"Lift your head." Her voice, cold as ice and sharp as glass, echoed through the throne room. He slowly looked up at her, but not into her eyes. He didn't dare to. "Do you have a single idea who the nobility is?" she asked. Silence. "Perhaps your ears are simply to decorate your head." She got up and walked down the steps from the throne and up to him. Full of grace and majesty. Her wavy lilac hair ran down her back to her waist and still looked regal. "Who is the nobility?" It felt less like a question and more like a kind of trap. She stared at him, compelling him to look in her burning, yet cold ocean blue gaze. "Th-they are the-the rich, y-our highness." The nobles watching started to murmur.
The vindicator' known for his fearlessness and formidability trembled in the presence of this woman. "Excellently wrong." She scoffed and walked back to her throne. Well, the emperor's throne.
"The nobility are the descendants of the valiant knights who fought alongside the first empress Sheradith de Karel Aetherwyne to unify the continent, thereby building this empire." Still on his knees and shackled with chains that are clearly uncomfortable, he simply continues to stare at the burgundy carpet. "You steal from the nobility and give it to the common folk as alms. You must believe you are the man from the children's fairytale." Yes, 'the vindicator of the east' was becoming well known as a notorious man who robbed noble homes to give to the commoners. "Since you clearly didn't get an education, I will enlighten you. The ancient kingdom of Veralith was suffering under the great war, threatening to wipe it out completely. All hope was lost until the first empress, who was a commoner such as yourself, led an army with 21 generals to defeat the enemy and create the Aetherwyne empire. After becoming the empress, she gave those generals the honour of nobility. They are not simply 'the rich'." She paused. The nobles sneered. There was still an indifferent expression on her face, but the look in her eyes spelt all her thoughts out loud and clear.
Conceited little pigs.
"But." She continued. "The noble faction has shunned their responsibility to care for their various territories, blinded by greed." The fact that she said such a thing out loud had them shocked. "Here there are only 8 representatives of the baronies and viscounties that you stole from. The truth is that your intentions themselves were 'noble'." Her use of that word was a bit amusing. "But your actions according to the imperial law states that you must be beheaded." He still hadn't looked up, but it was clear that this was a fate he had accepted long before now.
"But upon deliberation, you will be quite the indispensable soldier on the battlefield. Killing you would be a waste." His head finally shot up at her, this time, meeting her eyes. "You're bold. Which is why you had the nerve to steal from even the Marquess Velvet. Even though you failed, you eluded us for 4 years. Your punishment will be to work under the marquess, doing whatever he assigns to you for 4 years. Whatever you are paid will go to the commoners you want to help so badly, and afterwards you will begin training to become an imperial knight. Also, the village you came from will be supported by the imperial family, becoming land personally owned by royalty. That is all." A unanimous gasp fills the room. "But your highness! He is a criminal!" A nobleman with a receding hairline spoke. "Yes, Viscount Raven. But Karnu village was your territory, under your personal care. Yet, you neglected it. Clearly you have no need for it, so the imperial family will take it from here." She arises. "If that is all, I will take my leave-"
"Your highness!" The vindicator called out.
"What is it?"
"Th-thank you! So very much. You are too kind, my liege." The relief washed over his face was kind of refreshing. But the appalment on the nobles' faces was better. She turned around without saying a word and then lifted her hand to gesture for me to follow, which I do. "Serve your country well. That is the only way to truly vindicate it." She leaves the room, ignoring the opposing comments. I am nothing but proud to serve the bearer of the name they curse under their breaths, but do not dare to say to her face.
Princess Seraphiell.