoroughly pleased with herself; after all, she had successfully defended Malik’s birthday celebration, humiliated an irritating nobleman, and secured a rather interesting victory for House Veyrath.
Not bad for an evening’s work.
Now, if only everyone would cooperate and let her enjoy the rest of the banquet. Unfortunately, the universe appeared to have other plans.
At the opposite end of the hall, Kassur Nabu stood beside a towering pillar. His fingers slowly rotated the golden ring upon his thumb, and his gaze remained fixed on the imperial dais.
The earlier incident had been an inconvenience. An irritating one, but it had also provided him with something useful.
Kassur’s lips curved. ’Now, this is the moment to bring Malik down.’
His eyes moved towards the center of the hall.
The musicians were preparing for the next ceremonial presentation. Several high-ranking nobles had already gathered near the dais.
Everything was proceeding according to the arrangement he had made; he had waited long enough, and if everything went according to plan, the court would witness something that no amount of royal authority could easily erase.
Kassur lifted his wine cup.
’Let us see how long the Demon of Eshkaran can maintain his composure.’
Meanwhile, the supposed object of Kassur’s elaborate conspiracy was having a rather pleasant evening.
"Open your mouth." Seyra immediately obeyed.
Vaerun held a small golden spoon containing a piece of honey-glazed date cake; she opened her mouth, he fed her, and she chewed happily.
"More."
"Finish what is already in your mouth."
Seyra continued chewing; her violet eyes wandered across the banquet hall. The little girl was comfortably settled beside her father, who had taken it upon himself to ensure that she ate properly.
Apparently, defeating noble houses was acceptable, but allowing his daughter to eat too many sweets was a matter requiring careful supervision.
She picked up a piece of fig.
Vaerun watched approvingly. Malik, standing nearby, glanced towards the father and daughter, and a faint smile touched his lips. There was something strangely comforting about watching Vaerun like this.
The Azram of Veyrath, whose name could silence an entire war council, was currently negotiating with a four-year-old over the consumption of fruit.
Malik almost wished the entire court could see him; perhaps then the empire would finally understand that the terrifying man they feared was capable of being defeated by something as simple as a child’s pout.
Such a peaceful moment. Unfortunately, that peaceful moment lasted only a few more seconds; at the center of the great banquet hall, Kassur Nabu began walking towards the ceremonial platform.
The movement was subtle at first.
A few nobles noticed him approaching, then he raised one hand, the musicians gradually lowered their instruments, and the conversations began to fade.
Kassur climbed the three broad steps leading to the raised platform, his robes sweeping behind him. He turned towards the imperial dais and bowed.
"Your Majesty."
Malik’s attention shifted towards him, and Kassur straightened. "Forgive me for interrupting the celebration. However, there is something I believe the entire court should hear."
Vaerun’s expression remained unchanged. Seyra, who had just received another piece of cake, paused.
’Something? Why was that old fox standing there already?’
Her eyes narrowed.
Kassur continued.
"Tonight, we gather to celebrate the glorious reign of our Malik. Yet, as servants of this empire, should we not also take this opportunity to reflect upon the responsibilities that accompany the imperial crown?"
A few nobles nodded; others exchanged cautious glances. Malik placed his wine cup upon the table.
"Speak."
Kassur bowed.
"Malik has guided Eshkaran through many difficult years. Your victories have strengthened our borders, your wisdom has secured our prosperity, and your authority has kept the noble houses united."
He paused.
"However, even the strongest throne must remain beyond the influence of power and...personal attacks."
Seyra stopped chewing.
. . .
. . .
’Oh...no, don’t tell me...’
Kassur continued.
"The empire must never be made to question whether the emperor’s decisions are guided by the needs of his people or by the desires of power."
The atmosphere changed.
Several nobles lowered their heads; others watched Malik with carefully concealed interest. Kassur’s gaze briefly shifted towards Vaerun.
"After all, the strength of a kingdom rests not only upon the sword of its warriors but also upon the impartial judgment of its ruler."
. . .
. . .
Seyra stared.
’HE’S DOING IT. THAT OLD FOSSIL IS ACTUALLY DOING IT! What kind of person chooses a birthday celebration to start a political conspiracy?’
She wanted to stand up and applaud his audacity. Unfortunately, she was too busy being horrified because Kassur was no longer hiding behind vague blessings and carefully selected words.
He wanted to challenge Vaerun’s influence and he wanted Malik to defend himself before the entire court.
Kassur’s lips curved, and meanwhile Seyra slowly turned her head; her violet eyes searched the hall.
There, behind the cluster of nobles near the bronze pillars, stood Enlil. The little boy was holding a cup of pomegranate juice, apparently minding his own business.
Seyra stared at him so harder that Enlil could feel the pierced glare towards him. Her entire little face seemed to communicate a message of extraordinary urgency.
’ENLIL.’
The boy felt something.
He couldn’t explain it. After all, it was the mysterious ability of children to sense when another child was about to involve them in something terrible.
Whatever it was, he slowly turned and found Seyra glaring at him.
