The Arrangement

Chapter 5

"Apologies for the disturbance, your Majesty. There is a messenger here from your intended. He insists that the contents are for your Majesty's eyes only." The minister bowed before the Emperor and waved in the young man with a satchel.

The Emperor snapped his fingers impatiently and the boy almost tripped over his feet in his effort to bow, remove the gifts, accidentally try to give them to the Emperor, and then hand them over to his minister with fumbling hands. The Emperor held back his snort.

The two items were inspected quickly, the scroll given to him first to look at while the tube was checked over carefully. His mouth twitched at the contents, which was in itself amazing since he had an audience. He rolled it back up when he was done reading it, not handing it to his minister.

This made everyone's eyebrows lift in interest. Now they all wanted to know what was in the scroll which the Emperor was keeping to himself. The tube was deemed safe, and passed to his hands. He removed the rolled item inside, and then had a look.

It was a painting. The scene was whimsical and artfully done. The water looked like it sparkled on the page, and the mountains looked both restful and intimidating. He liked it very much. The small signature at the bottom corner made him actually crack a smile.

"Have this framed and put in Our personal sitting room." He told a minister before handing the rolled painting over.

"Yes, your Majesty." He bowed and took it carefully.

"Oh... if anything happens to that painting... We will hold you personally responsible." His sharp eye pierced the minister with meaning. He gulped and bowed low over it, now clutching it to his chest like a babe before scurrying away.

"Your betrothed will hold an engagement party at the main house before proceeding to the capitol for the Imperial ceremonies, your Majesty. We shall send the Left Minister on behalf of yourself for this event." The Right Minister brought up carefully, before handing over the scroll with information to the Emperor.

"When is this party? Is it important to my future in-laws?" The Emperor asked abruptly, not even glancing at the scroll. The Minister fumbled, but found the right information while the man scowled at his unpreparedness.

"It is in two month's time, your Majesty. It is considered a very important tradition to those of our people who live in the north." He admitted with a respectful bow. The Emperor frowned a little, and the minister was sweating.

"Arrange Our travel immediately. We will be attending the engagement party at Our in-laws." The Emperor said flatly. The ministers all frowned and some had to hold back their protests from spilling out of their mouths.

"But... Your Imperial Majesty... There is much work to do before your ceremony here." The Right Minister was brave enough to say. He got a stern look from the Emperor.

"Then you should have told me sooner, and my subjects will have to work extra hard to make things run smoothly, won't they?" He said with finality. The ministers all bowed with sweat upon their brows.

*

"Is the Emperor gone mad? How am I supposed to arrange transport to the North in such short time? Nothing is packed. The route has not been cleared. It will take at least a week to get everything in order, and it should take his convoy three months to get there." The General complained in panic.

"Calm down. The servants are packing as we speak. The Emperor is going to go in secret on horseback, and he is taking his elite shadow warriors with him." The Emperor's brother grinned at the distress on the man's face and patted his back reassuringly.

"It's not right. He's the Emperor. He needs to stay in the capitol where it is safe." The man grumbled in response. The brother laughed outright at that statement.

"When did you become such a mother hen? Relax General. My brother is most accomplished with both the sword and bow. He was born riding a horse. There is no army that has not fallen to his impressive strategy. He will be fine." The brother spouted all the reasons they shouldn't worry with the pride of a younger brother for a most esteemed older brother.

"Who is going to keep things running?" The General squinted at the youth.

"The ministers and I will handle most of the planning and court matters, anything urgent will be sent by messenger, and we will have to watch closely so they don't do anything stupid." He said humorously.

"There is a lot of stupid in that bunch." The General said bluntly. The Emperor's brother grinned and draped an arm around the man.

"Good thing there is a lot of stubborn between the two of us then." He eyed the straight-laced man with a teasing glance. The General rolled his eyes and shoved the arm draped over him off.

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