Coercion

The man swiftly knelt down as he soon as he neared the Emperor who was sitting on the throne. His most trusted knight stood straight behind him while the ruler himself looked bored as he tap his finger on his armrest, waiting for the kneeling party to finally speak.

"Blessings upon Arthemia, greeting the Sun of the Empire." The middle age man who was kneeling greeted, bowing his head. "How have you been, your Majesty."

"Rise up, Duke Orvin Von Diovre." The Emperor commanded while looking down on one of his most loyal subjects. "Of course, I am still as healthy as a Stallion."

The Duke of the Von Diovre Duchy did as he was commanded, raising his head to meet the eyes of the man sitting on the throne. "How can a mere Stallion compare to Your Majesty. You are much greater than that."

"Tch. Enough pleasantries." The Emperor then said, his lips forming into a frown. "Report the situation."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Duke Orvin replied as he brought out the ledgers that he had recently collected from the East Coast territory of Kingdom of Arthemia. "These were the financial ledgers of the Magic Tower of Kanama, the Eastern Territory. The information forwarded by our spies were right. There were huge anomallies happening. The mages of the Magic Tower have truly abused their authority and have been benefitting from overly collected taxes in the territory. Plus, they have also used the Mages Protection Law to their advantage and evaded taxes, lowering the tax collected from the Magic Tower to a bare minimum for at least two decades now. These financial ledgers are all solid evidences of their crimes, Your Majesty."

"Hmmm. Just as what is expected." The Emperor replied and gave an evil smirk as he thought, 'Father had really set up a very good trap for the Eastern Mages. Now I can start with the plans and begin to take action. Soon everything will fall to its rightful place.'

"Just give me your orders, Your Majesty." Duke Orvin said after the Emperor fell silent. "I will do everything in my power to set it right and punish the mages of the Eastern Magic Tower. Their corruption is truly out of hand."

"Punish the mages you say?? Hmmm." The Emperor blurted out with an indescribable expression on his face. "I will have to personally summon these mages back here in the Capital and deal with them myself."

"But, Your Majesty. Their crimes are worthy of beheading. We have gathered solid evidences and they need to pay for what they've done. Summoning them to the capital after committing such crimes will not be acceptable once the kingdom people knew. They must receive their punishments right away, Your Majesty. Please reconsider your decision." Duke Orvin declared righteously, his hands clenched and held the ledgers tightly.

"Are you ordering me around, Duke Orvin Von Diovre?!" The Emperor angrily growled in response.

"No, Your Majesty. I don't even dare. Forgive my impudence." The Duke replied and knelt. "This loyal subject is just thinking for your Majesty's sake. I can only advice you."

"I don't need your righteous advice, Duke. I have my own plans which will greatly benefit this Kingdom and its people. You are always so dense and shortsighted, not knowing what you're missing." The Emperor stated loudly. "That is why I cannot truly trust your loyalty ever since I ascended to this throne. It is because you have always doubted my intentions and have always tried to go against my decisions using your power and influence in the court."

"Your Majesty. I have always been loyal to this Kingdom and to the Royal Family. I dare not question your authority. I was merely giving an advice as someone who also have served the previous Emperor. Please don't take my words as knives. I was only expressing my concerns, Your Majesty." The Duke expressed, looking down to appease the frustrated looking man on the throne.

"Just do as I say and immediately arrange those mages of the Eastern Magic Tower to enter the Capital. I want to meet them personally." The Emperor then decided as his finger began tapping on the arm rest once more, finally calming down. "Make sure no news about their corruption leaks out. Silence all others who knows about this, including all the informants and spies."

The Duke was silent for a moment, still looking down. Gripping the financial ledgers, he finally spoke, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will arrange everything as your ordered."

"Really?" The Emperor questioned and his face twisted maniacally. "You will really cover this up for me, Duke?"

Duke Orvin was silent once again, not wanting to raise his head because he knew that the Emperor will see his unwillingness. "Yes, your Majesty."

"Ha ha ha. I actually don't believe you, Duke." The Emperor declared, his lips forming into an evil smirk. His gray eyes glared at the bowing middle age man in front of him. This man's power and influence is unquestionable and the Kingdom People loves him. He is indeed one of the most loyal subject. However, his loyalty can only go so far. The Emperor knew that the Duke is not absolutely loyal to him as the ruler but only loyal to the Kingdom and its people. He cannot be reckless and uproot this Duke without valid reasons. It is indeed not easy for him to deal with this man even if he is the Emperor. Not to mention his impeccable talent and skills as one of the most powerful swordsman. He still needs to use him, it would be too early to discard him. Thus, he must make sure to force him to be loyal to him, this Kingdom's Emperor. "Do you truly want me to believe in your words, Duke Orvin Von Diovre? If so, have you finally decided on that matter that I have offered?"

The Duke who was restraining himself immediately looked up and faced the Emperor, anger rousing from within. That ridiculous offer didn't entice him a bit. He would never endanger his daughter no matter what.

"Your beloved daughter is now 10 years of age. Four more years and she can now be married of." The Emperor started. "As you know, my second eldest son is now 14. In two years, as he turns 16, I will officially declare him as my successor, the Crown Prince. Though many are already aware of this fact, of course. However, things can still change depending on your decision, Duke. See, I actually trust your judgement."

"I don't want my daughter to be invloved in any of this, Your Majesty. And your decision for the official heir will be supported by this loyal subject when the time comes." The Duke replied, not backing down as he met the Emperor's malicious gaze, clenching his fist.

