Chapter 213: the meeting

James pov

Getting invited by the emperor is a matter of honour for many but for me it was like a duty needed to be done. The way these diplomats talk with having so many meaning behind every word make my head spin.

"Marianne, how much more time would you take?" i asked as it had been an hour since i was waiting for her.

"I am here" she said as she walked in another drape.

"Brother, I want you to keep the emperor busy so that I can have some time with the empress, '' she instructed as we sat in the carriage.

I raised a brow as she was taking too much interest in their private life.

"Marianne, royals are not the way you see them. Though we nobles too, they have ultimate authority in the empire and they would never use it fairly. You are not a rebel nor you can take responsibility for everyone" i tried to put some sense into her as she was getting more and more invested in it.

"What if i say i am responsible for all these changes? Everything that is happening around is the butterfly effect of my deeds'' her eyes looked lost when she blabbered but i did not get a word out of it.

"Marianne, you know that i can kill someone for you."

She looked at me surprised and then smiled as she put her head on my shoulder.

"I did not deserve you brother, I have neglected you and family for a lifetime" she said as she closed her eyes with a guilty look, and I sighed. Last one year was really like a lifetime for us without her.

Mother and father were so delighted since she had returned and started talking normally. I looked out of the window as the scenery passed in front of my eyes just like my life. Sometimes I wonder if I chose the right path as it had kept me away from them. I was never here when they needed me. I didn't even realise when my mood turned gloomy too.

"My lord we have reached the palace"

"Mari, are you sleeping?" I gently nudged her as she opened her eyes and shook her head. Her eyes were lost again as if she was living some distant memory. Her behaviour had troubled me a lot these days as she stayed lost many times.

We slowly walked into the palace as many servants came to welcome us and showed us the way to the meeting room.

I was surprised to see the previous emperor there as he hardly meets anyone now.

"Hail to the glory of the empire, your majesty" we both bowed and wished together.

"Rise, Sir James, Duchess Marianne, I am surprised to see you here. Cassius did not come with you?"

"I apologise, Your majesty, but i am here as sister of the commandant of first order of knights Sir James, not as the wife of Duke of the empire"

"Oh, my, you have so many merits behind your name even when you are living your life leisurely that an old man like me has a hard time keeping up with it." 

See that was what i was talking about, sarcasm and diplomacy!

"I apologise for not clearing myself well, your highness. I am here as the daughter of Marquees, i was in my maternal family when my brother received the invitation" she bowed again, i really wanted to stop the discussion but no one had the right to interfere when the emperor was the one to question.

"Oh, i never knew that a married woman can stay in her maternal family in our empire, you sure know how to remind me things i have no awareness about"

"Your majesty, it was me who brought her back to the marquees palace"

His eyes finally left her and he looked at me with the same pensive look.

"I did not realise that you were also taking part in the conversation, Sir James. I must say that both of you are cut from the same cloth. Such anxiousness when i was just talking casually, i condemn your courage and wish to protect her" 

His sharp eyes were looking at us like a hawk keeping an eye on its prey. But it was not the first time I felt his pressure.

"I apologise, your majesty for my insolence but I am worried that you will take too much stress because of us being negligent. We would never want to be the reason of your ill health and exertion" he laughed as i said it and nodded his head.

"If I did not know any better, I would have thought that you were cursing me, Sir James. Anyways welcome." he said finally taking a pause.

"It is our honour to invite you to the royal palace, Sir James. You are the inspiration for many knights of the empire. Come, have a seat" said Charles the nominated emperor the empire but his powers were only for name as all the powers still lie in the hand of man who was sitting here leisurely as if it had nothing to do with him.

On his both sides were sitting his wives. The one i had met hundreds of time in the past and the one whom i had met just yesterday. Both were sitting like mannequin dolls which have no life to even smile or look around.

We both walked and sat on the other side of the sofa.

"So, sir James, tell us about the condition of the border these days?" asked Charles and I nodded.

"The condition is peaceful your majesty, since the day peace treaty had been signed by both empires, we have emerged as a powerful force and Verista empire had stopped playing tricks as it is afraid that it would not have a chance to win against the dual force" i replied and his eyes shone with pride.

Only the Lord knew why he was so proud of the fact that he had taken the help of a woman to win the battle as my eyes fell on his living trophy!!