Dysfunctional Imperials
Copyright© 2025 by Ogreface
Chapter 7: Acceptance
That evening they had a grand dinner for the emperor. Olaf was chased up to his suite to shower and get dressed by both of his new bossy employees. Then both of them made themselves at home in his room while he was in the shower. Both examined him with great interest when he came out of the bathroom without a towel. Olaf was quite embarrassed since it was impossible to hide or cancel his rampant erection. Ruth looked stunned as she openly ogled him while Alice had a sneaky smirk on her face, having twice already showered with him and played with that same solid shaft.
After he got dressed, with a lot of female interference and even some subtle lewd comments, they went down to his office and waited there. Ruth was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt while Alice was wearing her marine combat uniform. Desmond, the assistant butler, walked into his office and informed him that he would be called in time for drinks in the library before dinner.
The rest of Olaf’s new family, as well as the men who were betrothed to some of the ladies were all invited to dinner with the emperor. They all had their own mansions elsewhere in the city, so they arrived early enough to make sure they were seen as part of the duke’s family. As a result, Olaf’s office was invaded by a horde of teenage girls an hour before the predinner drinks were served in the library.
Olaf, Ruth, and Alice were sitting and chatting about school and the empire, with Alice giving a lot of insight into life in an asteroid habitat, and life in the Pleiades Prime system in general when the invasion took place. The door between the reception area and his inner office was standing open so when Lucia, Luanne, and Darla came charging in, they immediately came through into the inner office. Seconds later a much shyer Herman and an equally shy Anika followed the main invasion. Alice had jumped up and, in a surprise move, took on a guardian position in front and slightly to the side of Olaf as Ruth calmly stood at the corner of Olaf’s desk, looking demurely down.
“So, it is true,” Anika said as she curtsied before Olaf. “You are the new Viscount Vasa, My Lord,” Darla was still standing just inside the doorway looking confused as Lucia and Luanne made themselves at home on the two couches.
“Cool office, My Lord,” Herman said.
“My ladies, Lord Herman, unfortunately the viscount has not had the opportunity to order supplies for his office yet,” Ruth said as she bowed her head. “Otherwise, I could have offered you some refreshments.”
“Corporal, what are you doing here?” Darla asked. For a few seconds the two women, both the same age, same height, and both quite pretty, but with Alice more athletically built, glared at each other.
“I’m on duty, my lady,” Alice said. “Lord Olaf has not had a body protector assigned to him so the colonel ordered me to do it.”
“You!” Darla huffed. “What can you do against a big male attacker?”
“I’m an imperial marine, my lady,” Alice said. “I didn’t come by these chevrons by accident either. I had to be tougher than the average male marine to make an impression.” Olaf was impressed that Alice stood up for herself.
Olaf realized that Alice might just prove to be quite useful in her capacity as his security. She could pass as a high school senior if she dressed for the part, and should at least surprise any would-be attacker. He still thought she would make a better protective barrier against unwanted female attention.
“You look really nice in a suit,” Luanne commented to Olaf. “As compared to cargo pants and T-shirt.”
“You also said that he looks even better without clothes,” Lucia said.
“When did you see him without clothes?” Darla asked.
“Do tell, dear cousin,” Anika said. “When did you get to see our new cousin without clothes?” Luanne and Lucia both blushed as Lucia muttered something under her breath.
“You do know we will get it out of you,” Darla threatened.
“I can’t believe we are actually having dinner with the emperor himself,” Anika said as she started fanning herself. “Have you seen him? From up close, I mean?” she asked Olaf.
“He seemed amazingly down to earth when we shook hands,” Olaf said.
“Who will be the emperor’s dinner partner?” Darla asked. “I bet grandma will grab him for herself.”
“I guess we will have to share Olaf and Herman between us again,” Lucia muttered.
“You didn’t seem to mind talking my ears off the last time you and I were dinner partners,” Herman said as he frowned at Lucia. Typical girl, she stuck her tongue out at him as she blushed. Shortly afterwards, Alex Tremaine walked in. He hesitated in the open doorway of the inner office as he glanced around the occupants of the room before coming closer to where Olaf was sitting and then bowed as Olaf stood.
