Ace Among Jokers

III

III

SUITOR IN RAGS

I stood in front of my father's large throne room doors. Behind me were maids and knights my father sent. He did not send them because he cared about me, but because he cared about appearances and reputation. His reputation. And having an Imperial daughter come in dressed in old-fashioned clothes and without the company of handmaidens certainly did not look good. For him or for the Empire.

From outside his door, I could hear the incessant chatter of the Eveothus Kingdom's envoy and the clatter of armour. Inside my father's throne room were men from the Kingdom I would be wed to. No, they weren't just men, I corrected. Nobles.

Behind me, I could hear my father's heavy footsteps. His heels clacked on the expensive marble floor of his palace as he approached. He stopped beside me, clicking his tongue in distaste. I could feel his annoyed gaze land on me.

Does he really hate the fact that he's going to be introduced alongside me?

My father raised his arm and nudged my side as if telling me to quickly put my hand on his so we could be introduced together. I could feel him flinch the moment my skin touched his silver silk gloves. It was a bit offensive. But who was I to feel offended over someone who is literally the father of the Empire? "Remember to just shut your mouth. Speak only when spoken to." Over and over again, this was rooted deep in my brain. How could I forget? "Do not disgrace me," he said.

The moment our names were introduced, the large doors to my father's throne room swung open, releasing a momentary gust of wind as it widened. My father's hand tightened on mine and I tried so hard not to wince. It was a warning. I had to act my best otherwise he's going to have me punished if I don't do well.

Inside, my attention was caught by the numerous noble men lining up, all from the Kingdom of Eveothus. They were dressed in strange clothing; like drapes hung carelessly on their body. It was peculiar, how they looked. Their eyes focused on my father and then stopped on me, as if I were a valuable prize won by their prince. My father walked me toward the middle where his throne supposedly was. But now it had been replaced by a different throne, this one looking less expensive than his first one. Beside it was mine, a smaller throne he probably commissioned in haste based on the inconsiderate design and material used to make the item.

"It is a pleasure to have you at Ostulia Empire, Prince Dion Edelvinn, Duke William Derek." My father quickly greeted them the moment he led me to the small throne where I was supposed to sit like a doll the entire time. "It is our greatest honour to be able to set foot in the highly respected Ostulia Empire, Your Majesty." The man donning the same outfit as the other noblemen in the envoy responded.

"It is also with joy that I greet Princess Cecilia von Hathem," the man who donned a different kind of strange outfit, even stranger than that of the other noblemen, said to me with a smile. He had wavy black hair and moderately tanned skin. And a pair of dimples as he smiled at me. The smile never reached his eyes. It made me think about whether or not he was forced to actually come here and propose. If that was the case, then I resonate with Prince Dion to some extent.

They all started with the pleasantries, just like they always do. And then, they move onto the gifts; very luxurious gifts from gold gilded crossbows to a fancy set of jewellery. The process was all the same, boring and tedious. I had to hear them sing praises with my name, praises I didn't deserve; my father never failed to remind me.

I was glued to my throne the entire time they were singing praises to my father's name. One would think the noblemen Prince Dion brought with him were here to marry my father. Just the absurdity of my thought made me laugh. An action that caught the attention of my already irritated father. I cleared my throat and continued to look straight ahead, although I knew I was going to receive a beating later on.