Chapter 13 Emperor's Fury

James counted down from three and as soon as he reached one, Edward charged towards me with lightning speed. My eyes widened in shock as I struggled to keep up with his movements.

In a matter of seconds, Edward was upon me, his fist curled and flying straight towards my face.

With quick reflexes, I managed to move my head out of the way, narrowly avoiding a direct hit. Edward's fist grazed my ear, sending a shockwave through the air besides me.

Our eyes met for a fleeting moment, and I saw the determination in his gaze. Without hesitation, I clenched my fist and delivered a powerful blow to his stomach and felt my fist going deep into his stomach.

The impact of my punch sent Edward tumbling over in pain. He fell to the ground, gasping for air and trying to catch his breath, looking pathetic considering he is the prince of such a Grand Empire.

As I looked at my fist and then back at the Prince, who was lying on the ground struggling to breathe, I couldn't help but be taken aback, Just how weak he was despite being an awakened being was the thought going through my head.

Edward may have been fast, Very Fast, but it was clear that his strength was lacking.

I tore my gaze away from Edward and saw James running towards me, his face a mask of fear and anger as he shouted at me.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at James' outburst. "What? It's not my fault that a fully awakened person is weaker than me, a non-awakened," I shot back.

James exclaimed, "He's the Prince of the Empire!"

I let out a sigh, "Of course I know that. Why are you acting like a yes man to the Prince, James? It's starting to get on my nerves. Don't forget, we're blood brothers yet you are taking any chance to put me down infront of the prince".

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at James' actions. "What's his deal?" I thought to myself. "It's not like it's my fault that an awakened prince is weaker than a non-awakened like me."

James' eyes widened in fear. "So!?!? I could even be put to death for not helping the prince," he said, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead as he rushed over to Prince Edward.

I looked at the scene and felt an overwhelming urge to lash out at James. My hands were itching to give him a good slap.

My mind started racing with thoughts of how I could teach James a lesson. Should I just give him a hard smack on the side of his head? Or maybe even kick him out? I quickly dismissed the thought of kicking his balls, though.

I was lost in thought about how to deal with James when a panicked and angry voice suddenly caught my attention. I froze in place as I heard someone rushing past me.

I knew someone had just passed by, but all I felt was a gust of wind and didnt see anything.

I turned my head to see what had just rushed past me, and to my surprise, it was the Emperor. He was on the ground, helping Prince Edward get up, while James sat there, watching.

The Emperor turned his head and The Emperor's gaze was intense as he locked eyes with me, The Emperor's fury, it was almost palpable.

The air around me suddenly felt thick with tension, as the emperor's anger radiated off him like a blazing inferno.

Under the emperor's gaze, My confidence, it couldnt help in faltering in the face of the emperor's wrath. The veins in the emperor's neck bulged with fury, and his eyes blazed with a fierce intensity.

James who was besides him visibly quaked, shrinking further as the the thickness of surroundings increased.

I felt pure pressure weighing down on my body, Unable to open my mouth.

cold sweat formed on my back as the Emperor's pressure felt like a vice grip on my body. It felt like being stared down by a predator, his gaze filled with a hunger for violence.

I was frozen with fear, unable to utter a word. Every part of my being was consumed with the fear of losing my life at the mercy of the Emperor's wrath.

"What is the meaning of this?" he growled, The Emperor's voice was a deep rumble that carried the weight of his rage and authority. As he spoke, his words cut through the air, striking me like a physical blow. I felt my heart race with fear as I gazed upon the powerful figure, knowing that I was standing before a being who could destroy me with a single command.

"Your Highness Prince Edward wanted... challenge William.. a fight... William defeated.. Prince Edward..." James was stammering, trying to explain the situation but he was clearly struggling to get his words out in the face of the Emperor's wrath. I could feel the tension in the air, knowing that the stakes were high and that one false move could be fatal. I could see the fear in James' eyes, and it only served to deepen my own sense of unease.

As the Emperor's anger continued to rise as she stared into my eyes with Ferociousness, I found myself struggling to breathe. The pressure was crushing, like a weight on my chest, and I felt myself drop to my knees as I gasped for air. The air felt thin, as if it were being sucked away, and I was drowning in a sea of anger and rage.

A voice called out my name, breaking through the haze of fear that had enveloped me. I felt the pressure on my chest ease, and I took in a deep gasp of air, feeling the relief rush through my body. Tears and sweat mingled on my face, evidence of the terror I had just experienced.

The gentle touch of my mother's hand on my head brought me back to reality. I looked up and saw her concerned face, her eyes filled with love and worry. She brought my head to her chest, holding me close as if to protect me from the world.

"Charles!" My father's familiar voice was distant, as if he were far away from me, but the concern in his tone was palpable. I could hear the worry in his voice, and I knew that he was furious.

The air was thick with silence, as if time had stopped in its tracks. For a few moments, there was no sound but the beating of my heart, until I heard the Emperor speak once more.

The emperor's voice was calm, though it held an edge of regret as he continued, "I let my emotions get the better of me, and for that I must apologize." His gaze swept the garden, taking in each and every one of us.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I saw my father's broad back blocking the emperor's view of me and my mother. He stood tall and proud, facing the emperor with unwavering resolve.

The emperor's voice was firm as he announced, "I will personally gift James a magical item as a sign of my apology." then turned and began walking away, his cloak billowing in the evening breeze.

The emperor's voice carried back to us as he walked away, "A maid will show you all to your rooms. We will meet again tomorrow." The emperor disappeared from view, leaving us in the tranquil stillness of the garden once again. As I took a deep breath, I couldn't help but wonder what the next day would bring.