Ashton pulled out tea leaves usually only found in the capital then quietly proceeded to serve bread, jam, and tea to the eight guests. He then stood to the side waiting for instruction. Really, you'd think he was a tiger from the way more than half tensed each time he moved.
Aaron wanted cringe at the visual interrogation not to mention he didn't dare touch the tea before the emperor... unless someone was going to test for poison. It would be pointless if Ashton poison tested his own items, but the emperor still sat stoically watching Ashton's every move so Aaron couldn't even start a conversation.
When Thomas and Samantha eventually joined them in the dining room it was too crowded to stand, let alone sit so they stayed in the entry way. The situation could not be more awkward.
Ashton simply waited, unless the emperor spoke no one else could, and as the youngest and a commoner he could only speak if directly spoken to. While offering to move to the living room would let everyone be in the same room, he wasn't exactly keen on making the offer.
Devlin eventually gave up trying to examine Ashton, he started letting his eyes wander when he noticed... if not a 1000, at least several hundred carved quartz pendants being used to decorate the room to help reflect light, many only slivers but some almost complete minus chipped bits. He then glanced at Thomas who had also followed his gaze and looked a little gloomy.
Ashton had never had to carve his own crystal before, nor could he afford the right tools, so hand carving was his only option at present. He'd acquired two small diamonds just a few months ago that he'd enchanted but they were only to be used to save a life. Luckily, he'd enchanted every quartz to break if another mage attempted to use them without permission.
Lucian noticed the small exchange and glanced around to really examine the home. Small, neat, clean, and almost extravagant for a commoner. Even the palace only had a few rooms where crystals were used as decorations, even broken crystals would often be recycled for mana dust. "Bring the compensation out." He ordered as he reached for the tea. The tension visibly eased as the guards started tasting the bread and jams.
Damian jumped up and went to fetch the bags personally, even though the emperor was usually intense this was a whole new level. He brought in three large bags, one had gifts and the other two were being reserved for... something above his paygrade.
Lucian picked the larger of the three and handed it to Devlin, then turned his attention back to Ashton who remained as still as a statue.
Devlin started looking through the gems... diamonds, rubies, sapphires could all hold enchantments, but mages would usually use mana crystals. The quartz was blue so he picked out two uncut sapphires worth roughly 10 gold each then placed them on a cloth and slid them over to Lucian to inspect.
Lucian nodded, but then no one moved. He glanced at Ashton who was still standing to the side, the boy hadn't even glanced at the sapphires.
Ashton wasn't a fool, if he wanted to put the same wards and enchantments as the quartz he had to do so while carving. Since Devlin had touched the sapphires, he could easily enchant a warning to see if anyone else tried to enchant or break his enchantment.
Lucian glanced at the guards, "Leave Us." The elite guards all stood with a bow then walked past the couple, "Sit." Thomas saw Ashton's gesture then all three moved in the recently vacated seats. Lucian then dropped the sapphires in front of Thomas.
Thomas didn't move, didn't matter how well his poker face was if he offended the emperor. Besides, the quartz were something they personally dug up when they went to the foot of the mountain in the winters.
Lucian noticed the subtle shift, "Ashton Black, does the gift meet your approval?"
Aaron and Ashton tensed, though Ashton's was more for show. "This commoner does not dare, Your Majesty." Ashton repeated. Hopefully after talking to a brick wall Lucian would go home, Ashton wasn't keen on the idea of them staying here.
Aaron nearly had a heart attack... "His Majesty's grace cannot be refused." Even before the emperor had joined the conversation, he had been on the backfoot, now he felt like he was about to get pushed off a cliff.
"This commoner did not dare to disapprove of anything his Majesty offered." Ashton explained, Aaron looked ready to pop a blood vessel... no matter what this was a no-win situation.
Lucian leaned back and folded his hands together, "You will be coming to the capital in a month, what are your demands." Lucian was done beating around the bush and clearly it wasn't working. Better to get straight to the point.
For the first time Ashton was genuinely at a loss, if this was a proposition he could skirt around and decline politely. An order was just that, from the emperor the only choice was if he came willingly or not. Not exactly the best way to encourage loyalty or trust.
Lucian let the faintest hint of a smile curve his lips, until Ashton's gaze went from at a loss to dispassionate in split second.
"This commoner obeys." Since Lucian intended to use force, Ashton would let the punches reign.
Aaron hesitated, "You will be treated as an honored guest, your family will also receive landed titles-"
"No." For the first time Ashton met Lucian's gaze as if they were equals. "Thomas and Samantha Black will remain in Palmer, no consequence of my actions will be theirs, and you will NEVER implicate them intentionally or cause them harm no matter how indirect it may be." This wasn't a request, this wasn't a threat, this was a law they would abide by.
Lucian narrowed his eyes, he'd only seen one gaze like this before. He didn't answer right away, he let the tension build before he nodded once. The change in Ashton's demeanor was immediate as he returned to being completely dispassionate.
Aaron narrowed his eyes, this puzzle would take months to unravel, though he made sure to increase just how important this couple should weigh in his heart. Fortunately, or not, after the outburst Ashton simply agreed to all their requests and accepted all the gifts without batting an eye.