Just before they left, Najeer caught the girls running out in an opposite direction. Of course he was curious what had happened, but he knew better than to draw more attention to it.
He proceeded to sit on his throne, with his officials following behind. Mostly members of the Royal blood in the High Court, powerful leaders. They sat around his table as they discussed business and affairs of the Empire.
Najeer had unintentionally tuned them out as his eyes discreetly searched around, until he found her. Evere.
Her eyes were as sparkling as ever. It had been quite some time. His eyes then shifted to a certain red haired woman, Aijah, he knew her very well.
He glanced to the next two seats. They were empty with maidens standing nervously. He had seen Salvyiti and Roriana leave earlier
Lastly his eyes landed on a woman who was seated looking at herself in a mirror that was held by a maiden. Earth's queen, the closest thing they had to solving the mystery of the portal. A woman he couldn't afford to kill because of the knowledge she withheld. If the portal wasn't open before two decades, his empire would spiral into an era of hunger. Which meant his Empire could regress back to the days when Qiras ate each other. To prevent that, he'd have to find quick substitutes, of lesser value of course—he'd have to go hunting in other Empires, breaking the peace contract. Those Empires were not like earth, they could and would attack back. Of course they stood no chance against Naqil, but some damages were irreversible. That included lives.
Najeer hated war. It was the sole reason he sought to conquer Earth once and for all. Which would significantly increase the harvest of Earthman meat, dropping the prices. A more manufactured approach towards humanity could revolutionize the violent nature of Qira.
Najeer's eyes swiftly returned to look at Evere, there his eyes rested. She was beautiful.
Roma opened the feast on Najeer's behalf and people began to eat and chat.
"Long time no see, old friend" Ikieal laughed as he caught Najeer staring at a drop dead gorgeous blonde beauty. He recognized the woman. She was the Emperor's long love. Ikeal was the last to join in. as expected, he was late, and drunk too.
Najeer changed his attention to him, "are you enjoying the event?"
"Not as much as you, I presume." Ikieal winked teasingly. The others at the table were shocked by Ikieal's informality toward the walking-fortress, the Emperor. Not everyone had ever dared to think about acting so casually to him. And for a good reason.
To the surprise of the onlookers, Najeer only responded with a small smile.
The occupants of the Emperor's table all looked at the man with brown hair with envy. It seemed like this man was well familiar with his majesty. But, unlike them he was dressed in a simple attire, no rope or headpiece.
On this table were privileged governors, Lords and royals, who in their own land had the world at their fingertips. Who was this nobody daring to dine with the great Emperor alongside them? Perhaps there was more to this man, maybe he was a rare talented priest. They all thought to themselves quietly.
"So tell me, which one of these fine specimen do you fancy the most?" Ikieal dared to ask getting carried away by the spirit of the occasion.
The onlookers nearly spat out their drink.
Who dares ask such a stupid question!
"Yes, tell us. Who do you like the most?" A blonde suddenly backed, drawing the attention of everyone. He was a handsome blonde man with green eyes.
"Rafel!" Another man cautioned calmly. This one was large and muscular and well rounded, with large hands. Handsome in a rugged hyper masculine way. Yanda. Although Yanda cautioned, you could see the curiousity burning in his eye.
Not just him.
Najeer could see how the eyes of the people at his table lit up, one by one from that question, at the chance of a hint in the game. How very amusing.
"Do you really want to know?" Najeer asked calmly, like he was putting a worm to bait fish.
All of them wanted nothing more than to turn his would-be beloved into a puppet that danced in his bed.
"It is, his majesty's, engagement after all. It is only natural to talk about the brides, they are the star of the day," a woman encouraged with an elegant laugh at the end, her eyes daring to look in the direction of the Emperor. Her Royal blood status giving her the confidence.
"Yes, tell us your majesty," one by one the others boldly added, grateful to the one who brought it up.
"Well then I must," Najeer answered.
Rafel's eyes widened not expecting to actually get an answer from his cold killer nephew. Slowly he leaned in like a fox with a witty smirk.
"I Prefer… hm." Najeer placed a bent finger on his chin, pretending to be deep in thought. "why, it is quite the difficult decision. I did choose all of them. But if I were to pick one, it would be..."
The eyes of the onlookers grew twice its size, paying so much close attention. Everywhere became dead silent, even the servers at the table had held their breath silently watching for an answer.
Najeer inwardly resisted the urge to grin at the whole thing. If the guests wanted entertainment the host would simply give it to them.
"First, which one of my queens do you favor the most?" Najeer asked in a calm tone.
The expression of everyone fell.
They all looked at him in confusion. Why was the attention now on them? This truly is a trap! Could they really speak carelessly like that?
"I am asking all of you." Najeer permitted.
They knew they couldn't speak recklessly on the situation. If they spoke in favor of one queen, rumors could spread to the other queens ruining their chances of alliance in the future. Who would be the stronger queen was still a mystery. Not to mention the fact that whomever they chose today would be analyzed by the Emperor, working in or against their favor. The Emperor could engineer his entire harem regardless of his personal choice, in a way that would suite his bias. Usually results of the queens vote were usually anonymous until the end of the campaign. That way each person could hide within the numbers. If they made a choice publicly now, it also hinted towards the other families present who was the most desirable, worsening competition. Neutrality until the middle of the campaign was their best choice. Why would anyone show the competition the card the wanted before they grabbed it, and then the reveal to the game master how they wanted the game to end?
The game master was also unreliable with his promise, because there was no one to hold him accountable.
