Setting an example to others

"I knew I'd see you here father." Kevin said with an evil smirk plastered on his face.

As Micheal saw Kevin, it was obvious he wanted to run to his son for a hug but he was restraining himself as he was in front of all the king's and dukes of Glacier empire.

Then he spoke in a tired tone. "What's the meaning of this, Kevin. You disappear for 3 days and then you barge into a courtroom meeting dragging a boy by his hair."

Micheal looked at the boy Kevin held and he could see his eyes moving around and he stopped and made a scream.

"Father! This person suddenly held me by my hair and dragged me here. Help me! Punish him! You're a duke!"

After the desperate shout made by Julius, Kevin threw him onto the ground and his body hit the floor with a crack. "Ahaaaa!"

Some whisperings came from the crowd of kings and dukes and a fat man stood up. "Young prince! What is the meaning of this. Unhand my son now!"

Michael looked at everyone lazily but the next second everyone felt a force that pushed them to lay flat on the ground including Kevin.

He released the pressure on Kevin and he said, "Speak."

"Your majesty. I'd recommend that the culprit speaks of everything himself." Kevin replied in a carefree tone.

Micheal retracted all his pressure and collective gaps and wheezing sounded in the hall. "Y-your majesty! I am innocent. Don't believe the lies of a maid's- of this person." Julius said still not believing that Kevin was the second prince.

"I guess beating the truth out of you will work." Kevin snapped. He walked to the boy on the ground and gave him a finger flick on his forehead. Julius' body was flung towards a wall but Kevin was there already and a palm strike hit his Julius' stomach making him spit blood.

Micheal watched with no interest. The king's and dukes watched in fear at the ruthlessness of a 5 year old except for one whose head had turned as red as blood.

Kevin rushed forward again to give Julius more fists but he shouted. "I-I am guilty!"

"If you didn't talk now, I'd have resorted to toture." Kevin said. "Now, speak."

With tears in his eyes, Julius spilled the beans. "I-I paid money to a man in a dark cloak to lesses the security in the castle. My goal was to steak the Strix of Exzonia from the chambers of the emperor and empress. I'm sorry, I just wanted power."

Micheal lifted his head and his gaze landed on the father of the criminal. The duke rushed out of his seat and bowed before the emperor visibly shaking in fear.

"Y-your majesty! I-it's all a lie!" He raised himself a bit and pointed an accusing finger at Kevin. "He probably stole it and made my son spit all those lies! Exile him your majesty!"

Micheal looked at Kevin to see his demeanor but he only saw the face of someone who had control of the entire situation.

After some thinking, he spoke to a servant who stood at one corner of the hall. "Get the truth orb."

As those words left his mouth, Julius' face paled so much that Micheal thought he was a part of the white carpet.

After 5 minutes of silence, the servant came back with a table. She removed the cloth on it and a transparent glass bowl was revealed. In it, everyone could see a black orb and another round of whispers started.

"Silence." Micheal said letting out a little of his aura. His voice neither high nor low. Excited or depressed nor lazy but despite all that it sent a shiver down the spines of every living person in the room.

Micheal gestured towards Julius to come to the orb. "Put your hands on it."

After hesitating for a moment, he placed his shaky hands on the orb. "Did you try stealing from the living chambers of the queen and myself."

"Yes your majesty." Julius replied and the black orb glowed green."Any accomplices in this operation with you apart from the cloaked man."

Julius hesitated to answer much longer than before before replying "No." and the orb glowed red.

Julius' eyes widened in great fear and he looked at the emperor but there wasn't a single emotion written on his face.

'Why did I do it. I'm in deep trouble now.' Julius thought with his hands shaking.

"Who was it." Micheal asked with the same impassive tone.

"J-j-j-james T-"

Just then he stopped talking and brought his hands to the sides of his head. He fell onto the ground and opened his mouth for a scream but nothing came out. His skin turned into an unhealthy grey colour and he slowly turned into stone.

Everyone except one looked at what was happening impassively. After turning into stone Julius turned to dust and flew out the window.

"Everyone out. Maximus, Kevin stay behind." Micheal said in the same impassive tone he had been using in the courtroom.

The kings and dukes began to walk out with their heads down knowing they had lost a colleague.

"Maximus, you're exiled from this empire. Guards, seal his magic and throw him out into the waste lands." Micheal said coldly, showing emotion for the first time since the meeting.

"N-no! Y-your majesty! I'll be killed by stray beasts! You can't do this!" Maximus said as he tried to run but was caught successfully by the guards and dragged out leaving only a father and son in the room with a few maids.

After gesturing to them, the maids walked out bowing. Kevin raised his head to look at his father but before he knew anything, he found his face on his father's chest.

His legs were above the floor and he couldn't help but flail them about because he couldn't breathe. After a minute, Michael put him down. His emotionless face from a minute ago was completely filled with emotions.

"Where have you been. It's been 3 days now. Are you hurt, what happened."

"Slow down dad, one question at a time. I was-" Kevin began to say but he was cut off.

"Your majesty! The hospital is under attack!" said a guard who burst in and looked like he could die at any moment.

Micheal's face paled and he ran out the entrance leaving an almost dead man and a confused Kevin behind.