Chapter 2
Keep Your Friends Close...
Royal Precinct, Tianjing
Batista stood in the vestibule of Prince Sturla's former estate. He didn't know what he was doing there. It was a week after the coronation and Masako would already be in the Forbidden Precinct. He didn't really have the chance to see her before and now he would probably never see her again.
And then there was Yasuko. What was going to happen to her? Surely there was no way they'd let an Infernal-blooded girl into the Forbidden Precinct. He hoped she hadn't done anything stupid. She was crazy enough to stow away on the space elevator to get into the Capital. If it wasn't for the devil's own luck, she would've been executed then and there from the start. What were the chances of her meeting her half-brother and being led to Batista and her mother right off the bat? If that kind of luck held, he probably didn't have anything to worry about.
"Looking for something, Batista Jiansheng?"
Batista turned to see Prince Sturla—no, Emperor Wuying—standing right there. He quickly dropped to his knee and bowed his head.
"Your Majesty."
"Get up, Batista Jiansheng," the Emperor said.
Batista rose back up and went to the position of attention. The Emperor raised his hand to stop him.
"As you were, Batista Jiansheng."
Not quite as he was, he went to the position of at ease. He had to do something. It was the Emperor, after all.
"You didn't answer my question," the Emperor said.
"Your Majesty?"
"I asked you if you were looking for something."
Not really answering his question, Batista replied, "Your Majesty, what are you doing outside the Forbidden Precinct? And with no escort?"
The Emperor cracked a grin and said, "What do you mean? I've got one of the best men in the Imperial Guard right here."
Because Batista didn't answer the Emperor's question, he shouldn't have been surprised that the Emperor didn't answer his.
"I'm going to miss this place," the Emperor said. "It was given to me when I turned twenty as a coming-of-age present. I made a number of personal modifications over the years, got it almost exactly the way I wanted it. It won't be so easy to customize the Palace of Heavenly Divinity. And we're dealing with disputes over the staff. Masako wants to keep her servants, but they won't allow anyone baseborn into the Forbidden Precinct. I may just have to knight all of them to quiet the Minister Steward's objections."
Looking back to Batista, he then said, "That reminds me. I've been wanting to speak to you, Batista Jiansheng."
"What about, Your Majesty?"
"I want you on my personal bodyguard. There's no better place for a swordsman of your caliber."
Batista couldn't believe it.
"Y-your Majesty, I'm an Infernal. They'd never allow someone like me into the Forbidden Precinct."
"You've been knighted, haven't you? Shouldn't that be enough? Very well then, I'll make you a baron. Fifth class, I'm afraid. Non-inheritable and there's no land to go with it, but at least they can't call you common anymore."
"Your Majesty, I—"
"The only thing I want to hear from you is 'Yes, Your Majesty.' I wouldn't mind hearing 'It is an honor, Your Majesty,' 'I am not worthy, Your Majesty,' et cetera, et cetera."
Batista knew he couldn't refuse, so he bowed low and said, "As you will, Your Majesty."
The Emperor grinned.
"That'll do. Besides, you want to see Masako, don't you? Maybe take her up on that proposition she made all those months ago?"
During their awkward family reunion, Masako said something about nobles enjoying the privilege of multiple partners, which applied to women as well as men. The idea of losing her to another man was bad. The idea of sharing her with another man was even worse.
It certainly seemed like the Emperor was taunting him. The first time that happened, the blood went straight to Batista's head and he actually got in a sword fight with him. If the then-Prince hadn't found it more amusing to keep him alive, he could have easily had Batista tried and executed for treason, if not kill him himself, something he may well have been capable of doing.
Rather than get blinded by rage again, Batista was somehow able to keep a cool head and come up with a more diplomatic response.
"Your Majesty, whatever the situation before, she's the Empress now. I couldn't possibly—"
"If I can have concubines, why not her? You'll find I'm a very progressive man, Batista Jiansheng."
Batista wasn't seriously considering the offer—or at least he thought he wasn't—, but he found himself unwittingly locked into the conversation all the same.
"Your Majesty, the scandal it'd cause—"
"What? I have an indisputable legitimate heir by her and you were married to her first anyway. She could use another baby to keep her occupied once Snorri moves into the Red Lion Palace. I'd rather it not be a potential rival for the throne."
Batista couldn't believe the Emperor was being serious and maybe he wasn't. He could be making a big joke at Batista's expense. However, the mention of giving Masako a new baby reminded him of the one they already had.
"If I could change the subject, Your Majesty, do you know where Yasuko is?"
The Emperor just looked at him a moment before replying, "Well, after that unfortunate incident with Lady Limei, the Central Division was grilling the staff rather hard—you do know she was working in the Peach Blossom Palace as a lady-in-waiting, don't you? Anyway, I pulled some strings with Father to ensure she was spared the worst of it. She was sent to Liuyiyuan, you know, to connect with her roots and all, but just the other day I was thinking about recalling her to the Capital. I thought I might name her an honorary princess. She is the Empress' daughter, after all."
Yasuko, a princess? She'd hate that.
"That... would be an honor, Your Majesty," Batista said somewhat hesitantly.
"She's proven to be such an apt pupil that she deserves a chance to shine."
"But, Your Majesty, wouldn't that cause problems? She's half Infernal."
"Celestial, Infernal... Under my reign, Batista Jiansheng, it won't be the circumstances of your birth but your ability that will set your place in the world."
"I think you're going to find a lot of resistance to that idea."
"Oh, let the short-sighted fools complain. I appreciate the challenge. Are you with me, Batista Jiansheng?"
From the first time he saw Prince Sturla, Batista didn't trust him. He was usually pretty good at reading people and if the former Prince wasn't a snake in the grass, no one was. He was slick as oil and lies were his mother tongue, but now he was Emperor and if even a fraction of what he was saying was true, there might actually be some hope of things getting better under his reign. Of course Batista didn't trust the Emperor implicitly, but he wanted to believe. At very least, he wanted to see where this would lead. Was he with him?
"Yes, Your Majesty."