The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 106 : Dusk's Defiance

Everyone turned to Dusk as she raised her face. Willian Lidwig knew very well that Dusk wanted to object. That is why he had not asked her. He wanted to see if she had grown bold enough to bring it up and stand up for herself.

"You have forgotten even how to address your Emperor? I am called "Your Majesty!" He asked in a stern voice, one that usually made everyone around scurry out of the room. "And why do you have an objection? Surely you have no complaint over Scarlet?"

Dusk reddened knowing she had made a major blunder in addressing the Emperor and then at the implication of what he had said. She looked apologetically at the older girl, though the later did not seem to be affected by the Emperor's voice and tone. "No, Your Majesty, I have no problem with her. I have only met her today and her behaviour towards me is kind. Her interest in the project and her knowledge seem to indicate she is a good choice..."

Catherine's face showed her irritation at her cousin being praised by her 'Elder Sister', whom she adored. She wanted Dusk's praise coming to herself, not Scarlet. Scarlet was stealing her only real friend. She already had to share Dusk with Luke, Rosemary and Susco. She did not want to share with her hated cousin, Scarlet Lidwig.

"My objection is to ME being chosen... I do not see the relevance, Your Majesty. Scarlet, Rosemary and Catherine heading a fiefdom makes sense. They are princesses, but they never got any experience in governance. Giving them a small place to manage and learn is a good thing. Them having independent titles beyond being Princesses is also a good thing if you want them to stand on their own later. But..." Dusk continued.

"But what? You believe this Emperor has become old and lost his ability to make a good decision?" he asked harshly, purposely testing her resolve to stand up and be heard. He wondered if Luke knew, when he met her, that she had underlying courage and principles, or whether he was just lucky to choose someone like her.

Dusk hesitated, knowing it was always a bad idea to oppose the Monarch. It was worse because there was an audience, even more as the audience was his Grandchildren. It could be considered impertinence, given that she was just 20 years old... But having started the conversation, she could not back down so easily.

Dusk chose her words carefully. "Your Majesty, I have not at any time had even a SHADOW of disrespect in my thoughts and if there was any implication as such in my words, I must immediately apologise and withdraw them. I have not considered that a decision made by you would be either hasty or senile. (Shit, did I call the Emperor Senile?) I feel that you are, for some reason, trying to impute words to me that are not implied or said. I do not think you are the kind of person who just wants to shut down all dissidence. Therefore, you would not actually punish someone for just trying to explain a different point of view."

Willian Lidwig continued to look at Dusk, his eyes narrowing to a slit. But he finally relaxed his facial muscles. She had nicely trapped him with the implication of her words. If he continued in the same vein, it would mean that he wanted to shut dissidence or supress a contrarian view. Even with only his own family being present, he would not allow that.

Dusk mentally gave a sigh of relief at the change in the Emperor's body language. She did not know about the Emperor's perfect control and that he could look angry when he was not and cool when he was angry. She felt cold sweat on her back and her hands were moist with the tension. Of course, she schooled her face so that it didn't look like she was about to collapse.

Rosemary broke the silence with a laugh and said, "Small Fiefdom? Dusk Hale, you need geography lessons. The areas His Majesty is giving us will be the largest territory under the control of any Noble in this country! And larger by far! A Noble House is considered lucky if they have 500-1,000 sq. km area. The largest in the country is 2,800 sq. km. What we are getting is a million sq. km split between the three of us."