Chapter 8: Angelina’s Place to Call Home
KYRIL was heading towards the Celestial Axe Tower. Feilong had returned to normal without issue. However, Tomi said he needed a little more rest before resuming government duties. As Kyril and Yuen continued walking together, they came upon a group of Jinlongian nobles waiting for them.
“Blood of the imperial line,” one of them greeted, bowing with his hands locked in front of his chest. “Thou cometh from above the lightning bolts of the rain clouds. Thou doth possess the scale of the Golden Dragon. May the blessings of Heaven be upon ye, Crown Prince Kyril—young dragon of Jinlong.”
Kyril glanced at the nobles. These men had begun probing into his affairs ever since Feilong stopped visiting the tower. One of them had even advised Kyril to marry.
Yuen took a step forward. “What business do you have?”
“Nothing too onerous,” a nobleman said. “If possible, we would like to visit Emperor Feilong, as His Majesty has been resting for quite some time.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Kyril answered.
The noblemen grinned, flattery oozing from their expressions as they regarded Kyril. “But we haven’t even glimpsed Emperor Feilong as of late,” one of them said. “Is His Majesty truly convalescing? With all due respect, a single audience would put our minds at ease.”
Yuen furrowed his brow in displeasure. “Is Crown Prince Kyril’s administration making you uneasy?”
“Not at all!” the nobleman cried, clearly flustered. “According to rumor, the Bai Ze appeared recently. How could any of us be worried? We were particularly impressed with Prince Kyril when the border skirmishes died down as well. However, the Bai Ze’s appearance has us wondering if the dynasty has changed.”
The nobleman donned an oily smile, his gaze testing Kyril. Yuen’s temper flared. They were trying to find out if Feilong had died in a roundabout manner.
“Are you asking whether His Majesty still lives?” Kyril asked, staring back at the noblemen impassively.
“We aren’t blaming you, Prince Kyril. Wanting to hide a sudden misfortune is understandable. However, why not announce the change in dynasties rather than hide it? We are still your loyal retainers, even after His Majesty’s death. It seems as though you’re calling our devotion into question by hiding the truth from us.”
Despite feigning humility in their speech, the noblemen wore domineering expressions.
These aren’t the faces of loyal retainers, Kyril thought with a sigh.
“You don’t believe me when I say His Majesty is resting?” he asked.
“Of course we believe you,” the nobleman responded. “If His Majesty is convalescing from an illness, there are ways in which we can help, such as through prayer. But first, we would appreciate an audience. We are very worried, after all.”
The noblemen were attempting to throw Kyril off balance through kind words. Suddenly, a voice cold enough to freeze the air rang out around them.
“Is that so? I never knew you had such admirable intentions.”
The noblemen turned in the direction of the voice, their eyes widening. Feilong stood there with Angelina in his arms. His silver hair fluttered in the wind, and a chill radiated from his scornful, icy blue eyes. A shroud of winter seemed to hang solely around the emperor.
After shrinking into themselves, the noblemen threw themselves into deep bows. “Blood of the imperial line—”
“Enough,” Feilong interrupted. “I don’t require greetings from simpletons who don’t know the difference between rest and convalescence.”
He was the picture of the cruel emperor, his hand on his sword and a smile on his face. His very presence overwhelmed others. The noblemen couldn’t breathe, even though he wasn’t even using magic.
“I won’t suffer fools in my palace,” Feilong spat.
His menacing aura was as terrifying as a black dragon rearing its head. Such words from the cruel emperor implied the death penalty. In the worst-case scenario, their entire families could be executed. In fact, Feilong had killed his own family without batting an eye when usurping the throne.
The blood drained from the noblemen’s faces, their visions growing dark. Legs trembling, they fell to their knees.
“Spare my life at the very least,” one begged.
“Spare my family at the very least,” another pleaded.
As they both pressed their foreheads against the ground, Feilong glanced at Kyril. “I leave their punishment to you.”
The emperor left with a single flap of his cape. Meanwhile, Kyril turned his gaze back on the noblemen, still prostrating themselves with foreheads on the ground. Their cocksure attitudes from minutes ago now seemed like a poor joke.
This is Father’s power, Kyril thought. He can control people through fear. It’s certainly easy to understand, but I’m not capable of doing the same.
When Kyril sighed, the noblemen jolted, their bodies trembling.
“I’m placing you both under house arrest and ordering your retirement,” Kyril said.
Though their political careers had been cut short, no harm would come to their lives or families. The noblemen raised their tear-stained faces in response to Kyril’s benevolent decision.
“Thank you so much, Crown Prince Kyril!” one cried out.
“Yes, thank you so much!” the other agreed.
“However, this is your last warning,” Kyril added sternly.
The noblemen prostrated themselves again. “Yes, Your Highness!”
Kyril turned his back on the noblemen and chased after Feilong. “Are you returning to work today, Father?” he asked.
“No, I’m just taking a walk with Angelina.”
Angelina smiled awkwardly inside Feilong’s arms. “You were both pretty amazing back there.”
“After everything we said, they shouldn’t make any moves for a while,” Feilong said with a snort. “But Kyril…”
Kyril stiffened, preparing for a lecture. Is Father going to chastise me for being too lenient? he wondered. Perhaps my methods would prevent the government from running smoothly.
Kyril hung his head. A few moments later, however, he felt a large, warm hand mussing his hair.
“You did a good job keeping the vipers at bay until now,” Feilong said. “I’m proud of you.”
Kyril lifted his head, wearing a cheerful, if somewhat awkward, smile. “Thank you!” he exclaimed. Receiving praise from his father lifted a weight from his shoulders.
As tears formed in the outer corners of his eyes, Angelina smiled and said, “Good for you, Big Brudder.”
“Well then, let’s make our way to the Celestial Axe Tower,” Feilong said with an indomitable smile. “More than a few people need a taste of the dragon’s lightning.”
“Your face looks scary, Fodder,” Angelina noted with a laugh.
Kyril laughed with her, and Yuen smirked.
The entire group looked up at the Celestial Axe Tower—the tallest nine-tiered structure in Jinlong. The blue autumn sky stretched as far as the eye could see. As a result, the black tiles sparkled like rain-soaked crow feathers in the sunlight.