Appetency

TEN

  Laurent would have liked to make a few more excuses as to why he couldn't come to the palace, but he wasn't so sure on how the emperor would take it. Among the BOSS villains, his temper was the most erratic and the man was hard to serve.

But then again, so was Laurent's.

He supposed that's one thing the emperor and him shared from their childhood.

So, by the time he gets to the palace, Laurent was taken aback by the rows of servants that were lined up to greet him respectfully. He almost didn't want to get down from the carriage until someone, a close aide of the emperor himself, walked on up to the carriage and bowed deeply.

"We are honored to have your esteemed presence grace us, young master. His Majesty would first like to apologize for sending word so abruptly while you were visiting your family, but he's sure Duke Magnus would understand."

Laurent looks down at the hand being offered to him. He raises an eyebrow, displeased.

"The emperor had the gall to interrupt my time with my grandfather and the other branches of the Estierelli family for something so trivial, and he isn't even here to greet me?"

The butler began to sweat, trying to stammer out a small excuse while the other servants grew anxious hearing the lack of respect from Laurent. No one was so bold to openly talk behind the emperor, yet Laurent was a completely different case. He doesn't even seem to care.

"Since His Majesty isn't here, I might as well take my leave."

"Young master-"

"Like I said, he brought me back into the empire away from my family reunion when I haven't seen my grandfather for several years. And yet, he's not even here to see me? Please."

Laurent sits back in the carriage, his hand already on the handle of the door.

"I'm heading back home."

"W-Wait! If you could just wait for an hour or two, His Majesty will come! He's being held back by meetings-"

"So?" Laurent snorts. "What does that have to do with me? If I had known my time here would be wasted, I would've been at Duke Valentino's estate by now."

Immediately, everyone held their tongues and closed their eyes. Just the mention of Grand Duke Clemonte was enough to put them on the edge. That man and the emperor held bad blood, so it's already difficult enough knowing that Laurent was trying to pursue him.

"I implore you to wait for just a moment. We will send word for the emperor and-"

"No need. I'm right here."

They turned their heads to see Emperor Ephraim making his way to the entrance of the palace gates with a hoard of attendants right behind him as well, desperately trying to keep up. The man had forgone his crown and wore nothing but simple clothes. He's drastically different from how he was back in the ball, but then again, this was usually how Emperor Ephraim dressed.

Compared to Grand Duke Clemonte, His Majesty hardly cared about how he looked and pref erred comfort over formality. That or some sort of armor.

Emperor Ephraim stood in front of the carriage, looking inside to see Laurent still sitting in a presumptuous manner with his arms crossed and a scowl.

"... Laurent," the man softly greeted. "Thank you for coming."

"I didn't want to come. I was busy in the north."

The emperor didn't say anything. His aides looked like they were close to fainting.

He holds his hand out to Laurent though, wanting to help him down himself. Laurent only turned his nose up and continued to stay put inside the carriage.