"WHAT THE FUCK AM I WEARING! Get this shit off of me now!"
Grim stared at his reflection in horror. The royal tailor had delivered special clothes for his audience with the Emperor, and they were ridiculous. A velvet outfit with an absurd ruffled collar that made him look like a court jester.
[This is traditional court attire for noble children,] the voice in his head explained.
"This is so fucking itchy," Grim thought back furiously. "Just put me in a fucking suit. Even in this world they must have normal clothes."
Sera fussed with the collar, trying to make it sit properly. "You look absolutely precious, young master."
"I look like a stuffed toy," Grim thought. But all he managed out loud was a disgruntled "No!" which Sera simply found adorable.
Rowan entered the room, dressed in formal attire himself. His outfit was at least dignified. A deep blue tunic with silver lining and the Ambrose crest on the back.
As Sera made final adjustments to Grim's ridiculous outfit, Rowan knelt down to look him in the eye.
"Grim, today is important. The Emperor will determine our family's fate based largely on you. Just... be yourself." He paused. "Well, be your best self."
"Got it. Don't swear, don't show how smart I really am, just be a slightly advanced toddler," Grim thought. Out loud, he just nodded solemnly.
The guards arrived moments later – four men in white armor with red capes. They led Rowan, who carried Grim, through a maze of hallways more grand than anything Grim had seen in his first life. Massive paintings, gold-inlaid walls, and crystal chandeliers were displayed. Grim would whistle if he could.
Finally, they reached a set of enormous doors carved with what looked like someone trying to channel light. Two guards pulled them open, revealing the imperial throne room beyond.
Grim's eyes opened wide. The chamber was vast, with a domed ceiling. I know i was rich before, but i look broke comoraed to these people. Sixteen elevated sections lined the walls . Eight on each side. Each containing someone who watched them with closely.
"The sixteen noble houses," Rowan whispered to him. "Each section holds the head of a great houses."
A wide aisle carpeted in red led to a raised platform at the far end, where a massive golden throne stood. Behind it, the Celes Empire's symbol. S sun with a sword through it.
"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Alexius the Third!" announced a man with a booming voice.
Except when the throne room doors behind the dais opened, it wasn't a man who entered.
It was a woman.
She was tall with a thin face and long golden hair done into a dutch braid. Her dress was white and gold, with a cape of red silk trailing behind her. A beautiful crown sat upon her head.
And she had an impressive bust that the dress, while elegant, did little to conceal.
"Now those are some knockers," Grim thought appreciatively. "I like her."
[That is clearly Empress Alexia, not Emperor Alexius,] the voice noted dryly.
Around the room, everyone dropped to one knee, bowing theur heads. Rowan quickly did the same, shifting Grim to keep him steady.
"Rise," the Empress commanded, her voice clear and authoritative. She took her seat on the throne while looking at the Ambrose Clan.
"Lord Ambrose," she said. "It has been many years since you stood in this hall."
"Indeed, Your Majesty," Rowan replied, his voice carefully neutral. "I am grateful for your invitation to return."
"Not my invitation," she corrected. "My late husband's. One of his final decrees before illness took him three months ago was to review several exile cases. Yours among them."
Grim could feel his father tense. This was unexpected – Marcus had clearly not known the Emperor was dead and an Empress now ruled.
"Nevertheless, I honor my husband's wishes," she continued. "Especially when they align with the empire's needs." Her gaze shifted to Grim. "This is your son?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Grim van Ambrose."
"Approach with the child."
Rowan walked forward, stopping at the base of the stairs. The Empress looked at Grim for abput 30 seconds, her expression unreadable.
Then, to everyone's shock, she stood and walked down the steps. She stopped directly in front of them, towering over Grim in Rowan's arms.
Her stern expression suddenly melted into a warm smile.
"What an absolutely adorable child!" she exclaimed, reaching for him.
Before Rowan could say anything, the Empress had taken Grim from his arms. She held him up, examining his face with a warm smile, then pulled him into a tight hug against her chest.
