Chapter 4

Altrane – Imperial Court

The King had requested to meet with twenty-year-old Griffith. During the past few years, Yu-Jun, Taiden, and Bowie had all taken positions in the Imperial Guards, while Reid had continued with the Imperial Investigation Bureau.

Griffith thought he knew the palace well, but he was being escorted through an entryway he had never seen before. The Imperial Secretary, the link between the King and the Dernancourt ministers’ offices, explained that this was the King’s private entrance.

Griffith was told to wait in a beautifully appointed space; there was a table and chairs in the middle of the room and the walls were hand-painted with landscapes in soft greys and blues. As he got closer, he noticed the wood around the room was carved with the King’s personal symbols.

The door swung open and his father and the King entered. Griffith smiled his welcome to his father and bowed deeply to the King, who motioned for him to sit.

‘Griffith, you look well. Your father was just congratulating me on Yu-Jun’s upcoming wedding. You already know Lady Ha-Yoon. I think she will be a splendid match for him.’

‘Lady Ha-Yoon is lovely; all of Prince Yu-Jun’s friends like her very much. She is beautiful and smart, and I think she will keep him on his toes,’ Griffith advised the King with a small grin.

‘Yu-Jun has indicated to me that his goal is to become the Imperial Commander of Dernancourt. He wants to protect this country and support his brother, the crown prince. Which brings me to you. While we have had peace for the last few years, I am not convinced that my uncle’s rebellion was on his own. I believe he had someone’s support. We have long suspected that support came from Echokos, but we can’t prove it. Your father and I have been discussing the long-term security of this country and think we have come up with a plan that will save Dernancourt should we have a rebellion or an invasion. You are going to be key to this plan. You are both loyal subjects of the Dernancourt throne, and your family has defended this country through many generations. I think you both know what I am asking of you.’

‘We are deeply honoured that you would trust us with this, Your Majesty,’ Griffith’s father replied solemnly.

‘Mallen, I want you to build an academy where our best and brightest will attend. There will be an entry exam, and it will be followed on from the mandatory service. It will hopefully build a strong leadership in both our military and our ministry. I will leave it with both of you to sort out the protocols. There is also another side to this plan that will never be discussed at court. I want you to build a force of fierce warriors: maengleohan. Everyone feared them, and I know that you have both been trained as maengleohan. These will be the secret force of Dernancourt. If you need to send messages to me about this part of the plan, I want you to use the spiral lock method and use an enigma puzzle box.’

Griffith felt the words weigh on him. His father didn’t say anything, so he considered the first issue they would have.

‘Where would we build the academy?’

‘There is a space between the ranges in front of Aven. We would need to clear it, which will take time and resources, but it can be done,’ Griffith’s father said.

‘What shall we call it?’ Griffith asked.

‘Alamein,’ Mallen replied, looking at the King. Something passed between them that Griffith was not privy to.

‘The Academy of Alamein,’ Griffith said.

‘I have one thing more I wanted to raise with you, Griffith,’ King Taejong said. ‘Is there any lady who has captured your attention at court?’

‘No, Your Majesty. I am not considering marriage as I am only twenty and still a soldier. I would follow in my father and grandfather’s footsteps and wed when I have completed my service.’

‘Princess Bo-Mi has expressed an interest in you and wonders if that interest would be returned. To be transparent, she has expressed an interest in three other men from prominent Dernancourt families. I have also received a request for her hand from an Echokoan duke’s son. He’s a third son, and I have given him permission to come to court to see if they would be compatible. He will be attending our Imperial Court festivity next week. I’m inclined to accept his proposal should it be agreeable to both of them. I would like to keep Echokos relations friendly.’

‘Thank you, Your Majesty. With the deepest respect, I have to decline. I don’t think we would be a compatible couple,’ Griffith said, dread filling his bones. He hoped the King accepted his refusal and wasn’t offended.

‘Thank you for your honest answer. I didn’t think you would make a compatible couple either,’ the King said with a slight smile.

‘We should leave, Your Majesty,’ Griffith’s father said. ‘I am sure there are things waiting to claim your attention.’ He bowed before they both left the King’s chamber.

When they were in the carriage heading back to their manor, Griffith’s father spoke. ‘The King wasn’t expecting you to say yes to Princess Bo-Mi’s offer. He understands the reputation she has but had to put the offer to you so he could say that you had declined. I didn’t know he was going to ask you today, otherwise I would have warned you. Be prepared for her wrath when she finds out you said no.’

Griffith shuddered. ‘She keeps medical on their toes with her servants’ injuries. Yu-Jun has told me there have been many fights with her parents because she refuses to leave Dernancourt to marry in other countries. He calls her the she-wolf.’

‘I will start engaging builders for the academy. We will discuss the King’s other request further when we are both back at Aven,’ Griffith’s father said.

The Imperial Palace gardens were packed with people. Griffith, Reid, Taiden and Bowie made their way through the crowd looking for Prince Yu-Jun and his wife. Yu-Jun had surprised them when they had returned to Altrane, he had fallen in love and married within the month of their return.

‘We should have said where to meet,’ Bowie grumbled. ‘The crowd is way too big. We’ll never find them.’

A servant approached them and handed Griffith a folded piece of paper. After reading it, he said, ‘Excuse me for a moment, gentleman. I need to see someone. I will find you outside the main gardens.’ He motioned for the servant to lead him away.

The servant took him to a secluded part of the garden. Princess Bo-Mi sat in a resplendent white-and-gold outfit, her hair bejewelled with white opals. Griffith felt deeply uneasy, but he knew that she would cross his path at some point tonight.

He bowed deeply. ‘Your Highness, how may I assist you?’

She looked him over like a spider who had caught something in her web. ‘I wish to know why you refused my offer of marriage.’

Griffith chose his words carefully. ‘Your Highness, I am deeply honoured that you would consider me as your potential husband. However, I don’t think we would be compatible as I will be continuing my Imperial Guard service for several years, which would take my focus away from you. Also, when I eventually retire, I would only be in the capital on a yearly basis, and I don’t think that a life in the country would suit you. You deserve a husband who would devote every minute to keeping you happy and loved.’

‘I agree. I only put your name forward because my father thinks very highly of you. I do not wish to marry someone who is so stupid as to throw away progression to the highest ranks of Dernancourt. Your current rank is good, but you need to raise yourself to my level. Given what you just said, you won’t be able to achieve that. Dismissed.’ She waved her hand at him.

He bowed and left her, returning to the party to find his friends.

Griffith had downed two drinks when Reid found him. ‘You met with Princess Bo-Mi?”

“Yes. How did you know?’

‘I heard she threw quite the tantrum when she heard you had declined her offer,’ Reid told him.

‘Does everyone know?’

‘No. She doesn’t like the word “no”, so it won’t get out. I did hear she had a good first meeting with Lord Ismael from Echokos. I see her marrying him, but she won’t leave for Echokos. They will live here.’

‘I think everyone was hoping she would leave Dernancourt,’ Griffith said softly, not wanting to be overheard.

‘I feel uneasy at their marriage,’ Reid admitted.

‘Why?’ Griffith asked.

‘I don’t have a reason, but I just do.’

‘I guess we’ll wait and see.’