Saharan Successor

Vol. 1 - Chapter 53 - Therapy Session

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"Isn't my Belisarius similar to your Piaro, Your Majesty?" asked Mathias in a calm voice, but which sounded a bit emotionless.

The moment Juander heard that, he frowned and from his body the red aura began arising from his body but with a deep breath, the aura around his body started calming down, and with a serious voice, he asked Mathias back.

"Who told you about Piaro?"

"Does it even matter, Lord Juander? People talk and the news are bound to be spread far and wide, about what you have done to a good man who served you from his youth. You also better keep your emotions in check, this is unlike an Emperor." mentioned Mathias with a cold voice, not even caring about trying to bootlick Juander to get benefits from him.

He liked to follow his mind in everything life threw at him, and this event was one of them which made him look down on Juander, even if he was a person of the highest class compared to him.

Juander just frowned, closing the book, and taking a cup of tea, later touching his temples to diminish his headache.

"I want to hear your side of the story on why you did such a stupid thing. If you don't wish for me to look down on you, you better keep the version close to what information I've heard and not lie me."

"Kid, what do you know about me? What do you know about Piaro? You know nothing, and yet wish to interrogate me, the Emperor?"

"Hmph, so what? Did the power rose to your head that you are trying to kill your most trustful man, your brother, for a whore? Now kill me because I am telling you, my opinion? I heard you didn't marry that Mary or whatever her name was, so why did you do what you did?"

"Shut up kid! Who are you to judge me?! They brought evidence and as a Monarch I had to act impartially not adding to my past friendship with him! They brought testimonies, of Asmophel, Limit, Gyuratan, all the nobility with exception to four dukes and some counts who appealed the sentence, all brought solid evidence about Piaro's plot of overthrowing me and betraying me. He even slept with Marie, what's worse, he betrayed me, his brother, trust."

Mathias, who was hearing this response from Juander, just started laughing, later on, this laughter turned mockingly.

"Ohh, friend, it is even insulting to compare you with Justinian. You don't even deserve such comparison just because you did such a stupid thing. Have you been drugged or something? Can you listen to yourself while saying this excuse? You destroyed so many people because some bastards wanted to remove an influential person with a respectable position in your country?"

"..." Juander kept his silence as he closed his eyes, with his fist clenched from emotions, after hearing all the questions Mathias was throwing at him.

"Hah, but let me calm down a bit. Sorry, I got a bit hot headed for insulting you. Have you ever asked yourself in that entire ordeal, what if they lied? Or have you summoned that person to hear his part?"

With his fist clenched and with tears flowing from his eyes, he remembered the moment when Piaro was there for him when his wife, Aria, suddenly died, giving him his shoulder to cry his eyes out. Listening to all his cries patiently.

"I wasn't in the right state of mind…" said Juander with a hoarse voice, with tears in his eyes.

"Indeed, there is a saying in my world. Give people power and they will get drunk on it, slowly losing their touch with reality. You regret it, right?" said Mathias as if he was a devil descended on Earth, while thinking specifically of the dictators of the past, from Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini or Ceausescu.

"What could I even do after all these years of my wrong doings? Do you have a way to make this right?"

"Well, I myself do. You are the Emperor, Lord Juander, I can only tell you some things to open your ears, and I leave it to your own judgment."

"Let me hear what you have in mind." said Juander with emotion in his voice, looking at Mathias cold expressions

"Have the four Dukes who have opposed this stupid act of yours, and consult with them, order them to find out what happened in the past. Bring the one who was the most vocal in this entire thing, the one called Asmophel, and get all your answers. Place him in the hands of a trustful torturer and I guarantee you will get the leads.

Lastly, cancel out any acts which label those people you persecuted as traitors, and have everyone exempted and forgiven. Once you find the culprit, you address your citizens. Ohh, and lastly, stop seeing that Marie, all links draw to her, ground her if it's a must.

"My image will be shattered in the eyes of the people. I can't do that. Also, my concubine, if there's no evidence, I can't ground her. It will lead to protests and the nobility on her family side protest."

"Your image? You can shit on it after what you have done. Nevertheless, aren't we dealing with a tough bitch right there? Fine, do you know what we will do? Keep things seem normal, but remain watchful of that concubine of yours. Do you have any idea if this Piaro guy is still alive?"

"He should be alive since no one could stop him except for Ziekfrektor. He was bound to become the Empire's sole Sword Saint. From how much hatred he must be holding on me, he must be hiding in a secluded place, preparing his plan for revenge."