“My lord, just so you know, it is the custom among titled noblemen to wear their medallions at all times, but they put the medallion inside their shirts, so only the ribbon shows,” Alex said in a low voice. “If you are invited to some formal event in your official capacity as Viscount Vasa, then you should have it outside your shirt.”
“Good advice,” Olaf said as he took the medallion out of his pants pocket where he put it after activating the tokens. “I was worried about accidentally dumping this thing in the soup if it hangs around my neck,” he added causing Alex to laugh.
“Let me show you how to do it,” Luanne said as she started arranging the ribbon for Olaf.
“One’s wife or concubine normally does that,” Darla commented. This time Luanne ignored her cousin.
“Corporal, you can escort the viscount to the library,” Alex said to Alice. “Just follow the behavior of the emperor’s body protectors and stay on the sideline but nearest to Lord Olaf. No need to move to the other side of the room when he does but keep your eye on him.” Alice had a big smile on her face as she listened to the assistant chief of staff. “Ruth, you get to hang out with the duke’s personal assistant. Lord Olaf, you can start escorting your visitors to the library; I’m sure the duchess will soon start arranging the seating order.”
The bunch of nicely dressed ladies all decided to go ahead of Olaf, so he trailed at the back with Herman, with Ruth and Alice tagging along behind them. Herman was dressed similarly to Olaf with the only exception being the lack of a ribbon showing. The ladies were already inside the library when Olaf and Herman arrived in the grand entrance hall outside the library, just as more guests arrived.
The new arrivals, Baron Rudolf, the First Speaker for the council of barons with a slightly plump older lady on his arm, were welcomed by Becker. Behind them were four more younger people, two girls and two men somewhere in their twenties. The first thing that caught Olaf’s eye about the two younger men, were their swagger as they followed the baron inside. The two girls, a teenager and a slightly older girl were both giggling about something one of the men had said.
“Oh great!” Herman muttered.
“What’s up?” Olaf asked just as softly.
“Those two guys,” he explained. “The baron’s sons. The one is his heir. Note the ribbon. No medal attached to it. He is a commoner and will stay one until his father dies but he acts as if he is already a baron, demanding to be called ‘My Lord’, and that swagger.”
“I assume your father doesn’t have a minor title?” Olaf asked.
“No, and unlike them, I don’t even have a piece of ribbon to show off,” Herman said. “Your cousins are just as bad, insist on being called ‘my lady’ even if they are going to marry a commoner, who might become a knight once they actually get married.”
“Herman!” The older of the two guys called when he noticed Herman and Olaf. The guy’s eyes instantly dropped down to stare at the ribbon barely visible under Olaf’s jacket. Olaf acted totally casual as he straightened his jacket and subtly tried to cover the ribbon even more.
“Derick,” Herman said as he nodded to the guy.
“Who is your friend?” Derick asked as he looked Olaf in the eyes. “Another heir?” he asked as he pointedly looked at the ribbon peeking from under Olaf’s jacket.
“Actually, yes,” Herman said as he perked up slightly. “Lord Olaf, meet Derick Rasmus, heir to Baron Lindholm.”
“You can introduce me as ‘Lord Derick’, you know,” the guy interrupted before Herman could complete the introduction. “Sorry about that, Lord Olaf, but all of us heirs have our status to uphold.”
“Even before you get an actual title?” Olaf asked in mock surprise.
“Everybody who knows us knows the ribbons is for what comes later,” Derick said with a shrug.
“I’m not familiar with your colors, Lord Olaf,” the lady on Derick’s arm said as she reached out and pulled more of the ribbon free.
“Meet my betrothed, Lady Elnora,” Derick said. Just then Elnora realized that the ribbon she was tugging on had a weight on the other side. She tugged harder, causing the medallion to pop free from Olaf’s shirt. The girl automatically took it in her hand as she examined it. “What, you put a fake medallion on your ribbon? That might help in keeping the appearance. I should try it,” Derick chuckled as he lifted Olaf’s medallion out of his betrothed’s hand. Olaf was already not impressed with Derick’s attitude and gave the guy a frowning look. That was when Alice decided to interfere.
“Hands off the Viscount, sir!” she barked as she pushed Derick and his betrothed away and stood in front of Olaf while glaring at the couple.
“Viscount?” the lady squeaked as both of them stared at the now exposed medallion hanging in front of Olaf’s chest.
