"Are you that bored that you need to pry for me and Gabriel? We don't have anything together. And his secrets are his to keep or tell."
A soft knock on the door drew their attention to Alphonso, who entered the room with a silver tray in his hands and a young maid close behind him. The maid, dressed in a crisp, navy blue dress and white apron, cleaned the table with quick, clear movements, not making eye contact with either of the men seated. She retreated with a soft click of the office door closing after finishing her cleaning.
Alphonso served the two men's coffee with the elegance that comes from thirty years of experience as a high-end butler.
"Thank you, Al." Damian said this while enjoying the fresh aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
"My pleasure. Can we expect you to stay for dinner?" Alphonso was dying inside because he couldn't address the Emperor properly, and the first time he tried, Damian tormented him to hell and back. Damian wanted to feel normal at his brother's house, and to be honest, he was sick of hearing 'Your Majesty' everywhere he went.
"Well, why not? I need to know more about your master date, and I believe we need your help." Damian drank from his cup while waiting for his brother to react. Max was casually eating a fresh pastry while lounging in a comfortable position. He knew that everything that had happened up to this point would keep Damian entertained in the near future.
"I'm not aware of any romantic date my master would have." He sighed. "He does not tell anyone about his rendezvous, like another alpha we know." Damian snickered at Butler's attempted jab. He had learned enough about the subject from his head butler, Edward, and was immune to Alphonso's.
"Then would you give me a hand?"
"My help?" Al was uncomfortable every time Damian asked for his help. Usually, it meant he had to persuade Max to do something he refused. "What for?"
"Well, your master suggested that I should do a better job at being the Emperor." Damian replied, shooting his brother a sharp look. Max rolled his eyes, exasperated, and said nothing. He was curious about what this man intended to do to his butler. Al raised an eyebrow, but like Max, he was waiting to see what was going to be said.
"He suggested I revive the old dynasty's tradition of hosting an annual ball to introduce society's young adults coming of age," Damian replied dryly.
"I believe the palace has the best people to help Your Maj... You with that." Alphonso countered smoothly, redirecting the conversation. He then turned to Max. "The preparations for your travel are done, young master." Al crossed his arms at his back, and with a short bow, he tried to retreat.
"Not so fast." Damian stopped the man in his tracks. Alphonso muttered something under his breath, his patience visibly tested. Damian ignored him, leaning back in his chair with a sly grin.
"I swear to God, both you and your master have a way to slip through my fingers." Damian let the empty cup of coffee sit on the table before talking again.
"Where is your master planning to go?"
"You can stop tormenting him," Max interrupted. "As I mentioned earlier, Uncle George wants me to meet Gabriel officially. I'm traveling to Ashmont tomorrow."
"Ashmont?" Damian mused. His interest piqued. "I've never been there."
"God damn it, Damian. What do you want from me?" Max snapped, exasperation creeping into his voice. The last few months were a nightmare for both Damian and him. The court was dealing with a lot of divisions among members, which resulted in long hours of work for both of them. He suggested the party light up the mood and maybe give the nobles activities to keep them busy. Damian was a young emperor with strong wits, but he couldn't keep all the nobles in check and some of them decided to make his life miserable.
Damian's expression grew serious. "I need your help and you know it."
Max sighed, rubbing his temple. "I do. That's why I'm going to Ashmont. George and Callahan agreed to help us if I accepted their offer of meeting Gabriel." Max rose from his seat and walked behind Al, giving him a slow, reassuring pat on the back.
"I need to find out what their plan is."
"Then help me with that damned party, as well as an announcement that the social season will officially begin after that party." Damian raised his hand, stopping the two of them from talking.
"I don't plan for it to be tomorrow and you will have all the support from the palace."
Max scoffed. "Why me? I know for sure that Edward would love to manage it."
"Because," Damian said evenly, "I'm giving you a title. I'm sorry to force you into this, but I need more allies in the court than you think." He shifted his golden eyes to the windows. He was ready to confront Maximilian's opposition, but it never came.
"Ha… So that's why you are here on your free day." Max left Al, a mute statue at the announcement, and leaned on his desk. He knew that the old blood nobles were cooking something, but it was more serious than he imagined. He helped Damian overthrow the last Emperor and his heir, Prince Olivier, but after that he concentrated on the company he owned, rarely helping Damian with some small errands.
He knew that his brother was made to be a leader. The court and the Empire came to know peace and stability after decades of falling apart under the dead regime.
Unfortunately, Max knew that some old bastards were still causing problems with their immense greed. He clenched his jaw, thinking of the work that was waiting for him with the new position in society. There was no way out of that.
Alphonso, however, wasn't so easily calmed. "What title?" he asked cautiously.
"Probably a count. There are a few properties left by those who were executed in the rebellion. You can choose any of those."
Max hesitated before replying, "Callahan and George will support you publicly if I meet Gabriel." He paused, trying to think of a way to summarize his most recent conversation with his uncle. "And if I accept to be the heir of Claymore's name and family."
He raised his gaze to see Damian's and Al's shocked looks.
"You never told me that!" Blurred Al before ignoring all his decades of training and he let himself fall into the seat Max left free.
A strange silence hung over the large room. The Claymore family was one of the most powerful and ancient in the Empire. It was the only family that could maintain and control a private army, and Callahan was one of their most trusted advisers. Damian had their tacit support during the battle with the old dynasty, but giving Max Elliot's position meant commanding an army of a thousand men versed in ether arcane.
Damian covered his jaw with his hand. His mind was already calculating how much influence they would have over the country's nobles, as well as the war they were planning with the Donin Republica.
"I'm sorry, Al, for not telling you, but I needed time to process all of this. George had had enough of Elliot's antics, and I assumed that offer was made in anger. Yesterday he called me. Gabriel is on board with his plans."
"For fuck's sake." Damian let out the swear while rising from his seat. He reached for a glass of water and offered it to the butler. "Let me guess. The ball idea was Callahan's, no?"
Max nodded. "You are right."
Al gratefully accepted the glass and took a long sip of water before placing it on the table with a soft clink.
"Elliot and his mother won't take this lightly," Damian said darkly. "Are you prepared for their retaliation?"
"They can't do anything about it. It's Claymore's legacy and it's not like this is the first time they did something like this."
"Elliot and his mother, Patricia, support your father, and I know that most of your court problems are because of him." Max knew that man too well; when Hadeon de Lyon found out that people chose his son over him, he lost his mind.
"It's your father too. I should have killed him when I had the chance." Damian was gritting his teeth, angry at his decision to let that man live.
"Officially, I'm not his son." Max retorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "It doesn't matter. I'm not sure what kind of understanding George and Gabriel have, but I believe it goes beyond the marriage they propose."
The room fell silent as Damian and Alphonso absorbed Max's words.