"Those are decent leads I guess." said Mathias nodding his head while taking a big chunk of tea, almost emptying down gaining some more bonuses from the tea, and while looking at Juander's whose expression turned sour, he continued.

"I am a failure. As friend, as father, as husband. All I can do is place this fake cover in front of people so they couldn't see my shattering form." lamented Juander, with his head in his hands.

"You know, Lord Juander, an admitted fault is half forgiven. You have to redeem yourself and make things right."

"I will do so. I can only hope Piaro will forgive me, along with the other loyal subjects of mine."

Sighing when hearing Juander and seeing him in this state, it made him remember what he read about the real Justinian who was about to flee from Constantinople, allowing the rebells to install a new Emperor, but because of his wife Theodora, he found his lacking fighting spirit.

'Bah, I am not your mother or wife. I am just an admirer and can only help you with what I can, critical thinking.'

"We will see in the future how things will settle. For now, contemplate on what I told you, about removing the order claiming those people are traitors, if those bastards at your court start whining, only label that Piaro guy, and slowly when they less expect remove the label on him too."

"That's something I can do, and even if the nobles are displeased, reading themselves for a Civil War, I will not back off. Just when I think how Aria might look at me for what I have done, it cuts into my heart."

"I see, I still haven't experienced losing my soul mate, but you should be lonely, experiencing all of this, having power on the outside but being weak on the inside. Yet you still have your sons, why don't you talk with them about those things which bother you?"

"I will not burden them with their fathers' problems. Even more, my relation with them has turned colder after their mothers death especially Benoit."

"Tsk, you know Juander, I am not paid enough for psychological therapy. But you have my ear, go on tell me, what's the Princeling problems?"

"I don't know. He no longer talks to me, or shares with his brothers what's on his mind. But I have this feeling he is walking the wrong path distancing himself more from being a normal child."

Taking his time to think of what he heard, with Juander seeming to look more like a simple father who was struggling to keep his family on his shoulders by himself.

"Sigh, you have to arrange a meeting between him and me, and I'll see what's his problem. Deal?"

"I will. If it's required, I will take him myself."

"Don't. You will just make things worse, that kid has to go on his own accord. Just place some letters inviting him to meet me. Here, I'll do it for you since he might recognize your writing." said Mathias, taking a piece of paper, inkwell and quill, starting to write a letter for Benoit, inviting him to a meeting in Raven's Tavern.

"This could work. Do you have communication magic?" inquired Juander after reading the letter, starting to feel a bit better, being able to talk about his personal life struggles with someone who could listen and give his thoughts from an neutral perspective.

Shaking his shoulders as if not knowing, he heard from his systems the whispers of Juander, as if he was a player, which shocked him.

&Juander: Something like this? I guess you are still a young mage and have to learn more.

&Mathias: You are wrong Juander, this is something most outlanders are able to do.

&Juander: Impressive!

"Well, let's cut it off there since it is awkward talking like this with someone who is right in front of me."

"Indeed, seems strange even for me." commented Mathias, after hearing Juander pull of something which suprised him, making him think he could have him teach Fayrene and Jeanne this spell, which would allow him to talk with them even if he was on an adventure.

Talking for a bit more, as he managed to harmonize Juander and help him settle his worries and give him some answers for his troubles.

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"With this one I will take my leave. Lord Juander, while I might be young in your eyes, everything that Justinian does inside the story, from his political schemes, to reforms, being in the frontline of the wars against the Persians, and reconstruction of the Empire, it's all on me. You could say that character is an extension of myself and my thoughts. So keep in mind what I have told you, and always ask yourself questions before making a decision. When that decision would affect thousands and millions of people, you consult with trustful people, but not those who would bootlick you."

Juander gazed at Mathias with his crimson eyes, and with a slow nod, he told him trying to keep his calm.

"This talk of ours will remain ingrained inside of me forever. It will always let me stay with my eyes open even if the ones around me will desire I keep them closed. Wait, let me reward you for the book."

"No need." waved Mathias his hand at Juander who shook his head, taking from his pocket another map and key.

"This map is the one belonging to the Imperial Palace, with this market point being the hidden entrance to the Imperial Library. The key would let you enter the passage."

[You have completed the quest 'Juander's Unexpected Request' gaining the following rewards.]

***[DING!]***

*** [Because of your attitude and also opening Juander's clouded eyes, your quest rewards will be modified according to the effects of your actions.]