“My apologies, My Lord,” a white-faced Derick said as he stepped back some more and bowed, dragging a stunned lady with him as Olaf tucked the medallion back into his shirt.
“Making as if you are already a noble and then faking it even more by putting something on a ribbon, sounds like fraud to me,” Olaf muttered. “Shall we go in?” he suggested to Herman.
By that time the baron and his partner, who wasn’t looking in their direction and didn’t see them, had already entered the library. The other younger couple had followed Derick and his lady and were slightly behind them as they gaped at Olaf in surprise.
“Viscount?” the younger girl asked. She seemed to be Olaf’s age or close to it. “You are the new Viscount Vasa?” she asked.
“Lord Olaf, meet Lady Vanessa, only daughter of Baron Lindholm, and the baron’s younger son, Dolf,” Herman made the introductions. Lady Vanessa blushed as she curtsied. Dolf also bowed so Olaf nodded back to them. Olaf noticed that Dolf was not wearing a ribbon like his older brother.
“Shall we?” Olaf asked as he pointed towards the library entrance. As they walked the short distance to the doorway, Olaf glanced at Alice to see her having a stern look on her face, but a sliver of a smirk was hovering on her mouth. She had a very satisfied look in her eyes as well.
Once they were all inside the library, Vanessa instantly abandoned her brother and made a beeline for Luanne. Olaf just watched as the two hugged each other as they talked and giggled at the same time. Then both of them turned and looked at him. Just then Duchess Victoria appeared in front of Olaf.
“Come, I want to introduce you to your dinner partner,” she said as she took his hand, looked him up and down, and then dragged him to where Vanessa and Luanne were whispering to each other.
“Herman just introduced her to me,” Olaf muttered when he realized where he was being dragged.
“Not formally,” Duchess Victoria muttered back. “I think she is a very nice girl, much nicer than her two idiot brothers. Viscount Olaf, please meet Miss Vanessa, daughter of Baron Lindholm. Vanessa, dear, I would appreciate it if you agreed to be Viscount Olaf’s dinner partner. Luanne, why don’t both of you sit with Viscount Olaf?” The two girls were both with huge eyes as they turned to face and curtsied to the duchess and then to Olaf. This time he bowed properly to the two girls.
While most of the mainland population of Asgaard were of Nordic descent, or Vikings, as the fisher-folk sometimes refer to them, and while most of the women were blond and pretty, Luanne was by far prettier than Vanessa. Vanessa was not ugly, just the generic girl-next-door, cute and slender.
“Can I offer you ladies some sherry?” Olaf asked when he saw wait-staff with filled trays making the rounds. He didn’t wait for a response and waved at one of the waiters nearby.
“You were telling me about Derick?” Luanne said to Vanessa as she gave Olaf a raised eyebrow look.
“You know very well how stuck-up most of the young lordlings around here are,” Vanessa said as she shot Olaf a shy look. “Just because they are related to a baron, they see themselves as lords and want to be addressed that way as well.”
“I think a lot of the women are like that as well” Luanne said as she took a sip of the sherry. “They are still commoners with delusions of being nobility, unlike Lord Olaf. He is a proper viscount with a hankering back to the days he thought he was a commoner,” her voice dropped as she leaned towards Olaf and subtly nudged him with her shoulder.
“You thought you were a commoner, My Lord?” Vanessa asked.
“I grew up as an orphan among the fisher-folk,” Olaf said.
“We think Uncle Carl must have gotten Lord Olaf’s fisher-folk mother pregnant, before poor Carl started unraveling,” Luanne said. “Nobody seems to know about Olaf except somebody must have known because when they whisked all the nobility to safe locations, they also picked up Lord Olaf, and then Grandma Victoria calmly introduced him to us as Carl’s son. I looked up some old images of Carl, when he was a teenager. Lord Olaf is definitely related to him. I mean, how many of us have black hair?”
“That should make you the true heir to Duke Eric,” Vanessa said as her eyes grew even bigger.
“The decision was made, correctly, that Viscount Carl was mentally incapable of assuming the title, Lady Vanessa,” Olaf said. “The next logical step was to select the next viable male offspring, meaning the younger brother of Duke Eric. I am very glad that Duke Wilbur is able and willing to take over the title.”
