The Empror's Trap

"Lina, stop playing around. Put that jewel away - I need to bring it when I have tea with Her Majesty tomorrow," Kenji said, tapping her head as she toyed with the gem.

"Oh, alright," Lina nodded, picking up the jewel. "Should I accompany you tomorrow?"

"Better not. If I show up to meet the Emperor with a guard in tow, this gift would be wasted."

Technically, weapons were allowed in the palace as long as they weren't brought into the main hall or Emperor's chambers. As the duke of Anos, he could even wear full armor and carry swords into the great hall if necessary. But Kenji wasn't foolish enough to do that.

Everyone at court knew exactly who Lina was. Despite her elegant appearance and petite body, this short-haired beauty was a disciple of the notorious Barren Ridge Sect of Camelot. The sect had been one of Camelot's most brutal dark cults. To eliminate this scourge that terrorized civilians, the court had deployed their elite Black Armor Cavalry to exterminate the entire sect. Out of mercy, the previous Emperor spared the sect's young children, arranging for masters to guide and train them to serve the country instead.

Lina was one of them. Her abilities combined dark arts from her Barren Ridge days with orthodox techniques taught by court masters. Kenji's father had chosen her as his son's guard specifically for her strong foundation.

Bringing a dark cult survivor along with the court's biggest corrupt official to tea with the Emperor would be asking for trouble. The Dragon Guards protecting the Emperor would probably storm in to protect her, even at the risk of defying royal orders...

"Yes, young master," Lina obediently agreed.

"I've told you before, I'm the Duke of Anos now, you shouldn't call me..." Kenji started to correct her but hesitated. "Never mind, call me whatever you want."

"I'm used to it. If you prefer my lord, I can try to change."

"Don't bother," Kenji sighed resignedly. Old habits die hard after all.

.............

The next morning.

At the Emperor's private chambers, the Listening Wind Palace, Kenji spoke quietly to the female guard at the door.

She bowed deeply and hurried inside. Within a minute, she returned and gestured for him to enter.

Despite being called private chambers, it was more like the Emperor's personal library. Bookshelves lined the walls, and several cats roamed about, curiously eyeing the visitor. The actual sleeping area was modest - just a plain large bed without much ornamentation.

If not for its status as imperial chambers, the furnishings were barely more luxurious than a regular official's residence. The most valuable items were clearly the wall-to-wall books.

Kenji entered with lowered eyes, careful not to look around too much.

"Your subject Kenji Anos pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Come in," a cool voice called from behind a pile of books. Kenji approached, holding his box.

"You're quite punctual."

A slender white hand emerged from behind the books, casually pushing them aside to reveal the person behind them.

Her black hair fell loosely down her back, contrasting with her mature gaze and almost childishly delicate features and soft skin. It was easy to forget the new Emperor was barely more than a girl who had just come of age.

Her black formal robes with gold embroidery added gravity and dignity, while highlighting her developing figure's graceful curves.

Without exaggeration, she would turn heads anywhere - if one could ignore her identity.

This was Pluvia Camelot, the current Emperor of the Camelot Central Empire.

She was the empire's second female Emperor. As the seventh child of the previous Emperor, and born to a concubine no less, Pluvia had no hope of inheriting the throne originally.

Yet unexpectedly, the aging Emperor had named this unlikely girl as heir, shocking the entire court. While the empire had one previous female Emperor, she had only taken power during a crisis when the Emperor was assassinated and the crown prince was too young. Now, when the empire desperately needed a capable heir, they felt choosing an underage girl was madness.

If that wasn't bad enough, when the Emperor ordered the Anos Duchy to assist the heir, the court exploded in outrage.

The combination of an underage female heir and an ambitious traitor seemed to spell doom for the dynasty.

But after the new Emperor took the throne, everyone realized something - this new Emperor was surprisingly formidable.

Though that treacherous dog was still a treacherous dog!

"Your Majesty's invitation is my greatest honor. How could I dare be late?" Kenji said as he sat before Pluvia.

She said nothing - after all, this man walked into court armed and she herself had granted him the title of Royal Brother. Of course the treacherous dog treated her chambers like his own home. But Royal Brother or not, she would never actually call this dog big brother - how revolting.

She waved, and her attendant immediately brought over a white jade tea set.

Kenji could tell the Emperor wanted to flay him alive, but he had to act natural. Any obvious change in his behavior would only make her suspicious nature conjure up more conspiracies.

"I see you've been holding that box. What treasures are inside?"

"While handling state affairs recently, a collector from the Holy Country came uninvited, hoping to befriend me. He gifted me this treasure, which I dare not keep for myself and wish to present to Your Majesty."

Kenji opened the box, revealing the Tears of the Holy Mother inside.

"The Holy Country? They approached you?"

"A collector from there."

"I see," she smiled trustingly, though it seemed forced. "I'll accept your generous gift. However, the Holy Country constantly seeks to spread their faith within our borders. Handle this matter carefully - don't favor outsiders over your own people."

Though she spoke teasingly, Kenji caught the ice in her tone.

Her meaning was clear: if he dared help those Holy Country zealots infiltrate Camelot, this Emperor would destroy you even at great cost.