[Affinity with 'Juander von Saharan' had risen by 50 points. He finds you one of his trusted confidants even though he knows you for a relatively short period of time, finding it easy to talk openly with you.]

*** [Be aware, your affinity with Juander is enough to have people wishing the demise of the Saharan Imperial Family to target you, if you are to be seen around Juander.]

[Complete Map of the Imperial Palace & Imperial Palace Universal Key.]

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"Ahh, I feel as if you are placing a calamity on my shoulders, Lord Juander."

"After you insulted me for so long? Others would be found dead by now."

"You can't get rid of me, Lord Juander, I am undying. If you did something stupid back then, our relations would be cut off and I would just watch from the sideline as those hyenas would devour you. But now it is different, since you showed your trust on me, I will show mine too."

Patting on Mathias' shoulder with a short smile on his face, Juander could only see this mysterious young man who he found attached from the first moments he placed his is on and started talking with, as if he was his first son who he unfortunately couldn't meet because he was born dead.

When Mathias left, Juander walked back to his chair, and looking at the fire he started to see images, from his beloved dead wife Aria, to his four sons, Roland, Dulandal, Benoit, Edan, and when Marie appeared he frowned placing his hand on the fire to destroy that image.

Then when he thought all the images would die off, a new image appeared showing a young man similar to Mathias with cascading long crimson hair and sharp crimson eyes gazing with serene eyes at him, as if telling him.

'Everything will be fine, just leave it to me.'

When Juander saw this image, his hands trembling moved to touch the fire vision, and as he was moving his hand to touch the face of this young man, the face that was looking back at him, shifted a small, gentle smile before the fire vision disappeared.

"I can only wish you were Hadrian and you never departed so fast to Rebecca's Embrace."

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Mathias didn't know about the fire visions Juander saw nor were they of concern, he walked home and when he arrived, the two girls waiting for him could instantly see that something wasn't right by the way Mathias was looking around.

"Dear, what happened? Did His Majesty look unfavorable at the book?" asked Fayrene as she walked to grab his hand.

"Hah, it was fine, he liked the book. I just saw something which marked me and will continue doing so on. Don't worry, I am fine. If you are curious to know what person Lord Juander is, I can only tell you this, he is a man who puts the front of the Emperor."

"And? Come on, don't hold back. You will make me more curious." inquired Fayrene, to which Mathias just shook his head.

"Have you ever heard about the Welf House being destroyed?"

"The ones the Imperial House deemed traitors and started persecuting against?"

Seeing that she knew about the event, as he walked to a chair and seating down, he looked at Jeanne and Fayrene as he began telling them in a shorter version about Corvus who told him about his background, being one of the Welf Dukes, the brother of Piaro who was the head of Welf House, and with this visit, he inquired about that event, and what the reasons could it be.

After the two girls had a general understanding of what happened between Juander and Mathias, they looked angry, especially Jeanne, who remarked her thoughts.

"It must be that bitch who planned everything to have His Grace Piaro ousted from power, soiling his family honor with blatant lies about his so-called plot, even sleeping with her, it must be a lie."

"That is most likely the truth. But sister, without evidence there's no progress in this case. It doesn't concern us since we are not nobility or have any relation with His Majesty. Even if he dies, I wouldn't care."  commented Fayrene, after hearing Jeanne propose her thought, to which Mathias just did a blank laugh.

"Indeed, you shouldn't consume yourself too much since it doesn't concern you. However, it seems I will get busy with this case dropped on my head by Juander. Nevertheless, if I find Piaro, it could also help Corvus, which I am indebted for his kindness to me.

Apart from this, I don't wish for the Empire to go on a Civil War from this conflict. The faster I stitch back this wound, the stable the Empire it will be. You girls saw how the Roman Empire collapsed in the story, correct?"

"This… But who would dare to attack the Empire from all sides?"

"The smaller kingdoms, other races communities who are held with the boot on their throat, internal strife. If all of those happen at once, you can say goodbye to this country." confessed Mathias in a serious voice, seeing that the girls remembered the part where he talked about Roman Empire decline and the destruction of Western Rome at the hands of the German Tribes and internal strife.

As Mathias and his ladies were moved to talk about other things, aside from the sensible subjects, inside the small shack close to the Hippodrome, Juander who was wearing a black cloak with his face masked, exited the house, closing the door, afterwards moving toward the Imperial Palace.

