Chapter 117: The cicada, the mantis, and the oriole. (4)

“Viscount of War Gabriel Sakra Indra! Prostate yourself before the Emperor’s Will!”

Come dawn, a great shout and deafening fanfare rocked the estate that Gabriel was currently living in. The sun had barely risen yet the emperor had already sent out his decree. Nay, thinking about the time it took to get here, the emperor had probably sent out his couriers an hour or two ago, before the sun had even gotten to touch the edge of the horizon.

“They really are terribly uncouth. How is one to sleep properly if they act like this?”

Alice stood within the mansion, narrowed red eyes looking down at the delegation that stood in front of the estate’s gate. A great parade of nearly a hundred men, an annoying fanfare from instruments loaded aboard carriages that they brought along.

‘We are here. See us. Hear us. You have been ordered, let all see’

It was a painfully obvious tactic, but an equally efficient one.

If he was on his own, Gabriel could just ignore it all. He could blow off the emperor and his decree, he could just pack his bags and leave, chaining him down would simply be too hard. But Gabriel wasn’t alone. The whole reason Gabriel got himself a noble title was for the sake of Alice, to make matters with her that much simpler. Alice De Vritara desired the Vritara duchy, and that which lay beyond. She would not leave this empire. Thus, Gabriel would not leave this empire.

And thusly, the emperor could use a crude tactic like this to force Gabriel’s hand. Each pair of eyes that saw the parade became another chain, each person a shackle. As long as Gabriel desired Alice, who was supposedly currently missing, he would have no choice but to let these eyes become chains.

Of course, seeing as Alice was currently standing next to him, her somewhat curly purple hair slightly damp due to the bath she just took, she was obviously not missing. But her having been kidnapped by the Kasarias Kingdom was the perfect ‘justification’ for Gabriel to take action against said kingdom so they were happy to let people believe what they wanted. After all, she was indeed kidnapped by the kingdom for a brief moment.

But then again, even if Alice wasn’t ‘currently missing’ their hands would still be rather tied, just in different ways. With the current situation, Gabriel would be sent to the Yverial empire with the Imperial Delegation, but Alice would have to stay behind and play the part of a kidnapped victim. In short, they would be separated. If she was not ‘currently missing’ then they would probably just be sent to the Yverial empire together. A different path, the same outcome.

“Well. Go clean up our garden, will you?”

Alice’s hand rubbed Gabriel’s back for a moment, her smile so bright and wide that it occasionally flashed her teeth, her gaze still locked on the delegation beneath them. They had naturally taken measures to ensure that she couldn’t be seen or sensed even if said delegation were to look straight at them. Truly, her husband-to-be was just too skilled.

Then again, that knowledge only made this situation all the more irksome. A separation before they even got to hold a ball to celebrate their engagement, was that not just too rude of these people?

“Take care of the gala hall. I’ll be back soon.”

Gabriel’s response was simple, the two sharing a kiss before they parted. They had discussed their current situation throughout the night so that they would have a response ready when the emperor came knocking. And this was the answer they had reached. Alice desired, so they could not leave, they could not ignore the imperial decree.

Fine then, we’ll obey.

Gabriel would follow the delegation to the Yverial empire, and Alice would stay behind to handle the Kasarias Kingdom. Gabriel would secure what would become the garden for their future children, and Alice would set up what would become their gala hall. Briefly they would be separated, but together they would work to fulfill all which was desired.

Gabriel made his way through the mansion, buttoning his jacket and fixing the half-cape that was draped over his right shoulder as he moved. He was dressed rather excessively just to accept an Imperial decree, but Alice was clever, much more so than him, so she could easily guess what the Imperial family would do next and had thus prepared this for him.

“Bellona, Edith, watch over the house while I’m gone. Make sure to eat on time, brush your teeth, and go to bed early enough that you can also rise early. Teresa, watch over the kids.”

While moving, Gabriel spoke to the only other people in this wide estate. Gabriel and Alice. Their ‘maid’ and friend Teresa as well as the three younger brothers she had to take care of. And the two orphans they had picked up along the way, Edith and Bellona. In this estate that could easily house over a hundred, these eight were the only ones present. Well, it wasn’t like Gabriel or Alice needed any more people, they were more than used to taking care of themselves.

They were also currently in the process of teaching the two orphans how to take care of themselves so that they would be able to manage on their own someday, so there might come a day where they would leave so that they could reclaim their own normal lives. Well… Gabriel was partially responsible for their education so just how normal they would end up was… questionable at best.

“See you soon.”“We’ll be good.”“We’ll go to bed properly, so come back soon.”

