Aijira looked at his intense eyes for a moment, feeling the cold bloodlust that was coming from the Emperor's body, she let out a cough.
"I-I apologize, your majesty. I was a little distracted for a moment, please forgive your humble servant."
Aijira smiled and gently grabbed both of his hands with hers, Malik flinched from the touch slightly, unused to touching other people, as he felt her put in more strength in her hands to push his down.
Malik stared at her for a moment, then spoke, "You are soon to be Royal, consort. Never call yourself a servant infront of me, or infront of anybody else." He pulled his hand away and turned around.
"So, what is it?"
Aijira stared at him, her hands trembling as her eyes followed after Malik.
"..I came here to plead the Emperor to let the servants free."
Malik stopped, then turned to her.
"Do you know?"
He spoke softly, as Aijira listened.
"There was a story about the past. About Ki and her son, Ko. Ki was a benevolent god to those who worshipped her, she gave mortals her blessings and wishes for them to be well. Ko, on the other hand..."
Aijira spoke, continuing the Emperor's words, "Ko was the direct opposite of his mother, instead of protecting and blessing those who worshipped him, he ignored them and let them be."
Malik nodded his head as he sat down.
"Soon, those from the heavenly court caught something amiss from the domains that both Ki and Ko resided. They warned the both of them to do their jobs well but Ko didn't care and still continued on. Hoping that the heavenly court would treat this matter one off."
"The heavenly court caught on to what Ko was doing, finding out that he wasn't doing what they wanted him to do as a god and did you know what they did?"
Aijira stared at him in the eyes, before speaking.
"They stripped Ko of his divinity and pushed him out of the heavenly court, forcing Ko to become a mortal where he dies, unable to fulfill the wishes of those above him as a god. To become benevolent and righteous."
Malik nodded his head.
"So listen to this, consort. The more you don't chide a person for their lack of ability or their diligence, the worser they will become. Like Ko, they will become lazy, unwilling to progress and drown themselves in comfort. I have experienced it firsthand with the knights, and i am not willing to see that same problem again in the future."
"..."
"So whatever you reason with me, to convince me or otherwise, to lessen or even forgive them for their transgressions, i will not. They must be what they are expected to be."
Aijira stared at the Emperor in the face, before speaking, "No one is capable of becoming as perfect as you expect them to be, your imperial highness."
"And i have never expected them to be perfect, consort. I only expect that they are able to complete their duties to the best of their abilities from today and so forth. I did not ask them to become perfect."
"..."
"I know firsthand what perfection, what the expectations of perfection will do to a person, and i am not willing to let others experience it under my watch."
"..."
Malik turned to her and spoke, "Now if you have nothing else to say, leave. I will call for you soon to discuss our marriage."
Aijira stared at him, it seemed like she was staring at him too many times now.
"...I will now leave, your Imperial Majesty."
Malik nodded and stood up to wear proper clothing.
Aijira bowed and left the room, her mind still thinking.
Malik the Tyrant was unlike what the rumours that had surrounding him. He wasn't as cruel as he was made out to be, nor was he as tyrannous as she thought he would be. Though he was as punishing as the rumours.
Aijira could feel goosebumps chilling on her skin as she remembered how Malik punished the servants for the reason of the lack of professionalism as well as tardiness.
"Malik..."
Somehow, she grew a little respect for the man.
Just a little bit.