La Pluie

Act II.

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"You are an idiot." A woman laughed with insult and condescending gaze after listening to the confession of her lover, the Emperor. From what she heard from him, he visited the prince and stabbed him to death, it felt satisfying like removing one of the thorns that ached his side. The hatred he harbored towards the child has taken over his senses which led to this royal scandal. But surely it doesn't end here. "If you can kill the child, why not kill the Prime Minister too? You can hire an assassin if you desire." The concubine asked in curiosity. However, hearing the words made the Emperor tremble as knowledge from the past came rushing back into his thoughts. "He is not someone who can die easily..."

Neuvillette is not human. He is an existence far beyond human comprehension with origins completely unknown and only the royal family is informed about his true identity. Hundreds of years have passed since he was disturbed in his slumber, he left his abode to serve under 'her', the empress of that time. Was it her allure or was it her intelligence? He was quite uncertain as to why he made an oath to serve faithfully under the name Remuria. Year after year, he witnessed how a nation grew, how its royals fought battles of their own, and in a blink of an eye, centuries passed. His surroundings changed drastically unlike him who remained constant despite the passing of time.

"Your grace, this is outrageous. It was obvious that the 'pieces of evidence' were all fake. Someone must've planted those items in your room to fool the court..." The servants continued to speak with each other while trying to convince their Lord to fight against the prosecution. Amid the panicking crowd, Neuvillette was calm and still, he sat on his chair with eyes closed and hands clutched on his cane. He was well aware of who did such atrocities and it was the Emperor. Rage brewed inside him but he cannot go against the oath he made. The little prince did not deserve such a terrible end yet he was at a loss like a lone sheep in the middle of a vast field without a shepherd to follow.

Neuvillette's enemies in the court also took advantage of this situation to condemn him and put him back in his place. Since he was established by the previous emperor, Remus' supporters and allies see him as an eyesore who must be removed from the palace by all means necessary.

Neuvillette tapped his cane on the floor once and the room fell into silence. The servants exchanged worried glances while fumbling their fingers uncomfortably. If only they could grab their Lord and escape this place, they would have done so already. "We will proceed to court." The Prime Minister stood and walked towards the door. The servants lost all hope to save their Lord. Neuvillette's faction of nobles had been wiped out overnight, leaving him alone with servants of no significant background. He was merely a vulnerable prey the court would consume for their satisfaction.

Neuvillette trod the halls as he usually does, elegant and proud. It was a long time ago when he also walked this very same aisle to meet the empress and take his oath, the only difference is now, his every step carries him towards his demise. His usual glistening eyes turned dull. Tired he was indeed after many years of service, perhaps this incident will give him the rest he yearned for so long. His chest ached that he could not keep the promise he made to the previous emperor and his usual calm heart is now filled with burning emotions and queries that he could not answer himself. He gave his very life to this nation, to see it grow and prosper yet humans are vile creatures that seek nothing but gratification of their greed. Repeatedly, he asked himself was the oath worth it? A part of him mourned at his pitiful predicament but another part of him celebrated. If it wasn't for the empress of the past, he would still be trapped in the endless cycle of emptiness within the depths of the Remurian Sea. He was able to experience joy and sorrow and learned so many new ideas and principles. He was once indifferent towards humanity, their existence was a mere speck of dust in his eyes but now, he was enlightened that these beings are more than what meets the eye.
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It has been a while since Neuvillette entered the courtroom. Once he entered these chambers as a redeemed individual and now he walked past the threshold as a mere criminal. The crowd watched his every movement, some of them glared with contempt while others stared in pity. The Prime Minister's good deeds remained in the people's hearts and though many would deny it, he is the pillar that carried the nation through thick and thin, stronger than the Emperor who would often tremble in the face of danger.

Not only the nobles are present in the gathering but also the guests and diplomats from neighboring countries who visited the empire days ago to discuss state matters. Unfortunately for them, they're able to witness one of the empire's theatricals due to its current emperor's idiotic whims.

"Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor." Neuvillette bowed gracefully and stood in front of the throne. All evidence was undeniably authentic and no witness can testify about his whereabouts during the night of the little prince's murder. He does not want to waste any more words with this human and simply awaits judgment so he can leave this wretched place. The Emperor's lips twitched in annoyance, his brows furrowed in anger at how calm and collected Neuvillette was. He wanted this man to kneel and beg in front of him but things turned out differently. "You ungrateful man! We took you in when you had nothing but this is what you repay us?! My poor son was but a young soul! How could you take his life away?! This treason will not be overlooked and you will face severe consequences of your actions. Take him away!" The Emperor ordered and the guards did not hesitate to grab and confine the Prime Minister in their grasp.
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It has been weeks since Neuvillette was thrown into prison, he was chained and tortured every single day without an ounce of food and water. Remus wanted to take revenge, not for the 'death of his son' but for stealing the glory that was supposed to be his. Even at this very moment, the people of Remuria pleaded for the Prime Minister's release, their lips singing his praises and deeds and it hurt the Emperor's ears. He was standing outside Neuvillette's cell, amused at the man's current state. Neuvillette's usual luscious and flowy hair is now dry and disheveled, his skin is covered with cuts and bruises, his body thin and dehydrated, and his eyes lifeless and exhausted. "Throw him out." The Emperor ordered. "Keeping him here would only attract bad luck."

Neuvillette wanted to return to the sea and replenish his energy. Water is where his powers originate and Remus knew that, that is why he was thrown in the desert rather than the ocean. Miles from the capital city of Remuria is a vast land of sand where the sun rarely sets and the heat never subsides. He was left alone lying on the burning sand under the searing hot sun pondering if he should get up and walk back to the shore yet his body wouldn't move. He had never been this close to death before and it was a thrilling yet tiring experience. Emotions swelled inside him unsure if he would let anger consume him or simply move on from the injustice he suffered.

Unbeknownst to him, someone dared to disturb his peace. He could hear heavy footsteps coming closer, it sounded like boots that scrunched the sand deep with every step. "This dry place does not suit your excellence, your Grace..." The man spoke. He was wearing a dark cloak to protect himself from the rays of the sun and under his hood, Neuvillette could see a young man's face with brilliant eyes that seemed to have witnessed countless battlefields. He could feel his body being lifted from the ground and into the man's strong arms. Even in his state, he could feel how sturdy and well-built this young warrior was. "How could they do this to you, after all the things you've done? If only you were born in my country and if only I met you first, you wouldn't have to go through this suffering." The man sighed while taking off his cloak and wrapping it around the ex-Prime Minister. "Pardon me, your Grace, but if you don't want your life anymore, I will take it for myself." He smiled and stood, carrying Neuvillette in his arms. The sun completely revealed the man's identity and Neuvillette knew who this person was. Though he knew that involving himself with an enemy nation would spark conflict, he was too tired to care and simply let fatigue take over his senses. Oddly enough, he was able to quickly fall asleep in the stranger's arms.