Chapter 48: The Weight of a Prince

The massive golden doors closed behind Kael.

BOOOOOOM.

The sound echoed through the palace halls before fading into silence.

Commander Severus Kane remained at his side.

Neither man spoke.

There was no need.

Kael already knew these corridors.

Ten years ago...

He had walked through them as a prince.

A child that most servants ignored.

A prince who possessed no magic.

No accomplishments.

No future.

Today...

Every pair of eyes followed him.

Servants stopped their work.

Court maids bowed as he passed.

Royal knights struck their chests in salute.

Even palace officials paused their conversations.

None of them recognized the frightened ten-year-old prince anymore.

Instead...

They saw the man who had begun changing Blackwood.

Kael noticed it immediately.

"Respect..."

"Real respect."

Not forced.

Not because of his title.

Because of what he had accomplished.

Commander Kane finally spoke.

"The palace has been talking about you."

Kael looked ahead.

"I imagined they would."

Kane nodded.

"You've become... difficult to ignore."

They passed beneath an enormous dome painted with the history of the empire.

The First Emperor.

The Demon Wars.

The Unification Campaign.

The founding of the Imperial Kingdom.

Kael slowed his pace.

He had walked beneath this ceiling as a child countless times...

Yet today he noticed something different.

Every painting showed emperors.

Generals.

Kings.

Heroes.

Not a single commoner.

Not a single craftsman.

Not a single merchant.

"History only remembers those sitting on the throne..."

"Maybe that's another thing I'll change."

The system quietly appeared.

"Observation Complete"

Leadership Insight Increased.

Newly Passive-Acquired

Eyes of an Emperor

An emperor notices what others overlook.

Political awareness has increased.

Small details are easier to perceive.

The screen disappeared.

The Princes' Corridor

Commander Kane turned into another hallway.

Portraits lined both sides.

Each one depicted a member of House Asterion.

Former emperors.

Queens.

Princes.

Princesses.

Then...

Kael stopped.

His own portrait.

Painted years ago.

A ten-year-old boy.

Small.

Expressionless.

Standing behind his older brothers.

Barely visible.

Kael stared at it for several moments.

"...I remember this."

The artist had painted him exactly how the palace had seen him.

Forgettable.

"That painting is outdated."

A calm female voice echoed through the corridor.

Kael turned.

Walking toward him was a woman in elegant white and gold attire.

Long silver hair flowed behind her.

A rapier rested at her hip.

Several ladies-in-waiting followed a respectful distance behind.

Commander Kane immediately saluted.

"Your Highness."

She nodded.

Then she dismissed her attendants with a glance.

"Fifth Princess Elena Aurelius Asterion."

One of Kael's older sisters.

Unlike Princess Seraphine...

Elena rarely involved herself in succession politics.

She preferred diplomacy.

Scholarship.

Negotiation.

Elena stopped before Kael.

For a few moments...

Neither sibling spoke.

Then...

She smiled warmly.

"You've grown."

Kael chuckled.

"So have you."

She laughed.

"I should hope so."

Unlike many of his siblings...

There was no hostility in her eyes.

Only curiosity.

"I heard what happened in Blackwood."

She folded her hands.

"You repaired roads."

"Reduced taxes."

"Created jobs."

"And..."

Her eyes drifted toward the palace entrance.

"...you brought a goblin into the Empire."

Kael smiled.

"I did."

Helena tilted her head.

"Do you enjoy causing trouble?"

Kael answered honestly.

"I enjoy solving problems."

"Trouble usually follows."

Elena couldn't help laughing.

"You sound more like Father every year."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should."

She replied.

"He'd never admit it..."

"But he's been watching everything you've done."

That surprised Kael.

"The Emperor?"

Elena nodded.

"You thought reports from Blackwood went only to the ministers?"

She smiled knowingly.

"No."

"Every report reached his desk."

Kael remained silent.

His father had known...

The entire time.

A Warning

Elena's expression slowly became serious.

"Listen carefully."

"The Court today..."

"...is divided."

Kael nodded.

"I've heard."

"No."

She interrupted.

"You've heard about the factions."

"I'm talking about the princes."

She stepped closer.

"Some believe you're no longer a threat."

"Others believe you've become the greatest threat."

"And Seraphine?"

Kael asked.

Elena sighed.

"She intends to challenge you publicly."

"Not because she hates you."

"Because she cannot allow your popularity to grow."

Kael expected as much.

"What about 1st Prince?"

Elena looked toward the throne room.

"My eldest brother..."

"...hasn't decided whether you're an ally or an enemy."

Commander Kane finally interrupted.

"Your Highness."

"The Emperor is waiting."

Elena nodded.

Before leaving...

She looked directly at Kael.

"When you enter that throne room..."

"Remember one thing."

Kael waited.

She smiled softly.

"Don't speak to the Emperor..."

"...as if he's your father."

She turned and walked away.

"Speak to him..."

"...as if he's the man carrying the Empire on his shoulders."

Kael watched her disappear down the corridor.

Then he looked ahead.

At the towering obsidian doors at the end of the hall.

Two dragons were carved into them.

Their eyes seemed almost alive.

Behind those doors...

The Imperial Court had already assembled.

His brothers.

His sisters.

The Great Houses.

The ministers.

The generals.

And...

The Emperor.

Commander Kane placed one hand on the massive door.

"The Court is ready."

Kael took a slow breath.

"No."

He said quietly.

"They've been waiting."

The doors began to open.

BOOOOOOOOM...