Tyrant of the Ruined Sun

Chapter 53: Unexpected Visitors

"Your majesty, it's time to wake up." Kira calmly whispered as she gently shook my arm to awaken me from my slumber, which I very quickly did as I groggily greeted her "Good morning, Kira." while stretching my arms, much to the annoyance of Bell who was still sleeping next to me.

"Good morning, sire. How are you feeling today?" Kira asked worriedly, knowing that I hadn't slept for nearly a week now, an event that would kill most men.

"I'm perfectly fine, there's no need to concern yourself." I kindly and truthfully replied, since I truly was completely fine. After all, I am a demi-god who has already unlocked his first divine gate, but even still that didn't diminish my feelings of gratitude towards her thoughtful concerns.

"I'm glad to hear that, sire." She joyfully replied with a beaming smile, as she carefully handed me my towel and washbowl.

But as she did so, I noticed a certain change in her movements that I couldn't describe until a few seconds later, when I caught a fleeting glimpse of a fading, and very well concealed energy in her body.

Seeing this a knowing smile etched itself upon my face, as I said "It appears that the training you've been doing with the Shade Corps has already paid off."

Kira's movements instantly froze upon hearing my words, as a shocked expression similar to that of a deer caught in headlights emerged on her face, before quickly being replaced by an adorable pout, as she indignantly retorted "I was hoping to surprise you with it in a few days."

An involuntary chuckle escaped my lips at her childish antics, before I seriously said "Congratulations on attaining the first level of martial arts Kira."

"Thank you, sire. I'm glad I didn't disappoint you." She happily replied as she elegantly curtsied back.

A few minutes later I emerged from my chambers with Dark Majesty strapped to my waist, where I saw the two ever present Abraham and Horus as they greeted me.

Quickly afterward I went to the dining hall to have breakfast with my family, before heading to my office where Isaac was dutifully awaiting my arrival.

"Good morning, sire." Isaac politely said as he slightly bowed.

"Good morning Isaac. Tell me, what's on the schedule today?" I asked as I sat down behind my desk.

"Nothing of much significance, my liege. You just have to review today's daily reports, as well as review the new laws drafted by the ministers." Isaac dutifully replied.

I feel my eyelid twitch upon hearing his words, as I beheld the massive pile of papers that nearly towered above me! But even then I couldn't complain, since not only was this my duty and responsibility as emperor, but this much paper work was actually lesser than usual.

I then suddenly remembered something, and quickly asked him "Did you prepare all the arrangements for my trip to Qayan?"

"Indeed I have, sire. I've made ready all the necessary arrangements for your travels in three days, my liege. Would that be to your liking or shall I change it?" Isaac confidently replied.

"No, that's perfect in fact. Excellent work Isaac." I sincerely complemented.

"My pleasure, sire." Isaac replied with a small smile upon his face, as he slightly bowed.

And so my day progressed, as one hour turned into two hours and eventually into three, while I continued to trudge through the mundanity of my duties, when suddenly a Palace Guard knocked on the door and respectfully said "Sire, a butler says that he has an urgent message to report to you."

A look of utter confusion crossed all of our faces, especially Isaac's who, as the Grand Chamberlin, was responsible to manage all the maids and butlers in the palace.

"Let him in." I responded after a moment to collect my thoughts.

Soon after, a tall man wearing a black, tight fitting suit slowly entered, as he swallowed to moisten his dry throat, before quickly falling to his knees and loudly, yet anxiously saying "G-Greetings your i-imperial majesty."

"What's the urgent message?" I asked.

"Y-Yes, sire. Two men arrived in front of the castle gates, and wanted to meet you. Saying that you were expecting them and that they were here to show you their new song birds, and that his newest darling would truly astound you, my liege." The nervous man replied.

Horus, Abraham and myself all had incredulous looks upon our faces, as we all realized who this man was, since we've already delt with his eccentricity.

But Isaac and Kira who didn't take part in the campaign in the Luminous Empire, exploded with rage, as the usually subtle sharpness in Isaac's eyes greatly intensified, like a blade finally drawn from it's sheathe "The impudence! How dare this madman demand our emperor's time so casually?

