Cato bowed his head, yielding the floor to thunderous applause and deafening cheers that shook the very foundations of the Senate Chambers.
I stood up from my throne, placed on a high dais above the semi-circled seats of the Senate. The chamber immediately quieted down out of respect.
"I have heard both sides, and they have made their points in an exemplary manner," I projected clearly. "I thank both Senator Argus and Senator Cato for these impassioned debates over the past few days. But it is now time to put the motion of peace to a vote. All those in favour of peace with Qohor, raise your hands."
A heavy, suffocating silence reigned in the chamber as everyone glanced around, looking to see who would dare defy the mob. Argus, being the one to propose the motion, was the first to raise his hand. Yet, of the original ten members who had seconded his motion, only seven raised theirs to join him. It seemed Cato had successfully beaten the willingness out of the remaining three.
Argus' face, when he realized his bloc had fractured, was highly noteworthy.
"Eight Aye," announced the Senate Herald.
"Now, all those who are against the motion for peace, raise your hands," I commanded.
Of the forty-two remaining seats, thirty-nine raised their hands high. The three that abstained were the very same men who had originally seconded Argus' motion, only to lose their nerve under Cato's glare. How amusing.
"Thirty-nine Nay, and three Abstentions," the herald announced.
"The motion fails," I declared, my voice ringing with finality. "The war with Qohor shall continue. Since this motion has been tabled once, law dictates the next occasion to bring it forth will not be until a moon's turn has passed, and it shall require twice the amount of seconds than before."
"With this, today's session of the Imperial Senate is concluded," the herald shouted.
I stood up. Every Senator in the chamber rose to their feet, bowing deeply in unison as I descended the dais and left the chambers first. The Praetorians formed their wall around me as I exited the Senate Building heading back to the Palace.
…
Father was seated upon the Emerald Throne, as always. He spent the vast majority of his days upon that seat, a duty he had performed religiously for the past fifty-four years. All administrative tasks and meetings with him were held in this hall. Few were ever granted an audience, but those permitted to enter were the ones he trusted implicitly to carry out his will.
"It is done, Father," I informed him, standing at the foot of the dais.
"It was bound to fail, but on the off chance it gained momentum, we needed to be prepared to handle it," he said idly. "You should be more concerned with the people who brought it forth in the first place."
"Yes. Argus seems to be colluding with certain members of the Merchant Guild," I noted. "The others are all individuals directly or indirectly associated with the guild as well. It would be pertinent to figure out who the true instigator is before they create more trouble."
"No, let them be for now," Father proclaimed. "Their attempt has failed; they will not try again for some time. Besides, it is merely trade they are after. Their desires can be accommodated. Send a missive to the Guild informing them of our displeasure and let them investigate it on their own. Naius is a money-hungry man, but even he will not cross the line for a few additional Swarnas."
"Are you certain, Father? The motion itself is of no threat to us, but the act of going against your word must be punished, lest the instigators think too highly of themselves," I advised.
He seemed to consider my words. "Very well, you may hand over the investigation to one of your subordinates. But I have a feeling it will take time—time which we do not have, Octavian. You are to leave for the battlefield within the week, and finding this culprit will prove to be an elusive task."
"Well then, you could simply use Legilimency on Argus to root him out," I said wryly.
He chuckled softly at my words. "I am already well aware of the culprit behind this incident, Octavian. Yet it is not my task to intervene in every situation that causes an inconvenience to you. It is your authority as Princeps that was subverted by this motion; thus, it is your task to find the instigator and bring him to justice. I will be leaving after this war, my son. You have known this for the past eight years. You and your sister will be tasked with maintaining the realm. That is why you must learn to govern without taking my abilities into account."
The reminder of his impending departure immediately dampened my mood. "I am aware that you need to leave, but that does not mean I have to be content with it. As for the investigation, I was merely giving voice to my thoughts. It is not as if I cannot handle the task on my own. Yet a son can ask his father for help once in a while, no?"
He stood from the Emerald Throne, descending the marble stairs until he stood before me, placing a warm hand on my cheek.
"My son, you and I have been together for the past forty-three years. You have learned from me, sparred with me... I raised you to be the man you are today. A few years away will not lessen that bond. If you are taking it this badly, I can only wonder what your sister must be going through," he said, a deeply sentimental smile softening his features.
"It was a moment of vulnerability. Forgive me, Father," I said, reining my emotions in at his kind words.
"There is nothing to forgive, dear boy. Knowing you harbor these feelings warms my heart more than you can know."
We stood there in a comfortable, heavy silence for a moment.