The Ikaiyan Imperial Palace loomed overhead, cast in shadow as the moon shone barely through the clouds. It was a cold evening, not too long after Dusk, and life seemed rather normal for
Arkan, even though he was certainly concerned by the recent developments regarding the crisis in the National Assembly. Truth was, even though he
technically wasn't supposed to take sides on this matter, he simply
couldn't support the new Prime Minister's administration in good faith. If not for his... troublesome views regarding Tamora and other states in the region, then the failures of his previous administration had done it for him. That said, he had, in his eyes, the soon-to-be displeasure of meeting with him, as Kaval had scheduled a last-minute meeting with him set for tonight.
As he strolled through the palace garden, he looked up at the moon, the only semblance of a natural sky in the city these days. What he'd do just to behold the stars here, like he did in the blackouts of his childhood. And then, as he contemplated his life, a servant interrupted him.
"Your Lordship?" He asked, bowing deeply in reverence.
"Yes, Kosro?" Arkan responded, getting a good look at the Avosai, dressed in an elegant suit as befit someone of his station. "Actually, let me guess,
he is here?"
"Yes, your Lordship." The servant— Kosro— replied, following it up with "He's waiting for you in your study, sir."
"Thank you, Kosr-" He was interrupted; in centuries past this would've been a great offense, but Arkan was anything but his ancestors. No, he'd be patient and hear him out, after all, he had been appointed to assist him back when he was very young and thus, even though he was his superior, he had a distinct sense of respect for the old man.
"And sir, if I may say this..." Kosro said after accidentally interrupting him. "...Good luck. Prime Minister Kaval seemed... agitated when he arrived, to say the very least." He finished, after which he escorted Arkan to the study.
The study was filled with all sorts of artwork, ranging from swords made centuries ago to the most modern of statues and everything in between. In a way, the eclectic study seemed simultaneously from the 16th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries at once, a testament to the history of the building and the Empire as a whole. But there was something, no, someone who was, in Arkan's eyes, an affront to that legacy now present here. Though he would try to be polite, he knew whatever Ashot had to say, it wasn't something he would be likely to enjoy.
"Ah, Ashot... Good to see you. How's the wife?" Arkan asked, putting on a smile and watching the man closely. If he could just remain cordial, then maybe they'd get through this situation without the conversation devolving into a sparring match of various insults and beliefs. He just needed to disarm him...
"She's well, very well. We plan to visit the Akarasin this spring, get a few days away from that absolutely dreadful office." Ashot responded, following it up with what he
actually wanted to say. "Anyways, I won't waste your time anymore than I have to. I need your consent for something."
"Oh? And what is that?" Arkan asked, faking surprise as that's all that anyone ever seemed to visit for. Always "approve this" or "do that", never just a chance to actually talk to someone about something that wasn't related to the government. "You know I really don't have much that you can't do yourself, right?"
"Well, that's the thing... I need you to formally recognize my leadership over Ikhan. Get those dogs in the National Assembly off my tail for a while, at least." Ashot said, not entirely saying
why he wanted it. "Make it clear that I am acting on your behalf." He added, which only got a sigh from Arkan.
"Listen, Ashot. I'm going to be blunt with you, and I'm not going to say it twice: I will
not give you control over the military just so you can stage a coup against a democratically elected institution, let alone turn myself into your puppet. What you are suggesting, seeing as I need to remind you, is treaso-" He was interrupted, this time by Ashot instead of someone he was
actually okay with.
"Spirits, it's not treason. I'd simply be restoring order to the country when it needs it most. You might even be able to regain some of that power your ancesto-" Ashot tried to say before he was interrupted in turn. It was on.
"How
dare you invoke them. You come into
my household, disrespect
my forebears by challenging the system they worked so hard for, and you even openly admit you're wanting to send tanks down Ikas square, just so you can hold onto power? Who the fuck do
you think you are!?"
"I am the Prime Minister of the Empire of Ikhan, the executor of the will of the people.
I have served the state since before you were born and since your father was young.
You, on the other hand, are just a rich child given more power than you deserve! You have never served our country as I have! Half of those medals you earned were because you were the Emperor's son!"
"You're one to talk, given that all you did in your
brief term as Prime Minister was nearly undo the work your predecessor had done in the wake of the Financial Crisis of '03. I, on the other hand, had to work for every promotion I earned serving in the Army. And what did you do in that time? You sat around, letting others do the job because you were incapable of it. Now. Get. Out." He said before leaving the room, having much work do do now that he knew exactly what Kaval wanted. Once out of the room, he would turn to Kosro, who had been waiting there for him, and would say "Get me Marshal Kataran on the line... We've got work to do.
Prime Minister Kaval, now realizing that his first plan wouldn't work, realized he had only one chance left. Seeing as he had been able to formally have his chief of the Esat— A loyalist by the name of Berai Hasak— approved, he could just use them instead.
The clock is edging ever nearer to midnight