Disclaimer: I own neither Final Fantasy XII nor its characters.
A/N: Thanks to everyone for reading, reviewing and their patience while I was on holiday! My special thanks to BlueTrillium for being my beta! Enjoy!!
Chapter 09
The chamber door opened and Larsa strode in glowering. A heated discussion amongst two of the senate members ceased as they all turned their heads and viewed their lord with his Judge Magister. The fact that the Judge Magister was with him and fully armed was lost on none of them and a few had the decency to look embarrassed.
"I trust it was again mere oversight that a meeting of the senate is being conducted without my presence," Larsa said icily as he took his seat.
"We simply did not wish to impose upon you my Lord. We are aware of a palace guest and thought perhaps you would rather spend your time elsewhere." A smooth voice sounded from Senator Brusnile.
"If you are aware of a palace guest, senator, then you should also be aware that it is the Judge Magister's time you are consuming. Not my own." Larsa met the elderly man's gaze and then briefly looked to each of the remaining members. "This meeting may now continue."
Senator Brusnile spared a disapproving glance at the young lord before turning his eye to the Judge that stood silently beside him. "Our sincerest apologies my lord as it appears our source of information was incorrect."
Larsa eyed the senator warily and made note that he looked straight at Basch as he made his apology. The man was mad if he thought Larsa would believe Basch was an informant for the senate. He was very much aware that for the last four years, the senate had viewed him as no more than a mere puppet emperor. His marriage would effectively force them to view him as a man and not the boy they had grown accustomed to.
"My Lord, we were merely discussing the consequences of your betrothal news to the citizens of the Empire." Another senator, Senator Vasren, voiced apologetically.
"Am I to believe the news of my betrothal would upset the citizens?" Larsa questioned the aged man.
"Perhaps not the news of the betrothal my Lord, more we worry about the bride-to-be," Senator Brusnile silkily added.
"You believe the Lady Margrace unfit for your emperor," Larsa stated flatly.
"We know nothing of her character, my Lord, and would never imply such," Senator Brusnile chided as though speaking to a small child.
Larsa heard Basch shift his weight beside him and inwardly raged. They would treat him the child evermore if he behaved as they were baiting him to. He calmly viewed the paper before him and noted it was blank. He suppressed the laugh that threatened to emerge.
"Senator Brusnile, please allow me to put to rest these uneasy fears the senate voices." Larsa smiled politely at the man who now wore a stone mask on his face. "Tomorrow I will take a transport to Rozarria and collect my bride-to-be."
A cacophony of outrage erupted at this and Senator Brusnile's rounded face appeared to redden as he now glared at the young man.
"My Lord, you can not think that we the senate would allow you to travel outside of the Empire," Senator Brusnile said in a forced calm voice.
"I would never dare guess at the senate's thoughts," Larsa stated smoothly and watched as two of the members turned an uncomely shade of green.
"We would worry for your safety, my Lord," Senator Vasren quickly interjected as he glanced worriedly towards Senator Brusnile who was trying to keep his outrage in check.
"I can assure you, senator, that Judge Magister Gabranth is more than capable of seeing to the matter of my safety," Larsa offered with a raised brow.
"But what of the matters of state, my Lord?" Senator Brusnile burst out.
"Senator?" Larsa turned his attention to the man who was now stroking his white beard in thought or perhaps to calm himself.
"The senate has no power to issue the military in light of a crisis nor do we have the power to issue any type of civil decree without your express consent my Lord. It would place us in a most difficult position if any occurrences were to erupt in your absence." Senator Brusnile stated in a far calmer voice than before.
Larsa had hoped other members of the senate would interject, but they all seemed to be of one mind these days and that mind did not favor his own. The raven haired emperor glanced at each senator in turn and sighed. Truthfully he had expected this and had already made other arrangements in his head had the issue arose. It was not pleasant feeling, ever the songbird in a gilded cage. He knew better than to press the issue and agreed that he would remain in Archadia to see to matters of state but would in turn send Judge Magister Gabranth in his stead. This of course elicited another outrage by Senator Brusnile. The man was actually doing everything short of denouncing his lord to see to it that the Lady Margrace never set foot in the Empire.
Larsa knew the fears of Rozarria were not unfounded, but this was getting ridiculous.
"Senator, I see no reason why I shan't send my Judge Magister in my stead," the young man challenged.
"Again, we think only of your safety. He is your personal bodyguard my lord." Senator Brusnile was beginning to stumble in his outrage.
"I need not remind the senate that there are other Judges and the whole of the Imperial army at my disposal. I am certain any of them are just as capable of ensuring my personal safety as the Judge Magister Gabranth," Larsa said, showing visible signs of frustration.
"I demand we put the matter to a vote as is our right as the senate!" The white haired man shouted, slamming his hands on the table before him.
"And I shall supersede that vote, Senator, if it is not in favor of sending the Judge Magister, as is my right as Emperor," Larsa practically growled as his fists clenched on the table before him.
These petty arguments were beginning to grate on Larsa's last nerve and he knew that was exactly what Brusnile wanted. Any outburst from the old man would be viewed as a concerned senator of the Empire, whereas Larsa's outburst would condemn him as a nothing more than a spoiled child who was far too used to getting his own way. The blue-eyed lord could play the political game as well as any of the old men in his presence, but he knew he could not sit here in peace much longer. It was a relief when the vote came back in favor of sending the Judge Magister. Larsa observed the way Brusnile was no longer hiding his displeasure on this matter.
"Well gentleman, I am glad to see this matter resolved. I trust you will all enjoy the rest of your day." Larsa went to rise but was interrupted.
"I fear, my lord, we have one other issue at hand," Senator Vasren said apologetically.
"Another issue?" Larsa questioned and noticed that Brusnile was smirking.
"I will attempt to put this delicately my lord," the grey haired man started as he folded his hands and placed them on the table. "Though it is your intent to make this Rozarrian woman your bride, we fear the public view. Most of us are quite certain that any measure of power given to a Rozarrian would stir unrest within the Empire. We certainly understand your desire for peace, my lord, and we suggest that the Rozarrian not be given the rights entitled to a citizen of the Empire," Senator Vasren said calmly, watching the young man with interest.
"You would have me treat my wife as nothing more than a mere slave, senator?" Larsa questioned, narrowing his eyes at the shrewd man.
"No my lord, merely denying the power associated with the assumed title," Senator Vasren said, still watching Larsa.
"I see," said Larsa in a forced calm. "I will agree to this for now as I am certain you have the appropriate intelligence to support your claim Senator. Rest assured that once the public sees my wife will neither bring political destruction nor the crushing hand of the Rozarrian army to the Empire's doorstep, I shall push to have the power restored to her title."
"As is your right as Emperor, Lord Larsa." Senator Vasren accepted with a nod of his head as Senator Brusnile looked on gloatingly.
Larsa rose from his seat at this and the all the senators followed suit. One by one the old men garbed in their purple and white robes left the room, leaving Larsa alone with his Judge Magister to contemplate what to do next.
"I worry, Gabranth, that I gave in too readily." Larsa sighed as he slumped back down in the chair.
"You did well my Lord," the Judge Magister voiced from beneath the helmet.
"I fear Brusnile will stop at nothing to get his own way, but it is the Senator Vasren that worries me more," the young man said, furrowing his brow and starting to rise again.
The two left the chamber in silence as they made their way back to Basch's quarters.