It never ceased to amaze Ash when he saw soldiers and guards, of other nations, subtly give way to his mother when she walked towards them. Nera was a woman of average height, wasn't dressed in any sort of uniform, and at that moment, was wearing the same sandals from when they'd just gotten off a river boat.

She dressed no differently than how she would've dressed on family vacation, but under the dim lanterns, it was Nera who led him, Anhya, and their imperial guard escort across a courtyard and up a wide set of sets to get to the throne room.

Perhaps it was the seriousness of the situation or their orders to escort them back as soon as they arrived, no matter what time it was, that led to the tension and urgency in the air.

It could've also been the man tied up and gagged heaved over his mother's right shoulder as she marched across looking as if death herself were delivering a life to the Empress.

The usual aides didn't announce them. It was well past midnight. The courtiers had gone home.

The throne room was lit with lanterns and fire bowls just around the throne and the space in front of it. Nera's footsteps were silent as she stepped over the threshold.

"Mother!" Anhya cried out as soon as she saw the middle-aged woman in her gold robes seated on the throne.

Empress Yayae stood up. She raised her arms as her eyes reddened at the sight of her daughter, who had been missing. Just beside her, the Emperor Consort's face was frozen, the muscles of his jaw clenched to keep himself from shouting for his daughter and instead keep his composure.

Aside from an imperial aid and a few imperial guards, as was customary, no one else was with them, so the usual decorum was overlooked. Anhya rushed up the steps to her mother. She stumbled for a moment, doing a rushed bow, before flinging herself into her mother's arms.

Empress Yayae choked back a laugh as she tried to hold herself back from crying.

"Yaya," the Empress wrapped her arms around her daughter and pressed her face against the side of her daughter's head. "You've gotten so thin!"

Ash squinted his eyes. He entered after them and was making his way before the throne when he heard the woman express concern over her daughter's well-being. Ash could hear the heartbreak and worry in the Empress' voice when she spoke, but Anhya hadn't gotten thinner.

Her cheeks were plump and rosy. A simple glance could tell that she had been eating well, which she had been.

"Second Brother, do you have anything sweet? Second Brother, I feel like roasted duck today. Second Brother, do you have any more of those vanilla wafers?" He swore his food stash had been cut in half just feeding her.

"Wake the kitchen staff!" The Emperor Consort waved an arm towards the direction of the dining hall as he looked at the guards who'd escorted them there. "Prepare something filling, but light for the Princess. Quickly!" As his arm came back to his side, his face softened. The guards saluted him and rushed out. "She must've been suffering and can't eat anything too rich."

Ash pursed his lips. Their last meal with a rich beef stew over rice with a fried egg, and Anhya had a bread pudding dessert.

"Father, I'm fine. Really." Anhya gently pulled away from her mother and saluted her father before he touched the top of her head.

"You have been so brave," he told her.

Ash looked at his mother, who remained standing where she was, still holding the man who'd started to struggle, over her shoulder. Nera seemed to be waiting for the family to reunion to pass so they could get to the prisoner.

Empress Yayae had a guard bring a seat for Anhya to sit on one tier below her and to her right. This was the seat of the heir to the throne when they joined court for observation and training.

Empress Yayae then turned to Nera, cupped her hands, and bowed low. "Sister. By saving my daughter, you have saved me," she said. If one listened closely, they could hear how strained her voice was. She was not speaking empty words. They were laced with gratitude. "Once more you have saved me. I, and Suna, cannot thank you enough."

Anhya followed her mother's actions, rose from her seat, and clasped her hands together, before bowing. Behind them, just to the left, the Emperor Consort mirrored them in a bow.

Nera didn't answer immediately. They held the bow for ten counts, something that if it had been done in the presence of the court, would've not just raised a few eyebrows, but protests. How could the highest figure in the land bow to a foreign woman?

"There is no need for thanks between us. The Princess is my goddaughter. When I accepted the role, she came into the same protection as any of my own children," Nera replied. Ash knew how seriously his mother took the role.

The role of a godparent for the Lunapsar was as a second parent bound by blood and vows. It was as close to a non-blood related family as one could get.

"All right." Empress Yayae was the first to stand up straight. She dropped her hands as on either side of her, her daughter and husband straightened and looked forward. The Empress looked past them, towards the set of open double doors from which they'd entered from. She gave the guards on either side a single nod. "Seal the room."

The sounds of doors and window shutters closing could be heard before their metal latches were turned to lock the doors and windows in place.

"Ash," Nera said.

