The Emperor's Dictates

The Emperor of Erenveil had just finished a nice brisk walk around the palace gardens with his cherished Empress Anastasia when he got a notice that four of his sons were waiting on call to speak with him.

Heh. About time.

He sent the Empress back into the palace and found a nice shady spot among the peach blossoms. Then he sank down onto the soft green grass, crossed his arms and legs, closed his eyes and placidly meditated.

Within minutes, the disturbed faces of his sons appeared in front of him from four different screens. Obviously, none of them were together in the same space, but of course, the Emperor knew this.

Slate was on his warship deep in Avian territory, fighting battle after battle against what the Avians were calling 'rogue factions' who were actually sent by the Avians themselves.

The twins were running here and there, taking care of security details alongside their more mundane fashion business.

Dante was within his moon above Erenveil space, handling all the duties of an Emperor alongside his own business dealings.

It made the Emperor quite happy.

He could now hand off his duties to all his sons and semi-retire, and everything would still flow smoothly. They were scattered across the galaxy that he ruled, ensuring that all was well.

At the moment though, they looked upset.

Good!!!

It was time that they got a full dose of the frustration that he'd been feeling all week!

"Boys." He greeted them with a benign gentle fatherly smile.

"Father, what is going on with Anaïse?" Jason was the first of his sons to sputter and flail.

"You are absolutely welcomed, Son. She is a beauty, and coming in second place at the Avgo is a very distinguishing mark indeed."

"I want the first place winner." Jason grimaced. "I don't want second place."

"Son, you're not the Crown Prince. You never got a chance at the first place winner anyway, so I don't even know why you are so upset."

"Father. I'm not marrying that glass woman. I have no feelings for her. I'm not going to sacrifice my whole life being stuck to someone I don't even like."

"Oh stop being melodramatic. Who says you have to like her? Just marry her and then you can sleep with whomever you choose."

"Not going to happen." Jason narrowed his gaze.

"You don't have a choice. Within two weeks, she will be coming to Erenveil with her entire entourage of attendants and will be taking up residence at the new palace I've set up for you and your new wife."

"I will not be going anywhere near there." He waved his hand away as if brushing a gnat.

"As you wish. I know you prefer to hang out with Jared on that floating island of yours." The Emperor shrugged with indifference.

"You can simply carry on and do whatever it is that makes you happy. That palace is really for her to live in since she will be the wife of an Erenveil Prince and can't be seen in a hovel."

The Emperor leaned closer and gazed at Jason with clear determined violet eyes.

"Whether you live or sleep with her is none of my concern. She can die an old virgin for all I care. You simply need to control the flow of the weapons coming out of her family's world so that it does not flood into enemy hands."

"Father. This is not going to happen."

"Too late Son. I've already sent out the mandate. Expect the glad tidings to be spread out throughout the galaxy within two weeks."

"Father!!!"

The Emperor turned off the sound to Jason's belligerent indignations so he didn't have to hear it. He had delivered his news to his fifth son and now it was the sixth son's turn.

Even as Jason's snarling mouth opened and closed without any sound that the Emperor could hear, he turned to the other twin.

"Jared. You need to also prepare yourself. The only Avgo female left who is worthy of an Erenveil Prince is Jenna Natoli."

"Jenna the cougar?" Jared's face devolved into a puddle of despair. "Father, I really really don't want to be with her."

The Emperor cleared his throat.

"Might I remind you that Calendula is a mineral and metal rich world that supplies the computerized robotic parts for the vast majority of the galaxy? Aside from Erenveil, it is as one of the wealthiest regions of space."

"What does that have to do with me?" Jared gave a querulous look at the Emperor.

"Jenna Natoli is no mere Princess. She is one of the Queens of Calendula."

"But Father—"

"Son. Do you know why she forfeited the last Avgo event and turned herself into a cougar to perform that Magic and Illusions event?"

The Emperor harrumphed.

"It was because she was no longer interested in winning. She saw how Dante doted on Candace and did not want to be a third wheel so she gave up her place."

"Candace was far ahead of everyone." Jared pursed his lips.

"Ah, but everyone had arrived and was already starting to perform, and Candace was nowhere in sight. She would have lost to Jenna if she hadn't made it to the stage that day."

Jared's eyes turned red as he recalled how they had all been abducted on Candace's big event day.

He gave a grim smile. Jenna Natoli forfeited because she did not want to be Dante's wife. Smart girl. She knew her worth.

"Father. She gave up her chance to win because she didn't want Dante as her husband. What makes you think she's going to want me?"

The Emperor curled up his lips in derision.

"What makes you think she has a choice?"

As Jared stared at him with horror, the Emperor's eyes glazed over. Just as it was with Jason, Jared's fate was sealed.