Seeing that Ethan laughed, he said, "Speak your mind, brother. There's no need to hesitate about what you're thinking." As he spoke, he placed a glass of juice in front of Maximus. Maximus did not take it. His hands were tightly clenched into fists. Ethan noticed this but showed no reaction.
Instead, he stood up and walked toward the palace windows not far from where he had been seated. He looked out at the sprawling palace grounds and the city beyond, filled with towering skyscrapers. Adding to its charm was the night itself, the city brightly lit and alive beneath the dark sky.
As he admired the view, he couldn't help but appreciate the beauty of the city, even though it was something he saw regularly.
"Brother Emperor, I can't accept your wishes," Maximus said. His voice was loud, as it always was, echoing through the vast hall.
"What is it that you cannot accept, dear brother?" Ethan replied without turning to face him. As if oblivious to what Maximus was referring to, he threw the question back at him.
Maximus stood up from his seat and stared at his brother's back. With a heavy sigh, he spoke again.
"Brother, in the past year I can't remember how many wars you have led me and our fleets into, fighting enemies both within and beyond our borders. We crushed and punished those who had sworn to protect our empire, yet the moment they saw weakness in the royal family, they turned into vultures. They tore into our citizens, stripping away their hope and peaceful lives.
"When everything seemed lost, it was you, brother, who led the empire to rise again. It was you who restored hope and peace to our people.
"And even though the war has ended and we have emerged victorious, ruling this galaxy, there is still much left to do. It cannot be done without your leadership. You are the one who binds the faith of the people and the will of the empire.
"So you can't just walk away, brother. This is your responsibility as emperor. I cannot be crowned in your place. I am your sword brother- ruling is not my strength. Please consider your decision. It's not too late to take back your words. Please think about it."
Maximus spoke with raw emotion, almost pleading. He did not want his brother to abandon the position that was rightfully his, a role meant for Ethan alone.
Ethan finally turned around and sighed as he heard those words, heavy with meaning. Even so, they did not shake his resolve. His decision had already been made, and he had no intention of going back on it.
"Brother, I understand why you say this," Ethan said calmly. "But things have changed.
"Brother, I understand why you say this," Ethan said, "but things have changed. Yes, I accept it. The people hold great respect for me as their emperor, and their faith in me and in our empire is as strong as it can possibly be.
He paused, then continued firmly. "But I know our citizens well, brother. They will accept you as their new ruler. Your contribution to their peace is only slightly less than mine. And your claim that ruling is not your forte is a load of nonsense. Throughout the empire, outside the capital worlds under my direct authority, it is your fiefdom that is the most prosperous of all. More stable. More secure."
Ethan looked at Maximus and spoke as a matter of fact. "This cannot be denied, brother, and you know it."
Hearing the tone that was spoken as a matter of fact and was undeniably true, Maximus's mouth twitched. He wanted to say something, but no words came to his mouth, and it was not as if he was given the chance to refute them, as Ethan was not done.
"And there is one more thing I must add, dear younger brother. You are wrong about one thing. It is not me who binds the people and their faith to the empire. That is not true. I am only a medium, brother, or at least that is how I see myself. I carry that bond because I am the emperor, not because I am Ethan. Not because of who I am.
"As for my duty to the empire, I have already fulfilled it. In the two hundred years of my rule, I revived it, restored it, and rebuilt its foundations stronger than ever. I prepared it to become something truly great, something that can endure under a reliable and strong emperor at its head.
"Our empire will grow, and with it the prosperity and lives of our citizens will grow as well. But that leader is not me, brother. It is you. And under your rule, the empire will expand its reach beyond this galaxy."
"But brother, my place is beside you as your sword, not on your throne," Maximus said. He spoke despite having already been refuted once. Gathering all his courage, he refused to back down.
"Enough, brother," Ethan replied softly. "As I have said, my time has come. I have fulfilled my duty and repaid the karma owed between our people and our bloodline. Now it is time for me to fulfill a duty to myself, and a promise I made many years ago.
"Fate is calling me, brother. It is telling me to go somewhere and fulfill that promise before it is too late. I have ignored this calling for too long, but I can no longer do so. To answer it, I cannot remain tied to the empire or the throne. Nor can I leave the throne empty."
Hearing the certainty in his brother's tone, Maximus opened his mouth to argue once more. He was stopped when Ethan placed a firm hand on his shoulders.
"You are ready, dear little brother," Ethan said. "You are ready to lead this empire toward its ultimate destiny. I know it. I feel it. Only you can do this.
"The imperial decree has been made, and it cannot be taken back. Tomorrow, you will be crowned and seated upon the throne of this empire. And with that, I will depart on the journey I must undertake."