Grim's face was pressed directly into her impressive bosom.
"Yes! This is how I should be treated," Grim thought ecstatically. "Nice big breasts in my face. I could get used to this."
The throne room had gone completely silent, and everyone was too stunned to speak. Rowan looked like he might pass out from shock.
"Look at those precious cheeks!" the Empress cooed, finally pulling Grim back to beam at him. "And those eyes! That shade of blue reminds me of the cokd winters i love so much."
Chancellor Levenhart, who had been standing beside the throne, cleared his throat loudly.
"Your Majesty," he said carefully. "Perhaps we should proceed with the evaluation?"
The Empress pouted slightly but nodded. "Very well, Chancellor. Always so focused on protocol." She reluctantly handed Grim back to his father, running a finger along his cheek as she did. "But afterward, I want this little one brought to the royal nursery. My own daughter could use a playmate."
"The royal nursery?" Rowan repeated faintly.
"Of course. You'll be staying at court, naturally." She returned to her throne. "Now, let us see what this child can do. I've heard remarkable claims."
At her signal, two mages stepped forward from the sides of the room. One was an elderly man with a long white beard, the other a middle-aged woman with gray-streaked hair. Both wore the formal robes of the Mage College.
As the mages approached with their box of crystals, a sharp voice cut through the murmurs of the court.
"Why waste time testing the child? The Ambrose light affinity is gone. He's a failure just like his father."
The voice came from a young man seated in one of the noble sections. He was handsome but had a cruel twist to his mouth, and he held a wine goblet loosely in one hand.
"Lord Julius Luminaris," Chancellor Levenhart said, his voice tight. "Your interruption is inappropriate."
Luminaris. The son of Viktor Luminaris – the man who had beaten Rowan in combat and possibly been involved in their family's exile.
"Failure?" Grim thought, anger rising in his chest. "I've never been a failure at anything."
[Calm yourself,] the voice warned. [This is not the time...]
But Grim wasn't listening. The word 'failure' echoed in his mind, reminding him of all the people who had doubted him in his previous life, all the obstacles he had overcome.
He focused his gaze on Julius Luminaris, who was now raising his wine goblet to his lips with a smug expression. Grim could feel mana gathering in his small body, responding to his emotion.
Without conscious thought, he directed it toward the young lord's goblet.
Just as Julius went to sip, the wine suddenly shot upward with explosive force, spraying directly into his face and drenching his expensive clothes.
The throne room went silent for a split second, and then the Empress let out a musical laugh.
"It seems young Grim objects to being called a failure," she said, eyes twinkling with amusement.
Several other nobles joined in the laughter, while Julius sputtered and wiped wine from his face.
"First, your father's gone, and now you're bested by a toddler, Luminaris," called out a heavyset noble from another section. "Perhaps it's not the Ambrose line that's failing."
Julius's face turned nearly as red as the wine stained his clothes. He stood abruptly, fists clenched.
"This isn't over, Ambrose," he hissed, glaring at Rowan and Grim. "The light affinity belongs to proper noble houses, not disgraced exiles."
"Lord Luminaris," the Empress said, all humor suddenly gone from her voice. "You are dismissed from court for today. Reflect on your manners before you return."
Julius bowed stiffly and strode from the room, leaving a trail of wine droplets behind him.
The Empress turned her attention back to Grim, who had put on his most innocent expression.
"I believe," she said with a smile, "that was demonstration enough of young Grim's abilities. The formal testing can wait for another day." She rose from her throne. "Court is dismissed. Lord Ambrose, remain. We have much to discuss about your family's future."
As the nobles filed out, many casting curious glances their way, Grim couldn't help feeling satisfied.
"Made an enemy on day one," he thought. "But i don't care. No one calls me a failure. "
[Be cautious,] the voice warned. [The Luminaris family is powerful, and you've just humiliated the leader in public.]
"Good," Grim thought. "Let him remember who's in charge now."