Chapter 17: Alden Mandos of The Empire

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Cruising through the commercial streets of Avenheim was like sailing on a stormy sea. Even with the Imperator guards ploughing their way through the thick masses of people, it seemed to take forever just to pass a few hundred meters.

"Give way for the Prince!" Sir Marden roared to the nearby people who didn't notice them.

"Smelly peasant!" Julian barked every time they met some obstacles. "Do they not recognise royalty once they see it?"

"Bare them no mind, my Prince." Sir Marden always knew what to say around his protectee. "The stench has made it into their brains."

Sir Matt frowned with his eyes. As Julian had seemed to take quite a liking to Alden, he wanted him to come along wherever they went. And who was Alden to deny a Prince? Being second in command of the Mandos household guard, Sir Matt had to escort them at every event. His contempt for Julian got more apparent at every occasion. It had reached such a point that Alden had been forced to confront him about it. During the morning training session with Narcissus, Sir Matt had laughed out loud, as Alden had accidentally hit Julian in the ear with a sparring sword. Fortunately for Sir Matt, Julian himself had not noticed it, as he was at the verge of passing out on the ground. Alden, however, got furious and disciplined him in front of the rest of the household guards. Next time he would be stripped of his rank and sent home. A mild punishment in contrast to what Julian would do if he heard about his outbreak. Alden himself had somewhat ambivalent opinions regarding Julian. Sometimes he acted like a warm and kind person, caring for his fellow man and even expressed motions of altruism. At other times, he spoke of his vision of a better Empire than that of his forefathers. "My first act as Emperor will be to forbid greed and banish poverty." Never fully explaining the details of achieving it. Speaking of such visions, Alden feared Julian would become a tyrant if he ever inherited the crown. It was difficult to judge, as he lately always spoke his mind in front of Alden, asking for his opinions and showed a genuine interest in his family. He had even visited Emma regularly, bringing gifts and smoked healing herbs, claiming they would reach her spirit.

"He is just lonely with no equals, all but a handful are just mere subjects to him." Milena had told him once. It was probably true, there were few people that Julian treated with respect and merely none of which wasn't highborn. When it came to servants, Julian didn't even seem to recognise them as human beings. All in all, even though he had some good points, they were severely weighed down with his moments of absurd behaviour. The second time Alden met him during sword practice with Narcissus, Julian had basically called for Narcissus to strike Alden once he was done. Another time, he had slapped his brother for not disciplining a servant for serving him cold food. It was always worse after Julian and his father spoke. Fredric usually uttered his disappointments with his son, telling him he would not be fit to rule. That made Alden feel sympathy for Julian, all the expectations on him must be a heavy burden to bear. No wonder he had a hard time keeping it all together.

"Finally!" Julian cheered as they had just passed through the Financial Square, filled with bank offices and the grand Merchant guild headquarters. They further entered the narrow streets of the Pleasure districts, as they called it. It was a maze of small streets, leading to various bathhouses, taverns, restaurants and places of services Alden never heard of.

"Where are we going?" Alden asked. They had walked long enough without Julian telling him where.

"It is a surprise!" Julian answered with an enormous smile on his face. "I just ask of you... A moment of discretion." He chuckled.

Not so easy to be discreet with twenty armoured men around you. Aldus thought. If that was a requirement, maybe all but a tenth of them should have stayed at the palace. Although matters of the Imperial family's security was rather the business of the Imperator guard. So it has been for as long as anyone remembers.

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