Chapter 3 The Royal Court

"I see ... you may go." The imperial consort closed the door after she was informed about Lady Delphine's condition.

"Who was at the door?" Elpis asked with her eyes still close while lying on the bed.

"It was Grace. Delphine managed to gave birth to a healthy little boy. Both the mother and son are fine." Elpis opened her eyes before getting up to a sitting position.

"I see. Please make the proper arrangement for the newborn. I'll be spending a night at Delphine's quarters tonight." The imperial consort nodded before she helped Elpis getting into her morning bath. After helping the empress scrubbing her back, she went to the door and asked the lower concubines to enter the room to help her putting on her attire for today.

"France, you've been up all night. Why are you here?" Elpis asked her concubine.

"I'm just a low rank lady, your majesty. This is what I'm supposed to do." Elpis hummed before she turned to Virtra.

"Let her rest for today. She did save Delphine from death. You did a good job, France. The rest can come with us." Virtra nodded as she acknowledged her orders. Lady France bow her head.

"Your majesty, forgive me if I'm being rude but ... what exactly are we doing today? It's rare for us to accompany you to any official social gathering." Lady Mirabel asked while she puts on Elpis's official attire.

"Meeting the officials of course. The victory I've obtained mean a great deal for the empire. Our enemies are coming to negotiate about their fate now that they're under our control. And also ... I want to make sure that the court is completely under our control. While I was away, I'm sure Virtra asked each of you to do something in my favour, correct?" The concubines nodded.

"It's like a dream come true. The war is over. No more needless death. No more unnecessary bloodshed. You've done a great job, your majesty. If only ... if only peace could be obtained before ..." Elpis placed her hands on Mirabel's shoulders.

"Do not fret. I promised you that I shall seek peace for you and I did." Mirabel kneel on the floor, asking for forgiveness.

"It was selfish of me to request such thing, your majesty. Look at you ... your wounds ... your beautiful body ... it all because of me that you have to suffered so much." Elpis smiled.

"Mirabel, rise. There's no need for you ... any of you to be so formal while we're in private." Elpis helped Mirabel to stand up on her feet before caressing her cheek.

"The Empire has long for this victory since my father was emperor. But because of you ... I survived the whole ordeal. I just want to make you ... each and everyone of you happy." Elpis smiled at Lady Ravinia, Blanca and Celestia whom stand by Virtra's side.

"Put on your best dress, my concubines. We shall impress those who look down on us today." The concubines bow their head.

"The lower concubines are quite something. Except for France since she's a doctor, I don't see why you have to take the rest of them into our harem." Virtra asked when the concubines leave the room.

"You don't? That means you have to learn how to view things like I do, Virtra. Enough of this. Get yourself ready." The imperial consort obliged and went to the closet to get herself ready. Elpis finds her sword neatly placed on a table. She was surprised to see that her sword had been cleaned.

"Virtra ... did you clean my sword?" Elpis asked.

"I did. Now help me tie this up. I can't believe I have to dress for court. You really like to show your concubines in front of all the officials huh?" Elpis smiled as she helped the imperial consort with the strings.

"You should be happy because I like to flaunt my beautiful concubines in front of others. I even let you go out to town as much as you like. Do you hate that idea as well?" The imperial consort flicked the empress's nose.

"Keep your hands to yourself. Don't you had enough yesterday? What if they see the marks on my body?" Elpis raised both her hands.

"I just couldn't help myself, Virtra." The imperial consort rolled her eyes before opening the door for Elpis. As they walked towards the court, the emperor waved at his sister before noticed something odd.

"You only brought 8 of your concubines? I understand about Delphine's situation but ... where's Lady France?" Elpis explained the situation to her brother whom understand completely.

"I understand. Let's get you settle in before the officials arrived." The emperor patted the throne seat for his sister.

"You act suspiciously, Ragnar. What's going on?" Elpis asked her brother who act weirdly since she arrived.

"Nothing. I'm just glad I don't have to listen to these officials fighting each other. Good luck sister." Ragnar gave his sister two thumbs up. His eyes turned to Virtra who stood behind his sister's throne.

"Sister in law, you can have Sophia's seat. It wouldn't be nice for the queen to stand." Ragnar offered but Virtra declined.

"I'm perfectly fine where I am. Beside it's easy for me to act if something goes wrong." Ragnar swallowed the invisible lumps in his throat.

"Something will go wrong? Please tell me you're joking, sister in law." Ragnar's hands begin to shake.

"Virtra, leave the poor boy alone. They're here." They waited until court are filled with the empire's officials. Ministers from every department made themselves known in front of the true ruler of the empire.

"I am appalled. They should be the one who waited for us. Not the other way around. How did you lead this court, brother?" Ragnar apologised for his negligence.

"Sister, that minister who just greeted us, he's new and quite a talented politician. Noble consort Grace asked me to investigate about him not too long ago. Nothing seemed suspicious except for his connection. He is quite well known in the underworld." Elpis nodded as she acknowledged the new piece of information.

"Not everyone is happy when they know the war is over. No war means no profit ... no profits means trouble among the righteous merchant and the underworld. Our people will greatly affected by this. Not to mention that we might suffered from those who against peace." Elpis raised an eyebrow.

"I see."

***

"Say ... I've been meaning to ask. Why is the princess general sitting on the throne rather than the emperor? She got some nerve taking the emperor's spot like that." An older minister immediately hushed the younger officials.

"Do you wish to die that badly? Since she's back, of course she would sit on the throne. Didn't your predecessor mentioned that the real ruler of the empire is EMPRESS Elpis of Galan? Emperor Ragnar was made emperor because of this empire's strict law. Only male could ascend the throne. Empress Elpis refuse to marry a man so she handed the throne to her half brother." The young official had more question popping in his mind.

