A Benevolent Con Man

While the General was busy with his thoughts, Derick and Yuno made the effort to stay quiet through the whole ride.

'The General looks...motivated now.'-externally of course, internally, not so much.

'Do you really need to report every single twitch of the General's face?'

'Aren't you curious? He's been acting weird and he's even openly hiding something from us!'

'Sigh...of course I am, but you heard the General. He'll tell us if he can, the problem is that he can't.'

'Then there must be someone threatening him or a curse is preventing him from telling us!'

'Maybe? Who knows? Though if he wants to keep it a secret then we'll just have to respect that.'

'But we won't know what's causing him trouble?!'

'What are you, his mom?'

'No that's your role.'

'Sigh, well everyone has secrets. If he wants, he'll tell, if not then don't pressure.'

'Do you have one?'

'Of course.'

'What is it then?'

Slowly, Yuno turned his head from the carriage window and looked at Derick.

"Why would I tell you?"

"Ah you-"

Before Derick can start another fight, the carriage came to a halt.

"We've arrived at the palace!" The coach announced and Cyrus swiftly stepped out of the carriage. He fixed his coat, and just as when he was about to walk to the palace, he sees a familiar figure rushing towards them.

"Cyrus you're alive!"

A chubby old man, a head shorter than Cyrus greeted him. Though he was now panting and grasping the General's arm for support, he still willed himself to exude an aura of a wise old man.

"We greet the emperor!" Yuno and Derick bowed. Cyrus would have greeted with them if he weren't busy supporting the panting Emperor.

"Your Majesty are you alright? Please don't exert too much force on your body next time." The General tried to soothe his breathing by gently patting the Emperor's back.

"Hohoho you're still considerate as ever General. Still, this old man only has a few years to live, if only I can hear my little nephew call me uncle once again..."

"..."

"Oh my heart! Just thinking about the past makes my old heart tremble. Who knows when this old man will kick the bucket!"

"...Uncle...please don't talk like that. You still have years ahead of you."

"Oh just hearing the Esteemed General calling me uncle again. I think I can live for a hundred years more!"

The Emperor jumped in delight, his sickly face gone in an instant. Cyrus could only remain silent as the Emperor let go of his arms and act as if he wasn't a panting mess minutes ago.

"Your Majesty!"

Cyrus squinted his eyes; from afar, a bunch of old folks were also running towards their direction.

"Oh they've caught up. The decoy I set up must have been found out."

"Your ma-"

"Cough! I think my sugar level rose!"

"Sigh uncle please don't run away from court affairs next time. I'll be the one to come to you."

"Ah such a sweet nephew that I have." The Emperor wiped a tear from the corner of his eyes. "I was quite excited when I heard that you were coming. Even after being unconscious for days, the first thing you thought was this poor uncle of yours!"

"..." Cyrus remained silent, neither agreeing nor denying the claim.

"You might not even be in your best condition now, but still, here you are visiting this old soul! You're even wearing your military uniform."

The General perked up. He took this as his cue to direct the topic and talk about his return to the war.

"Actually I-"

"ACHOOOO!" Before he can finish speaking, he was interrupted by a sneeze. Yuno elbowed Derick's side, glaring menacingly at the other.

"I'm deeply sho-ACHOOO." This time, Yuno moved a few steps back before shoving the still-sneezing Derick to the side. Cyrus wished he shoved further. 'My momentum...'

"I apologize on his behalf. He's an idiot and he didn't want to bring a coat with him."

"Hohoho, it's good to see the Lieutenant and little Yu getting along. Though it is getting colder, and my niece is still freshly recovered, so let's move our discussion inside, shall we."

"This humble servant thanks the Emperor."

Yuno bowed deeply. The Emperor made a dismissal wave and Yuno quickly stood up.

"You're still too uptight Yu, you've been with Cyrus since you were little, I watched you grew up too, I wouldn't mind if you call me un-"

"I'm good, but thank you for the offer." Yuno quickly declined.

"Hoho are you sure?"

"Definitely."

