Chapter 82: The Big Meeting Starts
King Noor IV walked with a heavy heart. Captain Thomas led the way, and King Noor followed, his face grim. Eric and Alina trailed behind him, their steps quiet on the hard floors. The sound of their walking seemed loud in the otherwise still palace.
King Noor glanced at the guards they passed. Each one stood tall and strong in golden armor. He felt a power from them, much like Captain Thomas.
A thought pricked King Noor: Thomas was probably just a normal Imperial soldier. He wasn’t sure he could beat even one of them. This thought made his steps feel heavier. The Empire was truly a giant.
They walked and walked. Eric felt his palms start to sweat. Where were they going? Why did it feel like they were walking into a trap? Finally, Captain Thomas stopped before huge, dark wooden gates. Gold patterns shone on the wood.
King Noor’s breath caught in his throat. He knew these gates. He had stood before them once, a long time ago. It was not a good memory. This was the Council Meeting Ring Room. This was where the Emperor judged rulers. His worry deepened.
Captain Thomas pushed the heavy gates. They groaned open. King Noor, Eric, and Alina peered inside.
The room was vast. Eric saw many people sitting on raised chairs in a large circle. They were dressed in rich, royal clothes, and their faces were stern. Kings and queens, he realized, all looking at them.
At the far side, an enormous, empty throne waited. Two golden-armored soldiers stood stiffly behind it.
Eric’s stomach churned when he saw all those rulers. Their eyes turned, fixing on his father, then on him. The seriousness of the room felt like a physical weight.
The [System Interface] had tried to warn him, and now its silence was terrifying.
"System Window!" he thought desperately. "What were you saying? Why won’t you answer me now?" He repeated the plea in his mind.