Does he have a death wish? And why are you even entertaining this fool's delusions? Are your brains so useless that you can't even deal with such a simple issue?!"

"Th-The man was insistent, and refused to leave no matter what we said, and he seemed to know a great many things about his majesty, so he was detained by the guards, but they believed that they should first consult you before doing anything else, sire." The butler replied, as he cursed his rotten luck, as he finally understood why he, a mere butler of the palace, was asked to deliver the message by one of the Palace Guards, while he looked at him with pitiful eyes.

"Release him." I emotionlessly ordered.

"Huh?" Isaac, Kira and the butler all let out the same confused sound.

But before they could ask anything, I turned to my right and said "Horus you go and elevate the misunderstanding, and escort Orhan to the thrown room. I shall meet him there."

"Understood, sire." Horus said as he saluted me, and quickly left to perform my orders.

As soon as they heard the name Orhan, they immediately froze as they finally knew who this supposed crazy man is, and how couldn't they? Especially Isaac who was the head of the Shade Corps.

After all, the entire world was entranced by him and his darlings' brutal symphony that left it's audience as nothing more than dismembered limbs strewn across the battlefield!

In fact, the world was so impressed by this, that labels such as genius and revolutionary, were constantly being thrown both mine and Orhan's way that meeting him for the first time and experiencing his eccentricity first hand, would leave you utterly shocked and confused!

The exact same emotions I saw in the butler's eyes, as a thousand different questions swirled chaotically in his muddled mind. Questions I didn't bother answering as I calmly stood up from my seat and left my office, heading towards the throne room.

But half way there I suddenly felt a slight headache beginning to assault my senses, as a sudden blazing urge burst forth from my heart and demanded to be quenched.

Knowing the remedy, I reached into my pockets and took out the Lavender flower I picked yesterday and brought it to my nose, to once again calm the awakening tyrant in my mind, like feeding tonic to a beast.

But as I began to sniff the flower in search of it's intoxicating aroma, I noticed that the once vibrant flower had already began to wither, and it's once fragrant scent had greatly diminished by now.

Frowning upon realizing this, I turn toward Kira and impatiently order "Kira, go to the gardens and bring me a new Lavender flower."

A look of absolute bewilderment marred the faces of all those who heard me, as they've never before seen me take any interest in any type of flower before, except for of course Isaac, who immediately remembered yesterday's odd order I gave him in the Imperial Gardens.

"Understood, sire." Kira replied after a momentary silence, before turning in the opposite direction toward the gardens, while I eagerly continued on my path to meet my most prized conductor, who was so gleeful to show me his new instruments of artistic slaughter.

And after a few minutes of waiting as I sat on my throne, the doors were flung open as Horus, with a grinning Orhan and an awestruck Junior entered the room.

"Boss! It's been a while, how've you been?" Orhan casually said as his son's once star filled eyes dimmed in despair and horror, while the Palace Guards gazed upon him with murderous eyes.

"I've been well Orhan. And I hope you weren't too offended by my guards actions earlier." I calmly replied with a small smile, slightly relieved by his nonchalant attitude towards me, which was such a great breathe of fresh air from the suffocating etiquette of the palace.

"Not at all. The lads were just doin' their jobs, can't be mad 'bout that." Orhan answered as his boisterous laughter rung out across the hall.

"I'm glad to hear that, but nonetheless I shall still reimburse you for all the offence made." I generously declared.

"Many thanks, sire." Junior gratefully replied, while Orhan seemed utterly unbothered by it.

Smiling upon seeing this, I continue "Now then Orhan, I'm told that you have some new song birds to show me."

Orhan's once dull and uninterested eyes ignited with obsession, as he instantly turns to his son and bellows "Junior! The drawings!"

Junior flinches upon hearing his father's unexpected roar, as he begins to fumble through his backpack in search for his fathers schematics, but before he could so a Palace Guard enters the room and respectfully proclaims "His eminence Archpriest Adam Seckhmet requests an urgent audience with you, my liege."

'It appears that my day shall not be as mundane as I believed.' I thought as my eyebrows stitch themselves into a deep frown.