"Your voices are interrupting my meal, leave. Do not disturb me any further. And see to it that a replacement chair has been brought, this one has seem to shrunk."
"Apologies Emperor, it seems this chair has dared to shrink itself, we will replace one with the proper size tomorrow." one of the more comely court officials said with a deep bow before he ushered the rest of the men out of the room.
As they passed her she could see each of them peaking glances at the newborn prince. Each of them doing their best to school their expressions, but they could not hide from her eyes. She could see the intent behind them, the curiosity, the desire, the annoyance, the derision, all of it was plain to her. And at the same time, none of it meant anything to her; she was to serve her Emperor, matters of royal politicking interested her little.
As the doors to the dining room close and the room was cleared of its nuisances the Emperor's eyes turned to them. No, they turned to his son. The man looked at the child held in her arms with a sharp gaze, but she could not read what was behind them nor did she care to.
"What is his name?" her master finally asked, his voice grave and powerful
"She named him Nassir, Your Grace" she replied remembering the last word the woman said to her.
The Emperor chuckled at the name, but did not say anymore. The man picked up his utinsils to eat more but after a moment of hesitation sighed and set them down. She stood shocked for the second time that day, never had she seen her master unable to continue eat. Even when the food had been soiled by demon blood the Emperor had been able to eat a table clean of its food.
"Bring him to me" the man finally said leaning back as much as his body would allow him in such a tight chair.
"Yes" she said as she stepped closer to the table and brought the Emperor his child.
With a gentleness she had rarely seen from the man, he took the child in with one of his large hands. The babe looked almost like a pebble in them. The Emperor looked down at the child with critical eyes, his eyes peering into the depths of the child with skill only someone of his level would be able to do. He could see it all, the rare bloodline this child held, the weird glint just behind his eyes, the two hearts beating in his small chest, the natural rune that held power that the could not fully perceive, and so much more. He could feel that this child was special, a young star in the making. As the Emperor held the baby the little ones nose started to sniff the air and he stared to wake up and whine.
The Emperor only chuckled at this "This one has quite the appetite. Good, good eating is what matters most."
Philip reached over with his free hand and pulled a strip of meat of one of the more energy dense meats on the table. He bit of a sizable piece of it leaving only scraps he normally wouldn't have even bothered looking at but it was just the right size for his purposes now. He waved the piece of meat right in front of the child's mouth and on instinct the child opened it mouth and 'bit' into the meat.
Winter tensed at the sight. Even that small piece was more energy dense that a babe born less than an hour ago could handle. She wanted to speak up and advise against it, but everything had happened to fast for her. So she could only stand and watch.
Without teeth the babe could not properly chew his food as it was meant so he only suckled it eagerly. As the babe ate the two adults in the room waited on bated breath to see what might happen. But after a few minutes of the child sucking on the meat it finally swallowed and let out a big yawn and was promptly sent back into its deep sleep in his fathers hands.
The Emperor let out a booming laugh that shook the room, "A great apatite this one will have. At this age he can already finish a strip of legendary dragon meat. It only fitting for my son! He already has the appetite of a legend!"
Winter just stood in silence as she watched the situation, a small sigh of relief escaped her at seeing the boy sleep. She did not hold any affection for the boy but even she did not wish to see a babe die so needlessly.
Soon the Emperor's laughter died down and he continued to stare down at the child. This was his first child, his second and third would be born within the year, but this was his first born child and the only one of his children that would not have his mother or their ancillary family to guide him. He could not do it, nor did he want too, someone would need to guide the boy. He could not let his talents go wasted. He needed someone who could be trusted to raised this child without corrupting him. None of his other wives would do, none were barren and should he father a child onto them his first born would be cast aside at a moments notice.
He huffed in frustration as he thought over this problem, the exact type of problem that made him never want to take up the mantle he now held. He would have happily given it to any of the other members of the family had they not been crazy or useless. Unfortunately, he was the only one that could fill his mother position even if the cost was far greater than he expected.
He heard a shuffle of armor and pulled his eyes from his son and to the woman still standing in the room. Winter, one of his most powerful and loyal followers. Having been with him since he first began his rise and having proven her loyalty to him time and time again. She was not a woman who sought pleasures of the flesh for all he had known her, but she was still a woman. He thought that perhaps she would make a fine mother for a child abandoned by his mother. Although her coloring was not exactly fitting-her hair brown and her eyes emerald- it was not rare for a child to take more after the father than the mother; especially when the fathers bloodline was stronger.
It would greatly change things among his followers, but it would work.
"Winter" he said with a grave tone
The knight immediately went to one knee "Your will is my life your grace"
As loyal as always. "Seeing as my son does not have a mother, he is in need of one. Traditionally, one of my other wives would fill this role. But I see much promise in this one and do not wish to take the chance that they might ruin him."
"A most wise decision my Emperor. We are both aware how cruel royal politics can be it would be best to have the young prince grow away from all of it." the knight said, given the best advice she could think of in the moment.
"Your suggestion has merit, but I have come to another solution. You shall raise the boy as your own. You shall take up the role of royal consort and be given the privileges of such as well as the ones you currently have." he commanded
The knights stiffened at his words and for the first time in his life he could see defiance in her eyes "I am h-honored your grace, but as you k-know I do not partake in the matters of f-flesh. I do not feel I can complete my d-duties as a w-wife shall."
The Emperor chuckled as she stumbled over her words. It was the first time in his life he had been rejected by one of the opposite sex. Many had come begging for him to take them as one of his own, many even being satisfied being a mistress. Winter was truly unique out of all the woman he had met. If he truly wished he could still force the woman to share nights with him when he wished, but he preferred willing participants.
"You misunderstand me Winter. It will only be a marriage of convenience, you will not share my bed. Your duty shall only be to raise my first born and act as his mother before all who would care to pay attention. Once the boy is old enough I will share the truth of it to him myself. If it would not ruin the boys credibility I would have you raise him still as my follower, but it cannot be such."
He could see the tension leave her body a he spoke, and finally with a deep resigned sigh she spoke, "If that is your will, I am honored to join your harem your grace. I will raise Prince Nassir in a way best befitting a Prince of the Mordain Family."
He nodded his head, she was as obedient as ever, "Rise, take our son. Go to the steward and see that he grants you a quarters befitting one of my favored wives. Word wil be sent to your family to share the *good news*" he chuckled as he held his son out to his *mother*.
Winter gave a small chuckle of her own as she took her new son into her arms. She did not know how but it felt different to hold him this time. "I will see that he is raised to perfection my Emperor."
The Emperor only nodded his head and resumed clearing the table in front of him with renewed vigor. With her son in her arms she exited and made her way to take up her new role of Imperial Concubine.