Shugia Empire (II)

My shock was a long one but I snapped out of it. 

The stench was awful, it smelled like rotten corpses with all kinds of strange plants and animals mixed in. I covered my nose and got up to examine the beastly little thing, it was no over three feet and its teeth were as sharp as a knife. 

I looked it all over and even used magic to inspect it.

"We tried everything to understand but it seemed completely different from anything we know." the emperor explained, still sipping his tea.

'How is he not affected?' I questioned before turning back at the hideous creature. 'But of course, you all don't know what it is since it is a hell spawn straight out of hell.'

I extended my palm and touched the slimy, furry surface. My hand glowed as burning and hissing sound was emitted. Under a minute it was completely turned into ashes. 

Since I heard no sound I turned to the emperor and he showed shock from his eyes but his mouth had an amused smile. Then like a maniac he laughed out loud and came to me. 

He placed both hands on my shoulders giving considerable weight to them and looked at me with a crazy smile. 

'Damn he really is crazy.' I thought while he spoke, "You really are an amazing person, Duke. We have been trying to kill that thing for a while but even our best knights and priests could only to weaken it. But you just went up and burned it, reducing it to that state."

I frowned and said "Wasn't it already dead?"

He shook his head and said "No his skin was too strong to cut it so we fed it some sleeping medicine after weakening him."

My brain stopped for a second then I came back when I heard a sword being removed and placed back in its scabbard repeatedly. We turned to Jas and the emperor removed his hands from me in a surrender manner. 

I shook my head and said "can you send the research data to me and also about the war...."

He nodded and said "I will hand over the case in exchange for the development updates and regarding the war, I will have a talk with the king so rest assured. After all, we are friends right." but at the end he muttered something that I clearly heard "YOU are at stake after all."

I just feigned ignorance and then went to the door.

"My personal carriage will send you to the border. From there you can switch with the one you came in."

I turned and looked at him, no, I glared at him as Jas urged me to walk out knowing I was very annoyed with the recent development and not to be messed with. 

'If only I could behead all the annoying people in my life then life would be much more simpler and manageable.'

The last thing I saw was the smug smile of the emperor.

'Hope you choke on gold and die, your majesty.' 

***

"Your majesty Duke Kaan sent a letter stating that he went to the Empire because of some trade issue."

I looked up from the nth number of documents in my hand and stared at my secretary and assistant Ryu.

"And? I can't control all his actions and I am pretty sure our hero is with him and will definitely bring the problem child here." I say as I keep the papers down and run my forehead with my thumb and index finger. 

"I know that my king but it was you who told me that I should tell you all the details regarding the Duke." 

"Thank you Ryu, now tell me the status of all the nobles and how long it will take them to assemble." I ask as I put my hands on the table and rest my chin on them.

"The message has been delivered to all the nobles. The meeting date is set after three days." He responded while looking through some papers.

"Good. Call the prince and princess in my audience room. I would like to have some tea time with them.

"As you wish my king." he bowed and left. 

***

"You called us royal father?" Remus said as he entered and bowed. Cardea followed her brother.

"Yes, now have a seat."

They took their place in front of me and tea was served. I picked up the tea cup and sipped my tea. It was refreshing as always. 

"Now, how is everything going my dear children?" as I said that the shoulders of the two got stiff and they got serious.

"Father I have finished the information you asked to do as well as all the data needed for the war is finished. The amount of troops each coast territory has and how much we can deploy has all been summed up." Cardea gave her record.

"Good job dear. Now what about you Remus?" I turned to the prince as he made eye contact with me. 

"I have been incharge of the palace knights and they have improved considerably under my watch and I have also assessed the battle area and have made a plan for gorillas warfare."

I nodded and said "Good. Listen carefully my children, after three days we will have a meeting with all the nobles and finalize the plan so till then continue what you have been doing up till now." 

 "As you wish royal father." they replied simultaneously.

"Then, about the Duke," I stare at my cup and then lift my eyes to them and continue "what do you think about him?" 

Their faces hardened but they did not show what they were feeling directly.

'They have grown so much, smart kids.'

"The duke is a kind and strong person." Cardea answered.

"He is competent, a great leader, a role model, kind and caring, he is always the center of attention like a magnet, and he is someone we can trust." Remus said while staring at his tea.

I nodded and said "then the decision of making him the commander is proper I guess."

As soon as I finished my sentence their head shot up to me and their shocked eyes and wide open mouth told me that this was not something Kaan had thought of as a possibility.

'Good, very good.'

"So," I stood and looked at my dear children, " I hope you both will be willing to help to your best." 

I left the room and Ryu was waiting for me outside.

"Make sure they are so busy they can't contact the duke or any other nobles." 

"Yes your majesty."