Frederick Kaiser: Chapter Fifty-Five

"This country is so beautiful!" William says as he embraces the plants around him. He is helping to build a fence for the camp. As I watch him nearby. Does he seem to enjoy this? I cannot and will not understand. But he is working hard.

We have been here for a week now and no news of what the stupid empress says.

I have been ordered to clean the tents and weapons... I felt so embarrassed this is a slave's job!

Xavier and Hamlin are helping in the kitchens and food stations. Gunter remains with the priestess. I can assume she will be asking him all political questions under the sun.

Welt, Erdmuthe, and Ingrid are helping the blacksmiths and gear makers.

"Frederick!" General Delun asks. Trying his best to refrain from yelling at me. Again...

"This is not done properly! Do it again!" As he lifts up a dirty blade that could use a better clean... he then passes it to me and walks off.

I can't be bothered though... I throw the rag into my bucket of water and I walk away. I see William enjoying himself with a group of fence workers. I can hear his laughing in the distance.

I hear my stomach grumble as I want food. I'll sneak off to the kitchen where Xavier and Hamlin is working. Their food is certainly different. It's a weird thing called rice... So much rice. Egg rice, rice porridge, spiced rice, dried fish rice, RICE, RICE, AND MORE RICE! I miss my heavy stews and roast boar... I swear this is all these people eat.

I see Xavier and I won't lie I am happy seeing him! I see Hamlin carrying the large heavy bags of rice on his shoulders with ease. Hamlin is double the size of everyone here in the camp.

"Oh good! More rice!" I say sarcastically.

Xavier chuckles ."Actually, rice is beneficial when it comes to rations. It grows quickly and it lasts a long time. Why are you here Fred?" As his tone starts cheery and then changes to a serious tone.

"I'm hungry!" I say out loud.

Xavier sighs. "You can't eat yet. We eat when everyone else eats. This food is not ours to take. Now get back to work or you will get everyone else in trouble!" As he tries to shoo me away.

I look to my left and see the cooks returning. I run away from their tent almost knocking over the big pots of boiling rice. Giving Xavier a heart attack.

I then visit the others helping the gear makers and blacksmiths. Ingrid and Erdmuthe sweating from the heat and the flames. I'm surprised how large their muscles are. Usually, their armour covers most of their body. But it's so hot in here they need to dress less. If they did this back home they would have been in trouble... Working a man's job... But these people think women working in this job is normal. At home, they would have been punished with imprisonment. They should remain at home. It's their place! This country is strange...

Erdmuthe gives me a stare that I bet means for me to piss off. I walk away from them.

I see the priestess and Gunter walking around. He seems more comfortable around her. I see her even smile a little.

I spend most of the day wandering around the camp. Even napping in a random tent. It was a good nap. Avoiding the general at all costs.

I visit Duryss in the dragon area. He seems to be having as much fun as I am. Since he is a bull class he is being used to pull the heavier carriages the stick dragons refuse to do.

"Hello, Duryss." I say in a happy fashion as he tries to pick a fight with the weird dragons. They like to bound... And they circle around him. He then rams into one slamming it into a nearby tent and they stop.

He roars loudly in triumph and the roar in defiance.

As I wandered around the tents where the soldier's sleep I see a beautiful woman! A woman soldier! I walk over to her in confidence. Maybe if I can play my cards right I can have some special company tonight.

I see her sit down as she looks into her bag and takes out a rice ball.

"Hello!" As I sit next to her. She looks up and down at me. She doesn't even say anything.

"What's your name, pretty girl?" As I lean close next to her. She leans back and is trying to finish her rice ball faster.

She has beautiful long black hair tied up with a ribbon. Large hazel eyes and porcelain skin. She looks nothing like the women I have come across. She takes my breath away... what's a delicate woman like this doing in an army camp?

She is ignoring me... "You can at least give me your name!" I tell her.

"Andino Mayleen."

"Andino?" I say in surprise. What kind of girl's name is that?

"No Mayleen!" She shouts.

"Okay... Confusing lady... You said your name is Andino!" I try to sound cheery to her. But as I looked at her face it was complete annoyance. Reminds me of how Erdmuthe looks at me.

"Andino is my family name! Mayleen is my name!" She yells at me. " Ignorant outsider!"

"Who the hell says their last name first!?" I shout at her. Not my fault she confuses me!

She rolls her eyes as finishes her rice ball. She then gets up and walks away from me.

"Hey! How dare you walk away from me woman!" I get up and forcefully grab her shoulder to turn her around. However, as I turned her she took out her dagger and places it next to my neck.

