Free Web NovelChapter 213: The Emperor Unmasked
The following morning, Mark walked through the palace corridors toward the meeting room with Zilu and Emilia at his side.
It had been decided that the meeting with Emperor Joseph would take place in the morning, while the one with Princess Luna would be left for the evening.
The reason was fairly simple: Joseph’s return journey to Eldia was considerably longer, so meeting early would allow him to depart that same day and make the most of the light to set sail.
Princess Luna, on the other hand, was planning to stay a few more days, so there was no problem there. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"Do you already have an idea of what Emperor Joseph will want to tell you?" Emilia asked as she walked beside him.
The queen still had the dark circles from the night before and a visibly sourer mood than usual, though Mark didn’t know exactly why.
When he had asked her in the morning, she had simply told him she hadn’t slept well and was feeling a little stressed.
"Based on the little I’ve spoken with him and how shameless he is as a person," Mark replied, "I think I can already get a pretty clear idea of where the conversation is going to go..."
"And is that good or bad?"
"Honestly, I’m not sure..." Mark replied with a half smile. "But something tells me it’s not going to be a very pleasant chat."
Zilu, who was walking on the other side of Mark in her servant’s uniform, looked up at him.
"Master, where is Miss Rose?" she asked, looking around. "I thought she was going to help you with the meeting, like yesterday."
"She will," Mark replied. "She’s already in the room next door waiting for the meeting to start. Same as yesterday, she’ll be listening to everything and will tell me what to say if I get stuck on something."
"I see," Zilu said, nodding.
The brief conversation continued until they reached the meeting room, and after Mark opened the door, the three of them went in.
Emperor Joseph was already waiting for them, seated in one of the chairs at the table with his usual smile and a relaxed posture. Seeing them appear, he got to his feet and opened his arms in a gesture of welcome.
"Good morning, good morning!" he said in his ever-animated way. "I hope you rested well, Emperor of Death. I slept like a baby, I must say the beds in your palace are exceptionally comfortable."
"Glad you felt at home," Mark replied, taking a seat across from him. "We’d better start as soon as possible so you can depart without delays."
"I completely agree."
After that, and to Mark’s surprise, the meeting proceeded in the most normal and calm way possible.
Joseph focused almost entirely on commercial matters between the two kingdoms while he had breakfast with the food Zilu and the other servants had brought.
He talked about maritime routes, tariffs, the products Eldia could offer, and what he was interested in importing from the elven kingdom.
It was a practical, professional, and surprisingly productive conversation.
And for a good while, Mark almost started to think he had been wrong about him.
That perhaps Joseph, despite his saccharine personality and obvious shamelessness, was simply a pragmatic ruler looking for a beneficial alliance.
Almost.
Because just as the meeting was about to end and everyone seemed ready to get up from the table, Joseph showed his true intentions.
"Before you go, I was wondering if you could spare me a brief moment," the emperor said with a smile as he set his napkin on the table. "Alone, if you don’t mind."
Mark looked at him for a second before turning his head toward Zilu and Emilia, who were standing to one side of him, and giving them a discreet gesture to step out.
Both understood immediately.
Zilu gave a small bow, while Emilia gave Mark one last look before both of them left the room and closed the door behind them.
Joseph watched their movements and, the moment the door closed, made a comment.
"Well... they really are obedient," he said with a barely perceptible smile. "More than I would expect from a couple of simple demi-humans."
"What do you mean by that?" Mark asked, frowning.
Joseph let out a laugh, as if Mark had just said something funny.
"Oh, come on, you don’t have to keep pretending," the emperor said, leaning back in his chair with a conspiratorial smile. "We’re among humans now, so there’s no need to act as if you actually like those freaks."
Mark felt something ignite inside him.
The contemptuous way that idiot had referred to his women, as if they were objects, as if they were less than people, made his blood boil in an instant.
His hands closed into fists on the table and for a moment he was on the verge of getting up, grabbing Joseph by the collar of that elegant robe, and beating that smile off his face.
But then Rose’s voice reached his mind through the mental link.
"Master, wait," she said calmly. "I know you’re furious, and believe me, so am I... But please keep your composure and play along with him."
’Play along with him?’ Mark thought, clenching his teeth. ’This idiot just—’
"I know..." Rose continued. "But if you react now, we’ll lose the opportunity to find out what he’s really plotting. The best thing is to let him talk and let him keep thinking you’re on his side. That way we can get as much information as possible."
Mark took a slow breath through his nose.
’...Fine,’ he replied reluctantly through the link, forcing himself to relax his fists.
"Good," Rose replied. "Now just play his game."
Mark let the air out slowly and, with considerable effort, recomposed his expression into something resembling a conspiratorial smile.
"You’re right," Mark said, leaning back in his chair and looking at Joseph. "We’re alone now, so there’s no need to keep pretending anything."
Joseph’s smile widened at hearing that.
"Ah, I knew we’d understand each other!" the emperor said with enthusiasm. "I knew it from the moment I saw you. Two practical men who understand how the world really works."
"Exactly," Mark said, forcing every word. "So let’s skip the roundabout and get straight to the point. What is it you really came to propose to me, Joseph?"
