Chapter 13

She heard a splash and gasped when she realised he must have stepped out of the water. She wondered whether she should ask him if he needed any clothes, but soon she heard a rustling noise behind her and the Emperor came out behind the dressing blinds in a long red robe.

"I take it Agathus has explained my scenario, Dirt?" He asked. Alexis couldn't bother getting mad at him and just nodded, she felt solemn as she recalled his situation.

"He told me, and I think the best way to spread your "good" name is through people" Alexis who was eagerly ready to propose her plan was shot down.

"I thought I clearly I don't like people" the emperor who casually sat on the richly purple Victorian style coach, his arms spread out, as if he was a player at a frat party.

"I know, the people here tend to discriminate towards other beings and that's why you dislike them, correct?" She asked, hoping he would let her get her idea across so she could speak her mind.

"Yes." He tilted her head at her, giving a stare that made her quiver. There was a stomach squirming stare behind his eyes. It was as if he stared at a painting he couldn't quite understand.

"Well, how much orphans does the empire see yearly?" She knew there had to be some.

"Orphans?" The Emperor held his face up with a fist and glanced to the side, wondering just what this was about, "The orphanages deal with those matters but I'd estimate about 1 million yearly, after the recent war it should've tripled" he spoke uncaringly.

Alexis, on the other hand, almost choked. 

'That was a lot... but then again, how big is the empire?'

"Which primarily consist of which gender?" She knew the answer.

"Girls, of course." 

Alexis knowingly shook her head. It didn't matter which world it was, women where always discriminated against. 

"Well, those children have already experienced being neglected and uncared for, they've probably been exploited in many ways as well.  They'll really appreciate any person that lends a hand to help them.-" his highness lifted a hand, he seemed to understood.

"I've already got plenty of dwarfs here and clearly don't need any help." He said, his face slightly dissatisfied with his "mages" advice.

"Well you might not need help here but what about workplaces and schools? Why not other a few bright kids scholarships?"

"And how might I know who to offer that to?"

A dwarf entered the room and handed him and dark red drink, which complimented his eye colour. He swirled the deep liquid around its glass and suddenly Alexis had a very clear image of what a vampire might look like. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he opened his mouth and displayed a set of fangs. He glanced at Alexis.

"Wine?" He offered but Alexis shook her head.

"It's simple... or in my world it is... why not create a test?" A spark of interest twinkled behind his highness' eyes.

"A test?"

"Yes. I'm guessing schools aren't common here and most kids struggle to write?" She had just guessed since everything was so... medieval. 

"Where did you get that idea? Do you think I'm some kind of tyrant who wouldn't allow plebeians like yourself to attend schools?" 

"Well, that makes it easier then. A written test of advanced general topics, covering language, maths and some scientific theories- Ah! And magic since that exists too. Maybe some questions on other beings as well." Words poured out of Alexis' mouth and the Emperor listened to each very carefully.

'This girl is interesting...' he thought as he stared at the small girl. Earlier he had thought that it would be hopeless to want to live a long life, but now that she had turned the situation around he felt trickle of interest. And for a split second, he thought that maybe him and this girl did share some similarities.

"What do you think?" 

"How do you think it'll help my reputation?" 

"People will praise you as a saint for helping young orphans, right?"

"What if they ridicule me for helping orphans?"

"Who would?" She tilted her head.

"That's it. Think about it, who would? Who thinks so highly of themselves that they would?" He leaned forward, giving a fine view of his abs to Alexis who had to glance away. His drink lifted to his lips and suddenly he looked extremely seductive.

"N-Nobles?" Alexis asked, her face flushed a bit. She received a smile.

"Correct." 

"I think we shouldn't worry about them yet." The king lifted a brow at this, asking for an explanation, "we should start at the bottom and make our way up. After all, nobles were once of common blood. We start at the roots!" She smiled in a way a dog might when it did something good.

"Very well then. I'll hire some tutors on all those subjects. You'll discuss the information needed with them and then, creating the exam will be primarily left up to you, as well as the appropriate time limit and markings. Then, when your done, we'll duplicate them with magic and send them off to the capital orphanage." He said, a strange smile on his lips.

Alexis stunned at the unfamiliar expression on his face, stuttered back.

"Y-yes!" She suddenly realised that her plan had been agreed to and she grinned, "trust me when I say this will go better than you expect."

"I will and if not" he traced his thumb across neck with a smirk destroying Alexis' happy mood.

'This will work, right?' She was suddenly uncertain.

She stood up, with unsteady legs, to leave his room only for her arm to be grasped by the emperor. Staring at him in confusion as he also stood and looked at her with a strange expression on his face. He tugged at her arm, drawing her in closer as she observed him.

He deeply inhaled before he spoke.

"I'm sorry". The look on his face akin to a child admitting their wrong doings and Alexis was momentarily stunned as she saw the innocence on his face.

"Eh-Um- okay?" She smiled at him and to her surprise and smiled back. But, like the scumbag he was he quickly pushed her distracted self out of the doorway and shut the door before he could hear her scream.

"Scumbag!"