23. It Begins

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The Guards standing beside the executioner weren't the only ones who came in, two other men entered the room aswell. An odd pair they were for they looked like the absolute polar opposites of each other, one was of...lesser height and scrawny, while the other was tall yet quite rotund.

The Ex-Steward hadn't taken notice of the two as he was far too busy staring at the executioner, who was now menacingly sharpening their, already sharp, axe. The unaware Ericsson visibly jolted when the two guards came, each placing a hand on his shoulder and as they began tugging at his chains.

"Wha-! Unhand me!" He shouted, squirming as much as he could in his binds.

Now that the men were closer to Ericsson and by proxy Charles, the archer was the first to recognize the two.

"Igbert! Finnley! Good to see you two again!"

"You know these men?" asked Zenma.

"Yes ma'am, these two are my fellow comrades in arms, we helped Prince Roman defeat the Monstrosity of a Dragon yesterday"

"Did you now?" Her elegant eyebrow raised a querying look towards the Prince.

Roman gave her a nod.

"They did indeed and they fought quite valiantly alongside me on the field of battle, but that, of course, is a story for another time", his gaze then fell onto Ericsson before moving onto Igbert and Finnley. He gave them a commanding look and a small gesture, "you may proceed"

The two guards looked at each other and then bowed, "yes your highness!" Slowly they began pulling the Arrogant emotion, his chains scraped and 'clinked' against itself and the floor.

The tension was high in the room, with the Ex-Steward slowly being dragged towards a chuckling executioner, it was obvious that there was to be an execution today.

All the while Ericsson was quiet, stricken in silence from his terror but when he was pulled about two feet from a certain axe wielder, his self-preservation finally seemed to kick in.

"WAIT!"

All paused wondering what the chained man would possibly say.

"I-I'll tell you how I got here"

Roman smirked, knowing that the slow drag would snap some sense into the Stubborn emotion. Schooling his features into a blank expression, he held out his hand, the gesture instructing the Guards to pause, Igbert and Finnley did so instantly and executioner seemed to frown.

With the Tertiary personality's silent command given, Prince Leonidas now spoke. He payed the forlorn axe wielder no mind, but instead focused on the snivelling ball of chains that once belonged to his Kingdom.

"Very well Ericsson, you may speak but I warn you, the very words you say will determine whether or not that axe meets neck"

There were a few gasps but no one seemed against the dark skinned Prince's decision, as a matter of fact many of them were wondering why he hadn't simply executed the man already.

Erricson bowed head down in shame, on his knees with his chains rattling around him, he began to speak.

"After Father had given his Title to Charles, I was left with nothing...except the title of a mere Steward. That day I saw five of the slaves I grew up with, they had mentioned going to another Kingdom and foolishly thinking I could start anew, I followed but being the only one with a title was I not allowed in"

"Did you sneak in?" Asked a timid Depression.

His pride overtook shame and Erricson practically hissed at the Dodie lookalike.

"No I didn't sneak in, what do you take me for, an imbecile?!"

"Ericsson!" Bellowed both Prince Roman and Prince Leonidas.

The man in chains shuddered at the feeling of their combined auras, with a small inaudible gasp he drew back a bit and muttered an apology to Depression before continuing his story.

"A wealthy Old Farmer brought me in, under my title of Steward, he permitted me entrance through his name if and only if I worked for him. So I did, for three years"

Roman watched him carefully for a few seconds, he wasn't Logan but he picked up a few tricks from the lie-detector of a Teacher.

"A farmer you say? Then where, pray tell, did you get your materials to build the machine that got you into this trouble in the first place?"

          

The Ex-Steward didn't so much as flinch at the Prince's raised eyebrow, instead he sighed as if expecting the Royal to have asked that question.

"The Farmer was good friends with a Craftsman and during my free time I would go visit him. He taught me wood work, metal work and machinery, all in exchange for company. The old crone had hardly a soul

to speak to and he offered to teach me for free, a bargain I was all too happy to comply with. There I made quite the amount of gadgets and trinkets for nobles and peasants alike"

The now ever quiet room was starting to become tense with confusion.