"Really?" The Emperor blurted out. With a mocking tone, he tilted his head to the side, "Then are you throwing away the Von Diovre Dukedom and finally deciding to go against me face on? Think of the future. I pity your daughter, she's still young afterall. What would happen if you fail to face me head on? If you perish given the unavoidable circumstances to happen, do you really think a kid who's only 10 years old will be able to survive in this cruel world? Do you believe she can manage to live on without her loving father?"

"Your Majesty!" Duke Orvin yelled angrily. "This is unbecoming of you as someone who sits on the throne! Why are you threatening me?"

"Ha ha ha. Do ypu really not know? I wanted your loyalty. Taking your daughter as my hostage to gain your absolute loyalty is worth it, don't you think so? This is the only way for me to fully trust you. A guarantee." The Emperor replied.

"Don't you dare." The Duke warned angrily.

"Ha ha ha. That's why I don't really like you, Duke. Because I know you also don't like me and have supported my stupid brother instead of me before. Our feelings are mutual." The Emperor responded, laughing out loud as he looked at the Duke who was now outright glaring at him. "No matter how much you hate me, remember that I am still the Sun of this Empire. I am still the Emperor and you know very much what I can do in my power. Think of this as my ultimate threat to gain your loyal and absolute support, Duke."

"I cannot allow my daughter to enter the palace, your Majesty." Duke Orvin repeated firmly.

"What a stubborn man." The Emperor commented and continued tapping his finger on the side. "What can you do now that it's too late? Did you really think the Elders of the Von Diovre Duchy will not pressure you once they learn of your decision? You see, while you were away on the East Coast, I have already began with my plans and spread news of the marriage talks between your beloved daughter and the second prince. And the Von Diovre Duchy's response to the news is very much positive. The elders of your Dukedom were very adamant to make your daughter the Princess Consort. Of course that is because of the power your Dukedom will gain once your daughter becomes the Empress. So they have been pushing for her to meet the second prince with every chance they get and have been sending your daughter to this palace for the last couple of months of your absence. I have actually met her in the outer gardens a few days ago and the resemblance with you is unquestionable."

"What?!" The Duke blurted out his disdain and glared at the man on the throne. "Are you really not afraid of what you are doing right now, your Majesty? This threat, don't you think I won't do something about it?"

"Of course I know you will do something. You are wise afterall. I wonder how you will handle this situation. But then again, I can just leash you first." The Emperor answered confidently and then asked his knight to bring a sealed document to the kneeling duke. "Check it. It is a promise of marriage contract which was already signed by all of the Von Diovre Duchy's elders. Technically, your daughter and the second prince are now officially engaged and that both will carry out the marriage ceremony in two years. In your absence, these Elders were your daughter's legal guardian and they unanimously decided to marry her off to the Royal Family. Don't worry, even if the wedding ceremony will happen in two years, the couple will only spend their first wedding night when your daughter turns 14. Come to think of it. These Elders as her legal guardian, even you as her father, cannot question their decisions for your daughter. Because it was actually you who gave them the legal authority to manage your daughter's affairs in your absence. Isn't your decision to go against it now ridiculous?"

The Duke's eyes widened when he saw his family's seal on the said document. Truly, the Duchy's Elders have married off his daughter without his knowledge and consent. And it was him who gave these Elders the legal authority to arrange things for his daughter. Even if he protest now, cancelling this engagement with the second prince would be difficult. Anger swelled within the Duke's chest and he tore the paper brutely. "You really succeeded in making me your enemy, your Majesty. I will do everything to cancel this arrangement even if it means I have to commit treason and take your life."

"Ha ha ha. That's more like it. I wanted to see your true face so badly afterall. Now that you are like this in front of me, I feel very satisfied." The Emperor laughed maniacally after saying that. When his laughter died down, he smiled at the Duke, "I will see if your efforts will be fruitful, Duke. Remember what I can do in my power."

"I will take my leave, Emperor." Duke Orvin declared angrily as he finally stood up and turn his back at the Emperor, walking away. He needs to think things through and protect his daughter. There must be something he can do.

"I was told your daughter likes the second prince very much. She's a very beautiful and intelligent young girl. She seemed to like this engagement very much and she looked very happy everytime she visits the palace to see the second prince. Would you, as her father, really do something to stop her happiness if she says she wants to marry the prince?" The Emperor suddenly added which made the Duke stop on his track. "This alliance is made because I only wanted to gain your absolute loyalty, Duke. Think about very carefully. You can actually use it to your advantage too."

"My girl is just child. And I will protect her at all cost." The Duke replied before stomping his feet out of the Throne Room.

The Emperor laughed heartily once more as soon as the Duke left. He was truly amused of his words and seeing his anger satisfied him a lot. "I guess this arrangement is really worth it. Damien, send your men to watch the Duke's next actions and report to me everything. And make sure he carries out my order and safely transport those mages to the Capital. Also, make sure that the news of their corruption never leaks out."

"Yes, your Majesty." Damien, the Emperor's most trusted knight and the strongest swordmaster of this kingdom replied. Bowing down, he immediately left to carry out his orders.

Left alone, the Emperor gripped the armrest of his throne and smiled. Everything is now going according to his plan. "You see, Father. I have now started everything. I will now prove you that I am really worthy of this throne. More worthy than my brothers. Even more worthy than you. It's unfortunate that you are now dead and can no longer see how I seize power. But if ever you are watching from the afterlife, cheer for me, father. Because this is just the beginning."

***