Sinister Obsession: Macsen Massey (Emperor Series, #3) ✔️

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

The news reached the palace. Emperor Macsen paced tensely in the great chamber amid the splendor of the palace, a mixture of excitement and fear running through his head. The ornate tapestries and ornate furniture attested to the significance of his epiphany.

"I can't contain my excitement!" He exclaimed. "I'm going to be a father!"

Macsen's declaration surprised Emperor Maximus, who had visited the palace recently, and he arched an eyebrow.

"What?" Maximus asked, his expression tinged with incredulity. As far as he remember, no man was mentioned as the father of the Aastha's pregnant lady.

With a mix of pride and doubt, Macsen exclaimed, "She's pregnant! Belle is pregnant!" as he watched for confirmation in Maximus's response.

With an air of disbelief as sharp as a dagger, Maximus shot back. "What the fuck? How are you sure you're the fucking father?"

In response to Maximus's doubts, Macsen asserted. "I'm sure I was her first! And it was fucking seven days; how is she not going to get pregnant?" His voice rose.

"You fucking maniac!" Maximus exploded, his frustration echoing in the grand chamber. The tension between the two emperors hung thick, the weight of the situation casting a shadow over their previous camaraderie.

The courtiers and attendants became curious as the heated exchange went on, and their voices could be heard echoing through the palace corridors. Within the opulent halls, rumors quickly spread like wildfire, with servants trading sidelong glances and low whispers.

The peace of Emperor Maximus's visit had been shattered when he learned of Belle's pregnancy, like a sudden storm. His mind whirled with the possibilities presented by this unanticipated turn of events—the dynamics of the empire now interwoven with the revelation of imminent fatherhood.

Long shadows were cast over the palace grounds as the sun sank below the horizon, entwining Belle's unborn child's destiny with the political machinery of the empire. Huge tapestries with elaborate designs that concealed the intricacy of the entwined destinies within the walls of power silently absorbed the drama that was playing out.

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With his crimson robes flowing behind him like a royal banner, Emperor Macsen strode through the great halls of Aastha Manor. He was moving toward the center of the lavish estate, where the strong smell of burning incense and polished wood filled the air. The strength and authority that Macsen commanded resounded from the marble floors, which echoed with every step.

Upon arriving at the manor's soaring entrance, he was met by the formidable Duke Luell, who had a deep-set frown on his face. The Duke, who was renowned for his savage attitude towards the Emperor, did not take long to offer his traditional salutation. The Emperor felt a powerful blow to his jaw that sent shockwaves through his body. Despite his stumbles, Macsen remained composed, his well-honed stoicism concealing the agony that was marked on his face.

Duke Luell faced Emperor Macsen, his anger casting a harsh shadow in the well-lit chamber. His hand landed with a hard slap that reverberated throughout the room, highlighting every taut line on Luell's face in the daylight streaming through the windows. Macsen stumbled, his expression stoic from the blow. Luell's hostility increased as the scene was bathed in daylight. He pounded Macsen with his fists, each blowing a sharp contrast to the calm daylight pouring in through the windows. But the Emperor did not panic, not even lifting a hand to defend himself.

"You never learn, huh? You're here again to get punched," the Duke said.

"Allow me to visit your daughter," the Emperor said. "As I have said, I have no intentions of fighting back. I am not here for war. I'm solely here for you, daughter."