"If you were content with where you were, why build the machine in the first place?" Questioned Princess Gina, the expression on the usually calm and quiet lass was nothing if not perplexed.

Erricson huffed and began explaining as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Happiness and contentedness are two different things and I was neither. I just wasn't stupid enough to complain, as a matter of fact for the first few weeks I worked with both the Farmer and the Craftsman they both thought me as mute"

Roman didn't exactly like the tone the Ex-Steward was using and decided to cut in. "Alright then, if you were indeed a good worker, then why did you leave? Why bother make the machine?"

"I made it because I deserve more. Even with the lowly title of Steward, I was still a nobleman and to be working my hands to the bone like a mere peasant just would not do. So I built the machine, one that would help Master Thomas have the most vivid of dreams so they wouldn't slip away when he awoke"

Princey narrowed his eyes and his aura scratching dangerously behind a thinly waning barrier of restraint.

"So it was a bribe-"

"I wouldn't call it a bribe-"

"Then what would you call it Erricson?"

"I call it reaching a higher goal, if you had approved of the machine the least you would have done was make me chief of the project and I'd be living instead of surviving on that once pitiful farm"

"Once?"

"The farm no longer exists, the Old Farmer sold it, to whom I don't know nor do I care. He made his profits, said his goodbyes and disappeared. So I stayed with the Craftsman for a few days before another nobleman- one of my regulars- told me of the meeting you were holding regarding dreams. I saw my opportunity and came here to explain to you the ability of my machine"

Princess Valerie, whose own aura was starting boil, spoke up, her voice serious and her gaze hard.

"Yes and in doing so you also behaved quite rudely to everyone within the conference room. It is your foul nature and arrogance that has gotten you this trial, has it not?"

The chained man glared right back at her, but then his expression turned sly and he faced the crowd.

"I hardly see how, I was simply being honest. Correct me if I'm wrong but shouldn't honesty be commended rather than tried-?"

The Ex-Steward stopped dead, so did everyone else. A chilling wave of a certain Tertiary's aura covered the room.


"I advise you not to do that Erricson, it won't end very well for you", ground out Roman, his glare even more intimidating that that of Princess Valerie's.

"Majority of the emotions here were present when I specifically told you to shut down your machine for fear of hurting Thomas and they were also here when you blatantly disregarded that order. Not only did that infernal contraption cause great distress and grief to my host but it also caused a Dragon to be formed and run rampant within the Kingdom, many lives could have been lost because of your pride"

Ericsson gulped, Roman's aura only seemed to get colder.

"I am both Prince and Personality, my job is to protect my host and ensure that my people are safe and happy. You almost caused lasting harm to both and I told you before, threats as such are things I will not condone. I hope that I have sufficiently jogged your memory-"

The chained man nodded vigorously.

"Good, now put away that silver tongue of yours or your new friend", the Prince gestured to the executioner, "will gladly help you remove it"

The axe wielder smiled, raising his sharpened blade and miming a 'chop'. Erricson paled.

"Now that we've all heard your story, I believe it's time for Prince Leonidas to make his decision-"

Roman was suddenly cut off by a loud bell, following the sound came the trumpets and the same young lad that had been reading the history of the Kingdoms.

He gave the Royals on stage a bow before pulling out and unfurling a small scroll.

"The fifteen minute Intermission for the trial of Ex-Steward: Erricson M. Viceous, has begun! Refreshments are to be handed to you outsi-"

Just the word "refreshments" had majority of the emotions rushing out of the Conference room. Only a handful of them remained along with the Crowned Royals, the Guards, the Brothers, the Executioner and the Councilmen.

The young lad pouted at them with big puppy eyes, saddened by the fact that no one wanted to listen to him. Those on stage chuckled and it was Prince Dominic who had comforted the boy with a smile and small joke.

When he had left, Roman stood up as he was intending to go onto the veranda. But was stopped by Geoffrey and, surprisingly, a member of his personal guard.

"Pardon me your highness", called out the Vassal, "but my second in command has a request of you, Lady Zenma and Sir Charles"

The Prince raised a brow, "is that so?"

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