“Wow, I guess I see your point,” Vanessa said as her eyes grew big. “Being unprepared for such a lofty title will cause anybody to freak out. I can remember the stress when Mom asked me to host my own thirteenth birthday party. I will quietly freak out if I ever must do what my mother regularly does. I suddenly have a lot more respect for the duchess, even for Viscountess Teresa, I will be a messy puddle on the floor if I were to ever become the formal hostess for any nobleman. Lord Olaf, whatever you do, never offer for me, unless it is to be your concubine, I will...,” she snapped her mouth shut as she blushed.
“Vanessa, you are babbling,” Luanne giggled. “You have to excuse her, My Lord. She gets all flustered and starts babbling when she is nervous. She looks pretty and such but socially she is a total clod. Better not take her proposal seriously.”
“Did I just propose to the viscount?” Vanessa asked Luanne before she blushed even deeper, causing Luanne to giggle. “I never meant to do anything like that. What will my mother say when she hears...,” Then Luanne placed her hand over Vanessa’s mouth, shutting her up.
“I think either she is extra nervous around you or it’s the sherry talking,” Luanne said to Olaf. “Neither of us are used to talking to a real viscount.”
“Neither am I,” Olaf said, just as the people in the room started clapping gently. Olaf looked around to see a couple slowly walking through the doorway. The man was in his fifties and with gray hair. The lady was quite attractive, and a lot younger. The man was also walking with a cane. Olaf noticed that the man was actually hanging onto the lady.
“The only other viscount in the system,” Luanne muttered.
“You mean the real viscount,” Olaf said. “My title is an honorary title.”
“Let me introduce you to my father,” Herman said as he and Lucia joined them.
“We will wait here,” Luanne said. “I have talked to him many times.”
“I have never met him but I think I will stay with Luanne,” Lady Vanessa said.
“Come, you are Olaf’s partner,” Herman said. Olaf took Vanessa’s hand and put it in the crook of his elbow, forcing her to tag along as they followed Herman, who seemed very eager to introduce Olaf to his parents.
“Mother, Father, allow me to introduce to you to Olaf, Viscount Vasa, and Vanessa, daughter of Baron Lindholm. Lord Olaf, my parents, Viscount Asgaard and Viscountess Teresa,” Herman stated formally.
“I am so glad when I was told that Carl actually left an heir,” Viscount Dirk said as he shook hands with Olaf.
“Unfortunately, I never met him, My Lord,” Olaf said as he also shook hands with Lady Teresa.
“Herman could not stop talking about his new friend,” Lady Teresa said as she gave her son a teasing look.
“Actually, I really needed a friend like Herman when I met the family for the first time,” Olaf said. “I was grabbed off the beach, under the impression that I was a regular commoner orphan. Herman really helped me to settle in among my own cousins.”
“He keeps talking about attending a regular high school,” Lady Teresa said as she glanced at Herman. “Are you really planning on doing that?”
“I have attended that school for the past year and would like to do my final year there as well,” Olaf said. “The emperor suggested I don’t do that, but he also specified that it was just a suggestion. I guess it will depend on other factors, like if the school board will allow me back, and if I can get my security to join me.”
“Maybe we can consider it, if Lord Olaf manages to do it,” she said to Herman. “That will give you at least one year in a regular school. Being able to interact socially with regular people might do you good.” Then the meeting broke up as Duke Wilbur, with Duchess Victoria on his arm joined the group. Olaf bowed to the duke and took a step back to allow the duke to greet the viscount. They obviously knew each other well.
It only took a casual glance around the library to note that the emperor was not there yet; none of his body protectors were lining the walls. It was as if looking for the emperor was a signal. Becker appeared in the doorway, cleared his throat, and bellowed out, just as two of the black-clad body protectors slipped in and started scanning the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Becker bellowed. “Jason Pleiades! Emperor!” All the talking in the library instantly ceased as everybody turned towards the doorway. Olaf, with Vanessa still clinging to his left elbow, and with Luanne now on his right side, was relatively close to the doorway after stepping back to allow Viscount Asgaard to walk further into the library. Olaf had no idea if the others followed him or if they all did it at the same time. It just seemed the right thing to do, to bow deeply to your emperor. The girls with Olaf didn’t hesitate as they curtsied. As Olaf glanced up, everybody in the room, except for Becker and the two body protectors already inside the library, were bowing.