Najeer noticed the silence from everyone, suddenly uncomfortable. He wanted to laugh. "why do you not want to tell me? Do you not trust that I will tell you my part in the end?"
There was a shameful silence that said all that needed to be said.
"Very well then, I shall withhold my side as well-"
"Queen Roriana," Rafel, the handsome blonde spoke up, shocking the people. Even Emperor Najeer.
Najeer turned to look at Rafel calmly. In that moment the people on that table couldn't help but gawk at the Emperors beauty. Some feeling jealous of not being in his harem as they couldn't qualify.
"Why, choose her?" to say that he wasn't surprised that someone dared to answer, would be a lie. But seeing the one who answered made more sense, Rafel. His uncle. His very bold uncle. At the very least he was glad that there was someone here to make things interesting. He enjoyed teasing his people, but it wouldn't be fun if it was all too easy, would it?
"Because, I already know she's your number one. You love her," Rafel answered with a smile. His wicked, wicked, nephew showing mercy on a thief, not just any thief, a low Qira. Suns would explode before that ever happened, unless, something had compelled such a thing. Love. Love at first sight sounded ridiculous, but it was believable than a mass murderer suddenly being 'kind'. Especially Najeer, that act was so out of character that anyone who really knew the kind of twisted soulless person he was, would come to the same conclusion. Only he knew the dirty secrets hidden in Najeer's past, that if he were to speak, they would more than fear the heartless creature wearing the mask of a beautiful divine being in their midst.
Najeer looked Rafel straight in the eyes for a second, before slightly tilting his head to side. Rafel felt a terrifying feeling in his heart from that look alone.
"Isn't it too early to be using that word for someone I met only a few weeks ago?" Najeer asked in a calm tone.
The eyes of everyone in the room grew from this tantalizing information. The emperor did not deny his affection for queen Roriana.
"Who else?" Najeer asked sternly.
"That would be queen Evre. The first woman you ever loved, a worthy contender, don't you think? Competent too, one you would actually make empress." Rafel noticed that Najeer had no sign of emotion on his face. But that was very normal from the evil child.
"Interesting," Roma said as he glanced towards Najeer to check for a hint on his face. Nothing.
"Next is queen Salvyiti. You spent ten years in Nepth. Why do I get the feeling that the both of you had encountered each other regularly, if you know what I mean. You do have a history of sleeping with queens. Only one not to have undergone a virginity test before entering the holy harem is also a queen. A bit strange, am I right? Enough for me to believe you two have a history"
Najeer narrowed his eyes.
No one knew whether or not it was confirmation or not
"I would predict lady Aijah as your fourth preference. She's beautiful and a powerful sorceress what's not to like."
"Really?" Najeer said.
"And Last is Valyha. Simply because I doubt you even know the human, and she is the least pretty among the five," Rafel said as he trained his eyes on the pink haired woman who seemed to be looking into a mirror alongside exhausted maidens. "She's not really all that."
"Then why are you still looking at her?" Yanda asked with a genuine look. He had noticed Rafel glance at her at least five times already.
"How can I not look? Who brings a mirror to an occasion?" Rafel stated as he took a glass of wine between his fingers. "If I may ask, how does, his Majesty, find my ranking. Does the accuracy shock you?"
"It is impressive. But what I asked was your preference, not what you think mine is. You still haven't answered my question," Najeer answered. "Who do you prefer by your own judgement?" he asked again.
Rafel's parted his lip, but noticed everyone staring. Shit. He bit his tongue as the grip on his glass hardened. "Pardon me, I do not have one yet." He did not want to feed those greedy noble information tagged to his name, but he was at least satisfied, he only wanted to see the Emperor's reaction from his guess. Though he didn't get any reaction, he knew that the Emperor must be feeling something anything.
"I like this guy. You make things a little lively! Cheers!" Ikeal raised his cup above his head. The rest looked at him in confusion.
But seeing as that earned a smile from the emperor who was resting on his elbow with a bored look.
They all mimicked lifting their glasses saying "cheers!" in unison.
"Who exactly are you anyways?" An official said with a smile. Already easing up to the new man in their circle. They wanted to be close with him.
Such celebration are for merriment and new friendship anyways.
"I am—"
"He is an ally. We served at the borders for twenty years," Emperor Najeer interrupted.
"That means he must know you quite well!" Yanda's eyes grew. What an honor it was to fight besides the Emperor of Naqil. The most powerful being in all of the Realms.
Ikieal's head swelled with pride. "I know him like a—"
"But, Ikieal doesn't like to speak in gatherings. Am I correct?" Najeer threatened discreetly.
Ikieal could see the warning to shut up in Najeer's eyes.
"Of course. I am but a shy man after all," Ikieal smirked as he took a sip of wine. He understood the message. Not many kings or Emperors liked to have details of the past disclosed so openly. "I have only come to visit my friend and support him in his wedding. It's not every day a Qira gets married, at such a young age too."
Najeer shifted his attention from the conversation as he realized that Rafel had been discreetly staring at Valyha for far too long.
Najeer furrowed his eyebrows. He didn't like that. Even if she was just a human, she was still the Emperor's bride in his eyes.
"Shall we proceed with the introductions, the moonlight is already high in the sky?" Roma asked.
Najeer looked towards the two empty table. He couldn't hold the event any longer.
"I guess we'll finally learn His Majesty's true ranking." An official grinned as Roma sent a look to the priest.
An elderly man robed in black and painted with blood.
"Let us begin." Roma said, taking Najeer's silence as permission.
"No, let us do the other rituals first." Najeer commanded