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The room was white. The walls, ceiling and floor were white. The man
sitting at the white table was dressed in white.
The door opened. A robot entered.
"Your Highness, Emperor Napoleon."
The man looked up and nodded imperially at the mirrored-face. "Warden Friend," he returned sternly.
"I hope you are well rested," said the Warden.
Emperor Napoleon looked at his reflection in the face plate of the Warden. The bags under his eyes looked particularly
heavy, but otherwise his tight expression revealed nothing inappropriate. He breathed calmly.
"And now to business," began Warden Friend with an approving nod. The Warden's voice whirred soothingly.
"As you know Emperor, we are to receive Queen Valencia's trade delegation from Norway later this week."
The Warden tapped the side of the table and information bloomed across the surface. "All of the particulars
have been worked out. The only item lacking is the seating arrangement for the State Dinner."
Napoleon moved some of the sheets aside to expose the Official Menu. Food was the Emperor's passion and his guests
were always impressed with his selection.
Or so he was told.
Imagine, meeting one of them! he thought with distaste. There was a pause as a new thought occurred to him. Would
they look like me? Or like Warden Friend? Napoleon inadvertently looked up, catching his own eye in the Warden's
face. He immediately looked back at the table.
How will that be interpreted? Submission? Fear?
Warden Friend made a note on his tablet. The Emperor resisted the urge to watch. Instead Napoleon kept his gaze
locked firmly on the menu, gritting his teeth. In a harsh voice he scolded himself, Besides, am I not Emperor?
Why should I want to leave the room?
Emperor Napoleon rallied his dignity. He willed his arrogance to return. "Will Czar Antonov be present?"
he asked sitting straighter in his chair.
"Not this time, Emperor."
Napoleon glanced at Warden Friend, genuinely irritated. "And why not? Did he not find the gift of 1000 peacocks
to his liking? Send him 2000 then," he said with a flick of his wrist.
The Warden paused for a moment, calculating. "Czar Antonov sends his regards for the peacocks, your Highness.
They were well received. However, his First Minister of State has wired to inform me that the Czar is not well
and cannot travel at this time."
The Emperor sat back and pondered this new detail. Would that mean that the Czar wouldn't be paying attention to
his eastern boarders? He made a note to contact Shogun Su.
"Shall I arrange a further 2000 peacocks to be sent as a get-well gesture?" the Warden probed, pen ready.
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