COS: Royal Rune

"Yes, William?" he asked 

"Ah, there you are my Prince, excuse me for my intrusion but I had knocked several times and it is of the upmost importance that I speak to you." the man bowed his head

"My apologies, I was focused on something else and did not hear you. What is it you wish to speak to me about?" he asked leaning against the door to the his spare room. "Also, come in."

"Thank you my Prince" the man said as he slid into the room, softly closing the door behind him. He smoothed out his slightly wrinkled blazer before continuing "It is not I that wishes to speak to you my Prince, I only am here to relay that the His Excellency the Emperor has called for you to meet him."

Nassir frowned at that and tensed up some "Did he say what for?"

William shook his ahead, "The message was sent by Steward Smith, no reasoning was given only that you were called upon immediately. You are to meet him in his dining room."

Nassir mind ran wild with what his father could have called him for. Today wasn't a day that they were to eat together, there had only been one thing that he had done recently that would've peaked his fathers attention. But that had only happened less than an hour ago. Surely his father hadn't found out. If that was what his father had called him about then he was horrified. He knew the information would reach the man, but he did not think it would be so soon. Even then he did not expect the man to involve himself in this affair, he had made it clear they were free to make any agreements they deemed fit as long as it did not hurt the Royal family, and his deal did no such thing. 

He stood their in shock for some time before he decided that ruminating wouldn't do anything and just sighed in resignation. He would take what was coming and move forward. 

"I will head there now" he said 

"Yes" the steward nodded and quickly excused himself

Nassir left soon after him. He arrived soon at his father personal dining room, but was force to wait outside by the guards that stood at the door. This worried him, he had never been forced to wait since he had been born. It did not matter what his father was saying or doing he was allowed to enter, to dine with him when he was called upon. He had learned a lot about their Empire and the greater world this way, having sat through many of his fathers meetings with his sycophantic advisors. 

Like when Greyhawk had been kidnapped by the Barbarian Leader Asa and then later when his father had learned about the Birth of Mountainsea and the scene the Beast god had caused at her birth. He had overheard how the Northern Empire had attacked the Deepblue unsuccessfully, and ended up with one of their Epic ranks fatally injured, and consequently dropping out of the Epic levels by Sharon, bringing their numbers from two to one. And cementing Sharon as an Epic being -even though she was still only level 22 mage- and her gaining the title of the strongest mage in all of Norland. His father had forced him to eat more than he had ever done before that day. 

For his father to force him to stand outside and wait, was not a good thing. It either meant that something truly terrible was happening, he was in trouble, or their conversation would be particularly serious. None of those ideas truly appealed to him and would make his request more difficult than it already would be. 

He stood straight in silence, his hands behind his back as he flexed his fingers to relieve some of the stress he felt. He had half the mind to test out some of the new abilities of his eyes, but he decided against it. He was not in the testing mood at this moment. 

By his count twenty minutes had passed, a suffocating amount of time to be stood in anxiousness. He felt as if his body would combust with how much tension he was building in himself. It was an embarrassing experience that he truly never wanted to deal with again. When he finally received the nod from one of the guards he sighed in relief. He nodded in thanks to them, an unnecessary procedure but one he did regardless, and pushed the doors to the room open.

His heart sank when he saw that the luxurious spread of food he was use too was not there. Instead the large oval table that his father normally had was gone, it was replaced by a much smaller square table, fit for four people at the most. There were only two seats at the table though; his fathers large and luxurious throne on the far end - were the man sat stone faced- a smaller far less luxurious seat on the opposite side. 

Out the corner of his eye he could see a door softly closing. He chose to ignore it as he looked at his father, who had been staring at him from the moment he had entered. The gaze was heavy and judging, it felt as if the weight of the world was resting on his shoulder. Their was no love in that gaze, it was not one of a father looking at his favored son. No, this was the gaze of an Emperor, one who held the fate of millions- billions if the planes he controlled were considered- and had the power to stuff everyone of them out unchallenged should he wish. 

It was times like this that he remembered who his father truly was. Bloodthirsty Philip, they called him and there was a reason they did. This was a man who would go on to kill two of his eldest children because they disrespected him. He had come expecting to speak to his father, he was very wrong. 

"Nassir, sit" his father command, not even giving him the time do a proper greeting.

"Yes, Your Excellency" he said as he hurriedly took his seat. He sat down with his back straight and his hands on his lap. He would be utter perfection today, there would be no mistakes if he wished to get what he wanted. 

They sat in silence for a number of moments, Emperor Philip just staring down at him with an unreadable expression. Everything in him wanted to ask the man what he was thinking and what had he done to gain his ire, but he knew better. So he sat in silence, doing his best not too look away from his fathers gaze. It was difficult, he managed, barely. 

"I have been informed of a meeting between you and two of the Dukes?" the Emperor asked

Nassir cursed in his head, but he kept his face as tame as possible as he nodded, "Yes, my mother scheduled a meeting between her, myself, The Ironblood Duke and his daughter, and The Coldshearer Duke and his grandson."

His father nodded at his statement, "Tell me what you spoke of, all of it. Do not lie to me."

Nassir gulped, he did not want to tell his father about his folly but it was foolish to do so. So he spilled everything, from the beginning of the short meeting till the end. He even mentioned how he gained some information about his rune, to which he saw a mild look of surprise pass over his fathers face.

The Emperor was silent for a few moments before he spoke, "You should not have accepted such terms. The Ironblood Duke has taken advantage of you. If you had been patient you could have arranged far more lucrative terms with a number families with even better bloodline."

He did not have a reply to that for he was right. He could have found a far better match- at least optically and financially- than the one with Beye. But he knew what Beye would become and knew the heights she could reach. While he could share the potential he knew she held, he also knew the Emperor would not care for talks of potential. Potential mattered little, what mattered was that he had given up far too much for what was frankly a lackluster marriage. 

The Orleans family, while powerful, were not an Epic ranked bloodline and did not deserve Eight Top-Tier offerings as a bride price. In truth not even most Epic Ranked bloodlines garnered that prince. His certainly didn't. The only, human, bloodline he knew that came close was the Tumen's bloodline. And that was because they were half royal high elf. 

He could tell his father that he knew Beye's future and what she would become but that would only get him killed. His father would assume he was a Scholar and would execute him on the spot. His father did not tolerate Scholars of Sorumberg in the family. All that had been found had been killed. 

"I was being impulsive, I apologize" he bowed his head

His father grunted, "The family will not help you with this debt, you will provide all Eight offerings on your own by the time of your marriage. Should you be unable to do so your cultivation will be sealed and you will be sold to the Orleans until your debts are paid off." the man said with little emotion.