The emperor’s next move was unexpected. Olaf was the first to stand upright again, only to find the emperor walking towards him. Unlike his own medallion, the emperor’s medallion was outside his shirt. Since it was obvious the emperor was coming towards him, Olaf could only do one thing, introduce the two girls with him.
“Your Majesty, allow me to introduce my dinner partners” Olaf said as he bowed his head. “My cousin, Miss Luanne, granddaughter of Duchess Victoria, and Miss Vanessa, daughter of Baron Lindholm.” Both girls looked as if they were going to faint as the emperor kissed their hands instead of shaking hands with them.
“Olaf, tomorrow when I address the council of barons, to introduce their new duke to them, I would like it if you could be there as well,” the emperor said. Then the duchess joined then, with a very shy and panicky Anika at her side. Olaf nearly laughed when he noticed that the duchess had Anika firmly by her hand and was dragging her along.
“Your Majesty, welcome,” Duchess Victoria said. “I was hoping you would agree to escort my granddaughter, Anika, into dinner. I do hope I’m not making a mistake here; she seemed to have swallowed her tongue; she is a bit red in the face as well.” Olaf took a few steps back with his two partners, who seemed to be still in a daze.
As the emperor, with a still blushing Anika clinging to his arm, was introduced to the rest of the guests, Olaf noticed as Derick, Vanessa’s brother, subtly and quickly got rid of the ribbon around his neck. There were two other young lordlings whom Olaf had not been introduced to yet, and who had ribbons around their necks. They also turned away and quickly removed the ribbons. In the end the emperor just nodded at them when their parents, real barons, were introduced.
During the dinner, Luanne and Vanessa were in total giggling mode as they chatted and giggled over Olaf. He calmly let them have their fun, inserting comments into their conversation just to prove that he was actually listening to them. Towards the end Vanessa seemed to become much more relaxed towards him. When she asked him something about the island, she placed her hand on his arm and then left it there.
Olaf and his girls were sitting at the opposite end of the table from the emperor and duke. The three rulers; Jason Pleiades, Wilbur Ostrander, and Dirk Volchok, all sat at the head of the table, with Duchess Victoria being the duke’s partner and a still blushing but also smiling Lady Anika being the emperor’s partner.
Olaf and his partners were sitting with Herman and Lucia at the other end of the table. He was thus not in direct view when a news crew were invited in for a few photos of the emperor and the new duke, which suited Olaf just fine.
After the meal, the ladies all excused themselves as the gentlemen returned to the library for after-dinner drinks. The only women in the room were Alice, who was keeping her eyes on Olaf, as well as the female body protector of the emperor. Olaf was glad that he kind of grew up with young girls and quickly recognized when a female needed the rest room. When the men made their way to the library, he headed for the nearest bathroom himself, thus giving Alice the chance to use the toilet as well.
“Duke Wilbur, Viscount Olaf,” the emperor said as they formed small groups in the library. “I need to do something important but critical as far as the empire is concerned. As a new member of the imperial council, I need you, Duke Wilbur, to prove your allegiance to me by doing the wand test. As the future duke, Olaf might as well do the test now.” The three of them were standing at one end of the library, with all the body protectors close to the emperor.
“For you, Your Majesty, anything,” Wilbur said. The rest of the men in the library realized that something was happening and everybody stopped talking as they watched the three.
“Have any of you ever heard of the mysterious wands that some noblemen, like all the earls in the Arcadia system have?” the emperor asked.
“I have heard some rumors about them, that they might be some alien magic or something,” Duke Wilbur said.
“Could very well be, we just don’t know,” the emperor said. “What we do know, is that the first wand appeared and attached itself to the second emperor of Pleiades, over a thousand years ago. As the current emperor, I am the guardian of that same wand,” he said as he reached back under his short cape and pulled a meter-long pale-green staff from somewhere. The wand or staff looked like it had etchings or lines in it. It was about three centimeters in diameter.
