Chapter 227: Giliath Osborne
Giliath demands your power stones!
*
"Right this way please.", Claire said using a formal tone. She was in the presence of the standing Emperor of Erebonia, so she knew how to act according to the situation. We all saw her open the large doors. Further beyond laid a long and fancy corridor with marbled flooring. This area was used to invite VIPs among VIPs. A normal noble or commoner wouldn't be able to enter this place, largely because it was frequently used to serve these special guests or create good business opportunities. It was also used by the Emperor and the Chancellor during their downtime, acting as a private home away from home.
Rean would also get to have a one on one talk with Chancellor Osborne here, letting him dive deeper into the past he never knew about. Rean is still blissfully unaware that not only does he have a father who is still alive, but also has a half-brother, who was of course, none other than me. It's been a while since I've seen Rean, so I'm curious to see how he has been doing. I'm pretty sure Rean's ogre powers have been exhibited for the first time, so I probably should have a chat with Elise later to see how Rean's been doing. It's possible that he may have even stopped going to Yun Kafai's dojo since his powers were quite fearsome during this time.
As I thought that, Claire started to guide us along the long and fancy corridor. It was fully equipped with marble tiling, much like the request of the palace was. As we walked, we soon arrived in front of one of the rooms further in the back of the corridor, off to the side. The one all the way back was meant for the Emperor, which was mostly off limits most of the time. Seeing the three of us arrive in front of this door, Claire parted ways, remaining off to the side with a serious look in her eyes. However, at the same time, I felt a strange fluctuation in the air from further inside the corridor where His Majesty's room was. An illusory light quickly reached my eyes but the others seemed unaware of the sudden shift in the atmosphere. It felt very familiar. It was a mana fluctuation but the presence quickly vanished as quickly as it arrived. Yet my head still was turned slightly to the left, observing empty air.
"Is something wrong, Big Brother?", Princess Alfin asked, being unsure of the behavior I was currently showing.
"It might be my imagination.", I said, putting my head on Princess Alfin's head again to ease her worry. Yet Claire reacted differently, her eyes turned more serious than before. She even reached down to her holster, drawing out the same orbal pistol she always likes to use.
"You've got good eyes, Your Highness. It wasn't just your imagination.", Claire said, only to release the firing mechanism on her gun, making it ready to fire at will. Even His majesty's gaze turned serious seeing Claire suddenly do this.
"This area is strictly forbidden and is off limits. Either come out with your hands up or I'm going to force you out!", Claire declared, only to continue seeing empty space further in the corridor.
"Did someone really try to sneak into Esmelas Garden?", Emperor Eugent said with a frown. All he saw was an empty space. A moment of this passed by in silence, seeing the corridor remain silent. Claire really did always have a good eye in discerning things. I doubt she could actually feel the flow of mana, but I could still feel a presence pretty much standing right before me, but in the distance. I could pretty much guess who it was who came, but I decided to let Claire do her thing.
"Fine. Hard way it is. Don't regret having an open bullet wound when I drag you to a jail cell later.", Claire said. Princess Alfin's eyes turned wide in surprise seeing Claire fire off an orbal bullet right here in the corridor. A loud bang struck our ears, causing the princess to become momentarily dazed. At the same time, the bullet struck against empty air, but it's not as if it didn't give any results. A quick reflection of light obscured into view, revealing a rather slim figure, but it was only the outline. This lasted very briefly, and the figure successfully hid again, hidden in plain sight as they say.
"A cloaking device?", Emperor Eugent wondered, musing to himself as he saw Claire still armed. I played the part, shielding Princess Alfin with my arm. She didn't expect to hear such a loud yet muffled bang suddenly strike against this corridor.
But before Claire could take any further action in her shooting, we suddenly heard an imposing voice reach our ears, a bit muffled as it came from behind the room.
"Stand down, Claire. Who you are firing at is no enemy. Don't waste your bullets trying either. I am safe to assume as such, Your Highness Naoto?", The imposing, yet ever so familiar voice suddenly called out to us, and more specifically, reached out to me. Hearing this voice, Claire couldn't help but raise her eyes hearing the Chancellor call out like that.
"Your Excellency...", Claire tried to utter, only to quickly lower her orbal gun. She was one not to refuse him, especially when father gives an order like that. Claire could only lower her weapon, only to draw her gaze my way.
"Don't tell me, is this your doing, Your Highness?", Claire said as she frowned, pulling away the hostility she displayed earlier. She still had doubt in her eyes, but to her surprise, I gently nodded my head. My eyes turned toward the corridor again, and I yelled out, despite it currently appearing empty.
"You can reveal yourself, Emma. It would seem the Chancellor's insight is as excellent as always. Even Claire was able to sense you.", I suddenly said, causing Claire's eyes to become surprise again, not expecting a familiar name to hear.
"Understood.", A fourth voice said from seemingly nowhere. The cloaking-like illusion before us suddenly bent light in a particular area of the corridor. It didn't take long for an outline of a person to emerge from it, one quite slim. Claire's surprise remained as she saw a plum haired girl currently decked out in Zephyr's Jaeger armor. On top of that, she currently had her custom built orbal sniper rifle hoisted over her back, towering over her. Princess Alfin's eyes was surprised as well, since she wasn't expecting to see Emma here, and in this fashion too.
"Don't tell me the thing about you being a bodyguard along with that white haired girl was actually true?", Princess Alfin couldn't help but ask as she observed Emma's current appearance. She smiled hearing that question.
"In a way. Naoto tasked me to stay on guard here should anything happen after the ball ended. I do apologize if this has offended you in any way, Your Majesty.", Emma said in a polite tone. It took a moment for His Majesty to recollect himself, but he nodded his head.
"Added security never hurts. I didn't think such a young girl like you would be so well trained in combat...", Emperor Eugent mused to himself.
"Nor did I think it would be you, Emma. I didn't think you'd have skills like this. Could it be that espionage is your forte?", Claire wondered, only to put the orbal gun she was holding back into her holster.
"Sure, let's go with that.", Emma said, declining the fact that she currently knew magic like I did. She simply bent the reflection of the light to hide away in plain sight. A rather simple spell, but quite an effective one.
"Oh I sure am going to have some stories to tell the others after tonight is done.", Princess Alfin responded with a smile, seeing the danger pass.
"You can chat with the others later, my daughter. We mustn't keep the Chancellor waiting.", Emperor Eugent said, only to walk up to the door that was still in front of us. Claire returned to the side of the door, and resumed her post. She let the Emperor open the door, and before us laid a rather big room with a large table in the immediate front. It was big enough to let several people sit, and it was a low-elevated table. Not one used in dining areas. Further beyond were some
windows that gave a view of the palace behind Heimdallr, as well as a desk. There were some drawers and plants scattered around, but overall, it wasn't overly decorated.
But further inside the room, we all saw a tall man wearing a large overcoat that hid away a suit. It covered most of his body, reaching down toward his feet. It was mostly black in color too, apart from the side of it which was red on one of the sides.
I came across father earlier during the banquet and the ball, but this was a time where we now have a private meeting with him. This time included Emma as well, seeing that she was no longer under her illusory spell. She simply remained behind us, keeping our rear in check. Once the door was opened, Giliath stood up from his desk and a smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you for Your Majesty and Your Highnesses in sparing a bit of your time tonight. Like yourselves, I am quite busy, so I do not have much time to spare, but still, please come in. We can talk further inside.", Giliath Osborne said as he welcomed us. Once we were all past the door, we saw Claire shut it, leaving us now standing before one of the most powerful men in Erebonia as it stands, the current Chancellor of Erebonia's Imperial Diet, Chancellor Giliath Osborne.