He didn't need to be told. He released a small slip onto the ground and a gentle wave of energy spread out in a ten-pace diameter from it once it landed. Aside from the two personal guards with the Empress and the imperial aide, only he, his mother, the three Suna imperial family members, and their prisoner were within a sound containment sphere.

The Empress gave Ash a small nod of approval before looking towards the aide and raising her hand once.

"Let's begin the formalities."

Cloth sounded as the bundle over Nera's arm was slid off and was unceremoniously dumped on the hard tile floors at the foot of the throne.

"Aggghhh...." The muffled groan of pain came from the man's head as he twisted on the ground and rolled from his side to his back. His legs curled up. If his arms were bound behind his back, Ash was certain he'd wrap them around himself.

"Remove his blindfold and gag." The Empress took a seat, her eyes cold and narrowed as she looked at the man on the ground as if she wanted to skin him alive.

One of the personal guards stepped forward and grabbed the side of the random rag they'd used to cover the man's eyes and pulled it off. Another pained groan came as the man squinted.

Ash rolled his eyes. The room was so dim.

The personal guard then ripped the rag from his mouth, allowing a clear and frustrated yell to escape.

"Is this him?" the Emperor Consort asked. His hands were in such tight fists at his sides, Ash wondered if he'd unsheathe his sword at the next sentence.

"Jahan Yazdan," Nera replied in a calm voice. "His Ashtari surname is Heikobhi."

The Empress frowned. "I'm not familiar with that noble family."

"They were recently given the honor of bearing the imperial name's blessing," Nera said. The corner of the Empress' lip curled up with distaste.

"All those elders from established houses, exiled, while people like him are allowed to bear the imperial name," she said in a low, condescending voice. "How far has Ashtar plummeted?"

"If you recognize that I am an Ashtar citizen, you must release me!" It was hard to take seriously the stern words of a man who had to roll over on to his stomach, like a large baby, in order to even look up and meet the Empress' disdainful gaze.

Hearing his words, Empress Yayae chuckled coldly. "In what world does being a foreigner in a country not make you subject to their laws?" She leaned back on her throne and looked down at him as if he were an idiot. "You do not have immunity aiding in treason because you are not Sunan."

Ash couldn't help but stare at the man's back as if he were stupid. After they captured him, he'd been stubborn, refusing to speak and was even willing to starve himself. Nera gave the other prisoners extra food if they made sure Jahan Yazdan ate and drank enough to keep him alive.

It turned out that it wasn't that he was willing to die to keep his secrets, but he wanted to appeal to a higher authority. Ash shook his head. Did he forget that the highest authority in Suna had just had her daughter kidnapped by him?

"Then, send me back to Ashtar!"

Even Anhya's stoic 'court' face couldn't help but flounder at his demands.

Empress Yayae raised a brow. "And all you to go unpunished? You arranged for the kidnapping of the Crown Princess of Suna. It doesn't matter that you're not a citizen of Suna."

"I had nothing to do with her kidnapping-"

"Here are the confessions of the crew of the Jotlok, prisoners, and nuns naming Jahan Yazdan as a key player in the kidnapping of Princess Anhya." Nera held out a stack of paper and one of the personal guards came to accept it. He brought the papers to Empress Yayae. "Included are the confessions from the avianids captured on the Dragon Continent confirming the deal arranged."

"I've read the confessions from the prisoners and the nuns we've collected," she said. "That's more than enough to verify his part in the treason and attempted rebellion of my half-siblings. However, more testimony is always welcomed."

Jahan Yazdan scoffed from the floor. "What testimonies! I don't acknowledge any of their accusations-"

"You aided in the treason and proposed rebellion of Sarae, a disposed princess of Suna, with assistance from her imprisoned brothers," the Empress said lazily. "This is a crime in Suna and against Suna."

Jahan Yazdan didn't acknowledge the statement. "Suna does not execute foreigners without the approval of their home country," he said with gritted teeth. "I can be detained and imprisoned, but forced labor and death cannot be applied to me without the expressed agreement of a representative of Ashtar! This is in the Treaty of Golden Mountain!"

"Oh..." Empress Yayae pretended to look shocked. "The Treaty of Golden Mountain. How well-versed you are in our treaties. You are correct." At her confirmation, Jahan Yazdan sneered with pride, as if he'd found the loophole. "Suna cannot order you to death, only imprisonment. And a citizen of Suna cannot kill you as punishment, but...there is a caveat."

A gleeful look flashed in the eyes of the Empress.

Jahan Yazdan didn't catch it, and didn't consider the seriousness of her words. "What caveat is there?"

The Empress raised one well-manicured finger. "First, approval must come from a representative of a country's legitimate government. That is, a government that Suna recognizes as legitimate."

