The sound of church bells echoed across the Imperial Capital.
Dong...
Dong...
Dong...
Nine times.
The streets immediately became busier.
Merchants hurried to open their shops.
Imperial Knights lined the avenues.
Noble carriages rolled toward the palace one after another.
Today...
The Imperial Council would convene.
Inside Blackwood Manor...
Edwin entered the dining room carrying a silver tray.
Upon it rested a single crimson envelope sealed with black wax.
An Imperial Dragon.
Only one person in the Empire could use that seal.
"The Emperor?"
Edwin nodded.
"It arrived less than ten minutes ago."
Kael broke the seal.
Inside was only one sentence.
The Imperial Council convenes at noon.
Attendance is mandatory for every prince and princess.
No signature.
None was needed.
Kael folded the letter.
"When do we leave?"
Edwin smiled.
"In one hour."
Far away...
Within House Cassian's estate...
Hundreds of servants rushed through polished hallways.
Knights polished their armor.
Maids adjusted banners.
Advisors carried stacks of reports.
Prince Cassian stood before a giant map of the Empire.
His military commander pointed toward the northern frontier.
"Bandit activity has increased."
Cassian nodded.
"Deploy another battalion."
"What about today's Council?"
Cassian calmly fastened his sword to his belt.
"Politics can wait."
"The people can't."
His commander smiled.
"A true future emperor..."
Across the capital...
House Lucien looked completely different.
No soldiers.
No training yards.
Only libraries.
Laboratories.
Mages.
Magic circles glowed beneath enormous crystal towers.
Prince Lucien carefully examined an enchanted crystal.
An assistant bowed.
"Your Highness..."
"The Council begins soon."
Lucien sighed.
"I suppose my brothers will spend another four hours arguing."
Elsewhere...
House Roland.
Music echoed through lavish halls.
Dancers entertained nobles.
Wine flowed freely.
Prince Roland leaned back in his chair as a spy knelt before him.
"The Tenth Prince visited Blackwood Village yesterday."
Roland smirked.
"And?"
"He spent time with farmers."
"Children."
"Merchants."
"He asked questions."
"No military recruitment."
"No hidden army."
"No suspicious purchases."
Roland laughed.
"So..."
"He plans to become the king of farmers?"
The room erupted in laughter.
Only the old spymaster remained silent.
"My Prince..."
"I advise caution."
Roland's smile faded.
"Explain."
The old man folded his hands.
"The dangerous rulers..."
"...listen more than they speak."
Blackwood Manor...
Kael adjusted the collar of a simple black coat embroidered with a small silver dragon.
It wasn't flashy.
It wasn't covered in jewels.
Compared to his brothers' extravagant clothing...
It almost looked plain.
Lily frowned.
"Your Highness..."
"Shouldn't you wear something grander?"
Kael smiled.
"This is enough."
"But the other princes—"
"Want attention."
He buttoned the final clasp.
"I don't."
The carriage entered the Imperial Palace just before noon.
Unlike the first day...
The guards immediately recognized him.
Every knight saluted.
"Welcome home, Your Highness."
Kael returned each salute with a nod.
He noticed the surprise in their eyes.
"They're watching me now."
Not just the guards.
Everyone.
Servants whispered as he passed.
Ministers stopped talking.
Young nobles stared openly.
The Lost Prince had become the Empire's newest curiosity.
The Council Chamber was unlike the Throne Hall.
It was circular.
Massive.
Built around a round table carved from a single piece of white stone.
Eleven chairs surrounded the inner circle.
One for each prince.
Behind them stood seats for the princesses.
Behind them...
The Dukes.
The Generals.
The High Priest.
The Chancellor.
The Treasurer.
The Master of Intelligence.
The Guild Representatives.
The Archmage.
More than a hundred of the Empire's most powerful people gathered in one room.
Every decision made here...
Could change the continent.
One by one...
The princes entered.
Cassian.
Lucien.
Roland.
Victor.
Leon.
Each greeted one another politely.
Each measured the others carefully.
Then...
The chamber doors opened once more.
Kael entered.
The conversations stopped.
He quietly walked to the empty chair marked with the Roman numeral X.
His seat.
Untouched for ten years.
Dust still covered its armrests.
Kael brushed it away himself before sitting.
Several nobles exchanged uncomfortable glances.
No servant had bothered to prepare his place.
Someone had expected him never to return.
A trumpet sounded.
The side doors opened.
Every person in the chamber rose to their feet.
The emperor entered.
No crown.
No ceremonial armor.
Only a black military uniform beneath a crimson cloak.
Even without jewels...
He commanded the room.
He sat.
"So may we."
The Chancellor stood.
"First matter."
"The western grain reserves have fallen by twelve percent."
Immediately...
Debate erupted.
"We should import grain."
"No."
"Raise production."
"Increase taxes."
"Open emergency reserves."
Voices overlapped.
Kael remained silent.
He listened.
The Emperor watched him from across the table.
Hours passed.
Trade.
Military reports.
Road construction.
Pirate attacks.
Border disputes.
Tax collection.
Kael took mental notes.
The Empire wasn't weak.
It was enormous.
Managing it was like trying to steer an entire continent.
Then...
The treasurer stood.
"Final matter."
"Blackwood Territory."
Kael looked up.
The treasurer adjusted his glasses.
"Tax revenue has declined."
"Recommendation..."
"...increase taxation by fifteen percent."
Kael's expression hardened.
He had walked those roads yesterday.
He had seen empty fields.
Hungry children.
Broken wells.
Now...
Men who had never stepped foot in Blackwood wanted to squeeze even more from its people.
The emperor leaned back.
"Tenth Prince."
Every head turned toward Kael.
"This territory now falls under your House."
"What is your opinion?"
The room fell silent.
Kael slowly stood.
He looked around the circular chamber.
At the minister's.
At Duke's.
At his brothers.
Finally...
He spoke.
"If a farmer owns ten sacks of grain..."
"And winter requires ten sacks to survive..."
"What happens if you tax him for eleven?"
No one answered.
Kael continued.
"He doesn't become wealthier."
"He dies."
Silence.
"So tell me..."
He looked directly at the treasurer.
"How exactly do you intend to collect taxes..."
"...from dead people?"
The chamber became so quiet...
Even the crackling fireplace could be heard.
Far across the table...
The corner of the emperor's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.
For the second time since Kael's return...
He smiled.