Tarsuria, Year of Severus, 15, I.R., the 85th day of Fall, Arenfall

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"S-set them free?!" Senator Ordus raised an eyebrow. "Clearly, you jest! They are meant to be punished!"

"Punished for what? The deaths of our esteemed knights?" Prince Arterius answered.

"Y-yes! What else could be the reason?!" Senator Ordus answered back.

"Esteemed senators, I believe that this is all a mistake!" Prince Arterius walked towards the center of their circle. "We do not even have a proof of what happened down there. Can you give me a proof of this accusation?"

"Should I tell you a long list of your failures during this expedition?" Senator Lucresia took out a scroll from one of his wards and read its contents. "According to this manuscript, you have lost more than two squads of knights and a respected commander. Do you know what that means?"

Prince Arterius looked him at the eyes, "Yes, I do." He sighed. "It's called a tactical mistake."

His answer caught the senators off guard. They were left whispering around him, not sure what to think of his answer. Senator Lucresia didn't leave his gaze. His eyes were stuck on the young prince, unmoving and coercing him to admit to his so-called fault.

"A tactical mistake, you say?" Senator Ordus sarcastically asked.

"Yes, a tactical mistake." Prince Arterius answered. "It was a mistake that I made not considering the terrain and lifeforms inside that damned hole."

"More like incompetence to me." The senator remarked.

Some of the senators laughed along his cruel joke. But what surprised them the most, was Prince Arterius laughing along with them. Their moment of laughter turned sour as everyone was left confused at the prince's antics.

"You don't say." Prince Arterius scratched his head. "I wonder if that was also your comment during the third Great Dune conquest?"

Senator Ordus was smiling no more. "W-what of the Great Dune Conquest?!"

"Well, it was the fourth year of my father's reign when you decided to go for a night raid, remember?" Prince Arterius paused and set his eyes on Senator Ordus. "You failed to consider that the Western Empire had specialized soldiers who guards their rear during the night…what were they called again, Nightstalkers?"

Senator Ordus turned red but remaind silent.

"I recalled how your brigade was savagely owned by those, soldiers." The young prince shrugged his soldiers. "I've read report. I usually sneaked to my father's solar and I…umm…read that one…what was it written there? Oh, I know! Tactical mistake! My father was such a benevolent Imperatur to let it pass." He smirked.

The angry senator tried to approach him but was luckily stopped by his fellow senators. Prince Arterius shook his head.

"My oh my, does it look different to mine?" Prince Arterius said. "I mean death is death. Regardless of who died, it was a tactical mistake after all."

"Are you downplaying your incompetence?" Senator Lucresia commented.

Prince Arterius set his sights back to the balding senator. "Should I also mention about the siege of the Vridian Forest? I've read that you ran away as a tactical retreat leaving behind most of you brigade—"

"You…DO NOT MENTION ANYTHING!" Senator Lucresia was unhinged with what he said. It was the perfect reaction he hoped for. Slighting the senator may not be the bests idea he had, but he has to make it work at that time. It was imperative that he does.

The tent turned silent at Senator Lucresia's anxious command. Prince Arterius saw the loathing from the old senator's eyes, but at that point there was nothing Senator Lucresia could do. The senator cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

"What is it that you like to do, Prince Arterius?" He asked.

It was clear that prince's comment left the senator uncharacteristically anxious. He was now trying to control himself and wanted to end the conversation as earlier as he could.

"I want to free the slaves after the get checked by the detector." Prince Arterius said.

"What do you mean free them? What if they become a threat to our society? Who knows what plague they brought with them form that hole?!" Senator Lucresia asked.

"You brought in the Orkamuus and Lieutenant Tristam to the infirmary." Prince Arterius pointed out. "Why is that? Aren't they exposed to the same environment as those freed slaves?"

"They were tested by Servus 305-M's detector." Senator Ordaneus interjected.

Prince Arterius looked at the flamboyant senator and slightly bowed to him.

"Ohh…you're going to make me blush!" Senator Ordaneus winked.

"Oh!" The comment surprised him but Prince Arterius went back to his focus.

"Ahem," The prince cleared his throats. "So, as I was saying, I would like to set them free but only after we checked them."

"This is balderdash!" Senator Ordus spat. "Why should we let you do it?! We can always veto your decision!"

"Could you?" Prince Arterius asked. "Could you the senate do that, Senator Lucresia?"

Senator Lucresia closed his eyes. It was clear he wanted out of the situation but was unable to. He needed to answer the question and he knew exactly how the answer disappointed him.

"No, we cannot." The old senator sighed. "It is their right as the Royal family to give clemency to prisoners. Regardless whether we like it or not." 

Prince Arterius smiled, "Thank you for you explanation, dear Senator."

Senator Lucresia glared at him, "But it doesn't mean that your father would approve of it."

"Well, I just have to live by it… or better yet, give him some good results." He smiled. "I guess that's all that I have. Thank you, Senators! Oh! I would need to borrow Servus 305-M. Would that be alright?"

Senator Lucresia's face was contorted and filled with rage but was unable to do anything. He nodded at the young prince out of spite.

"Well, thank you, Senator Lucresia!" Prince Arterius grinned. "If you would excuse us, 305-M come with me please bring your contraption with you. We need to clear things out."