Empire

Peril

IMPERIAL PALACE, GOVERNMENT DISTRICT, GALACTIC CITY, PRINCIPIA,  PRINCIPIUM PLANETARY SYSTEM

A.D 26,576

Penetrating silence reigned supreme inside the dining hall, occasionally broken by the clang of silver cutlery on pristine plates.

Princess Imperial Auren hastily adjusted her robes and gazed upwards at everyone seated at the grandiose table. A sumptious array of dishes was laid out, but they were barely touched. In a soft voice, Auren began "Mother, I am afraid we must address the elephant in the room" "And what that might be?" came the retort, from the stern Empress Dowager Corinthia- also the matriarch of the Imperial House and the iron fisted manipulator of the Imperial Court. Auren gave a disgusted look and said nothing.

"My dearest daughter, I know precisely what you mean. However, it is upto His Imperial Majesty the Emperor to decide whether he wants us to debate upon it whilst we all dine" said the Empress Dowager, hurling a look of pure fury at her eldest son: Emperor Coriolanus Arkulus XVII  Exhausted, the Emperor began "Mother. I do not think it is a matter upon which the Imperial House should make public statements to pacify the people, hence..." and he was cut short by a furious Empress Dowager. "Let me remind you Coriolanus, the Empire is suffering from what seems like a tidal wave of problems. The constant menace of pirates is ever burgeoning, they have amassed enough power to annex entire planetary systems in the outer territories of the Empire, tens of senators have declared open rebellion against the Imperial House and the court nobles, hundreds of planetary governments are aggressively advocating to secede from the Empire! If we simply turn our backs, there may come a day when they shall annihilate the Imperial Palace to ashes and have us beheaded! think, Coriolanus, think!"  

"And how it shall be of benefit for me, a constitutional monarch, by simply addressing these crises in a session of the Imperial Court and revealing it all to trillions of citizens of the Empire? mass hysteria shall ensue!" the Emperor protested. "If mass hysteria ensues, so be it! at least it shall make the citizens more vigilant!"the Empress Dowager retorted. All of a sudden, Prince Clio, who was silent all this time, rised from the table. "Young man where do you think you're headed?" the Empress Dowager uttered. "To my chambers, mother. This dinner is a sham, And naturally, I am never included in your utterly intriguing debates, for I am the youngest in this family. Good riddance" he replied, his voice dripping of scorn. Auren looked forlorn. Coriolanus sat there, placid as a mountain lake. "Your younger brother is splintering royal protocols by the dozen. He isn't supposed to leave the table until you have finished dining" the Empress Dowager muttered, staring at Coriolanus. "And where is Athena today? has she been sick again?" she further inquired, referring to the Empress and Coriolanus's wife. "I'm afraid so mother, Athena was not in good health today as well" Coriolanus replied meekly. Expecting an elaborate elucidation from Coriolanus regarding Empress Athena's absence, she sat there gazing at him- but to no avail.

"Well? You two are going to be ever still as statues, fat good it shall do to me. I better retire to my chambers before my anger gets the better of me. Goodbye" the Empress Dowager declared, her bosom heaving up and down with vexation. With the utmost grace, she ambled out of the dining hall. This left Coriolanus and Auren, and of course the dozen footmen, stationed immobile alongside the edges of the hall.

"I think we're done with this course. Do bring the fruit and cheese to cleanse the palate" Auren declared to the footmen. Coriolanus let out a small laugh.