"Drop it, Genna, we don't have time for this. The Royal Society is waiting for you guys. Accompany us at first," commanded a man in a crisp white coat. He was imposing, around six feet tall, with spiky hair, pale skin, and a pronounced beard.
Emerald pushed Genna gently off him and rose. He scanned the five figures standing before him, his gaze settling on the young lady with an obviously unpleasant expression. "Ain't you the shady woman I met yesterday?" he challenged.
The woman's lip curled. "Oh, you've got a great memory of us, but it ain't yesterday, brat. You've been out for a night."
Genna quickly slipped a cloak over her silk nightwear and stepped forward, ready to introduce the party. She pointed to a tall woman near the door. "That's Runa Ådal, she is a good woman with a nice heart."
"She is just exactly my type," Emerald declared, staring openly at Runa for a long moment. Genna and the others froze, stunned by his brazen reply. Genna quickly shoved Emerald to start moving. Emerald, shaking off the residual effects of the night's brain-rotting thoughts, focused on placing one foot in front of the other, not bothering to learn the names of the remaining people.
As they walked, flanked by the Elite Guards, the woman who had snapped at him earlier approached. "What's your name?" she asked.
He looked at her, irritated. "Emerald. What's with your hearing, ma'am?"
"It's just fine. When I said name, I meant your real name."
"It's Emerald. What a bother it is." Genna shot a silent, aggressive glare over her shoulder, warning him to behave.
They soon reached the doors of the King's Chamber. Genna's entire aura shifted, becoming regal and serious. She walked in, followed by Emerald. The Elite Guards remained outside, the massive door closing behind them with a heavy thud.
Emerald followed Genna, keeping his head down, acutely aware of the dozens of family leaders present, all of whom were scrutinizing him like prey. They stopped before the throne.
King Zedic rose, his voice commanding the room. "As we recall, we are here to declare my daughter's wedding. It is something that the father should do by his means of authority, but my daughter put up an act to tarnish the groom's reputation, who asked her hand in marriage. By the consequences of her childish desire, our nation was put in jeopardy. Now, at last, the Uprising Event, which we put forward to find a worthy man who can love and protect my daughter. We, the people of this country, had to wait for decades for this moment right here." Zedic paused, his eyes sweeping over the solemn assembly.
"Now, as we are going to witness this great moment of our nation's pride and symbol of culture, I ask the certain representatives of the nation's people: Do you have a wrong against my daughter's wedding to the man named Emerald bin Mortaza? If you do, please feel free to raise your voice."
Silence reigned. No one spoke or moved. All appeared satisfied with the outcome. After a few moments, Gemma, one of the royal council members, stood and asked the family leaders to introduce themselves, as Emerald was clearly unaware of their identities.
They started from the King's side:
* "Hanna Vetrigz, of the Vetrigz family."
* "Erial Dilly, of the Dilly House."
* "Achlys Laman, of the Laman family."
* "Poko Sicon, nice to meet you, boy." She gave him a curious eye.
* "Hector Lascrea." He spoke curtly, immediately returning his attention elsewhere.
* "Shadha Everborn. We are happy to see you, young master." She gave a respectful bow to Emerald.
The girl sitting near the Queen's side then stood up, flashing a familiar smile. "We know each other, good evening, buddy." Emerald was shocked: it was Eva Brown of the Brown family.
* "Rashid bnu Ameen of Hizb al Sidq clan." The name triggered a violent storm of thought in Emerald's mind.
* "Konichiwa, Ayakashi Ryo of the Ayakashi family. Hope we get along in the future."
* "Lesnye Mechta of the Mechta family."
* "Representing Lian House, I'm Yenbu Lian."
Emerald, noticing an empty chair, broke protocol. "If I don't resent you in any way, can I ask you why is that seat being left out?"
"It's simple, as an honour for a certain individual," Zedic replied vaguely. Genna remained motionless, uninvolved in the entire exchange.
"Now to vote over the first matter of today's council, please raise your hand if you have any objection against this marriage," Zedic announced.
To the room's astonishment, the only hands raised were Eva's and Emerald's. Genna laughed at the sight of Eva objecting to her wedding. Emerald looked at Eva. Even across the distance, he understood her intent: this was no joke. Her eyes held a curious, honest representation of love.
"You don't get to vote now, boy. Don't act so vulgar now," Gemma chastised Emerald.
"As it favors in a ten to one vote, it cannot be withheld. I deeply apologize in this matter of fact to you and your people, Eva Brown." Eva sighed, accepting the decision.