"Speak to anyone as you did to me. I'll make sure your life will be a miserable outsider. Or maybe I can send you back to that shithole you call home."

She said it so softly. But her expression is so cold. I can feel the cold dagger edge on my neck as I see soldiers surrounding us. Looks like she won't be accompanying me tonight... Such a bummer she is pretty.

I hear the horn for dinner time. She looks around and then releases me from her dagger grip. I stroke my neck making sure she didn't cut it.

I run first in line! I am so hungry! I get pushed out of the way as the generals, priestess eats first. I see Hamlin a strong man gently handling small bowls and spoons. He likes to entertain the soldiers as he talks to them as he serves them. I keep getting pushed out of the line as the pretty girl tells them what I apparently did to her. I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!

Ugh! I hate it here!

I finally get to have my turn as Hamlin serves me. Last bowl for the night... K sigh as I follow Hamlin to our tent. Everyone is eating.

"You're in trouble Fred," William says.

"What else is new?" Xavier jests.

"General Delun has been trying to find you. You were at your station in the morning but then you disappeared. You can't do that Fred! That's so risky!" William reprimanding me. He is younger than me he has no right to boss me around.

"Relax I didn't run away as you can see! I'm still here!" I wave my hands.

"Not just that. You antagonized a soldier!" William whispering to me in frustration. He is trying his hardest not to yell.

"That explains what happened to Fred in the line." Hamlin scoffs.

I roll my eyes. "She is really pretty! But she ignored me! And you know the law women must never turn her back to a man talking to her!" I point to Hamlin.

"You really are like father..." Xavier sighs in defeat. "We are not home Fred. Women live very different lives here. Women here are soldiers as much as the men. They have taken special vows of temptation. If they break the vow they can be severely punished." William says as he eats his bowl of rice.

"Oh, I can tell after that encounter!" I say in an angry tone. I eat up my bowl and lie on my sleeping bag.

I lied there as I overhear everyone talking about random subjects. William is still worried about Rayna. Xavier is worried for Arman. In fact, everyone is... Even I but I don't want to share that knowledge.

As their discussion carried on Gunter walks into our tents followed by the priestess.

"My Empress has answered my letter. She has agreed to have an audience with you all. You will leave for Lan-Se at daybreak. I have organized a strict caravan where your traveling. And meet with the Empress's daughter Ning. She will take it from there. Good luck rogue royals." And like that she leaves the tent.

The atmosphere of the tent completely changed. From excitement to nervous anticipation.

"We are actually going to see Empress Zhen... We can only hope she doesn't chop off our heads." Hamlin smiles. "Everyone get rest!" Hamlin goes into his sleeping bag.

I decided to get to sleep. Dreaming of Mayleen naked could cheer me up. Like my ladies maids... The service that I haven't had in a long time now. A pleasure for myself making sure no one notices.

I wake up as Xavier is waking me up. "Time to go." He says.

We all pack and we happily reunite with our dragons. Duryss roars at the other dragons as he leaves. It seems as if it's the middle finger in dragon language.

The dragons travel outside. We all sit together in a carriage. Tight fit as most of us is tall muscular men. And one is still absurdly fat. How is Gunter still fat? He doesn't have as much access to food as he used to.

He claps his hands to get our attention.

"Now all of you listen! Ning is the eldest daughter of Empress Zhen and Emperor Ju-Long Zhong Jian. Chin is their eldest child and heir to the lightning throne. Cheng their second boy. Lei is their third boy. Followed by Ning and Fen their youngest daughter."

Xavier already knows this information as he looks out the window. He has more knowledge of the world than the rest of us.

Gunter continues blabbering on.

"They are people of honour. Love nature and have a strong sense of family. They train one of the best fighters in the world. Dragons are equal and they have no slaves."

"Anything more we need to know?" Hamlin asks.

"Be kind to them and they will be kind to us. That seems how it's going. This means especially you Fred!" Gunter points at me.

"What?" Is all I can say As everyone looks at me.

Gunter continues on. "I don't know them personally. So be respectful. They say their family names first and then their name. They don't shake hands they bow and you must respect people's space."

We all nod in acceptance. Even though I learned that harsh lesson.

All throughout the trip Gunter and Xavier tell us of Lan-Se history. Apparently, they have their own southern nation which is ruled by the city of Unmei. But Lan-Se is the country's city.

For the next few weeks, it's been nothing but boring lessons. I think I've forgotten most of it.

And we finally reached Lan-Se. We all look in astonishment. It's a gorgeous city! Unique trees that glow. Many of the buildings are made out of wood. Fountains and statues located everywhere.

The carriage going through the city everyone is wearing unique and colourful clothes. Dragons wearing clothes. I had no idea they can even do that...

