I AM THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER SIX

As soon as I got to the palace, I was instantly taken to the emperor. No trumpets, so welcome back, nothing. Hey, the dungeon Zal was in had been more welcome. at least the cockroaches had bothered to say hi. I internally screamed in awkwardness as the guards seized me by the elbow and roughly escorted me down the chamber. We all walked in silence until one coughed. And they spoke. "Uhm.. Your Highness?" the guard asked. He had a mustache, red hair, and a random scar right below the eye. "Yes?" I asked, a bit irked but very, very grateful for the interruption. Come on! Stay in character! "I know this is not my place, but… Try not to break anything." The guard instantly flinched and looked down, like I was going to punch him or something. Wow, then it occurred to me that Eden must have been a piece of work. Imagine terrorizing guards at the age of eight. and they're still wary ten years later? Respect, kid! 

"Noted," I said dryly, and then turned away. cold, cold, cold, cold like ice~ I could already see the guard dying of emotional damage. 

As soon as I entered the throne room, I slammed the doors closed and collapsed onto my knees. Phoooooooo! I let out a long exhale. My brain cells were dying from the acting. But what I didn't realize was that there were other people too. 

"Ahem. Care to explain what you're doing?" Said a voice. I looked up, in surprise, to see the emperor. Scumbag. and… Levi? Also Scumbag. Buy one get one free? 

You. Have. No. Idea. How. Hard it was not to punch Levi in the face. Traitor! Rat! Backstabber! I trusted you! Rot in hell! Now I get why Eden threw things. I would too! Lend me your strength, eight-year-old kid! Let's yeet this vase at his head!

But, aside from the entire traitor thing, Levi looked a lot different. His grey eyes were duller than they had been, and his hair was about an inch shorter if I had to eyeball it. Wow, handsome! a bit too much, but oh well. It was hardly a complaint. He was wearing a suit that was heavily decorated, but wearing an old sword. The one I had given him, a long time ago. Really? Did he choose that piece of junk over a real sword?

As I was busy ogling, I noticed that the emperor was glaring at me. ?????? What did I do to you, dude? But then I noticed I was splayed in a super disgraceful pose on the soft carpet. 

…

I flushed red and stood up. "Heh. Uhm. Hello, Your…. Majesty?" I said, stumbling through the basic etiquette that the priests had taught me. Levi raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "You seem to be fascinated with my new dog." The emperor said, and I scoffed. "You're mistaken, your majesty. I was just admiring the nerve of a traitor." 

Almost instantly, I felt the familiar cold blade at my neck. It was Levi, and there was a vein pulsing on his neck. What the heck? this Airhead hadn't even dared to draw his sword in front of me before. 

More than that, though. Levi has sold me out. So… Why did he have that look on his face? Sad and regretful? "My king, your daughter has insulted a duke," Levi said coldly. Wow, chills! I take that all back. Regretful, my foot. I pushed the blade away calmly with two fingers. "Nonsense. I just spoke the truth. How are you not in jail right now? I bet Cordelia's so proud of you. She's going to rise from her grave to beat you up." I scoffed, the blade now a safe distance away. Levi frowned and stormed off. 

"Look what you've done now, daughter." The emperor said, and I rolled my eyes. "No, it was only what needed to be done," I said, unfazed. 

"Haha. You've gotten smarter in these ten years, haven't you? I'm glad." The emperor said, and I pretended to check my nails. "Because you'll need it for what's coming ahead." I emperor said, chuckling. I glanced up. Need it for what?

The emperor held out a scroll. I looked at it quizzically. "Come up here and take it." The emperor said, equally confused. ??? Hello, Etiquette. Have you flown out of my brain or something? Oh. I grabbed it and proceeded to read, until the first line, where I handed it back. "No thanks," I said, and then suddenly searing pain bolted through my head. Like hot lightning. 

"Oh, dear. You don't seem to realize it, but I'm just asking you to sign it." The emperor said. I looked up in surprise. What???? You caused that pain in my head, dude? be gentle, for heaven's sake. 

But I didn't have a choice.

With great hesitation, I signed the paper. 

Eden Lai Aludinari (hereby referred to as "Employee") will now carry out any and all directions under the name of the emperor (hereby referred to as employer). If she fails to do so, the employer can exercise any and all punishments on the employee. 

but just for some karma, I made the writing as sloppy as can be. As I left the throne room, I muttered, "Oh gods above, I'm screwed."