Frank Eldric stood with practiced ease, hands folded behind his back as he delivered his report. The cool breeze in the enchanted courtyard rustled the leaves, carrying the faint fragrance of forbidden flowers as Emperor Andrew Solarius listened in silence.

  Frank cleared his throat and began, “First Prince Nolan continues to spend his days in the southern reaches of the continent, deepening his ties with the Hilda Kingdom through his marriage to Her Highness, Princess Frederica Hill. Recently, he achieved a rare honor—he was granted access to the Alchemy Research Institute’s High Library, making him only the twenty-sixth foreigner in history to be permitted entry.”

  The Emperor’s eyes gleamed with faint interest. “That boy always had a talent for diplomacy. I take it he’ll be returning to the empire soon?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. If all proceeds as planned, he and his wife should make their way back next month.” Frank replied

  Andrew nodded, then his expression darkened slightly. “And what of that scandal? The affair?”

  Frank hesitated only briefly before answering, “It was swiftly suppressed by King Julian Hill himself. His Majesty sought to protect his daughter's dignity, and in doing so, he also preserved the imperial family's reputation.”

  A small chuckle escaped the Emperor. “King Julian is a wise man. Give him my thanks—he has spared us from unnecessary trouble.”

  Frank gave a respectful nod before continuing, “Second Prince Landon remains stationed in the Council of Vassal States Region, as per Your Majesty’s orders. He is gathering intelligence on anti-imperial factions.”

  The Emperor scoffed, shaking his head. “That fool. He may be a grown man with a wife and children, yet he still fails to grasp my intentions. First, he hijacks my envoy, speaking out of turn in the council, fumbling his own position. Now, he plays at being a spy? Tch. A laughable attempt.”

  Frank, as always, remained neutral, simply acknowledging the Emperor’s words before moving on. “Third Prince William has completed his exploration of the newly spawned dungeon in the Morgen Dukedom. However, rather than moving on, he has begun negotiating for the dungeon’s controlling rights. The exact details of his reasoning remain unclear.”

  Andrew’s fingers paused over a silver-petaled flower as he hummed in thought. “Is this the work of that knight, Eugene?”

  “It seems so, Your Majesty,” Frank confirmed. “Since Ser Eugene entered his service, Third Prince William’s strategies have grown more elusive. There are odd instances where he appears to know exactly where to be and what to do, as if foreseeing events before they unfold.”

  The Emperor’s brows furrowed. “That is concerning. A tactician of that caliber could be a valuable asset—or a dangerous liability. Keep a watchful eye on Eugene. If he is a plant sent by our enemies to manipulate the succession, I will not tolerate it.”

  “Understood, Your Majesty.”

  Frank turned a page in his report and proceeded, “Fourth Princess Serena has sent word of her return from the Western Continent. She is expected to arrive within the month. Her party has taken the long but safer route to avoid encounters with sea-dwelling magical beasts.”

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  Andrew’s lips curled into a smirk. “I see. And tell me, is she bringing that fool back with her?”

  Frank kept his tone measured. “Lord Gary may be of simple baronial status, Your Majesty, but he is a widely respected merchant and has secured his engagement to Fourth Princess Serena.”

  It was evident that the two men held vastly different opinions on the matter. Frank saw Gary as an asset—an ambitious and resourceful merchant capable of bringing financial stability to the empire through trade. The Emperor, on the other hand, dismissed him as an insignificant commoner who had merely gotten lucky.

  Andrew waved his hand dismissively, as if brushing the matter aside. His attention, however, sharpened at the next report.

  Frank turned another page. “Finally, Fifth Princess Ravenna was last seen visiting the Ronin Family. Reports indicate that she conducted large-scale purchases before returning to her dukedom.”

  The Emperor’s eyes narrowed. “Large-scale purchases? What exactly did she buy?”

  “A significant quantity of common spell flowers along with lumber, grains, and an ongoing trade deal for a steady supply of paper.” Frank finished.

  Andrew’s irritation flickered to the surface. “Paper trade deals?”

  Frank remained composed as he confirmed, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Andrew let out a slow, measured exhale, irritation flickering in his golden eyes. “As spoiled as ever. I had hoped that after her exile, she would have finally learned some responsibility. But it seems she is determined to dig an early grave now that she has been removed from the succession race.”

  He set down his watering can and straightened, his gaze drifting toward the grand walls that enclosed the secluded courtyard. The air was thick with the fragrance of rare, forbidden flowers, a stark contrast to the weight of his thoughts.

  Ravenna’s exile had not been a death sentence, not completely. He had ensured that she had a slim chance at survival, a way to carve out a future for herself if she was truly capable. A reasonable course of action would have been to take the initial 300 mana coins he had provided and sail westward to the western continent, leveraging her status as an apostle of Herptian to gain the support of the Herptian faith. With their backing, she could have recruited mercenaries, gathered resources, and returned with an army, from there, she could have declared an official territorial war to seize control of the weaker coastal towns near Jola Island.

  opening trade routes into the mainland empire. Even without direct financial support from the imperial palace, she could have secured her dominion, establishing the barren land of Jola as her stronghold.

  That would have been the logical choice.

  Instead, she was… buying common spell flowers and paper?

  Andrew scoffed, shaking his head. “With no substantial wealth in her hands, she still wastes what little she has on frivolous luxuries. I thought she was smarter than that.”

  Finishing his task, he set down the small pruning shears he had been using and turned back to Frank. The minister, ever patient, waited for the Emperor’s next words before offering further insight.

  “Our reports suggest that Fifth Princess Ravenna has struck some sort of trade deal with the Ronin family.” Frank adjusted his grip on the leather-bound report in his hands. “We lack the exact details, but our best estimate is that she has secured a long-term loan.”

  Andrew’s lips curled into a half-smirk, half-scowl. “A loan? Hah. Even now, she relies on borrowed power.” He flicked his wrist dismissively. “If she fails, she’ll be crushed under the weight of her own debts. And if she succeeds…” He trailed off, unwilling to entertain the thought that she might still surprise him.

  Instead, he merely waved his hand, signaling his disinterest in further discussion.

  Frank bowed in quiet acknowledgment before turning to leave.

  As the minister disappeared into the palace halls, Andrew Solarius glanced back at the fountain in the center of the courtyard. The goddess’s stone-carved face stared back at him, her expression one of serene indifference.