My Empire

Chapter 1: Last Minute Meetings

                                    ~~~High King Indigo of Ethiria~~~

I shifted on my throne, bored out of my mind.

Today was the day of the monthly Noble's Gathering, where nobles could approach me and the Council and complain about issues that needed to be fixed.

In theory, a great way to make sure everyone stayed happy and things continued running smoothly.

In reality? A bunch of whiny nobles who wanted more power, less responsibility, were fighting with another noble and wanted me to take away their lands, or all three.

I was ready to punt my crown out a window and go rage bake bread or something in the kitchens. Unfortunately, I couldn't do that, so I just pretended to pay attention to whatever the prat in front of me was blathering on about and daydreamed about heading over to Vedera to cause some mild havoc.

The Council looked equally as bored, sitting at a circular table to the left of me, chairs decorated based on their responsibilities.

They were all my adopted siblings; according to Etherian tradition, only blood members of the royal family could inherit the throne, but often many children were adopted into the royal family and raised to be the future ruler's council, each taking a position depending on what they're best at.

My council had 8 members: Bethany, my head advisor and overseer of the council. Noah, the general of Ethiria's armies. Eleanor, the head of trade. Avalon, the head of defense. Cherry, head of the kitchens. Artemis, the head of diplomacy and also the royal ambassador. Avery, the head of healers and the royal doctor. And finally, Ashley, the head of spies and my spymaster.

We had grown up together, and I trusted them with both my life and the empire. I, however, did not trust them (read: Noah) to not attack anyone who bored them, which was everyone.

Not that I blamed Noah. I would have loved nothing more than to defenestrate the prancing peacocks yelling at each other in my throne room.

Unfortunately, neither of us could do that, so instead we traded annoyed glances across the room while I tried to keep a neutral look tacked onto my face.

"Your Majesty, what is your verdict?"

I startled out of my thoughts and glanced around the room. The nobles were all looking at me expectantly. Uh oh.

"My verdict is, uhh-" I stalled, scrambling to try and remember what this particular prat had been complaining about.

I looked over at the council desperately. Eli was waving its fingers at me under the table, probably trying to sign the answer to me. Beth was looking down at her papers, a growing look of alarm on her face.

They leaned over and whispered to Noah, who stood up suddenly, a gleeful look on his face.

"Alright, you fuckheads, complaining time is over, get out. The king has important matters to attend to." Noah announced, glaring at all the nobles with enough venom to keep even the most entitled and preposterous of them from saying a word in protest.

I sat up straighter, tilting my head at Beth in confusion. I couldn't remember anything I had to do important enough to cancel the Noble's Gathering.

Once the throne room was empty, Beth dropped her calm face and whipped her head around to face me.

"INDI WE FORGOT ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING-" They said, jumping up from their chair as I froze, shock rippling through my system.

Shiiiiiiiiiiiit.