Passing through the gates of the Imperial City, Mark, as Vice Dean of the Royal Academy, held the status to have an audience with the Emperor.
Yet, even so, he still had to wait outside the Drill Ground while the Guards went in to notify the Emperor.
Under the scorching sunlight overhead, Mark kept wiping his forehead with his chubby hand, the handkerchief in his grip already half soaked.
“Vice Dean, His Majesty requests your presence in the Rear Hall.”
The messenger was one of the Emperor’s Guards, and Mark immediately responded with a polite smile, “Thank you, sir.”
“Please follow me.”
Passing through the heavily guarded Main Hall gates, Mark soon followed the Guard into the Rear Hall.
The Rear Hall, located beyond the Council Hall, was typically where the Emperor waited briefly before court sessions or held private meetings with envoys and ministers.
Inside, the Guard led him past the main hall and into one of the smaller, exquisitely decorated courtyards.
Further inside, the Guard pushed open a simple, ancient wooden door.
“Your Majesty, he has arrived.”
The Guard announced before turning to leave.
Inside, a maid stood respectfully. Seeing Mark, she gestured politely for him to enter.
Grateful, Mark nodded and carefully stepped inside.
After several days, seeing Emperor Rubas again, he noticed the ruler dressed in elegant casual wear, lazily reclining on a sofa inlaid with gold and jade, reading a book.
Noticing Mark’s arrival, the Emperor did not lift his gaze from the book but merely turned a page softly.
Mark knelt down. “Vice Dean Mark of the Royal Academy, pays homage to Your Majesty, the Emperor!”
“Is that you?”
Rubas sounded somewhat puzzled. “What brings you here?”
“Your Majesty…” Mark hesitated, unwilling to say outright, “I…”
He could hardly say in front of His Majesty that his daughter might be trying to kill him.
No matter how strained the relationship between the Emperor and the Second Princess, they were still family.
Besides, there were others present here.
But with his own future and life on the line, despite trying hard to control his inner turmoil and fear, Mark’s face was anxious.
Yet, the Emperor’s tone remained indifferent, not even looking at him.
Mark could only cautiously ask, “Your Majesty, may I ask if you were satisfied with the matter you previously entrusted to me?”
“Entrusted you?”
Rubas glanced back at him. “What matter? Since when did I entrust you with anything?”
“Ah… ha ha, no, no, I must have been mistaken.”
Mark remained kneeling, sweat soaking his back. He clenched his fists tightly.
Taking a deep breath, he still refused to give up, trying another approach.
“May I ask how Your Majesty regards the Second Princess’s enrollment at the Royal Academy?”
He tried to keep his voice steady, but the Emperor could still hear the tremor in his tone.
A slight smile tugged at the corner of Rubas’s mouth as he continued reading his book.
“Since she wishes to cultivate talents for the Empire, just as she said in her inaugural speech—to guide the countless lost…”
“Then let her do it well. At this point, even if I didn’t want her involved, it wouldn’t matter.”
Hearing the Emperor’s attitude, Mark felt something stuck in his throat, neither spitting out nor swallowing.
His gaze flickered like a lake shattered by stones.
“Since Your Majesty has high hopes for Princess Willis, I shall do my utmost to assist her… but…”
Mark paused, unwilling to mention the Emperor’s previous implication.
After all, those were only verbal hints, with few present and no official orders.
Mark was no fool; seeing Rubas’s attitude, he dared not reveal too much.
“It’s just that after the inaugural speech, it seems the Second Princess has misunderstood me.”
“It was only natural to question the new teachers to assess their qualifications…”
“But I may have gone too far, causing Princess Willis displeasure…”
“Since Her Highness wishes for the Empire, for society, and for the Dawn commoners, naturally she needs the Academy’s strong support and capable aides.”
“I am but an unworthy servant, willing to dedicate myself to Her Highness and the Empire!”
Mark’s voice rang out with righteous resolve, though the trembling betrayed his nerves.
“However, the misunderstanding between Her Highness and me is not so easily resolved. Thus, I humbly beseech Your Majesty to mediate!”
With that, Mark kowtowed several times fiercely.
His posture was extremely low, even taking the blame upon himself, giving the impression he was the truly magnanimous party.
“Her Highness’s grand vision is truly admirable. Once the misunderstanding is cleared, I will wholeheartedly serve without complaint. I implore Your Majesty to mediate.”
Calling himself a “lowly one” and begging again—in plain terms, Mark shamelessly prostrated himself.
In fact, that was precisely what he was doing.
Yet the Emperor still lay there reading, not glancing his way.
“Is that why you came?”
The casual tone crushed Mark like a bottomless pit.
To the Emperor, this seemed a trivial matter.
And indeed…
A mere Vice Dean might not warrant his full attention.
But the Empire’s princess—your daughter—is that not worthy of care?
“Your Majesty!”
Mark crawled deeply, his hysterical voice yet heavily restrained.
“Enough. Willis, as an Imperial Princess, is not a petty woman. Vice Dean, go back and explain thoroughly. Willis will surely understand your intentions.”
“If there is nothing else, you may leave.”
The Emperor dismissed him.
The maid quickly approached, “Vice Dean, please.”
Mark gave one last, deep look at the Emperor, who sat like a statue engrossed in his book, and sighed softly.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I take my leave.”
After Mark left, a graceful and noble woman appeared carrying a steaming bowl of thick soup.
“Your Majesty, the affairs of state are tiring. Please have some nourishing soup.”
At her words, Rubas smiled, “No pressing matters today, but… very well.”
Sitting up, the woman gently cooled the soup and fed it to the Emperor.
“Hmm, indeed excellent!”
Rubas praised.
“This was specially prepared by your servant. I’m glad Your Majesty likes it.” The woman smiled, filling the room with fragrance.
“The Empress is most considerate.”
Ileane Yoda, the current Empress of the Okam Empire, was not the biological mother of Willis or Hill Yu.
Upon hearing the praise, Ileane’s face lit with joy, and she laughed softly to herself twice.
“Why be so formal with me, Your Majesty? By the way, was that the Vice Dean of the Royal Academy just now?”
Ileane asked.
“Yes.” Rubas nodded flatly. “I heard the Empress’s cousin is a new student this term at the Academy?”
“Yes… that child can be somewhat unruly…” Ileane shifted her tone. “Come to think of it, he might be Willis’s student if he chooses her course.”
“By the way, Your Majesty, why did you not want Willis to attend the Royal Academy in the first place?”
The question made Rubas’s eyes darken.
“The Imperial Academy is no longer simply a place for study. I intended to reform it slowly, but since Willis wants to go, then let her cause some trouble.”
Rubas smiled faintly but was unwilling to say more.
“Alright, Empress, I must attend to state affairs. You should rest. I will find you this evening.”
At this, Ileane gave him a coquettish wink before swaying her waist and leaving.
***
After hastily leaving the Imperial City, Mark anxiously urged the carriage driver, “Go, to the Raymond family, quickly!”