Hareem of Queen Alessa
Prince Judas Disappeared
Aegis Palace
The day after the coronation of the Emperor, the Aegis court was overwhelmed with letters coming in from all directions. Up to hundreds. The sender is from various circles. From wealthy merchants, officials to princes in neighboring lands. And, all the letters contained data of men who registered as candidates for the emperor's concubine. Though the matter of the Emperor who is looking for concubines has not been officially issued by the palace. Advisors of the palace to the head bobble. It seemed like all the men had been enchanted by the Emperor at the party event last night.
“Yang Noble.. You get hundreds of love letters…. Can I read them one by one?” the palace advisor brought the letter with a large basket.
Emperor Alessa chuckled, he picked up one of the letters. “Pink color, this man is definitely romantic.”
“Or rather a girl. You are not looking for a wife, but a husband,” said Darius scoffed.
Emperor Alessa turned to Darius who had a flat face. “Pampered husband, can also.. surely he is obedient.” Still with a sweet smile.
“Many dogs are more obedient if you want to find one like that,”
“Darius?!” Emperor Alessa bought eyes hearing Darius' words.
“Sorry Your Highness, I say goodbye to training!”
Darius left without waiting for the Emperor to give him permission. The advisor was no less astonished. The emperor threw a questionable look at the middle-aged man. The advisor could only shrug his shoulders.
“What's with him?”
“I also don't know Your Highness.”
The Emperor stomped his body violently while sitting in his chair. His mood dropped as a result of Darius' strange attitude.
“Why did Darius sound so rude,” the Emperor threw the letter he had in his hand. “Open, and select the one you think suits me,” the command.
Advisors jerked and stiffened. “Sa-I choose, Your Majesty?”
Emperor nodded. “Don't forget..” The Emperor pauses his words until the advisor listens carefully. “the man must be handsome, do you understand?”
The advisor nodded stiffly. “Ba-good Your Majesty!”
A few hours later the letter selection was completed. The advisor placed the letters he had sorted onto the emperor's table. The emperor frowned.
“Only three? Didn't I ask for 4?”
“Sorry your majesty, a representative of Aegis myself I feel nothing fits. Only one candidate I believe is compatible for Your Majesty, but I did not find a letter from the person.”
“Who do you mean?”
“The Son of the Minister of Detention, namely Mr. Helios Attala.”
***
SRANGS!!! SRANGS!!!
The sound of swords clashing sounded around the field where the soldiers were training. Darius gave his subordinates extra training until they were exhausted.
“Mr Darius... can we rest for a while?” ask one of the soldiers who has been swinging the sword for 4 consecutive hours. Sweat sweat is no longer wetting the forehead. But, almost his entire body was drenched. It could be expected that the person will catch a cold soon.
Darius who had been silent since then with a glaring mind, did not even notice the soldiers who were training non-stop just waltzing away without an answer.
After the departure of Darius all the soldiers collapsed, laying down on the ground with a loud breath.
“I'm almost dead..” said the soldier who just asked permission.
Dairus exhaled a rough breath. His head feels like it's about to break. Plus today came so many letters to the Emperor. I want to burn every letter. Turn it into ash and throw it into the air until it leaves no trace.
At a time when his feelings were still uncertain. There came a man who approached Darius. The man's face did not improve. It's still the same more somber.
“Mr Darius!” call someone who is one of the palace guards. The guard gasped when he saw Darius's face turning to him.
“Ehm... Tuan.. “ he said staggered.
“What's up?” darius asked coldly.
“I-it... Your Highness..”.
Hearing the Emperor mentioned, Darius immediately turned serious and worried. “What happened to Emperor Alessa? Where is he now?” Darius clutched both the shoulders of the bodyguard hard. The guard until the pain grimaced.
“Bu-not Emperor Alessa. but... The former Emperor,” obviously made that grip loosen.
“You mean prince Judas? What's wrong with him?”
“Health... blur!”
***
Darius walked half-run towards the dungeon. There were many guards there. There were two prison guards lying on the ground in a terrible state. His hands and feet were cut off, thought to be the result of the slash of a sword.
Darius approached and bent his legs until crouched beside the bodies of the two guards. The man frowned when his manic caught something awkward. The blood scar slash was not splattered everywhere. Even the color of his blood was a bit blackened. Darius scratched his index finger slightly and felt the texture of the blood. The man was silent for a moment before turning to his subordinates.
“Make sure no one knows this, including His Majesty the Emperor!” his orders were emphatically stressed.
The prison guards and the palace sat against each other and then nodded obediently. “Good Mr Darius!”
After the order was issued, Darius ordered his subordinates to clean up the mess in the dungeon. One of them buried the victim properly. Darius also divided some soldiers to investigate Prince Judas who escaped from prison. Darius was suspicious if anyone helped Prince Judas to get out of there. The reason, the two arms of Prince Judas are no longer there, cut off by the slash of Emperor Alessa when the coup occurred. It was impossible for him to use a sword even with both feet. The time of power struggle has not stepped on 1 year. Just a few months. So how did the powerless prince of Judas get out of prison and fight two guards? It doesn't make any sense.
Darius twisted the brain, it could be related to Empress Rhea who until now has not found its existence. Or maybe there are spies in the army? Darius will not remain silent. He must get the answers to all these mysteries.
***
“Darius!” Emperor Alessa called Darius who happened to cross paths with each other.
“Hamba... Your Highness,” replied as he lowered his head in respect.
“Where have you been? I searched for you from earlier,” Emperor Alessa folded her arms waiting for an explanation.
Darius swallowed his saliva. Let not the Emperor know this. All of this will only add to the burden. “I am providing guidance and strategy of war as a form of defense to every soldier. Because in the next month we will attack the country of Persia!”
The Emperor was quite surprised to hear Darius' explanation. “What? We attack Persia?”
“Iya Your Majesty!”
“You better undo it!”
“Why Your Majesty?”
“Because there is my future concubine who came from there.. Jerome Istvan, Prince of Persia!”.
Tbc.