Going straight to the reason why he summoned him, the emperor took some few steps away from him and poured himself a cup of wine. His voice dropped, deliberate, heavy with meaning.
" There is something you must do for me. It is something important and of course, I can not trust another other person to carry it out but you. You are the one I trust most." He pressed on the word trust, as if it were a blade he wished to lodge firmly in Dada's chest
" This servant will carry out any duty entrusted to him by the emperor even if.. it is at the risk of his own life. " Dada who was down on a knee with his head bowed to the emperor replied.
The cup in the emperor's hand halted halfway to his lips. He had always known dada was loyal to him but...- but hearing it spoken so plainly struck something deeper than pride.
Slowly, the emperor set the cup aside on the table and moved towards the bed. Sitting, he fixed his gaze on the man still kneeling.
"Dide- Rise." His tone had soften. The mission is indeed very important but… but your life is important too."
Dada got back on his feet and stared at the emperor. He noticed the slight difference in his voice as he spoke; Gentler. Almost tender.
" You are not allowed to die." the emperor continued, steady but low.
" If you are gone there will be no one left for me to trust. Saying that, your first mission is this: do not die. As for the second…."
Dada detected a sudden hardness in his voice this time.
" Pick up those portraits. Open it " The emperor ordered while dada did as he had instructed and opened them. In it each were faces of three unfamiliar men drawn within. Dada stared at the portrait for a few seconds. Confusion flickered across his features before he turned back to the emperor.
The emperor noticed dada was confused. It was just normal as there was no way he would know the men drawn there. He wouldn't recognize the princes.
" They are the three princes." He explained.
" My Lord.. " Dada had a questioning face.
The emperor stood up and walked in a slow pace around his room..his robe trailing behind him.
" This is my final year as the Emperor of this Empire. According to norms my son is supposed to take the throne after me- inherit the throne.. but unfortunately as I do not have an heir, we have to follow tradition. One of the princes of the three kingdoms will have to become the emperor." His voice grew sharper, clipped with scorn.
" But you see dada, I am not ready to let go of this seat. I have been the emperor for years.. a feared one. I've controlled and ruled over this Empire for years. I made this Empire become what it is today. I worked so hard for this country with my strength and hard work for it to thrive. Why should I let go now? Why should I surrender power after I have built this Empire with my own blood, my own strength? The country needs me. The people need me. Only I can prevent this Empire from falling into chaos. I am the one who made this land prosper and only I can keep doing that! Why should I leave the seat for some low life grub? Why should I let some weakling, some untested cub, sit on the throne I forged? Why? "
Dada remained silent. He couldn't say anything but watch the emperor. He wondered where the emperor was driving at.
The emperor stopped on his tracks and turned to dada. " I will not step down. " the emperor declared, his eyes flashing. " Dada... I have decided to make some changes to the law that have been preserved for years. I have decided to remain the emperor for as long as I live. To do this, I must seize even greater power. Nothing and no one can stop this. This is why.." he paused and continued almost immediately.
" This is why I have decided to take some steps which would change everything for ever."
The emperor paused and went back to his bed with Dada's eyes glued to him at every step.
" I have ordered for the princes to leave their palace. This is actually under the disguise of giving them a duty- which is for them to leave their palace and for them to walk among the people and 'discover the heart of the Empire. I gave an order that they are not to return home until the next six months." A low chuckle escaped him.
" In truth, The duty given to them is just a deceit to force them out… with the prince out of their kingdom, they would have to depend on themselves for their protection. When a man is outside his secured safe zone and out on the streets filled with vile people, anything could happen. Accidents, ambushes, disappearances. Anything Dada... even as a mistake. " His brows raised and eyes widening with meaning.
Dada caught up on what the emperor was trying to say. His eyes widened as realization struck.
" My Lord, you mean you want..."
" I told you it is a special and an important mission Dada." the emperor cut in smoothly. " I want you to kill the three princes before the six months are over. I want non of them alive. You are skilled. I trust you can carry this task out. You have to be careful as these prince are well trained themselves. Things might get a little difficult for You."
He felt something about this mission.. something he couldn't point his fingers at. He had questions but who dares question the Emperor. The Emperor's orders were absolute. He got down on a knee again, bowing low.
" This servant will carry out the mission entrusted to him successfully. And If I can't make it…I wouldn't stop to take my own life at failure.
Shocked by his words, the emperor voice raised- just slightly. " You..-" the emperor seemed to be lost for the rest of his words.
After many seconds passed, he spoke again- his voice calm. " You are not allowed to take you own life. Your life belongs to me and if anyone is to take your life away, that would be me. Besides if you are gone, what would i..- "
His voice faltered. The words he wanted to say— what would I do without you— died unspoken. He looked away instead after stopping in his sentence.
" You may leave. Return safely. "
Dada paid his respect to the king once more, taking the portraits..he vanished the way he had entered.
When Dada left, the Emperor looked towards the window Dada had left through.
With his gaze lingering at the window, it was like he could still feel the other presence- haunted by the scent he left behind.
His lips parted slowly as he muttered a word he could barely hear himself. "…Please"
The truth was simple: The sole reason the emperor doesn't have an heir wasn't because he couldn't produce one but because he couldn't make it out with his wives. Ever since he could remember, his heart had always lingered at Dada. Thinking his heart might change, he took in a third wife but it changed nothing. It only made him realize how much his heart longs for Dada.
.
.
To the present --
Dada slipped a portrait from his robe and took a look at it. His steps quickened. He had just seen this very face on the street.
The First Prince!
He had just met with the first prince. Without delay, he hasten his steps to catch up with the prince who was almost far gone. Soon, Dada melted into the crowd.
To be continued..