“These wands protect the person they attach themselves to, even to the extent where the wand will incinerate somebody who intends to do me harm. It has been the custom to validate the loyalty of anybody who would be working close to me, by asking such a person to touch the wand. Most of the time, nothing happens. Every now and then, a new employee ends up getting a mild sting or zap. If that happens a second time, the new staff member has their appointment canceled. The imperial council requires that each council member also be tested. As the next new member of the imperial council, I ask you, Wilbur, to touch the wand.” Wilbur didn’t hesitate and stretched his hand out, touching the end of the staff in the emperor’s hands. Wilbur looked slightly disappointed when nothing happened. Then the emperor gave Olaf a questioning look. He also reached out and touched the wand. Again, nothing happened.
“Good, both of you passed the test,” the emperor said as he put the staff away behind his back.
“Your Majesty, I heard you refer to noblemen with the rank of earl?” Baron Rudolf asked. “Are there many earls? And how did they become earls?”
“There are far fewer earls than dukes even if the earls are below the rank of duke.” the emperor explained. “Each of the earls are heads of imperial houses; I assume long ago their ancestors were actually family members of a past emperor. Most but not all heads of imperial houses have wands. The two most noticeable exceptions are House Gemini, the imperial banking house, and House Taurus, the still vacant house of the heir to the emperor. Then there is House Dorado and House Andromeda, Imperial houses where the heads also do not have wands.
“My minor title is that of Earl of Taurus. Except for the four houses I mentioned, all the other imperial houses have their seats in two closed systems, Arcadia, and Glamour. Each house is responsible for mining one of the many crystals we depend on for powering our homes and the hovercraft. The most important crystal is the jump gate crystal. In general, these earls do not use their titles; before I became the emperor, being called Jason Taurus was enough to indicate that I was an earl, and the heir to the emperor.
“Each of the imperial houses adopted a star constellation as their family name, like House Libra, House Perseus, House Virgo, and each head of that house has a wand, which is also their badge of office. Their wands are also only about forty centimeters long. So, Baron Rudolf, to answer your question, if a wand appears and attaches itself to you, an active wand, then you will be an earl, with your current title as your minor title.” The baron had no response to that. Soon afterwards, the ladies joined them.
When the guests started leaving, Olaf walked Vanessa to her father’s hovercraft and kissed her hand as he thanked her for a very enjoyable evening. He was not sure of protocol but risked asking to spend more time with her, if both their schedules allowed it. Vanessa looked so surprised that she didn’t know how to respond. Only Alice was near enough to hear him.
A while later he walked Luanne and Lucia to their hovercraft. This time he just kissed their hands as he commented he expected to see more of them. Lucia smiled cutely but then Luanne decided that since they were cousins, she wanted a hug. She didn’t wait for an invitation and just grabbed Olaf around the neck.
“What is up with you?” Olaf asked as he and Alice walked to his suite afterwards. Alice was looking slightly moody.
“Just a bit envious, My Lord,” she said. “I know I specifically asked not to get that close to you, romantically, but after observing you all night, and watching the reaction of the ladies towards you, I just feel a bit left out.”
“Do you want a hug?” Olaf asked as he held the door to his suite for her. She walked in and examined the whole suite before coming back to him.
“After you appointed me as a member of your staff, I had a talk with my uncle. I have been told I can stay in the marines, as your bodyguard,” she said. “Apparently I don’t need to be IPS trained to look after you.”
“Does that mean I have to find another palace liaison officer?” Olaf asked.
“Colonel Crenshaw said I have to get special permission from the commandant of the marine corps to operate on my own here,” Alice said. “He could only recommend it but it would carry a lot more weight if Duke Wilbur requested it.”
“Is that what you want?” Olaf asked. “To stay a marine and babysit a bratty teenager?”
“Between you and my uncle, I am totally confused,” Alice said. “I need more time to think of my options, but until the Taygete’s last shuttle finally lifts from the planet, I get to act as your body protector. The idea of redoing the final year in high school and then continuing with a degree sounds more and more appealing to me.”
Alice already showered with him, on her own initiative, so he started stripping as soon as he entered his suite. When he walked into the bathroom, he was nude already. He was expecting and even hoping she would join him again. It seemed she decided not to join him, but then he heard female voices just outside the open bathroom door. The owners didn’t enter so he finished off and stepped out of the shower. The voices were now coming from his bedroom.
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