The Arrangement

Chapter 3

"Wedding gifts have already begun to arrive following your announcement of the wedding. You have quite a few new allies in court if they are anything to go by." The minister peeked over at the stoic face of the Emperor as he looked over the list that was presented to him.

"Five legions of warriors and three hundred servants?" The Emperor mused to himself. "This is already turning out to be quite lucrative after all."

"There is also enough gold to support them for the next five years. Your bride's family is being very generous. May I suggest we are equally as generous to show our pleasure to the main family?" The man waited for the verdict on his question as servants came in carrying a rather large and ornate box.

"Ah, that will be Our wedding robes. Set them up over there. We wish to look at them." The Emperor's attention waivered at the arrival and he looked at the box with a fond gaze. The servants hurried to open the box and began dressing a rack with the piles of robes within. In only a few minutes, the ensemble was taking shape and looking amazing.

"A note came with it." The servant presented it to the minister and the Emperor waved for him to read it as he got up to approach the clothes. A keen eye looked over the fine detailing of the stitches and the carefully straight cut lines of the robes with pleasure.

"The tailor gives his best wishes to Your Majesty. He says that the robes are made with his finest cloth and stitched with his own hands." The minister summarized the words for the Emperor since he was obviously more interested in looking at the finished product.

"Really? He is quite old now. We are surprised he did not task it to his apprentice. We are very gratified by his attention on the matter though." The Emperor stated as he walked around the robes and looked at them from all angles. They were quite grand and would be very flattering to his stature.

"It seems that your bride has also chosen to purchase his robes from the same tailor. He says that he has given particular care to make sure your majesties robes will be complimented by your bride's robes for the special day." The minister stated with some surprise.

"Eh? We didn't think he was that well known. Hmm. Why don't you put thirty robe sets from the old tailor onto the list of bridal gifts. If Our future consort is going to have good taste, he shall be rewarded for it." The Emperor said in reply with a twinkle in his eye.

"Of course, Your Majesty." The minister hurried to scribble the instructions down.

*

"More gifts have shown up from his majesty, my lord." The servant bowed and glanced at the family sitting around the table eating their breakfast. The head of the family sighed and glanced at the servant who seemed a little out of sorts.

"Just put them in my office. I will deal with them later." He replied with a shake of his head. He was fed up with receiving all the Emperor's gifts personally.

"We would normally, my lord, however these are rather large and your head of the house was worried you would not be able to enter the room if we did. They seem to be clothes labelled for the young master." The servant replied nervously as all eyes suddenly seemed very interested in him.

"Did you say clothes?" the eldest brother said with interest.

"Can they just put them in our son's room?" their mother asked with interest. The servant grinned.

"Ah, if it pleases your ladyship, we might be able to get half the boxes in?" now it seemed as though the serving boy was enjoying the shock on the family's faces. The youngest son rose from his seat and came to stand next to his father on the other side.

"How many boxes are there?" He asked quietly.

"Thirty boxes. Rather large ones. They came with the stamp of the emperor and are addressed specifically to you, my lord." The serving boy replied with frankness.

"Goodness. Thirty boxes you say? I don't think the old empress received so many bridal outfits from the old emperor on their marriage. The new emperor honours us all with his generous gifts to you, dearest." Their mother was in awe as she stared down the table at them.

"May I go have a look father? I can try to find places for the clothes in the meantime." The youth said next to him. He nodded and waved them off. The eldest jumped up from his seat and followed with an offhand comment on the way.

"I'm going to go help him." The second brother sneered at him as he left.

"He just wants to see the clothes." He commented before returning his gaze to his food. There mother looked after them with a rather longing look as she picked at her food.

"Go on dear. Why don't you help them too." The father said with a wry look. She looked startled at his words and then excited.

"Do you think they need my help? I suppose I could just direct the servants. I am sure it is the same as you receiving them." She got up in a hurry and followed the other two to the front.

"She just wants to see the clothes too." The second brother muttered. Their father sipped his tea with a thoughtful look.

"Perhaps. However, we must always allow an elegant woman an elegant reason to do as she wishes." He intoned wisely.

"What? Why?" the brother asked with a grimace.

"Because elegant women are the most annoying when they pout." He grinned and winked at his son, who rolled his eyes and kept eating.

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