We look at the large palace. It's nothing like I've ever seen. This really is a different country!

The carriage finally stops as the servants let us out. I see a young woman standing in front of the palace door. Surrounded by her guards and a woman is standing next her. I guess it's her handmaiden.

The princess's long hair was done up with her elaborate gold hair accessories. The accessory is detailed with flowers and beads. Women will kill for that kind of hairstyle back home. Her wrapping dress is long and is a beautiful light pink and blue. The details of her outfit are incredible. It really shows the princess's beauty.

Xavier deliberately pushes me behind him. "Don't say anything or do anything!" He even waves his finger at me as if I'm a child. I roll my eyes.

The guards direct us forward and make us all stand in a line.

"It is wonderful to see you, Princess Ning. You are beautiful as ever!" Gunter says as he waves his right hand to signal us to bow. They all bow as I was slowly looking side to side. I then realised I was slow and I quickly bowed. The princess looks at me with a serious look. Great start...

"Welcome to Lan-Se." Ning softly says and bows in return. "My mother the Empress is waiting to see you. Please follow me." She holds her hands together and faces the door.

The large doors open revealing a beautiful palace full of trees and small ponds.

We all follow the blue carpet which led to the throne room. A blue draconium throne! And there the Empress sits. Her face covered in white makeup. Her eyeliner thick and dark. Her blue eyeshadow makes her features pop. And like her daughter, her hair is even more elaborate. Her hairstyle is magnificent makes Mille-Voix freaks look shameful.

Her outfit is even more longer and elaborate than her daughters.

Ning walks up next to her mother and sits on a smaller throne nearby. Each of the children must have their own throne... Why couldn't my father do the same thing for us? I'm rather jealous of that.

We all bow as we did to Ning. Saying out greetings.

The room's doors close behind us. It becomes complete silence you can hear a pin drop.

The Empress looks down at us. She is thinking of what to do with us.

"Hello, royal fugitives. Tell me your plea." The empress says. Her voice is so low and deep. It's intimidating... Even emotionless.

Gunter stands forward. He is trying his hardest not to be nervous.

"We ask for asylum, your grace. These are the sons of Emperor Arman Kaiser. They are innocent. From before the war till the end of the war. Their father was a tyrant. His sons are just as much victims."

WHAT! I thought to myself. LIES! BLATANT LIES! Father is our leader! And now he is dead! Now they stomp on his dead corpse and legacy!

Gunter continues on and kneels at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the throne. "We need a new start, your grace. Give these men and women a chance. We will never ask for favours to take back their home. For we know their home is lost... Their father destroyed everything. It's not his son's fault..."

The Empress hasn't even moved once. She can make an excellent statue. With her deep monotone voice. "You realize that if I decided to take you in. This can cause immediate conflict with Empress Vatra. She will demand me to hand you over to her. If not... The Shadow Emperor. I have tried keeping my lands peaceful from outside interferences. What can you offer to prevent this from happening?"

Gunter looks back at us. He is stuck...

"We cannot offer much. We just want to start new lives. We are lesser remembered members of the senate and... Children. I believe that Empress Vatra will be more in conflict with the Shadow Emperor. He has Grand Prince Arman the Emperors' oldest son."

Gunter gives me a sudden look. I roll my eyes. He knows I want to open my mouth. But in the past few weeks, I've been learning to keep my mouth shut.

The Empress's icy glare is reading each and every one of us. She remains silent as she thinks about her options.

After a while of just standing there. She approaches us. The outfit is so large and flowing as she walks down the stairs.

Gunter stands back up as she towers over him. She looks down as her long hair baubles accidentally hit his head.

"I will grant you all to live in my city. You are officially stripped from your titles. If any of the Empire's ask for you I will hand you over. And if asked anything about your home I want the truth. You will work as servants and will be assigned jobs. So be useful. Summon Peru, she will meet you in the main hall."

A guard bows and then runs off. With a swish of her long dress, she walks back up the steps and sits back down.

"Thank you! Your grace!" As Gunter bows repeatedly. "Thank you, thank you!, Thank you!, Thank you!" as the guards push Gunter away as continually says thank you.

As we wait in the main hall we sigh in relief. I can't stop thinking of us being stripped of our titles... I'm a prince! A PRINCE! Who lives in a massive palace. Servants, girls, respect... Now, what am I? The first woman I tried to sleep with tried to kill me! My brothers mock me! Now me a servant!?

I start missing my old life... Even Arman... My mother... As much as they annoyed me I miss their presence. Wipe my face trying not to cry. Crying is weak...

I have no idea what to expect now...