Resplendent

The Emperor, standing upon his dressing dias admired himself in the mirror. He looked mighty fine for a man in his 70s. No wonder he was the Emperor of all the lands.

'Rotate me.'

His steward pushed the base of the dias, turning Emperor Ronald to reveal his profile to himself. Breathing in through his nose, inflating his chest, he sucked his belly in. He cut a mighty fine figure.

'Father, won't the people realise you're naked.' It was his daughter Aknavi from the back of the room who spoke.

Doing a little wiggle, his member and everything else jiggling just a little, he managed to spin the dias, unaided another 90 degrees. Now he was facing the back of the room, facing his daughter.

'Honey, of course, they won't. You've seen them. They adore me. I can do, say nothing wrong in their eyes. I am their Emperor.'

Aknavi knew what he said was true. She couldn't help but wonder at such a thing. It had been going on for months, no years. His life and hers had been based upon one big lie, his greatness. He is only human and becoming more and more vulnerable as the years move on. Yet it seemed his public could not see it. Bewildering.

She pondered, 'Is he taking it too far this time?' Watching as he stepped down from the Dias, resplendent in his nakedness.  

Come my darling, we've work to do; the convention awaits.  

Exiting into the halls of his private residency, descending the stairs to the foyer and through the double doors. Aknavi looked on, observing all they passed, secretaries, chief of staff, maids, butlers, and advisors. All of them, no more like none of them flinched, stared, or even looked surprised at his attire.

'Molly!' exclaimed the Emperor, 'Molly! Molly, look at me, Molly. Look at my fine clothes. What do you think, my dear?'

'Why Ronald, dear, you look resplendent. Where? No, when did you come up with this idea?' 

The Emperor smiled, turning back to Aknavi, 'See.'

Aknavi's jaw hit the flaw. Surely Molly would say something. Her sense of presence, her desire to be seen and not embarrassed, would cause her to say something, but no, nothing.

On the trip to the colosseum, Aknavi, her stepmother, and father sat in the stretch limo. The Emperor and his queen faced forwards while princess Aknavi sat facing them both. Her mind moved on from her father's nudity, accepting it for what it was.

The crowds and traffic start to build as the car moves on. Always keeping a distance, the Chauffeur knows to avoid this chaos and approach the colosseum from the rear. Out of sight of the milling masses, the Emperor to remain cloistered until he chooses to reveal himself.

The door before Aknavi opens, the cold air of the autumn evening jarring her from her reverie. Climbing from the vehicle, she stands and looks back to watch first Molly then her father climb from the car. A chill in the air, a fleeting thought, maybe shrinkage will cause him to pause.  

Nothing, no hesitation. The Emporer stands upright and looks even more confident. Not waiting for Molly or Aknavi, he strides forward barefooted. Walking up the long ramp, rising imperceptibly from the car to the platform before his people.

Aknavi looked to Molly, hoping to engage her in something, some sort of recognition of the insanity that was her father proceeding before her. There was nothing, a blank stare, Molly's vision passing Aknavi as if she did not exist.

To speak so enthusiastically and with such passion. It was the best of the best he had done in some time. His energy levels were up; maybe it was a cool breeze across his skin; his extremities causing him to move so.

He rocked out all the classics, The evil media, the fake news, his disdain for the senate, for the house of representatives. The success of his time as president, of the goodness he bought to the land. Of his court, the high court and their decisions, oh their decisions.

Nothing!! Here stood Aknavi's father in all his glory. An old wrinkly man naked as the day he was born, speaking railing at the crowd. The crowd, for their part, cheered, clapped, whooped, and chanted.

Can't they see? Can't they see him standing before them, ridiculing them? Hear him, hear what he is saying. Feel the effects of what he has done and what he will do?

She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, ' Fools, Fools! Can't you see, don't you understand? He is frail, old. He is losing his way.'

Aknavi knew better, though; whatever it was, this performance had to happen. Her father gestured for her to join him. Knowing her part, she walked forward, putting her arm around her father, smiled at him, and turned to wave at the crowd.

A cheer went up! He had just declared her his successor.  

She was to be their Empress. Would they want to see her naked?