The Martial Unity

The incredulous atmosphere blew away as Prince Rajak drew the bottom line. The bottom line that not even the Emperor of Harmony was able to change.

If Emperor Rael was displeased, he did not show it on his face or in his body.

He remained unmoved.

The guests regained their composure even as he stared at Rajak impassively.

It became clear, in hindsight, that this was the reason he had organized an event and invited all the powers and forces of Kandria to it.

Now that the guests and the royals had sobered up rapidly from the cold dose of reality from Prince Rajak's words, it begged the question...

What was he going to do?

Did he really just summon them to try and move them with words alone?

'Surely not,' Rui narrowed his eyes. 'He should have known that the odds were stacked against him when planning this out. Which probably means he most likely isn't done yet...'

The only question was what his final trump card was.

"…Is that so?" Emperor Rael whispered. "You break my heart, my dear son."

Prince Rajak's eyes flared with hatred. "Don't you dare say that."

"I am the Emperor of Kandria, boy," Emperor Rael's powerful, deep voice reverberated through the throne hall. "No force in this world can abate my speech."

"…Not for long."

The Emperor heaved a sigh, shaking his head. "So be it."

His eyes flashed around the crowd.

He seemed to eye each and every guest.

The weight of his vision pressed down on each and every single one of them. Whatever was coming was important. That much became clear to everyone as the air seemed to be wrung by the weight of the tension.

"As I behold all of you, it has become painfully clear that I cannot stop what is to come," Emperor Rael closed his eyes, heaving a soft sigh. "Try as I might, Kandria may be doomed for a civil war between my ambitious progeny and perhaps yet another civil war as they disrupt the delicate balance that I have dedicated my life to crafting."

He paused for a moment as a hint of sorrow flashed in his eyes. "It pains me that even in a time where I need all the rest in the world to ameliorate my condition, my duties as Emperor beckon me. Even unto death, I may not rest."

He glanced at his children with soft eyes. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown."

His voice reverberated through the throne hall.

"Each ounce of power is also an ounce of responsibility." He remarked. "The lot of you who lust for power to fulfill your ambitions or the ambitions of those you have sold yourself to, cannot begin to understand the burden."

A profound state of introspection seemed to take hold of the Emperor.

"And if you do not understand that burden, you will never be able to carry it," The Emperor heaved a soft sigh as his eyes returned to his children. "I fear for what will happen if spoiled princes and princesses who have known power and luxury without responsibility happen to ascend the throne. Only three royals of the lot of you have grown up outside of the luxury of the Kandrian Royal Palaces."

Rui narrowed his eyes.

As far as he was aware, Rajak and Raul were the only princes who had grown up outside of royalty.

"That is why I have decided," Emperor Rael declared. "I shall bestow my support to one of my children. For the sake of ensuring a decisive victory."

The air grew heavier as Emperor Rael declared his intentions to declare an unofficial heir.

Many had predicted this.

Including Rui.

While the Emperor's influence had waned immensely over the span of seven years ever since his terminal condition became public knowledge, he still had retained a lot of support and power over three centuries. While not all of it could be cleanly passed on to his chosen heir, the latter would certainly gain a large boost in their campaigning efforts.

The only question was who it was going to be.

Rui was deeply curious to know, for this decision was one that had plagued him.

"You may not believe me, but…" The Emperor smiled wryly. "The decision to crown an unofficial heir has been somewhat…

whimsical. Being in a death-like sleeping state for two years leaves almost no room to plan, you see. But it is indeed my final ounce of power. I hope that there will be a prince or princess who can inspire confidence from within me."

He glanced across all his children.

"Is there anybody among you who will?"

The competing princes and princesses grew determined.

They needed to secure the Emperor's support.

Even the lesser princes and princesses felt hope. Even if they could not compete against the seven prime candidates by themselves, they could with the Emperor's support.

The air grew taut, wrung by the tension between all the princes and princesses who vied for the Emperor's approval.

He glanced at Prince Rajak, who was still glaring at him.

"My boy…should you ascend the throne, Kandria will burn," The Emperor declared. "Do not insult my intelligence or those of the esteemed powers gathered here today by denying the hatred in your heart and the vengeance you wreak. The fact that the only force in Kandria that was willing to support you was the Underworld speaks volumes, does it not?"

Prince Rajak glared at his father.

Yet his words could not be denied.

For everyone knew they were true.

He would begin hunting the Royal Family and all those loyal to them using the power of the Emperor. In return for the Underworld's power, he promised to drastically amend the criminal law to allow the Underworld to become a legal and lawful sector of Kandria.

Nobody in the throne hall wanted anything to do with him.

They were unwilling to touch him with a ten-foot pole. Having anything to do with him would blacklist them nationally and internationally to many parties.