The farewells were simple. Why would they not be for such a short separation? If there was any worry that they could feel right now then it would be for how much of a mess Gabriel would kick up in the Yverial empire, and how high the waves would be when they eventually reached the Earhart empire.

Gabriel shut the double-door behind him, slowly and calmly making his way down the road to the gates, which opened as he approached them. His right hand landed on his chest, his waist bending as he tilted into a bow.

“This lowly one, Viscount of War Gabriel Sakra Indra, prostrates himself in front of the emperor’s will.”

A scroll was unfurled as Gabriel bowed, the head of the procession carefully handling the Imperial decree. Gabriel heard a quiet whisper from another member of the procession, the soft motion of magic mixing with the air as the voice of the man holding the scroll was amplified by many magnitudes.

“Viscount of War Gabriel Sakra Indra, it warms our heart to say that We have found the perfect locale for you to shine, for you to truly spread your wings and fly as proud noble of our great empire! In a fortnight, we will exchange a delegation of unity and peace to the Yverial empire, forever deepening our bonds as we work together to secure this world for humanity! We have no doubt that it is in this crucible that you can shine brighter than any, bringing eternal glory to the Earhart Empire and the Sakra name. Raise your head, Gabriel Sakra Indra! Make your mark, Gabriel Sakra Indra! Join the Earhart empire into the future of endless glory! We shall personally await you at the palace, so join the procession and let us head into the future!”

Yada-Yada-Yada. It was a whole lot of useless words, several lungfuls of wasted breath. Come to the palace, we are sending you out to fight. That was the simple essence contained within the drawn-out message. But well, the theatrics were for all the people who could hear the crier’s amplified voice, they weren’t for Gabriel at all.

“This lowly one hears the will of the emperor. I have already prepared everything on my end so there will be no need to linger.”

It had indeed ended up just as Alice had theorized. The emperor rushed them here as quickly as he could, and would drag Gabriel to the palace to ensure that he could not slip out while they weren’t paying attention. Sly indeed, just as one would expect from the highest noble in this land.

The crier rolled up the scroll again and placed it into the silk-laced box that one of the men brought up to him, slightly bending his waist as he gestured towards the nearest carriage. It was the only carriage that hadn’t been loaded with instruments, its decadent and soft seats greeting Gabriel as he entered and the door shut behind him.

————

While the Earhart Empire was preparing their delegation, the Yverial Empire across the sea was also busy preparing for what was to come. Soldiers were being prepared for the joint training and subjugation squads, nobles were taught Earhart decorum, buildings and roads were being renovated. It was a hectic period for the entire empire.

But even in this hectic period, there were some who could stand tall while quietly looking down on all the hustle and bustle.

Chiseled and sharp features, skin so tanned it was practically bronze. Golden dark hair that resembled a lion’s mane as it hung down loosely, and a pair of dark violet eyes that twinkled as they observed the empire that unfurled beyond the window. Saint Arthur, sent down to the land by the gods themselves, guided by divine providence and supported by the Yverial imperial family. The brightest star of the Yverial Empire, the hope of the common man.

“How confident are you?”

A question reached Arthur as he looked through the window, the sound of a door shutting swiftly following the voice. He did not need to turn to know that Valentine Yverial, the Crown Prince of the empire, had trodded into the room. Judging by the sound of his steps, he was evidently rather annoyed.

How disheartening, after all the promises Arthur had made, after all the useful skills he had shown, Valentine still didn’t fully trust him. Well, he was sent here by those squabbling gods above so perhaps Arthur shouldn’t view it too harshly, he too would find it hard to trust anyone sent by things like that.

But then again, Arthur was indeed just using them for his own goal so perhaps the fact that Valentine didn’t trust him just spoke of his insight. Hmm, but if they ended up receiving so much from him using them for his own gain, would it really end up being such a bad thing?

Ah well, philosophy that would be left to others to debate. Arthur only had a single thing he needed to do.

“There is no need for worry, I am more than completely confident. The Earhart delegation will never reach these lands, and noone will be able to find fault with the Yverial empire about it.”

In the distance, Arthur could see the ocean through the window, a vast blue expanse reflected in his dark pupils. The delegation of the Earhart empire would never reach these lands, and that thing would never get to leave that ship. And even if they failed to somehow kill it, Arthur still had his last resort. The final gift granted by those petty squabblers that hated a show they couldn’t control. A shackle, a prison of eternity.

Yes, Calamity would not get to leave that boat, it would either die or be trapped for the rest of time.

The corners of his mouth turned up ever-so slightly as he gazed at the distant waters, picturing the scene in the Earhart empire. The mantis stalked the cicada, always unaware of the oriole watching them both.