Chapter 115: Side Story 10: 20th Birthday

"Announcing the Arrival of His Majesty the Emperor, Alfred Lindonfall. Blessed One, Champion of Sol, Creator of the Empire, The Empress Consort Isra Lindonfall, and the Crown Prince Edward Lindonfall."

Alfred entered the banquet hall with Isra at his side. He wore a pristine black outfit with gold accessories that matched his hair, with a red cloak with white fluff topping it over his back. Atop his head, his new crown made of gold littered with gems, a large black one taking the centre. Isra wore a tight light blue dress that stuck to her body. Edward was rolled in behind on his wheelchair by Abu.

The crowd and music of the banquet went silent as everyone present bowed in their direction. Alfred smiled at them all as he walked passed taking his seat on the chair that overlooked the hall. Isra and Edward sitting by his sides.

"All Rise," Alfred spoke with dignity and authority. A servant came over with drinks once the command was given, both he and Isra taking the slender glasses. "I thank you all for coming to my 20th birthday celebration. This past year has been a time of great success for the Ammary people and so I want to make this not a day to just celebrate me, but us. Our history, our achievements our great future to come." Alfred raised his glass, everyone falling behind. "To our glorious future." Everyone repeated the words back and drank their drinks.

The music began once more and Alfred took his seat. "I will never understand how they enjoy these things so much." He said quietly to Isra getting a small chuckle from her and Abu who overheard.

"You should know. It’s a chance to mingle and worm their way up. You don’t like it because you’re the greatest prize, Your Majesty." Abu said jokingly getting a wave of the hand from Alfred.

He looked at his wife who drank her drink, silently observing. "You can go if you want. Abu shall keep me company before they all start approaching." He could see Isra wished to go. he just gave her the excuse to do it without it being seen as disrespect. He didn’t understand how it could be, but he knew that the nobles had other ways of thinking. Still, he knew they would never voice them to him.

Isra smiled, giving a polite bow towards him before leaving to find Catherine. "You used to be a lord Abu. Tell me. What was it like to be down there?" Alfred was intrigued. He had always been above everyone in his lands. He didn’t play by the same rules as them.

Abu looked down, reminiscing. "It was a long time ago. But I remember. It was so... shallow. A world where you wear a smile and shake the hands of someone you hate and kiss his wife’s hand. Buttering up to the man richer in hopes he can remember your name." Abu spoke with disdain for it but that quickly changed to self-mocking.

"And I used to love it. Being able to brush those off less powerful whilst kissing the ass of those above me. I thought it was natural. Looking at it now, it was pathetic." He kept watching and his eyes caught a few people. "But it wasn’t all bad. Sometimes you meet a genuine person and bond. Sometimes you had a good conversation. I can’t imagine how it would feel for you however Your Majesty."

Alfred watched as she saw a few people turn their heads in his direction. He knew they wished to pay respects and then talk to him, but waited. If they went first before William or Catherine it was a massive disrespect not only to the duke and duchess but also Alfred himself.

"If you stay by my side tonight you may find out." He watched as William came up the steps to talk. Abu smiled before looking down at the young Prince who watched everything with amazement.

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"Gosh. Your Majesty. I couldn’t believe the request when your husband sent it my way." Catherine said whilst taking a drink from her glass.

Isra lightly chuckled. "I wasn’t expecting it either, but it was a welcomed surprise." Isra chuckled once more remembering that day. "And how many times must I say it, Catherine? You can call me Isra."

"I don’t mind in private, but not here." Catherine shot it down quickly. "Besides it looks like we have some guests coming." Isra turned to see what Catherine was talking about and saw a couple of noble women come over.

"We greet Her Majesty the Empress." They gave a polite bow and Isra got them to quickly rise. "I hope we are not interrupting anything. We just wished to talk to the Empress and Duchess. You too are the finest woman in all of society." She said politely.

"Of course not. Come." Catherine said with a smile, leading the woman to some chairs. A couple of men were sitting on them, but seeing both the Empress and Duchess walking over was enough for them to statically move.

