Chapter 390: Positions Available

Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Positions Available

Arik had discovered that allowing the population to elect the next prime minister did not reduce political maneuvering.

It merely redirected it.

The announcement had not even been released publicly yet, and half the parliament seemed to have developed sudden, passionate opinions about electoral regulations, candidate eligibility, regional representation, campaign financing, and the precise definition of public-service experience.

The nobles had found another problem entirely.

If they could not reliably control who became prime minister, they wanted everything surrounding the prime minister.

Arik sat behind his desk with twelve applications, seven recommendations, three handwritten personal appeals, and one extremely expensive bottle of wine someone had apparently believed would improve the qualifications of his nephew.

He looked at the bottle.

Then at Severin.

"Can I keep this?"

Severin glanced up from the tablet in his hands.

"The wine?"

"Yes."

"It was sent while requesting an imperial appointment."

"I rejected the appointment."

"That does not make accepting the wine less questionable."

Arik frowned.

"Then return it."

"I already did."

Arik looked offended.

"You could have waited until after I decided whether I wanted it."

"That would defeat the point."

The emperor’s working office had become the administrative center of three different transitions at once. Election regulations covered most of the projection wall to Arik’s left, the new cabinet structure occupied the central display, and personnel files for his direct imperial offices had somehow spread across both ends of the long conference table near the windows.

Outside, autumn rain traced thin lines down the glass overlooking Deira.

Inside, Arik was supposed to be choosing an Imperial Secretary.

Instead, he checked the private monitor on the right side of his desk for the fourth time in twenty minutes.

Severin noticed.

Again.

"Nothing has changed."

"I can see that."

"Then why do you keep looking?"

Arik leaned back.

The discreet display contained no medical information beyond what Liam had explicitly authorized. Location inside the imperial complex, scheduled appointments, and an alert that would activate if Liam contacted his physician or if his pheromonal readings crossed the agreed threshold.

At present, Liam was three floors below, attending an education foundation meeting.

Normal.

Perfectly normal.

Arik disliked it.

"He stopped suppressants six days ago."

"Yes."

"It could begin at any time."

"The physician said it could take months."

"It could also not take months."

Severin placed his tablet on the desk.

"You are attempting to predict biology through intimidation."

Arik looked at him.

"It has not worked."

"I am shocked."

Arik returned his attention to the personnel file before him.

The candidate was an experienced administrator from the western provinces with fourteen years in civil government, no meaningful noble connections, and a reputation for reorganizing offices until half the staff either became competent or resigned.

Promising.

He moved her file into the final-review column.

"Imperial Secretary," Severin said. "That makes four."

"I want five."

"You had five yesterday."

"One accepted dinner from House Talvaren immediately after his second interview."

"That does not prove corruption."

"No. It proves poor judgment."

Severin did not disagree.

The direct imperial offices required people Arik trusted enough to place between himself and the machinery of government.

Temporary structures had worked while Nuria recovered from isolation, but temporary administration had a habit of becoming permanent through exhaustion. Arik wanted a definitive Imperial Secretary, a strengthened legal office, permanent domestic and foreign policy secretariats, a private administrative staff for both himself and Liam, and enough competent deputies that neither sovereign had to personally examine every document crossing the palace.

Liam strongly supported the final point.

Mostly because Liam wanted Arik available for other things.

Arik strongly supported Liam’s reasoning.

A knock sounded against the open door.

One of the junior secretaries entered carrying another folder.

Severin looked at it.

"No."

The young man stopped.

"I have not said what this is."

"Another recommendation from a noble house?"

"Yes."

"No."

Arik held out his hand.

Severin stared at him.

"I want to see how shameless this one is."

The folder reached his desk.

Arik opened it.

House Ceradin recommended the second son of its current head for Deputy Imperial Secretary.

Age twenty-six.

Education excellent.

Administrative experience consisted of six months assisting a provincial cultural board and apparently organizing two charitable galas.

Arik looked at Severin.

"He organized a gala."

"Impressive."

"Two."

"Appoint him immediately."

Arik closed the folder.

"Rejected."

The secretary collected it with admirable composure.

"There are nine more waiting outside."

Arik stared.

"People?"

"Recommendations."

"That is worse."

The man retreated.

Severin looked amused.

"You could simply forbid noble recommendations."

"No. Occasionally they recommend someone useful."

"And the rest?"

"Provide entertainment."

Arik reached for the next file.

His private monitor flashed.

He was standing before the notification fully appeared.

Severin did not move.

Arik stared at the screen.

Liam had left the foundation meeting.

Severin folded his arms.

"You promised him you would behave normally."

"I am behaving normally."

"You nearly crossed the desk because he changed rooms."

"He left a meeting early."

The door opened again before Severin could answer.

This time Liam walked in.

Arik’s entire attention shifted.

His mate wore dark trousers and a soft cream sweater beneath an open violet coat, his brown hair slightly disordered. Nothing about him suggested heat.

Arik nevertheless inhaled.

Liam stopped.

"No."

"I said nothing."

"You sniffed me from across the room."

Severin looked down at his tablet.

Arik ignored him.

"Why did your meeting finish early?"

"They reached a decision."

"Are you feeling anything?"

"Hungry."

Arik’s eyes narrowed.

"For food."

"I know what hungry means."

"Do you?"

Liam walked around the desk, picked up Arik’s abandoned coffee, discovered it cold, and made a face.

"You are supposed to be choosing your staff, not monitoring my ovaries from the imperial office."

"That is not anatomically what I am monitoring."

Liam stared at him.

Severin covered his mouth.

Arik reconsidered the sentence.

"Forget I said that."

"Gladly."

Liam perched against the edge of his desk and glanced at the files.

"How many nobles have tried to purchase employment today?"

"Seven."

"Only seven?"

"Twelve if you include indirect attempts," Severin supplied.

Liam looked impressed.

Arik rested one hand on his thigh almost without thinking.

His mate noticed but did not object.

"The election announcement will make it worse," Liam said.

"Different kind of worse."

"When does it go public?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Liam smiled.

"I want to watch parliament when they find out."

"You have a hospital visit."

"I can reschedule."

Arik immediately shook his head.

Liam narrowed his eyes.

"You are telling me not to avoid imperial duties?"

"Rubis would blame me."

"Coward."

"Experienced husband."

Severin slid another personnel list across the desk.

"Speaking of duties, you still need three permanent appointments before tonight."

Arik looked at the list.

Then at Liam.

Then inhaled again.

Liam caught his chin in one hand.

"My heat has not started."

"I know."

"When it does, I will tell you."

"I know."

"You are still going to notice before I do, aren’t you?"

Arik smiled slowly.

"Probably."

Liam sighed, but his saint’s breath warmed faintly around them.

That alone nearly distracted Arik again.

Severin tapped the personnel list.

"Emperor."

Arik looked at him.

"Staff."

Another tap.

Arik pulled Liam closer until his mate settled reluctantly against his side.

"Fine."

Liam glanced down at the applications.

"I am not helping."