"If that's the case, why would she sits on the throne? The emperor should do something. She's clearly has ulterior motives." The older minister hushed the young official yet again.

"Keep your voice low! This court is filled with those who support the empress. You're going to get into trouble. Even I couldn't help you if you were summoned by the imperial consort herself." By now, the young official seemed even more confused.

"But ... concubines aren't suppose to have power in court. My lord, are you okay? You shouldn't be worried this much about a mere concubine." The older minister sighed heavily.

"You have a lot to learn if you want to survive in this court, young one." He dragged the young official far enough so that no one could hear them.

"You see, empress Elpis is the daughter of the first empress. But unfortunately, she died at childbirth. Soon, the late emperor remarried and then the second empress, our empress dowager came into the picture and gave birth to two princes. Emperor Ragnar and the second prince." The older minister looked around to make sure no one is being nosy.

"Empress Elpis was raised to be a lady who knows the affairs of the palace, the art of war, politics and even how to become a general of an army. The princes was given the same education as the empress but the former emperor only sees potential in his princess Elpis at the time. He planned to marry the princess general off to a worthy prince but the she refuse because ... as you can see, she's fond of females." The young official finally understands.

"And since the princess general refused, she asked her half brother, our emperor to take the throne. But the late emperor was worried that he might lead the empire to ruin. That is why, before the death of late emperor, he asked the princess general to ruled behind her brother, in the shadows. Those who only work inside the palace knows about this. I can't believe your predecessor didn't even mentioned about this before you take his place." The young official was glad that he didn't make any scene on his first day at court.

"But still ... why do we have to worried about a mere concubines? Sure, they are here to please the empress but ... they have no power over this court." The older minister sighed.

"How foolish can you be? Who do you think has been giving advice to the emperor while empress Elpis was gone? Imperial consort Virtra and noble consort Grace are not someone you could easily trick. Their intelligence exceed all the minds of the officials combine. Even the ministers has some respect for the imperial and noble consort. Why do you think empress Elpis kept them close to her? They act as her eyes and ears." The young official nodded.

"But now that I think about it, why did the empress brought all her available concubines into court? There must be something going on that we have no idea about." The older minister thought before turning to the young official.

"Listen here young man, empress Elpis's concubines are different than the emperor's or any other concubines you might know off. For one, they're not use to provide heir like they supposed to. They are here to support the empress in gaining more power, more wealth, more influence against other forces." The young officials nodded again.

"And this is just a simple reminder; do not engage with any of them without precaution. You've seen what the empress did to one of the minister who deflowered one of her concubine. Look at what happened to him now? Hell, she even let noble consort Grace to take care of him. Only God will be able to save him now." The young official swallowed a huge lump in his throat.

"The king of Earth Kingdom arrived." The herald announced. All minister went to their places and foresee this meeting. The young official was surprised to see a huge man approaching the throne.

"I an the king of Earth Kingdom. Long live Empress Elpis. Glory and peace for the empire." The king kneel on one knee and he kept his head low.

"Rise, king of Earth Kingdom. How was your trip?" Elpis asked. The king didn't rise. He kept kneeling while keeping his head low.

"Memorable. By the way, your majesty. I am here to negotiate for my people. I am aware that you've won the war and indirectly, the land that used to belong to my ancestor belongs to you now." The ministers gasped when they heard the king's claim. Elpis kept a expressionless facial.

"Your majesty, what do you plan to do to my people? I am wronged to go against you on the battlefield. I had accepted my defeat earnestly but please, your majesty, please spare my people. They have nothing to do with the agreement my minister had suggested." Elpis raised her eyebrow.

"Your ministers agreed to my condition when we met each other. Now that I've won the war, and your kingdom belongs to the Empire, why do you have to show yourself now? Why didn't you asked the same minister that came to see me to be here?" The king kept his head low.

"My father trusted the wrong man, your majesty. After the war was over, my father fell ill and I have no choice but to take over the kingdom. By the time I took the throne, it was in ruined. The ministers who used to support my father, they flee after knowing my father failed to won the war against the empire." Elpis chuckled.

"Imperial consort Virtra, you have wide knowledge about the Earth Kingdom. What do you propose we do about it and it's people?" The king finally looked up to the empress, baffled that she asked her concubine instead of her ministers.

"Earth Kingdom has fertile land for vegetation. It might help the empire in terms of agriculture and economic. But every district ruled by a corrupted lord which led to the mistreatment of its own people. The former king was too busy playing around with his concubines to even help his own people. The only way to dispose of those who will ruin the empire in the future is by killing them." The ministers murmured among themselves.

"I see. Is that true? Did your father always fooled around while his people needed him?" The king kept his head low.

"Yes, your majesty." Elpis hummed.

"Will you do the same?" The king shake his head no.

"I won't fall into my father's way of ruling the kingdom! I have a beautiful and expecting wife to care for. Fooling around with other women will only resulted to my own death!" Elpis was impressed by the king's boldness.

She laughed and so did the other concubines.

"My king, the empress was just trying to test you. My sisters and I will think of a way to use your resources for the good of the empire and your people. We're glad to have the Earth Kingdom as our ally." Noble consort Grace said while she walked towards the king to helped him up to his feet.

"Thank you, your majesty, your ladyship!" Elpis smiled.

"We shall talk in private. My servant will show you the way to your room after this court session is over. Please wait in the corner with the other ministers." The noble consort guide the king to the corner before going back to the empress side.

"So ... what exactly does the ministers and officials do here?" The young official asked.

"We do whatever the concubines and the emperor asked us to do. The empress rarely gave us any orders but when she does, it only means something terrible is about to happen. So, if you wish to live long and a happy life, keep your own thoughts to yourself. Never ... ever disrespect the empress and her concubines." The young official nodded.

"Don't worry old man. I won't."