"Tell us, Duchess. Where is your daughter? I heard she was in the capital but she hasn’t come." One of the noble ladies asked getting an exhausted sigh in response. It was well known in high society about Sasha’s behaviors and more so how it annoyed the Duchess.

"That girl. She pretended to get ill and not come. I apologised to the Emporoer and he laughed it off." She grabbed her forehead shaking it. "I don’t know what to do with that girl. To miss such an important day."

"She will be fine Catherine. My husband laughed it off because he wished he didn’t have to come to these banquets either. He would much rather work." Isra tried to comfort her friend but it seemed her words fell on deaf ears.

"Don’t we all sometimes." One of the women said with a sigh and taking a drink. "But why is she in the capital for so long? Knowing her she would love to be at sea. Moreso the Palace." The woman looked in Isra’s direction sneekily trying to gauge a reaction. All she needed was one twitch.

Catherine looked towards Isra who chuckled. "She’s here to teach me the sword." Isra wasn’t shy about it, telling them. Shock was the only word that could describe the face of the woman. They couldn’t believe what they heard and believed they had actually misheard.

"Surely you jest. To learn to use the sword. Does The Emporer know?" She said quietly, worried.

"He knows. He set it up as a gift for me." Isra placed her hand on her chin seeing this as a good chance. "I asked him myself. After that terrifying invasion, I feared for my life, but more importantly my sons." her eyes went warm as she looked at the little boy in his chair playing. The noble women were hooked, some nodding in response having children of their own.

"I have complete faith in my husband and the strength of our military. But inside there was always a fear. As Empress, I know our Empire best. But as a mother, I wish for nothing more than to protect my son. And I realized then, that I would have failed. I didn’t want to feel that powerless again so I asked my husband and he gave me what I wanted." She finished with a smile and the other noble ladies nodded in agreement.

They too had felt powerless during that time and hearing Isra’s words was an eye-opener. Catherine looked at them and had to hide her laugh. She looked to the throne and saw William finishing up. "I must go see the Emporer now."

Catherine gave a polite nod to the other nobles. "I will join you. I can’t leave his side for too long." Isra quickly got up walking beside Catherine. The woman looked at her and laughed.

"You may have started a new trend within the Empire." Catherine’s words got a confused glance from Isra. "Such a display of freedom from the highest rank woman in the empire will get any of these ladies to want to follow in your steps. A husband dares refuse their wife, they can just say his Majesty has allowed his wife to." Isra’s surprise turned to smiles.

They approached Alfred and began to climb the steps. "I’m sure my husband is going to receive a lot of complaints in the future." She laughed about it taking her seat.

"I will complain about what?" Alfred asked looking towards his wife getting a cheeky smile from her. He knew whatever happened was going to be a headache for him but he didn’t care, admiring her.

The banquet lasted longer than Alfred had wanted but seeing it die down he knew that it was beginning to wrap up. It was his chance and stood up getting the attention of everyone. Slowly the chatter began to stop as they waited for him to begin.

"My people. Our work has just yet begun. The Safrid conquest was just the start of everything, a prelude to show the world what we are, and what to expect from us. Our enemies will plot to keep us down and stop our ambition, but I tell you this. I will not stop until the blood in my body stops flowing. One day and I warn you it will come, we will become the enemies of most of the world. But when this day arises we will be ready. We will strike with a fury comparable to Sol’s light. We will see to it that our Empire becomes a beacon of civilization. In the millennia to come the world will remember our names."

He could see his words lit a spark in their eyes. They were excited and proud of themselves. They wanted to achieve the glorious future that was promised.

"The Ammary people are the ones who will control the future. The Ammary people are the ones who will be remembered. My name, your name, they will never be forgotten." Alfred paused and lifted his glass in the air. The nobles all saw this and followed.

"Glory to the Empire. Glory to Ammary. Glory for the Future." Alfred smirked hearing the words repeated back to him. Isra stood up behind him as he walked through the sea of people that opened for him and his family. He could see that nationalism was finally taking hold. It was the only way he could think of to keep control and he needed the upper class to believe as much as the lower class if he didn’t want everything to collapse.