The Empror's Trap

Ch 24 - Below One, Above Thousands?

Inside the palace, Kenji stepped into the emperor's study.

"Speak. What do you need me to do this time?"

It was eight in the morning. Pluvia had already been working for two hours and was at her sharpest. When Kenji arrived, she was focused on her duties.

"Your Majesty, these are the funding requests the Ministry of War has put together, and, well...it's quite a lot."

Kenji spoke cautiously.

"I already saw your memorial this morning. The money you want—I've approved it," Pluvia replied. "Anything else?"

Kenji stood there looking a bit uneasy.

"What's on your mind? Being so hesitant isn't like you." Pluvia glanced up, curious.

"Your Majesty, I'm thinking about the Sorechin Dynasty."

"The Sorechin Dynasty? They have impressive fortifications. You have plans for them?"

"Your Majesty, I hope you'll allow me to negotiate for military passage through the Sorechin region," Kenji said.

A chill flickered in Pluvia's eyes.

"What do you mean? You want our armies to move through Sorechin territory? What's your goal?"

"To end the chaos in the northern borders."

Kenji answered without wavering.

"Do you realize what you're saying?" Pluvia set down her brush and pressed her temples. "You're trying to deal with the Sal Kingdom directly, aren't you? And just bribing the smaller tribes alone has drained a huge chunk from the treasury. Now you want passage through Sorechin. Are you planning a diplomatic move or military force? Either way, the empire will suffer another loss in resources."

"I understand, but..." Kenji paused, then gathered his courage. "If I may be blunt—we in Camelot simply don't have enough time."

Kenji took a long, steadying breath.

That sounded surprising because, as the empire's highest authority, Pluvia already had many personal soldiers. But if she still wanted a death squad devoted exclusively to her, it meant she was emphasizing her desire for a force that would obey only her command.

Yet she shouldn't trust Kenji completely—shouldn't she always be wary of him? Why give him full responsibility over a squad that would answer only to the Emperor? What was she thinking?

Regardless, Kenji couldn't refuse.

"I will devote myself to these tasks with everything I have, Your Majesty."

"That's good." Pluvia placed the seal into Kenji's hands.

His fingers trembled.

He was a living, breathing man, not a machine. And anyone with a heartbeat feels something about power, whether they admit it or not.

The seal in his hand symbolized the empire. Though it wasn't the original, at Pluvia's command it came close, granting him power that put him below one person but above thousands. The destiny of Camelot Empire lay in his grasp.

The seal had weight. It was carved from a solid piece of nearly flawless jade, its natural flaws so few that you could almost call it perfect. It felt hefty, but compared to what it represented, its physical weight didn't compare to its significance.

"Would you like to walk with me?" Pluvia asked. She watched his slightly shaking hands and smiled. "There's a royal garden in the palace that's quite a sight. You've been so busy serving the empire, you should take a moment to relax."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

...

Although they called it the Imperial Garden, it was as large as a public park. Numerous birds and animals lived within its grounds, kept for the Emperor's enjoyment. Still, the entire place was off-limits to outsiders, so every so often soldiers stood guard, protecting it from intruders.

Pluvia strolled through a bamboo grove filled with birdsong and the sweet scent of blossoms. She didn't mind when her expensive clothes brushed against the soil; she kept walking deeper into the bamboo, and Kenji, though confused, didn't dare go against her wishes and followed.

Suddenly, the path opened up.

They had arrived.