"As for the second matter at hand, we are going to decide about Emerald's future," Zedic handed the floor to Gemma. "Now, considering the fact that Emerald is a human and someone who is carrying Genna Embridge's heart, we cannot let him leave, and the marriage ceremonies are in need to be started as soon as possible. If anybody has an objection against this, we can talk and finalize it right now."
Emerald was the first to speak, ignoring Gemma's raised hand signaling his silence. "F*ck with your 'you have no stand.' You don't get to talk. You are just a mere human.' What's wrong with being a human? After all, we are the greatest creation of God. Just because you're fast and stronger than us, it doesn't give you the right to step on the weak!" Emerald's voice was filled with suppressed rage.
"I respectfully take in your decision. I can move on with the marriage ceremonies, but only after one year, and I need to be back home before this evening. My winter holidays end today; my parents will be in great panic if they don't see me."
The assembly was stunned by his blatant defiance. Achlys Laman stood up. "You don't get to decide that! You're just a child! You should apologize for your action."
"Apology my ass. How can it be called an apology when you don't put your heart into it? Don't even get me started on the child talk; I'm eighteen! You should know what that means! All I asked was one year of my normal life, and you call yourselves better than humans?"
Zedic raised his hand, silencing the room. "I respectfully accept your request, but taking it into consideration, can you assure me that you won't die or be harmed during your one-year life on the outside of this nation, which can assure your life from anything?"
"I can."
"Your words cannot be enough. You barely made it in the Uprising Event. What will you have if you end up losing your power which will be drawn from my precious daughter Genna? What will you have after that?" Emerald lowered his head, feeling the weight of the King's words. "You must understand that the heart beating inside you is Genna's. If you die, she will too. I'm talking to you generously because I myself know that I can't have you killed." Hector Lascrea ground his teeth at Zedic's words.
"Then you should put a vote to decide my future," Emerald challenged.
Zedic gave Gemma a look, and she stood to begin the vote. "Those who oppose this one-year gap before the marriage of Genna and Emerald can raise their hands."
Shadha Everborn, Erial Dilly, Achlys Laman, and Hanna Vetrigz raised their hands.
"Five of the family leaders choose to oppose, that including the royal family. And now, those who stand by it can raise their hands."
The other five leaders, excluding Eva, raised their hands in support.
"As of now, the opposing faction and supporting faction are equalized. We leave it as the King's decision. Anyone has anything to say?" Gemma concluded.
Without hesitation, Eva stood up, faced all the leaders, and raised her hand in support of the one-year gap. The leaders immediately objected, arguing the decision was already left to the King. King Zedic, however, addressed Eva, acknowledging her authority. "What will you suggest me as an act of goodness from this, or might it be that you're a holder of a kind heart?"
"It's not like that, my King," Eva said, her voice clear and firm. "But I don't see the reasoning of putting pressure on him to stay and cut his root. As he asked, some time is indeed necessary for any life to move on from one place to another. And I don't want to drag the burden of all those hate from the other leaders and the people of this country. So, I can assure you, my King, that I will watch over him for the one-year gap with my life on the line, just as I have been defending my nation since my brother's absence."
Zedic spoke with finality. "I will no longer let it be my decision. If she could do her job as the family leader, then she is capable of this duty. If someone wants to take over the duty, you can object." No one stood up, and the vote passed in Emerald's favor. The most surprising fact remained that Genna hadn't uttered a single word; she had only watched.
A few minutes later, everyone had left the chamber. Emerald collapsed onto the floor, trying to ground himself by repeating a mantra: "It's a marriage and it's good... it's a marriage and it's good... it's a marriage and it's good..."
While Emerald was suffering this emotional turmoil, Runa Ådal re-entered the chamber. She saw him sitting on the ground, slowly approached, and called out, "Sir Emerald, anything wrong?"
Emerald turned, forcing a bright, hollow smile. "Nothing, I'm just sightseeing, that's all," he said.
Runa made to leave, but Emerald whispered her name. She turned back to find a completely different Emerald: his eyes were dead, yet intensely serious, with tears streaming down a blank, lifeless face.
Then Emerald asked, in a voice barely above a whisper, "Can you see the blood on my hands?" His hands were visually clean, but Runa understood the horrific weight behind his words.
Emerald has won his freedom for a year, but at the cost of his future and his soul's vesselhood to Zinan. Now he's asked Runa, who knows him very little, about the "blood on his hands."
(To be continued)