Episode 161- The portrait!

[Ez PoV- 1 month later.]

2 year had passed since the release of PCD and 1 year since the release of SAD.

I had just released the internet, which I dubbed the 'internet' obviously. I can't be bothered to think of a matching acronym. Screw that shit.

This was released 3 weeks ago, and boy was it fun to see all the officials running around like headless chicken as they realised the potential uses, advantages, and dangers of the web.

Especially after I had released it with a proper search engine, preloaded with all the necessary search results for almost anything. There was even an open forum like Reddit and a chat function like Facebook.

Due to this Albert was given the charge of cybersecurity as his role of head of information gathering fit perfectly complimented for this role much to his dismay as he was burdened with even more responsibility.

I had released the access of the web to the people under monthly subscription and annual. And boy was I rolling in money now.

Those who hadn't brought the PCD or SAD began acquiring it. It kind of became a vital tool at this point and one of them was always given to all village heads to communicate with each other.

"Haha!" I laughed as I saw the nobles being flamed and trash-talked by many citizens online.

"Better do something fast your highness or your empire is gonna crumble soon," I muttered as I kept reading the interesting post flaming the nobles and the emperor's idleness.

Free speech won't exactly work in an empire, especially not in an empire that has nobles suppressing its citizens. Hence the reason why nobles create fear amongst the public to make them shut up. But the internet changes everything very quickly.

*Ping* I got an update from the Emperor's profile.

He had uploaded an image. It was him beside a woman that looked very beautiful.

That was the late empress who had passed away. But something was very off about the picture and it was annoying me.

I had never really seen the image of the empress in person after taking over John's body. All the images I saw of her was from John's memory. But now seeing it in person something about it was seriously bugging me the moment I saw it with my eyes.

I looked at it for a few more minutes from every angle trying to figure out why her portrait was bugging me so badly.

Suddenly I realised it. "Holy crap! You got to be kidding me!" I pulled up the profile of the crown prince.

My mind began unravelling some confusing things I had never understood until this point.

"Fuck! No wonder they called her a once in a millennia genius." I was truly astounded by her incredible planning and foresight.

"Then that means…" I pulled up an image of Sophia lying asleep inside the tube.

"Oh, heck yeah. This is gold!" I grinned as I changed all my plans.

There was no more need for me to work hard as I just found how to not do any work at all. No need to do those stupid grey zones, or deal with politics, or worry about running the academy examination etc.

I dialled a number. "Hello, my dear brother. Would you like to accept an interesting suggestion from me?"

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[3rd PoV, Imperial Court- 1 week later]

All members of the court had gathered including the commandments and the emperor.

However, unlike how the usual beginnings of court sessions went with all of them being talkative or lively everyone was very tense and worried.

There was a simple reason for that and that was because the meeting was brought together by prince John Emberson.

The very 1st court meeting he had called together after 2 years of being titled as the prince worried them all.

*Snore* The commandment looked in embarrassment at the idiot sleeping so soundly inside the imperial court.

It was an old man in his 50's, drooling from the side as he slept in his comfortable chair.

Titus unable to tolerate this picked up his shoe and threw it at Albert's face, only for his head to go forward at the right time causing the show to miss and hit the chair.

*Bam* A resounding sound came inside the hall as if someone had slammed a door shut.

"Eh…?" Albert woke up and looked around.

"Has the meeting finished? Can I go home now?" He stood up ready to walk out.

"Sit down you old cloth. The meeting hasn't even started." A commandment ordered in annoyance.

"Why the hell did you wake me up then?" Albert looked around furiously before he went back to his chair and threw the shoe in the air.

*Snore* He began sleeping.

"Who invited this old cog to this meeting?" The woman who ordered Albert asked around as Merlin moved the flying shoe back to Titus.

"Thanks." Titus nodded at Merlin who nodded back.

"He probably came in thinking there would be something fun to see or something along the lines of that." Another commandment answered.

*Bam* The door opened, and Prince John walked in. Everyone remembered the last time he walked in through those doors, it didn't bode well for the empire.

"Sorry for making all you folks wait. Had to make sure I won't be killed off after today." His grin unsettled everyone there.

"Why have you initiated this meeting 3rd prince?" Smith asked looking at John in hatred.

"Well, it has been 2 years since I saw everyone, including pappa. So, I thought I would come visit you all in one fell swoop. Hehehe!" The emperor unlike how he was 2 years ago looked very tired and weak.

"None of us have time for your games John. State what you want to say and leave." The emperor looked at John whose smiling face disappeared.

"Daddy and everyone just give me 2 seconds." John looked at his PCD and after 2 seconds he smiled.

*Clap* "Okay now that is done, let me get straight to the matters." He clapped his hands.

"As you all know due to my soulless condition I am meant to die within the next 3 year." He said this with a smile which annoyed everyone.

"Now I don't know what daddy emperor's exact condition is and honestly I can't be bothered to know about it." Everyone stayed their hands from attacking John, remembering what happened the last time he incited them to attack him.

"But one thing is for sure daddy won't live longer than the next 3 to 4 years as well right?" Seeing the frown on the emperor's face told John his answer.

"To be honest with me participating in the game everyone is just waiting to see which one of us would fall first, right guys?" John looked at all of them to see everyone being quiet.

"Ya guys are boring. Boring with a capital 'B'." John stated in annoyance.

"Now back to the topic at hand." John turned towards the emperor as he began slowly dancing.

"Since I am a good son and don't want to let others watch daddy die in entertainment…" He began singing his words.

"I have decided to back out of the throne game." A grin spread across John's face as he twirled around in his spot.

"Lalalala!"