The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 96 : Cartier Investigations

In another part of Regis, in the Imperial Palace, Lord Cartier waited for an audience with the Emperor. He was more nervous than he had been for a long time. Established norms and relationships were being shaken and uprooted. In the current scenario, the events of the previous night had put him and his family in a dangerous position.

After being made to wait for half an hour, he was shown into an audience chamber. He entered with disquietude. He had no idea of what mood the Emperor would be in.

However, when he entered the audience chamber, he found himself facing the Crown Prince instead of the Emperor!

He knelt and bowed low to the Crown Prince, something he rarely did even before the Emperor. He and the Emperor knew each other for years, from the time perhaps, soon after he ascended the throne, from the turbulent times when the position of the Emperor was not as strong as it is today. The Emperor considered him as a friend. But the Crown Prince was a new element. He had never met the Crown Prince before his appointment to the position. He had not been able to cement his relationship with him. They met only on a few social and official occasions where the interaction was relatively protocol related.

The implication of being greeted by the Crown Prince after he asked for audience with the Emperor was very clear to him. It was even more worrying as he had taken prior appointment with the Emperor. Either the Emperor was very angry and did not want to meet him... or the Crown Prince was displaying his power by having the meeting cancelled.

"Rise Lord Cartier!" Julien Lidwig called. "I understand you want to meet the Emperor. Is there anything I can help you with instead?"

Cartier hesitated as he tried to understand the implication of the change in plans in the complex world of Royal Politics. In doing so, he made his first mistake.

"Oh, Fine. I understand. You may wait here. I will see where the Emperor is." Julien said as he stood up, his face showing his displeasure. He had clearly conveyed that Cartier's refusal to state his purpose meant he did not consider the Crown Prince at the same level of the Emperor.

Cartier realised that he had offended the powerful Crown Prince. He hurriedly tried to make amends, "Your Majesty, please, that is not what I meant. Please, I have come to discuss the matters of what happened at my house last night. It affects you as much as the Emperor, perhaps more, since your sister was involved in the matter."

"Involved?" Julien asked as he paused, as if considering whether he should bother to listen anymore. He looked sharply at Cartier. "Yesterday's incidence was unacceptable. I don't think the 'Involvement' of my sister is the actual problem."

Cartier looked down at the floor not refuting the matter.

"So, what exactly have you come here to discuss?" Julien asked.

"Your Majesty, first, I have to very clearly state, that I have no objection to any investigation that you may order or may have already commenced. My family will provide all the cooperation that you may need. We claim no privilege on any document, transaction or place. They are all open to your team." He stated nervously.

Julien just continued to stand, saying nothing, as if to convey that it did not matter whether he claim privilege or not, it would be ignored, all documents and transactions examined as they pleased. To a veteran of politics and diplomacy, the stony silence and cold attitude of the Crown Prince indicated that there was very little scope for manoeuvring or negotiation.

Cartier knew that though the Crown Prince was new to his position, it would be stupid to believe that he did not learned from the Emperor. The silence was deliberate to convey a determination by the Crown Prince to take action against his family.