GENERATIONAL SHIFT (3)

[Three days ago…]

***

"HERE ARE the pieces of evidence that I gathered while secretly observing my father's unusual movements."

Hanna looked at the scrolls and communication devices that Rubin Drayton laid on the table.

"Duke Drayton is communicating with Lahar Kingdom?" Hanna said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Isn't that the kingdom that leads the Allied Nations?"

The 'Allied Nations' were the nations that the former Emperor Nikolai had invaded during his reign. There were only three nations in the alliance, though. After all, the former emperor wasn't fond of wars.

[His Lord Majesty only invaded nations that attacked the empire first.]

"So, while the Imperial Family and the other noble families were fighting to protect the people from the Calamities, your father was busy communicating with the Lahar Kingdom?" Hanna asked bitterly. "To invade the empire while our people were suffering?"

Rubin Drayton looked embarrassed, but he still nodded and admitted his family's act of treason. "Father sent me to lead our private army to make it look like we're cooperating with the Imperial Family. But while I was fighting for our family's honor, Father was selling out information about the Imperial Family to the Allied Nations."

"If that was the case, then why didn't the Allied Nations attack when the Imperial Family was at their weakest?"

It was made public that Neoma had "died" during the early calamities.

There was even a time when only the former Emperor Nikolai was the one left in the Imperial Palace.

[If I were the enemies, I would choose that timing to attack the empire.]

"Lahar Kingdom tried to sneak into the empire using ships," Rubin Drayton said. "Coincidentally, I found out that the sea route they intended to use was in the Merfolk Clan's territory. So, I personally went to visit Prince Reevo Hali."

"Ah, the Mermaid Prince who participated in Neoma's search for her future spouse," Hanna said, nodding when she remembered the prince. "So, the Mermaid Prince is still in the empire?"

"He was injured during the competition, so he was advised by the Healers to stay in the empire until he's fully recovered," the young lord explained. "I informed Prince Reevo of my father's allies' plan to enter the empire using their sea routes."

"And Prince Reevo believed you easily?"

"Well, I heard Merfolks are weak against beautiful people…"

"Do you realize that you just called yourself beautiful, my lord?"

"Yes, Lady Hanna," Rubin said as a matter-of-factly. "I'm aware that I'm the most handsome young man in the empire."

"Oh."

"Princess Neoma, the most beautiful woman in the empire, acknowledges my face as the best."

Weird.

Rubin was obviously bragging about his face, but he didn't sound arrogant.

[Is it because he's just stating a fact?]

"I decided to use my face to my advantage and convince Prince Reevo that I'm on Princess Neoma's side," Rubin said. "Fortunately, the evidence I provided was enough for the Mermaid Prince to believe me."

[Prince Reevo just probably fell for your face…]

But Rubin probably already knew that, so she just shut her mouth.

"Then Prince Reevo called his family and informed them of the ships coming to use their sea route to secretly enter the empire," Rubin said. "When the Merfolks confirmed that the people crossing their sea route were indeed invaders, they sank the ships before it even reached the empire's shores."

"If it was the sea route that Merfolks use, then there should be a naval headquarters nearby," Hanna said. "Did Duke Drayton already bribe the naval headquarters?"

The young lord nodded. "And that's exactly why I decided to go straight to Prince Reevo."

That was smart. "But why are you here instead of reporting it to the palace?" Hanna asked curiously. "Why did you ask for my help? You should have gone to Nero."

She didn't address Nero as the emperor because it hadn't been made public yet.

"Well… I'm scared of the Imperial Family."

"You're not scared of me?"

"I figured you won't kill me since we worked together recently."

Hanna laughed while shaking his head. "You're in luck, Lord Rubin. I don't want you to be the first person to know, but since you're already here, let's do this right then." She pointed at herself. "I am now Duchess Hanna Quinzel, Lord Rubin."

Well, it wasn't official yet because his father had to get the Imperial Family's approval first.

"Congratulations, Duchess Quinzel."

"You're not surprised?"

"It has been a few years since the law was changed and women were allowed to inherit their fathers' noble titles, but none of the noble households here has let their daughter inherit what they have yet," Rubin explained. "But I've always known you'd be the first woman in the empire to inherit her family's noble title, Your Grace."

Pfft.

"Your flattery worked, Lord Rubin," she said, standing up. "Let's go."

"Where to, Your Grace?"

"To the Imperial Palace," she said, raising an eyebrow at him. "Lord Rubin, I'm sure you're here to negotiate with me. However, I don't have the power to grant you the thing you want."

"Your Grace knows what I want?"

"Of course," Hanna said, nodding. "Successors like us have responsibility towards our own people. Isn't that why you chose them over your own father?"

Rubin looked surprised at first, but he nodded and admitted the truth. "It's time for my father to step down and let me lead House Drayton."

***

"YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY, from the bottom of my heart, I congratulate you for finally ascending the throne," Melvin said sincerely while placing a neat white envelope on the new emperor's table. "Now that Your Imperial Majesty has become the new moon of the empire, I believe this servant of yours has already served my– woah!"

The resignation letter that he placed on Emperor Nero's suddenly burned to ashes.

But…

"How did Your Imperial Majesty burn my resignation letter?" Melvin asked in awe. "When did Your Imperial Majesty gain the power to control fire?"

"Neoma shared her right to control the Eternal Flame with me and the others."

Melvin blinked in surprise, wondering if he heard it right. "The Eternal Flame?"

"Yes."

"THE Eternal Flame that I know? The legendary flame that can burn down anything in the world? The Eternal Flame that–"

"Yes, THAT Eternal Flame."

Melvin clenched his hands tight. "Your Imperial Majesty, why would you use the Eternal Flame for something as trivial as burning down my resignation letter?"

Emperor Nero looked at his index finger which he used like a pistol when he burned the resignation letter. "I just wanted to see if it's working."

"Why would Your Imperial Majesty test the Eternal Flame that way? Please treat it with respect! It's THE Eternal Flame!" Melvin patted his chest with his fist. "Your Imperial Majesty, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"You easily get upset these days, Melvin. Are you going through puberty?"

Melvin had to shut his eyes tight while taking a deep breath.

[Hitting the new emperor at the back of his head is treason… Hitting the new emperor at the back of his head is treason… Hitting the new emperor at the back of his head is treason…] "Melvin Lucchesi, go home and snatch your family's noble title from your father."

[Huh?]

Melvin immediately opened his eyes and, much to his shock, Emperor Nero looked dead serious. "B-But my father is still alive and healthy, Your Imperial Majesty. Moreover, I'm too young to inherit our family…"

"I just turned eighteen but I'm already the emperor."

Oh.

He couldn't use the age card in front of the new emperor who ascended the throne in such a young age, huh?

"B-But why do I need to receive my father's noble title?"

Emperor Nero looked at him as if he had just asked a stupid question. "You need to be at least a count to be the Royal Chamberlain, Melvin."

"Your Imperial Majesty's what?"

"My Royal Chamberlain?"

"W-Who?"

"You," Emperor Nero said nonchalantly. "I'm appointing you as the new Royal Chamberlain, Melvin Lucchesi."

"Nooo!" Melvin covered his ears with his hands as he fell to his knees. "Please take that back, Your Imperial Majesty!"

The new emperor clicked his tongue while watching Melvin's theatrics without an ounce of emotion. "Why are you being so dramatic? Did you take acting lessons from Neoma?"

Melvin just sobbed, and he didn't care if ignoring the new emperor was a crime.

[I need to be banished from the palace…]

"Your Imperial Majesty, may I come in?"

It was Sanford Devon.

"Come in."

Melvin immediately stood up when the doors opened.

Sanford Devon and Raku entered the room while giving Melvin a funny look.

Of course, he ignored the two.

Sanford Devon and Raku greeted Emperor Nero properly before giving their report.

"Your Imperial Majesty, Lady Hanna Quinzel is asking for an audience."

Melvin's eyes widened a bit.

[I can sense the drama…]

Emperor Nero immediately got up from his seat. "Bring Hanna to the drawing room."

"The young lady brought her friends with her, Your Imperial Majesty," Sanford Denvor said. "One of them is Lord Rubin Drayton and the other is Lady Sandie Morrisley."

Both Melvin and the new emperor looked surprised by the unexpected names.

He would understand why Sandie would be Lady Hanna since the two were academy friends.

However, he didn't expect the young lady to bring Rubin Drayton to the Imperial Palace.

After all, the Draytons were almost banned there because of the old duke.

[What a strange trio.]

***

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