Chapter 16

108 9 0
                                    

         < Elijah Archer >
                                        

"I'll have this."

"Ah... there are a total of 20 designs. Which one would you like, your majesty?"

"All of them."

"P-p-pardon?"

"I don't like repeating myself for the third time. I said all of them."

If I'm going to be wasteful, I might as well buy all of them... then I'll sell them secretly one by one and prepare a fund to support myself and my child after I get divorced.

Yes, my father is a duke. But i don't want to ask him for some money. 

                         < Calix Coastillon >
                                     

"YOUR MAJESTY!!... PLEASE LISTEN TO US.."

"His majesty is listening" Ced.

"Your majesty, this is absurd"

"Your majesty, have you any idea how much the empress spent buying dresses and jewelry today?"

"Your majesty, I heard that she bought all the new collections of jewelry... On top of that, I heard that she bought them for several times the original cost!"

'She'? You really dared to called the empress that way.

"On dresses?!"

"Your majesty, this is too much, even if it's to keep up her standard of appearance. Her majesty spent over 50 million of the empire's budget for defense in merely one day!"

"Your majesty, as your loyal subject, I must be honest. Though the current empress "Elijah Coastillon" has done an excellent job as an empress so far, I don't think you should just let this slide "

"I agree, Her extravagant spending habits are starting again and it's unfitting for someone who holds such an important position as the empress"

"Your majesty, I dare say... Lady Stewart is a fantastic candidate who perfectly fits the role of the entire empire's mother, and she's also the mother of your only son, Prince Caine"

This is going too far.

"Have you all finished saying what you wanted?"

At biglang nanahimik ang lahat.

"I waited to see... how far you would go, but you're like a wild horses that don't know when to stop."

"Your majesty... "

"This empire is said to have as much gold as the golden palace of Estenburn have. Do you think that a few dresses will affect our finances?"

"Your majesty, we don't-"

"I, CALIX COASTILLON, AM THE EMPIRE, AND THE EMPIRE'S PRESTIGE IS MY PRESTIGE. WHO DARES TO QUESTION IT HERE?"

*silence*

"IS THE ABILITY ELIJAH HAS SHOWN SO FAR NOT EVEN WORTH A FEW DRESSES OR JEWELRY?..WHAT DO YOU THINK DUKE?"

"T-the duke is here?"

"T-t-the duke?"

"I GATHERED THE MOST TALENTED PEOPLE OF THE EMPIRE HERE, YET HOW IS IT THAT NO ONE HERE KNOWS WHAT'S TRULY IMPORTANT?"

"We-"

"I CHOSE HER AS MY EMPRESS.
Minister of Finance. Are you... questioning my decision right now?"

"No, not at all, your majesty! How would I dare doubt your decisions? I-.. I simply misspoke.. Because I care so deeply for this empire, your majesty.. "

"You... don't seem to know your place. It must be because I've left you in a position you don't deserve for too long. I'll give you a position that will suit you perfectly now."

"Y-your majesty, please forgive me for saying-"

"I command that the minister of finance be replaced and confined to his estate for one year."

"Y-your majesty! Y-your majesty!! Your majesty! Please forgive me!"

"Take him out."

"Yes, your majesty"

"Your majesty!! Please Forgive me, your majesty!"

"Ah, I nearly forgot. The empress's prestige is also the prestige of the empire and mine as well. So I can't let her wear scraps that are only worth over 50 million of the defense budget. Don't you agree, minister of defense?"

"P-pardon? Of- of course! I agree that the empress must wear something much more luxurious than that!"

"I knew that you'd agree with me. Then no one would disagree about making her a more splendid dress, would they?"

"N-none of us disagree, your majesty"

"Ced. Have a dress made for Elijah that's ten times finer and more splendid than the one she had made this time."

"As you wish, your majesty"

"What is everyone waiting for? Let's resume the meeting."

"A-ahh.. Y-yes, your majesty"

Empress Elijah! Tahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon