Morning light came through the windows of the imperial hall in the city of Aurorus and fell across the white marble floor.
Prince Asher had reached the capital the day before. Inside his chambers, Prince Asher stood before a tall mirror while his attendant adjusted his collar of his dark coat.
The door to the dressing chamber opened, and Minister Marvin stepped inside. His sharp features were set in a serious expression.
"Your Highness, a formal royal inquiry has been placed on the court’s agenda for this morning. We were a bit late."
Asher kept his gaze on his reflection. "My brother moved quickly, then."
"Incredibly quickly. Prince Edric’s faction spent the night gathering support from the Judicial Ministry. They are framing the disappearance of the four Royal Guards as a failure of your command, or even an insult to the Emperor’s authority."
Asher released a quiet breath. "Let them pull all their strings, Marvin. The official report from the Hayes household is already in transit and our accounts match. The guards pursued a disturbance into a high risk beast sector and were caught in a beast tide. Nothing more."
"We can only hope His Majesty sees it the same way," Marvin murmured. "The court will take place within an hour."
"Then we should go now. We shall not keep them waiting."
Sofia approached Asher as he prepared to leave."I’m coming with you," she said.
Asher glanced at her. "The inquiry concerns me. They have only called my name, so there is no need for you to attend."
"That doesn’t mean I can’t. We are not separate, are we?"
"We aren’t," His expression softened slightly. "But there is no reason to involve you unless they bring you into the matter."
Sofia studied him for a moment before sighing. "Then don’t let your brother corner you."
A faint smile crossed Asher’s face. "I won’t."
Asher stepped away from the mirror as he dismissed his attendant with a gesture before leaving the chamber.
Thirty minutes later, he walked through the Grand Gallery leading toward the Imperial Hall. Huge pillars lined the passage as their surfaces were carved from the empire’s history.
As he neared the massive golden doors, a wave of heat swept through the corridor. The air grew thick as an aggressive elemental pressure blanketed Asher’s surrounding.
A figure stepped out from an intersecting passage as he blocked his path.
Prince Edric Aurelis stood at same height as of Asher, and possessed the same golden hair and eyes as his younger brother. But where Asher’s presence was calm and reserved, Edric radiated a restless fire essence that distorted the air around him.
"Ah, little brother," he said as a faint and knowing smile touched his lips.
"You have finally returned from the Hayes territory. Tell me, did you find what you were looking for?"
Asher stopped, and kept his hands behind his back. His own essence remained beneath his skin, resisting the waves of heat.
"The border was as it always is, Edric. Disciplined and necessary," Asher replied, ignoring the question fully.
Edric took a step closer. The heat intensified, though his expression remained composed.
"Four elite guards are dead, Asher. They were wiped out by a beast tide under your temporary oversight, or were they?" he said as his eyes narrowed.
"Losing the Empire’s men so easily is bad enough. Or you were too distracted by your private discussions to notice your men being slaughtered?"
The accusation was precise and was aimed at Asher’s weakness.
Asher met his brother’s gaze without blinking.
"The guards entered the forest in pursuit of the disturbance. The official logs support their movements, and the reports confirm the beast tide. But they ignored their imperial training and acted recklessly, that was a failure of their own discipline, not my command."
Edric tilted his head, searching his brother’s face for any sign of hesitation.
"A convenient explanation," he said as he mocked Asher’s words.
"But traveling all that way to the border only to return empty handed must sting, little brother. As you know, I currently have the backing of two ducal houses. You have managed to secure only one. And now, even a powerhouse like House Hayes opted to remain neutral."
He leaned closer as he intensified his essence. "Your own wife’s family refusing to stand by your side. It truly is a pity."
Asher’s shoulders tightened slightly before he answered. "The Hayes household serves the throne. They remain neutral, as they always have. My relationship with my brother in law does not change their generations of standings."
Edric studied him. The edge in Asher’s voice seemed genuine and the tension in his expression suggested that the rejection had struck a nerve. His suspicion eased as he was largely convinced that Asher had indeed failed to gain Marcus’s backing.
"If you say so." Edric turned toward the golden doors. "The ministers are already in place, and Father will also arrive in a while. Try to present your case clearly before the inquiry begins."
Before Asher could reply, a deep sound echoed through the surroundings, announcing the start of the Imperial Inquiry.
The golden doors swung inward as it revealed the vast Imperial Hall. In the rows, many officials were already sitting, while imperial guards stood along the walls. At the far end, beneath the insignia of House Aurelis, stood the imperial throne.
Once the officials had gathered, Edric took his seat among the members of his faction, and Asher also took his seat among his own supporters.
The two groups occupied separate sections of the hall, their positions reflecting the divisions that had gradually formed around the rival princes.
Once everyone had taken their seats, the Imperial Minister stepped forward and stood behind the empty throne.
"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Kaelen Aurelis, has arrived!" Imperial Minister announced.
The doors opened, and everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance. But there stood only guards as they held the doors open.
No one entered through the door and a brief silence followed.
Then, as the officials turned back toward the throne, they found Emperor Kaelen Aurelis already seated upon it. No one had seen him cross the hall.
The court immediately bowed, and the last traces of conversation vanished beneath the weight of his presence.