Chapter 46: The Dragon Summons

The courtyard remained silent.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Only the fluttering of the Black Dragon Banner could be heard as the morning wind swept across the governor's estate.

Cedric Ashford still held the Emperor's letter.

His grip tightened slightly.

"The schedule has changed."

"You leave immediately."

Walter broke the silence first.

"...Immediately?"

Cedric nodded.

"There isn't enough time to rest."

"The Emperor's courier brought fresh horses."

"If you ride through the night..."

"You'll reach Aurelia before tomorrow's court session."

Edwin frowned.

"That means something happened."

"No one changes an Imperial Court schedule without reason."

Darius slowly folded his arms.

"Not someone."

He looked toward the eastern road.

"Several people."

Kael understood immediately.

The court wasn't simply calling him.

The court was preparing for him.

The system appeared before him.

"Quest Updated"

Journey to the Dragon Throne

Status:

Urgent

Time Remaining:

22 Hours

Failure:

Failure to appear before the Imperial Court will reduce imperial authority and political standing.

Additional Notice:

Political variables have increased.

Unknown participants detected.

Kael dismissed the screen.

Twenty-two hours.

Not much time.

Preparing to Leave

Within minutes...

Ashfall's servants rushed through the estate, preparing fresh supplies.

The Black Dragons checked their weapons one final time.

Leon inspected everyone's armor.

Damien reorganized their travel formation.

Iris climbed onto the roof of the mansion one last time to survey the surrounding area.

Old habits.

Good habits.

Walter noticed Hugo sharpening his sword.

"You've sharpened that thing six times already."

Hugo didn't even look up.

"The seventh is free."

Walter laughed.

"I walked into that one."

Even Grom prepared quietly.

He adjusted the leather wrapping around his spear.

Checked the straps on his traveling pack.

Then placed the little wooden goblin carving safely inside.

Kael noticed.

"You kept it."

Grom looked down at the carving.

"I've carried weapons my whole life."

His rough fingers brushed against the tiny wooden figure.

"...No one's ever given me a gift before."

Kael didn't know what to say.

So he simply nodded.

Sometimes...

Silence carried more meaning than words.

Lord Cedric's Advice

As everyone gathered near the gates...

Cedric requested a private word.

Only he...

Kael...

And Darius remained.

Cedric walked toward a large map hanging inside his study.

The map showed the Empire divided into provinces.

But Kael noticed something else.

Several colored pins had been placed around Aurelia.

Red.

Blue.

White.

Black.

"What are those?"

Cedric sighed.

"Factions."

He pointed to the red markers.

"The Empress."

"Most of the old noble houses support her."

Blue.

"The Crown Prince."

"The military."

"The frontier lords."

White.

"The Imperial Bureaucracy."

"They care about stability."

Finally...

His finger rested on the black marker.

"This..."

"...is the one you should fear."

Kael frowned.

"There isn't a name."

"There never is."

Cedric answered quietly.

"We simply call them..."

"The Shadow Council."

Darius's expression hardened.

"I thought they were only rumors."

Cedric shook his head.

"I've seen their work."

"They never appear in public."

"They never hold noble titles."

"But..."

He looked Kael directly in the eyes.

"...Kings have disappeared because of them."

The room became silent.

"They don't serve the Emperor."

"They don't serve the Empress."

"They serve..."

Cedric paused.

"...the Empire."

Kael frowned.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Cedric gave a humorless laugh.

"It depends on what they're willing to sacrifice."

A Father's Regret

As Kael prepared to leave...

Cedric suddenly called Leon forward.

The young knight walked over cautiously.

Neither had spoken since yesterday's banquet.

Cedric cleared his throat.

"I won't pretend I've been a good father."

Leon remained silent.

"I pushed you toward becoming someone..."

"...you never wanted to be."

Another pause.

"I thought strength meant forcing your children to follow your path."

He smiled bitterly.

"It took another man's son..."

"...to show me I was wrong."

Leon blinked.

His father slowly reached into his cloak.

He removed a silver signet ring.

The crest of House Ashford.

"I can't give you the title of heir."

"The laws won't allow it."

"But..."

"I can give you this."

Leon stared at the ring.

"What is it?"

"My acknowledgment."

"My son."

The words were simple.

But they carried eighteen years of regret.

Leon slowly accepted the ring.

For the first time since leaving home...

He embraced his father.

Neither man spoke.

Neither needed to.

The Black Dragons quietly looked away.

Some moments...

We're too personal to witness.

The Road Changes

By midday...

The convoy left Ashfall behind.

The Imperial Highway became noticeably wider.

Military patrols appeared more frequently.

Fortified watchtowers overlooked every hill.

Traffic doubled.

Every noble traveling toward Aurelia seemed to be rushing.

Walter scratched his head.

"Something's definitely happening."

Edwin nodded.

"Look."

Ahead...

Dozens of noble carriages rolled toward the capital.

House banners fluttered in the wind.

Blue lions.

Golden stags.

Silver falcons.

Families from across the Empire were converging on Aurelia.

"They're all heading to court."

Kael murmured.

The Imperial Courier

Late that afternoon...

A lone rider approached from the opposite direction.

Unlike ordinary soldiers...

His armor was completely black.

No family crest.

No province.

Only the Imperial Dragon is engraved across his chest.

He stopped directly before Kael.

Then he dismounted.

Without a word...

He handed Kael another sealed envelope.

This seal...

Was different.

Instead of crimson wax...

It was black.

Darius immediately stepped forward.

"...Impossible."

Kael looked at him.

"What is it?"

The old general answered quietly.

"I've only seen that seal once."

"It belongs..."

"...to the Emperor personally."

Kael broke the seal.

Inside...

There was only one sentence.

Written by hand.

Come alone when you arrive.

—Augustus Aurelius

Walter frowned.

"That's it?"

Edwin looked disturbed.

"No."

"That's worse."

The courier mounted his horse again.

Before leaving...

He looked directly at Kael.

For the first time...

He spoke.

"The Emperor has refused every visitor since dawn."

"You..."

"...will be the first."

Without another word...

He galloped away.

Elsewhere...

Deep beneath the Imperial Palace...

Torchlight flickered against ancient stone walls.

A circular chamber lay hidden beneath the capital.

Twelve figures sat around a black marble table.

Each wore a mask.

No names.

No titles.

Only symbols.

A wolf.

A raven.

A crown.

A serpent.

A dragon.

One chair remained empty.

At the head of the table...

An elderly man slowly opened his eyes.

"The Tenth Prince approaches."

A woman wearing a porcelain fox mask folded her hands.

"Should we eliminate him now?"

The old man shook his head.

"No."

"We observe."

"He may become exactly what the Empire needs..."

His voice became colder.

"...or exactly what destroys it."

The chamber fell silent.

Far above...

Prince Kael continued riding toward Aurelia.

Completely unaware...

That before he ever stood before the Dragon Throne...

The most secret organization in the Empire had already begun judging him.