>>5946716<span class="mu-i"> ''As you are a foreigner and thus not a subject of his realm, you are not required to bow or kneel before him,'' </span> he says with a smile. <span class="mu-i"> ''Instead, you must simply walk to the end of the carpet and present yourself to his majesty with a courteous lowering of the head.'' </span>
And so you do. You slowly approach the emperor with a carefully paced march, helmet in hand, until you are standing directly in front of him. As you walk, you can feel the gazes of the assembled nobles burning into your back, but you keep your head held high and maintain a calm demeanour. Some are envious, others disapprove; the younger members of the court seem to admire you as some kind of knight-errant; the older courtiers are split between those who consider your family an upstart and the ones who can appreciate a good and clever new house.
<span class="mu-i">''Eure Majestät, I have answered your summons, and thus I now present myself for you. I would wish to know the reason for my summoning and how I may be of service to you.'' </span> You announce with a lowering of your head.
<span class="mu-i">''Service, perhaps it is best of all parties involved that you keep your service to your true liege-lord. It would not be wise to serve anyone else; that simply complicates matters.'' </span> The emperor said with a chuckle. In truth, you had expected someone older, but he is barely older than you. But his presence and authority are undeniable. A faint smile rested upon his countenance, more or less emulating the air of a friendly monarch making small talk with subjects.
>You majesty, I merely require passage throughout your realm, nothing more nothing less.>If there are things to discuss let's do it somewhere else.>I am most honoured by your summons, and I would like to extend my thanks to you. 