. . .
. . .
Enlil froze.
The little girl was staring at him as though her eyes had caught fire. She did not speak or move. She simply stared.
Enlil swallowed, and his little fingers tightened around his cup. Seyra tilted her head, then she glanced towards Malik, then towards the open space in front of the imperial dais, and then back at Enlil.
Her eyes widened, and she gave him the smallest nod. Enlil’s face went pale.
...Oh.
He understood.
His eyes moved towards Malik, then towards Vaerun and then back to Seyra. His expression silently asked a very important question.
’Are you sure?’
Seyra’s glare became more intense as if saying, ’GET. TO. THE. BUSINESS. NOW.’
Enlil looked as though he wanted to disappear beneath the floor, but he had no choice. His little expression changed and took a deep breath.
Then, with the solemn determination of a soldier marching into battle, he placed his cup upon a nearby table.
Seyra smiled.
’Good boy. Operation: Save Malik’s Birthday has officially begun.’
Kassur raised his voice.
"Your Majesty, I believe it is time that the court received an answer to Illegal—"
But before he could speak—
"AHHHHH!"
A small voice rang through the hall, and everyone turned. A tiny figure came running from between the bronze pillars.
Enlil, the little boy ran with all the strength his short legs could muster. His arms flailed, his face was pale, and his expression suggested that he was either fleeing a monster or had just remembered that he had left the palace gates open.
"ENLIL?!"
Seyra’s little voice rang out.
Kassur turned.
"What—?"
The boy continued running, straight towards the imperial dais, and then—
THUD!
His little shoulder struck Malik’s side. It wasn’t particularly powerful, but Malik had not been expecting a small human projectile to launch itself at him.
His balance shifted; one foot moved backwards, then another. The golden embroidery of his royal robes swayed as his body tilted.
"Your Majesty!"
A servant cried out.
Vaerun’s eyes widened.
"Malik!"
He moved immediately, his hand shot forward, reaching for the emperor. For one brief instant, he was certain he would catch him, but Malik’s falling weight shifted towards him, and Vaerun had to step forward to intercept it.
At precisely that moment—a tiny pair of feet appeared directly behind him.
Seyra.
She had been standing beside the imperial dais, watching the entire operation unfold, and now, with the speed and timing of a perfectly placed obstacle, she took one small step backwards.
Vaerun’s boot caught against her little foot, his balance faltered, and his silver eyes widened.
Seyra—!
He tried to steady himself, but Malik was already falling, and Vaerun, refusing to let the Emperor strike the hard stone floor alone, followed him down.
The entire world seemed to move in slow motion; a golden wine cup slipped from a nobleman’s hand.
A servant gasped.
Someone shouted, the musicians stopped playing, and then—
THUD!
Malik landed on his back. Vaerun fell directly over him, his hands striking the floor on either side of the emperor’s shoulders, barely managing to keep his full weight from crushing him.
For one breath, neither man moved.
Then Malik opened his eyes. Vaerun lowered his head; their faces were impossibly close, and...their lips met.
. . .
. . .
SILENCE.
A silence so complete that even the flames inside the golden oil lamps seemed to hesitate.
The Emperor of Eshkaran and the Azram Vaerun were kissing. In the middle of the imperial birthday banquet. Before the entire court, under the sacred banners of the Divine Dragon.
. . .
. . .
A golden cup struck the floor.
CLANG!
Someone inhaled sharply, another noble covered his mouth and a third looked towards the ceiling as though silently begging the gods to erase what he had just witnessed.
Malik’s amber eyes widened. Vaerun’s silver eyes were equally wide. Neither moved and spoke.
For a brief, terrible moment, the two most powerful men in the empire appeared to have forgotten how to breathe.
Meanwhile Seyra had both little hands pressed against her cheeks. her violet eyes were enormous, her mouth hung open and her expression was the picture of absolute shock.
At least, to anyone who did not know her because behind those little hands...her lips were curving, slowly and dangerously.
’Hehehehehe. IT WORKED.’
Kassur Nabu stood frozen upon the ceremonial platform. His wine cup remained suspended halfway, his mind had simply stopped functioning.
What...What had just happened?
He had planned to expose the Emperor. He had intended to provoke Malik, he had expected anger, perhaps an argument or possibly even an imperial decree.
But this?
THIS?!
He stared at the two men on the floor. Then at the nobles, then back at the two men, his carefully prepared speech had suddenly become the least important thing in the entire empire.
Meanwhile, on the floor...Vaerun finally pulled away, his expression was unreadable, his silver eyes stared at Malik.
Malik stared back and for a moment, neither seemed capable of remembering that they were surrounded by several hundred people.
Then Vaerun looked down at their position, at the hand he had placed beside the Emperor’s head.
. . .
. . .
He understood, he had just kissed the Emperor...in public, at his birthday celebration, before the entire imperial court.
And this is the biggest scandle of the centuary.
Seyra’s eyes glittered as she thought,
’And that, is how you interrupt a conspiracy with one extremely inconvenient accident and a step for Malik to become my other parent...’