"My, how cold. Well then, let's get going now, a moment longer, and my niece might think of burying your Lieutenant." Derick was still sneezing and Cyrus was staring at him with his usual poker face.

"I'll get them." The Emperor watched in amazement as Yuno strode forward and smacked Derick's head. He watched with interest as his niece's stoic expression twitched and a look of barely visible satisfaction crossed his eyes.

"Huff...huff...your...huff...majesty...court...meeting."

"Ack...my...back."

"Water...so-someone...water."

The old officials were finally able to reach the Emperor, after hours of searching and running throughout the palace, they finally found their ruler! The officials had both their hair and clothes disheveled from all the running as their faces were covered in multiple layers of sweat.

"Prime minister."

The Emperor smiled kindly as he looked at them and patted the prime minister's shoulder. The officials eyes warmed and their hearts clenched.

"How about you and the rest of the officials take an early rest. Let's have the court meeting tomorrow." With that the Emperor walked away, the officials were still dumbfoundedly sprawled on the floor. Their tired expressions morphing to despair.

"YOUR MAJESTY!"

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.

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"Eat more, eat more, you were passed out for more than three days, you must be hungry. I've told the chef to cook your favorite dishes, so enjoy!"

After stepping foot inside the palace, the Emperor quickly told the servants to call the chef and prepare the best dish for the General and his companions. So now, here they are, seated in the the dining room with piles of food-mostly Cyrus's favorites- on the table.

Derick took a batch of each dish and Cyrus-he quickly grabbed his favorites before the other could get to it. Simply speaking, he's not that childish to act like a selfish kid who doesn't want to share, but considering that for four days straight the only thing he's ever eaten was soup. Herbal soup at that. The kind of soup that was bitter and had an awful smell. The General internally rejoiced as he saw solid, chewable and normal tasting food.

Yuno watched Derick stuff his mouth full of food while Cyrus hoarded his favorites and took his time slicing, piercing, and chewing each of them.

"Aren't you going to join them?" The Emperor asked as he glanced at Yuno who was watching the dinner table with a 'why am I here?' expression.

"No thank you, I've already eaten at the manor."

"Hmm, then how about desserts?"

Just on cue, the door opened and freshly made sweets were placed on the table. Slowly, Yuno turned to look at the Emperor.

"Your Majesty is really benevolent."

"Hoho, as one should be. Now go ahead and join them eat."

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"I'm so fullllll" Derick groaned as he patted his stomach. He took a look around and he saw the General wiping the corners of his mouth elegantly, there was also Yuno who was on his eighteenth cup of pudding.

"Yuno give me a bite."

"Get your own cup."

"Ugh...can't move. Yuno~" Derick whined. He stretched his left hand and he managed to reach Yuno's sleeve.

"Oi, get your greasy hands off me you idiot!"

"Just give me a bite of your pudding!"

As the two start another one of their fights, the Emperor approached Cyrus who just finished his meal.

"Was the food to your liking?"

"Yes, thank you very much uncle." Cyrus half bowed and the Emperor smiled at his niece in return.

"Hoho, no need to thank me, this uncle of yours only wants what's best for you. Oh, and I almost forgot, I still have one more suprise for you."

Cyrus nodded as he fetched a glass of water from across him.

'A suprise huh...I guess I'll talk to him about my military service after this.'

Taking a sip of his water, he watched from the corner of his eyes as the Emperor retrieved a document from his pocket. Cyrus choked.

"Cough...cough..ack-cough..."

"Easy there General, you're still recovering."

The Emperor gently patted his back, helping him through the cough.

"You wouldn't want to meet your future spouse while having a coughing fit, right?"

"COUGH COUGH COUGH!"

"There there. You should've taken your chance while we were still in the entrance. You've become a bit absent-minded General."

Watching the concerned expression on the Emperor's face transform into glee, Cyrus was awfully reminded of the truth.

"Don't trust your uncle too much. He didn't become the nation's number one scammer for nothing."

'How could I forget...uncle-the emperor is a con man...'