Chapter 2
"I think that banquet went very well," the Emperor commented to his son. "What do you think," the Emperor asked him. "I guess it didn't go so bad," Robert told him.
"Sometimes I wonder what will become of you, Robert. Will you follow in my footsteps? Will you become a senator? I would love for you to serve the Empire as a senator. You know if you want that I can make it happen for you at any time," the Emperor told Robert. "I know, father, but I don't want a position like that right now. Maybe in due time," Robert commented. "Yes, yes, so I hear. Hopefully sooner than later. You still have some yet to learn, so it's not a problem," the Emperor told him.
Robert nodded and began to walk away. "Where are you heading," the Emperor asked. "I was going to go walk into town," Robert told him. "Alright, you must be back again by tomorrow. If you aren't, I'll have to come after you. You don't want that happening do you," the Emperor inquired. "No, your excellency, I do not. I shall be back in tomorrow before you sent out anyone," Robert commented.
Robert walked away and headed out of the palace. He loved the fresh air that flowed through the city of Fenia. He loved the gentle breeze and the occasional sunshine that could creep through. Sometimes he would just sit in the middle of the town square and let himself merge into the environment. The birds cries and flight would become a part of his very being. The nature around him just flowed through his veins.
Even the whisper and smells of the town were soaked up by him. The children who dared to come out and play sometimes would come into his inner mind. The pleasure of play seemed to surge through his viens and the gentle laughter made his heart glad. Robert grinned feeling the happiness around him. It was not easy at times. The world around him had been cruel to itself in many ways. The weather never seemed to assist people's moods.
Then again, the people did not help their own moods. Depression begot depression. Frustration begot more frustration. The people did not try to focus on the positive and they lost what was important. Some of the people became zombies just going through their days with no purpose, no point, and no desire.
Robert knew that if one lost their desire that one could lose everything. Robert opened his eyes feeling the breathe of desire in his throat. "Today is a good day to enjoy," Robert said with a huge grin on his face. "The sun is shining, the children are out playing, and happiness seems to be floating around in a wave of good moods," Robert commented.
Robert skipped through the town heading towards a pub. Entering the pub, he sat down and waited for the server to come over. While he was waiting, he began to whistle the original secfenia anthem from many years prior. A few of the patrons looked at him and laughed. A few of them hid behind menus and tried to blend in with the walls.
Almost everywhere he went, people were afraid of him. People didn't know what to think of the son of the Emperor. Did he have temper of the Emperor? Did he spy on the people? Did he wish to terminate the inner workings of the Secfenia Central Guard? Was he for the Emperor? Should they be afraid of Robert? They did not know. What feared them the most was probably the fact that they didn't know him at all. People tend to fear the things that they have no knowledge of.
The server came to his table. "How can we help you, Robert," the waitress asked. "I'll take my usual if you don't mind," Robert told her. "Anytime, you know you are one of our favorite customers. Some of our 'staff' like you more than others," she told him with a wink. Robert grinned. The waitress walked away and put in his order.
Robert sat there smiling and daydreaming. It's a great thing his mind liked to multi-task. It was something he had learned over time, especially to survive in the Imperial Palace. That way he could daydream and still pay attention to matters of the state as his father wanted him to. Very few people ever realized how much he spent in thinking about other matters, but one could say that very few would ever in the future. The matters of the mind are sometimes left to oneself or to those very close to one.
After just a short wait, his food came to him. "My lady, do you know if April is here today," Robert asked her. The waitress shook her head. "She might be in later. I hope you enjoy your food," the waitress commented. "Thanks," Robert said with a hint of disappointed. After all, it wasn't everyday that he had this opportunity to come over to the pub. It wasn't everyday that he had the chance to enjoy what this pub was lucky to have.
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