He didn't follow the main route to the gates of the palace, opting to go around the castle and descend down, getting at the palace walls where checking his surroundings, he pressed on a brick which activated a door that opened taking Juander inside the walls, before swiftly closing itself.

There, he arrived at the basement of the Palace which was more like a cellar, following this hallway, he went on a stairway which took him to an end point, arriving at what looked a wall, he pressed another brick, which released an mechanism, opening the door, allowing him to enter inside a splendorous study room.

Getting out of the study room, entering a hallway he walked in the direction of the prince's compound and using his magic power he sent the letter written by Mathias directly to Benoit room, afterwards, he walked back to his private chambers, where he encountered Marie on his way to the upper levels of the Palace.

"Dear, where have you been? I was looking for you."

Seeing her face and smile Juander wanted to react in his casual manner, but then remembering all of Mathias words, as if they were an angel's gospel, he frowned for a brief second, yet his voice still lingering in his ears.

'Don't make her think you know about her ploy. Act normally, even if it might disturb you at times.'

Greeting her, he saw her move to kiss him, not reacting strangely, afterwards, he returned to his private chambers, where he went to his luxurious chair, placing Mathias's book on the safebox.

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On the princes residence, a young man who had white-hair with crimson eyes, seeming to be around 13-14 years old, noticed a letter at his chair leg. Stopping from his studies, of a book with a dark, sinister cover, with indescribable words, he lowered his body to pick up the letter.

"What is the meaning of this? Who could send a letter to me? I am not interested in that bastard cheap throne. I only want revenge for whoever wronged my dear mother." said the young man, with his voice filled by hatred.

Running his eyes on the first line of the letter, he had his interest picked, instantly knowing it wasn't a prank of his brothers or his father's attempt at having him participate in imperial activities.

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[Greetings, young prince Benoit.

I heard of your story and tragedy you have been living under, about your frustration, for this I extend my hand in offering you help in finding your answers.

If you wish to meet me and talk, for the following 5 days I will be at Raven's Tavern waiting for your answer.

Signed. Mathias]

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"Could it be? A Yatan member wanting to recruit me in their church? This could be my chance at growing faster and being able to take revenge. Sure, I will agree to this meeting, but first let me find out where Raven's Tavern is exactly because there's no more details."

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Benoit closed all his books, and the one more sensible on the dark arts, he placed them on a safebox, and only after that did he exit from his room wearing some clean clothes and arranging his short hair, following by going out of the palace.

This news arrived to Juander's ears, who was on the throne room, dealing with some nobles, when his servants notified him.

"Your Majesty, I am here to notify you that Prince Benoit went out from the palace. Do you wish us to follow him, assure his safety?"

'So the words placed on the letter by Mathias were right, that child is ravaged by hatred. Sigh, please be well, child.'

"No need. You can leave, now." ordered Juander, before resuming his talk with the nobles who seeked audience with him.

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Benoit who was out, after asking around the guards and people, using a soft spoken tone,  found where the meeting place the person who sent the letter, specified.

"He wants to meet with me in the plebs place? I guess, it is a suitable place for hiding in the case of an Yatan servant."

Minutes later, inside the district Mathias was living, Benoit found himself baffled by the vibrant atmosphere of this part of city, and when he finally found the tavern, stepping inside, he was welcomed by the smell of alcohol and the laughs of drunk men.

"Sir, I am looking for a person who calls himself Mathias. Could you point him for me?" asked Benoit in a calm manner, after arriving in at the innkeeper counter.

The drunkards looked at this young man with white hair, and slightly pale skin, visible a kid from his stature and appearance, but didn't say anything. The innkeeper looked around his tavern but Mathias wasn't inside, point where the drunkards told Benoit after patting his shoulder.

"Ohh, he is looking for that, Mathias? Right, boss?" asked one drunkard, the innkeeper.

"Indeed. Now shut up and don't disturb the boy. Son, the one you are looking for isn't here, but if he gave his word he would come, you shouldn't worry, he is a man of his word, so go take a seat somewhere and wait. Maybe order some food in the meanwhile since you are quite skinny."

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[A/N: I had some personal problems and that's why I couldn't update the story. Nothing that serious that would make me stop writing, I just didn't have the mood to write in those days I had my problems]

[Maybe I might need something similar to Juander, a Therapy Session. But sarcasm aside, I should be fine going forward. Hope you like this chapter since there's one more chapter before the Beta Phase ends and Vol 2 starts]