The silence inside the Imperial Throne Hall lingered.
Not a single noble dared breathe too loudly.
Kael's words still echoed through the chamber.
"I intend to change this empire."
To anyone else...
Those words would've been considered treason.
Yet the emperor simply stood there, his piercing golden eyes studying the son he hadn't seen in ten years.
Finally...
Aurelius Asterion turned away.
"Enough."
His voice echoed through the hall.
"The Tenth Prince has returned."
"He is an imperial prince."
"Treat him as such."
No one argued.
No one questioned him.
No one would dare.
"Dismissed."
Like a dam breaking...
The nobles immediately exploded into whispers.
"He's alive..."
"Where has he been?"
"Did he really survive for ten years?"
"Without guards?"
"Impossible..."
The ministers looked toward Kael as if he were some mythical beast.
The princes...
Looked at him very differently.
Some with curiosity.
Some with disgust.
Some...
With killing intent.
The emperor walked toward the massive throne once more.
Just before sitting down, he spoke without turning around.
"Kael."
"Come with me."
"Yes, Father."
The throne room froze again.
Every prince stared.
Father?
Not "Your Majesty."
Not "Emperor."
Father.
The Emperor didn't correct him.
Instead...
He continued walking.
The giant doors closed behind them.
Only two people remained in the long marble corridor.
No guards.
No servants.
No ministers.
Just a father...
And his son.
For several minutes...
Neither spoke.
Kael simply admired the palace.
The stained-glass windows.
The ancient paintings.
The dragon statues.
Everything looked exactly as he remembered.
Except...
Smaller.
Maybe because he had grown.
Maybe because the world had.
Finally...
The emperor spoke.
"You've changed."
Kael smiled.
"I had ten years."
"You disappeared."
"I know."
"You never sent a letter."
"I couldn't."
"You never asked for help."
Kael stopped walking.
"...I know."
The emperor continued forward.
His expression never changed.
But his voice...
Became quieter.
"I searched."
Kael froze.
"The First Army."
"The Second."
"The Sky Fleet."
"The Royal Intelligence Bureau."
"I sent every one of them."
Silence.
"They searched every kingdom."
"They searched every forest."
"They searched every dungeon."
"They never found you."
Kael lowered his head.
For the first time since returning...
He felt guilty.
"I didn't know."
The emperor stopped beside one of the palace windows.
Outside...
The entire Imperial Capital stretched beneath them.
"I knew you were alive."
Kael looked up.
"You did?"
"I never found your body."
The emperor folded his arms.
"So I kept searching."
A small smile appeared on Kael's face.
"I guess we're both stubborn."
"..."
"..."
The emperor almost smiled.
Almost.
Meanwhile...
Inside another wing of the palace...
The remaining princes gathered.
A luxurious room.
Large enough for fifty nobles.
Only ten princes stood inside.
The eldest sat near the fireplace.
Prince Cassian Asterion.
First Prince.
Age: thirty-four.
Known throughout the continent as the Crown Blade.
The Empire's greatest swordsman.
The man everyone believed would become emperor.
He calmly sipped tea.
"So..."
"The ghost returned."
The Third Prince laughed.
"I still think he's an impostor."
The Fourth Prince crossed his arms.
"The Chamberlain recognized him."
"The Emperor accepted him."
"What more proof do you need?"
The Seventh Prince smirked.
"He doesn't matter."
"He has no army."
"No House."
"No territory."
"No nobles."
"No fiancée."
"No influence."
"He's already lost."
Several princes nodded.
Until...
The Second Prince finally spoke.
Prince Lucien Asterion.
The Empire's greatest mage.
Age thirty-two.
"You're wrong."
Everyone looked toward him.
Lucien placed his teacup down.
"Our father smiled."
Silence.
"Did any of you notice?"
No one answered.
Lucien continued.
"I've served Father for thirty years."
"I've never seen him smile."
Another silence.
"Not once."
The room became noticeably colder.
The First Prince frowned.
"...You're saying Father favors him?"
Lucien slowly shook his head.
"No."
"I'm saying..."
"He respects him."
Those words frightened everyone more.
Elsewhere...
Kael followed his father through another hallway.
Eventually...
They reached a pair of ancient bronze doors.
The Emperor opened them himself.
Inside...
Was a library.
Not an ordinary library.
Millions of books lined shelves that disappeared into darkness.
Ancient artifacts rested beneath enchanted glass.
Maps older than kingdoms covered the walls.
"This..."
Kael whispered.
"The Imperial Archive."
The Emperor nodded.
"You remember."
"I used to hide here."
"You did."
The emperor walked toward an old wooden table.
On top rested a thick leather book.
Its cover displayed the Imperial Dragon.
He pushed it toward Kael.
"Read."
Kael opened it.
The first page read...
The Laws of Imperial Succession
His eyes narrowed.
Article One
Every Imperial Prince may establish a Noble House upon reaching adulthood.
Article Two
Every House shall compete for influence through governance, military achievement, commerce, diplomacy, and public support.
Article Three
No prince shall inherit the throne solely by birth.
The Empire chooses strength.
Not age.
Article Four
The Emperor alone decides when the Trial of Succession begins.
Article Five
Should an Imperial Prince die...
His house is dissolved.
His lands redistributed.
His followers, absorbed by the surviving Houses.
Kael slowly closed the book.
"...So that's why."
The emperor looked at him.
"You understand."
Kael nodded.
"The Empire doesn't crown heirs."
"It creates emperors."
For the first time...
The emperor smiled openly.
"A king rules what he inherits."
"An emperor builds what others cannot."
He stepped closer.
"Do you know why I never named a crown prince?"
Kael answered immediately.
"Because whoever wears the crown too early..."
"...stops fighting."
The Emperor nodded.
"Exactly."
Silence filled the room.
Then...
He asked the question Kael never expected.
"What house will you build?"
Kael thought for only a moment.
Then answered.
"One unlike any this world has ever seen."
Inside his mind...
The familiar blue screen appeared once more.
"Imperial System"
Major Quest Updated
Create House Kael
Current Progress:
✔ Return Home
✔ Gain Imperial Recognition
☐ Choose a House Crest
☐ Recruit First Retainer
☐ Recruit First Knight
☐ Recruit First Scholar
☐ Recruit First Merchant
☐ Acquire Territory
Reward:
House Authority System Unlocked
Kael stared at the glowing screen.
A slow smile spread across his face.
Everything...
Started here.
Not with armies.
Not with wars.
Not with crowns.
But...
With one house.
One dream.
And one prince the world had already forgotten.