"Your majesty!"
The minute Altec appeared, several people excitedly greeted him, while trying to hold back the uncountable 'reports' they wanted to preach. Altec didn't even feel his butt warm his seat before they began pouring out their complaints to their heart's contempt.
As for their ring leaders— the ones pulling the strings—these lot all stood calmly, with their hands cupped underneath their long-sleeved robes. Their eyes were calm, but the corners of their lips were raised slightly.
"Your Majesty! I beg you to punish the 6th Prince, Julius Bequillia!"
Although Julius was pronounced a commoner, his majesty's Dragon blood still ran in his veins! In short, they were still afraid of calling him without a title before Altec.
Imagine calling him just Julius Bequillia, and not 6th prince Julius Bequillia?
First of all, the Bequillia surname was a Royal one, only used by royals. It is a fact that Julius has been stripped of his status. But he still bore the Bequillia name, making it hard for anyone to just refer to him as such without a title.
"Your Majesty, you have to punish the 6th prince for what he has done recently!!!"
Although the legs of many ministers shook like noodles, they still gritted their teeth and pleaded for his majesty's wrath to descend on Julius.
For their own interests, it must be done. What's more, can his Majesty punish them all at once?
If everyone speaks according to the plan, who will be single out? The answer is no one!
Anyway, they were here to force his Majesty to completely give up on Julius. After all, who among them isn't fighting hard for the Prince they have chosen to support and push up the throne?
Sure, his Majesty was currently satisfied with Crown Prince Augustus. However, throughout history, crown princes have lived and crown princes have died. In these turbulent times, there is never a guarantee the one with the title of Crown Prince will ever ascend to the throne.
Many supporting the other princes were the ones spearheading the siege on Julius. And not surprisingly, those supporting the first prince were actually against Julius getting kicked out of the palace.
How can royal blood be out of the palace? It just didn't seem right to them.
Many times, they came to his Majesty in private to plead on Julius' behalf.
[Your Majesty, please think twice and please reconsider.]
They groveled, bowed, and protruded to beg his Majesty to change his mind.
They knew that even if his Majesty changed his mind, he cannot vocally change his mind since he, the Dragon Emperor, gave an edict, a royal order to kick Julius out not too long ago.
Bottom line, pride will not allow Altec to bring Julius back just yet, since it would somehow mean he was WRONG.
Impossible!... Keep dreaming.
How can he, the Holy Emperor, be wrong?
The only way he would bring Julius back, was if Julius begged and begged to be forgiven. But knowing the arrogance and ego of that brat, forget it…
Both Father and Son would rather drink their own blood and eat rat poison before they admit they were in the wrong.
The ministers had long faces when listening to his Majesty talk about Julius's ego and arrogance with dull faces.
"I don't know who that boy resembles? Who in our Royal Family is so hard-headed?"
[Ministers]: (>-_->)
If they said both father and son were similar, would they get smashed to death by his Majesty?
The ministers who begged earlier were also here, sighing deeply from helplessness. But those ready to take Julius down were all pumped up, bombarding Altec's ears with complaints.
…
"Your Majesty, please punish the 6th prince! The 6th Prince has created a set of evil dishes that have controlled the minds of the masses!"
"It's evil, your majesty! I can attest to that!"
"Yes, yes, yes… Your Majesty. Even if the 6th Prince is now a commoner, how can he be seen entering into the kitchen and making these meals himself? Is this not blatant disrespect for his former training as a noble?"
"Exactly! How can he act so unbecoming? What's more, I have proof—indefinite proof that the 6th Prince stole those dishes, threatening the real owner of the dishes with his former status as a prince."
"You took the words right out of my mouth, Minister Bhu. Your Majesty, I also wish to report that the 6th prince when leaving court yesterday, this old man's carriage was almost knocked down by a group of fighting peasants who were all wrestling for a box of Taco Bells! Your Majesty, this old man sprained his wrist because of this, which has also affected my abilities to hold a brush and do my duties to this great empire!!"
"Your Majesty, it's evil! My wrist is also broken, and it's all because of these new dishes the 6th Prince conjured."
Of course, many wouldn't say that they sprained their wrist because they too fought for the dishes.
The more the ministers spoke, the more convinced they became.
In the end, everything was the 6th Prince's fault!
Even at home after their children and obedient wives and concubines ate these delicacies, they suddenly became disobedient and more outspoken overnight. How dare they tell their women to leave all the delicacies to them and these women disobey?
Evil!
The food was making their former obedient wives evil!
…
Altec didn't interrupt anyone, patiently tapping his fingers on his armrest with a stoic expression till they were through.
"Done?"
Those with complaints looked at each other, before bobbing and nodding their heads like sheep, "Your majesty, no more."
"Well then, since you all have a lot to say against the 6th Prince, how can I make any decisions without hearing what he, the 'culprit', has to say first?"
With a snap of Altec's fingers, a shadowy figure appeared on one knee before Altec.
"Go… Bring me the 6th Prince."
He was curious to know how this Troublemaker son of his would get out of this one…