"When you said we should come have a look, this is not quite what I had in mind, Milord." Fabian stated as he followed closely behind Azrael.
Azrael scoffed. "With the number of years we have spent together, I expect that you should know me by now, Fabian."
His aide frowned slightly. "I do know you, Milord. But I did not think you would be reckless enough to enter another kingdom's palace uninvited. Our alliance with this Empire is fragile enough as is!"
"Calm yourself, Fabian." Azrael said scanning the bodies lying in their path. "I did not kill any of his Knights. I'm sure he will be thankful for that."
Fabian pinched the space between his eyebrows and sighed in exasperation. "Please rethink this decision, Milord. Your actions could very well cause conflict."
"Hmm…" Azrael mused as he continued to walk. "No… Garius isn't so foolish as to start a war over something this petty."
Fabian's lips twitched. 'I wonder if you will find it petty if someone did the same to you too.'
Soon enough, both of them arrived at the large double doors of the banquet hall, only to find a trembling herald in front and two quivering guards who brandished their spears at them.
Azrael chuckled. "Please give me way, I only wish to pay my respects to your Emperor."
"Over our dead bodies!" One of the guards spat as his grip tightened around the shaft of his weapon.
His companion cast him a doubtful glance that seemed to say, "Speak for yourself!"
Azrael had an amused look on his face before he let out a sigh. "You see, Fabian, no matter how politely I ask, these people still refuse me."
"With all due respect, Milord." Fabian started, pushing up his glasses. "These people don't see you as polite, they regard you as a lunatic."
Azrael's eyebrows twitched. "Be quiet." He commanded and his aide could only shake his head slowly. To the people in front of him, he said, "move."
It was like the air stilled, and no matter how hard the guards tried, they could not disobey his order. They stiffly shuffled to the side without a word of protest, their eyes were wide with bewilderment.
'Wha–what's happening to our bodies?!'
"Announce me." Azrael said to the herald.
The man looked like he was going to faint at any moment. "P–pardon?"
Azrael gave him a beaming smile. "Do not make me repeat myself."
"O–of course, My Lord!" The Herald shrieked.
….
The Emperor's face turned ashen when he heard that name and the entire hall erupted into an uproar.
"Archduke Eldrath is here?!" Someone shrieked.
"That madman has infiltrated the palace at a time like this? What in the world is he thinking?!" One of the men barked.
An older noble lady fearfully covered her face with her fan. "Has he perhaps killed all the guards in the Palace? Is he heading toward this place to kill us too?"
"Be quiet, woman!"
Ashelia watched the chaos unfold as her heart kept thumping hard against her chest. She clutched the hem of her father's coat. "Father, who is Archduke Eldrath?"
"A lunatic." Duke Alistair answered simply. "But please do not say that in front of him, he might sever your head."
Ashelia stiffened. "You're scaring me, father."
The Duke let out a worried sigh. "I am sorry, my dear. I will tell you more about him later, but for now we must keep our guards up."
Emperor Garius' hands clenched into fists as veins threatened to pop at his temple. "Guards," he roared. "Lock the hall's doors–"
"A–announcing the Archduke of the Dominion of Galimenea," The herald started, making the entire hall instantly go silent. "The Obsidian Knight, Azrael von Eldrath!"
The entire space was almost like a vacuum, eerily quiet, and only the heavy clicking of boots against the floor could be heard as Azrael and his aide made their way into the hall.
Ashelia watched the entrance with anticipation, every nerve in her body was alert as she listened to the sound of the approaching footsteps.
Duke Alistair's brows furrowed. "Get behind me, Shelia." He ordered.
Ashelia hurriedly did as he asked without wasting another second. After all, she didn't know what was going to come in from that door. The man probably looked like some kind of hideous monster with blood all over his clothes.
She regretted her thoughts the moment the Archduke walked through the doors.
He was the most beautiful man she had ever laid eyes on. His features were like that of a fallen angel, long, raven dark hair and eyes that reminded her of liquid gold.
His stature was towering and firm and his skin was like honey.
"Oh…" Ashelia exclaimed silently despite herself. "He smells so nice…"
She instantly clasped a hand over her mouth and looked around hoping nobody had heard her. Lucky for her, everyone's attention was on the Archduke, and despite the tension in the room, some ladies still blushed slightly when they laid eyes on him.
Azrael spread his arms wide, a grin plastered on his face. "Emperor Garius, long time no see!"
The Emperor looked like he was about to burst a vein, but he took a deep breath and calmed himself. "Lord Eldrath, what brings you here so suddenly?"
Azrael's lips twitched. 'These nobles and their wordplay.' He thought, then answered. "I was passing by when I heard that you were hosting a banquet for your son, so I came to pay my respects."
Garius clenched his jaw slightly. "By infiltrating my palace and attacking my knights? I beg to differ."
Azrael shrugged. "Don't be like that. They stood in my way even when I politely asked them to let me through."
'Oh my goodness…' Fabian lamented tiredly in his mind. Being the aide of such a man for so many years had never been so embarrassing.
The Emperor let out a resigned sigh. "Lord Eldrath, your presence here has caused quite an uproar. I will–"
Just then, Azrael turned his head sharply to the side, his eyes scanning the crowd as if searching for someone.
Emperor Garius' brows furrowed. "Is something the matter–?"
Before he could complete his statement, the Archduke had already started to head straight for the crowd of nobles.
"Lord Eldrath…?"
The men and women scrambled to give him way before he got too close to them. Ashelia and her father watched in confusion as Azrael went through the crowd. That confusion instantly turned to worry when they saw he was headed straight for them.
Duke Alistair firmly stood in front of his daughter with his guard up. But Azrael was like the wind, instantly by-passing him before could even react.
The entire hall was dead silent as they watched with bated breaths.
Azrael stopped just in front of Ashelia, studying her with an unreadable look in his eyes before suddenly grabbing her chin and lifting it up, making her gasp.
He frowned. "Now, what do we have here?" He asked softly.
Suddenly, he heard the sharp sound of a sword being drawn out of its sheath, and soon enough, a blade was brandished dangerously close to his throat.
"I humbly ask that you unhand my daughter, your Highness." Duke Alistair warned icily. "Or else I will draw blood."