Page 68 - The Grotesque Children's Book

“He tricked me. He didn't tell me he was going to take my children. He
just said 'citizens'. How was I supposed to know he meant you? Citizens?
You're not my citizens. You're my family. S-say,” s-said the Emperor, “That's
it! I've got him! I'll point out to him that legally you're none of you citizens.
You're royalty. That will make null and void the entire agreement. Oh clever
me! I'll have his gold palace for this, I will! I'll ask for his palace in retribution
for tricking me. It will be mine, mine, mine!” The beginnings of spittle began
forming at the Emperor's mouth.

“And...your children will be restored to you,” said Citia.

“What's that?”

“If the agreement is void, your children will be free again.”

“I suppose they will. And when he delivers the palace, I'll have him face
the palace to the west rather than the east, I think. Though it's octagonal, so I
could choose half-directions as well, such as northwest --”

“But here's the thing, Father. We actually are citizens. True, we are
royalty, but we are also technically citizens, all of us. You're a citizen, too.”

“So he's got us, has he?”

“He has.”

“I thought for a minute there, maybe I'd caught him in a technicality.”

“No.”

“A shame. Back to where we started.”

“Except that this time you're not stopping me. I'm going to go to the Gold
Demon's palace, and I'm going to find out his secret alchemy.”

“No, you're not.”

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