Ash found himself nodding. He'd asked his mother how Jahan Yazdan would be punished and if it would cause problems between Sunan and Ashtar. Nera only saw one outcome for Jahan Yazdan, and explained what would happen.

Because of old treaties and other agreements, serious crimes that would normally result in death would need to be treated a certain way if the criminal was not Sunan. The point about the government being recognized by Suna as legitimate had been in place to curb any rebels making allies with a powerful neighboring country. Only the legitimate government's representative could give approval, and the legitimate government were ones that Suna had said agreements and treaties with.

Jahan Yazdan frowned a bit. "What does that matter? The government of Ashtar hasn't changed in centuries. The treaty still applies!"

The Empress ignored him and continued. She held up two fingers. "The second. Suna will not be held responsible if an Ashtari citizen is killed by another Ashtari citizen while in Suna territory."

This is in case of in-fighting amongst a visiting group, Suna wouldn't be held liable simply because the fighters had been in Suna territory at the time. Suna had the same agreement with both Ashtar and Dareisol, and carried it as an unofficial policy for most other places.

"Well, good luck on that. Wasn't it Suna that banned the travel of Ashtari into their borders?" Jahan Yazdan sneered. "What other Ashtari are there? Those old men?"

Ash rolled his eyes. Those old men had better things to do than deal with him. "You're overestimating your value...." he muttered under his breath just loud enough for Jahan Yazdan to hear.

The other man scowled and wanted to turn his body to look at Ash, but the ridiculousness of how he looked trying to flop around like a seal made him pretend he didn't hear Ash.

"Third." The Empress held out three fingers. "The Treaty of Golden Mountain cannot be applied in times of war."

Jahan Yazdan rolled his eyes and snorted. "Suna only closed its borders, but declared war on Ashtar. Are you really willing to start a war now? Simply because your daughter was kidnapped?"

Anhya's expression seemed to turn to ice as the Empress' contempt could almost be tasted in the air.

"Less things have started wars," Nera replied, her smooth voice calm and casual. "I'd say it's a fitting response to my child being kidnapped."

"Indeed, it is, but we don't need to. Truly, we haven't declared war on Ashtar," the Empress replied. She sat up straight and leaned forward, holding the man on the floor's eyes. "But our strongest ally has after the death of one of their soldiers and attacks on their holdings. Since you're so well-versed in our international agreements, you've probably heard of the Imperial Treaty of Central East Iveria. If our ally declares war on another country, then we join them unilaterally, and will treat their enemy as our own."

"What?" Jahan's eyes went wide. His body seemed to tense into a line. "What are you talking about? Dareisol? When did Dareisol declare war on Ashtar?"

Empress Yayae's eyes squinted with satisfaction at his dismay. "You've been on a boat for weeks. You wouldn't know." She then looked at Nera and Ash. "But you two do."

Both Ash and his mother nodded. "We have a good communication network."

Not to mention that the death was that of a soldier in Elka's troop near a Dareisol leased mine. Henry had already told them and they estimated this would happen.

"Take note." The Empress' voice seemed to fill the area around them, sounding full of authority and confidence. "Her Imperial Majesty Empress Yayae the Seventh of Suna sentences Jahan Yazdan, alias of Ashtari Citizen Jahan Heikohbi, of the Heikohbi Noble Family of Ashtar, to death, on the crimes of kidnapping an imperial family member, and aiding in treason."

Ash had already known what the crimes and sentence would be, so he wasn't surprised. He watched Jahan Yazdan's face. As soon as the Empress had said his surname, identifying him as the member of an Ashtari noble family, Jahan had paled. It meant that the Empress knew his background, and therefore, his backers, and did not care.

"How...where...." the man gasped as he looked at Empress Yayae. "How are you so sure that is my family name?"

Ash slowly shook his head. To the last moment, it seemed Jahan Yazdan would not admit it.

"If you were going to pretend to have a different name, you should've done so from the beginning instead of introducing yourself to the avianids by your real name." Ash answered his question in formal court Ashtari. It was a giveaway that Ash wasn't just the son of a Federation merchant, but at this point, he didn't care. He looked at Jahan Yazdan with a reproachful sneer. "Amateur."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The man curled up and turned his body just to be able to look at Ash, as if wanting some validation of Ash's identity. However, the silver-white-haired, mercury-eyed young man didn't look anything but Lunapsar.

"How do you know formal court Ashtari?" There was a bit of panic in the man's voice. Only nobles and courtiers, and the imperial family, used court formal.

This time, no one answered him.

"Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Yayae the Seventh of Suna, hereby request approval from a representative of Ashtar with the following rank to proceed with the punishment." Of course, approval couldn't just be given by anyone. Without having to go through the court and its ministers to approve the punishment of a citizen who committed a serious crime in another country, the approval needed to come from a high-ranked immediate imperial family member or Vassal General; that is, one of the Great General Houses, as they tended to protect the border and were allowed to punish soldiers who crossed over and committed atrocities without order.

Hearing that there were only two kinds of people who could give approval for his execution in another country without approval from the ministers, Jahan Yazdan let out a heavy sigh of relief and almost melted on the ground.

Ash shook his head. It was far too early for him to relax.

"Is there a representative of Ashtar willing to give this approval?" Empress Yayae seemed to ask an empty audience hall.

Jahan Yazdan laid in place. Ash saw the relaxed, almost smug, look on his face.

"I will act on behalf of a Vassal General representative," Nera replied. She stood up straight and cupped her hands in front of her. "General Tesar Heikaravian."

Jahan Yazdan's sharp breath was heard by all in the sphere. His body seemed to freeze in place as his eyes bulged out. He turned his head to try to get a look at the woman who'd tied him up, carried him into the imperial palace, and dumped his body on the ground.

"You?" he asked in a shallow breath. "How you know a Heikaravian?"

Nera didn't look at him and remained standing in place. "Lady Ananeraka Heikaravian, representing the Great General House of Heikaravian, hears and acknowledges the crimes of the accused against the Suna Empire and the Suna Imperial Family. On behalf of a Vassal General, consent of punishment is given."

Her words didn't seem to hit Jahan Yazdan. Instead, his horrified eyes were glued to Nera, as if he were seeing a ghost. "You're the Winter Consort!" He screamed in Ashtari and began to struggle.

The Empress looked towards the guards surrounding the perimeter of the room. Though they were outside the silenced area, they saw her look and stepped forward to subdue the writhing man on the ground.

"What are you doing here? What are you doing here! You're dead!" He thrashed around as the guards clamped their hands on his shoulders and legs.

"Hold him steady," the Empress said. "With approval from an Ashtar representative, Jahan Heikohbi, alias Jahan Yazdan, is sentenced to death by beheading."

"No! No!" Jahan Yazdan screamed at the top of his lungs. No matter how he turned, he kept his blood-shot eyes on Nera. "How can you be here? You're dead! You died-"

"They never found my body." A single sentence from Nera seemed to force Jahan Yazdan to shut up. "And my father, General Heikaravian, is still a member of the court with authorization to approve punishment requests from countries when a citizen of Ashtar commits a crime within and against that country. Do you question the approval given?" she asked with a disgusted sneer.

"Yes! Yes! Your approval doesn't count! The approval must come from the general himself! Not his daughter!" Jahan Yazdan had given up speaking Iverian Common and was now yelling in Ashtari. His audience should've been the Empress, but he seemed to have forgotten where he was when faced with a 'ghost'.

Nera looked at the Empress.

"He brings up a good point," the Empress said. Below, the criminal went limp with relief. "It's a shame that we don't have a living immediate member of the Ashtar Imperial family to represent the approval." Anhya tilted her head to the side and covered her mouth as she let out a small snort-laugh.

"Oh...well, if my mother's doesn't count, mine will." Ash stepped forward. He glanced at his mother, who didn't signal for him to stand down. He took this as approval to move forward, stopping just beside Jahan Yazdan and lowered his head. "Prince Ashan, Fourth Prince of Ashtar, formally gives his authorization to allow punishment."

"Fourth Prince?" Jahan's eyes were bulging as all the color seemed to leave his face. "How are you alive?"

Ash snorted. "Did you think I was eaten by wolves? They never found my body, either. Not that they really tried to."

"With the approval of His Highness Prince Ashan, Fourth Prince of Ashtar, punishment for kidnapping of an imperial family member and aiding in rebellion is death by immediate beheading!" Empress Yayae made the final order and the aide acted as a scribe to write it down in the imperial logs.

"No-"

"Gag him," Nera said in a low voice. One of the guards holding him down stuffed a rag back into his mouth.

"Bring them out to bear witness."

Ash turned his head and saw a personal guard step out of the sound containing sphere. He walked across the expanse of the throne room to one side and spoke to the other guards. One turned and opened a door that, if one wasn't paying attention, appeared to be another wall panel.

Three pairs of imperial guards pulled in three adults. All of them had bags over their heads and their arms bound behind their backs. Their ankles also had chains on them that clanked as they approached.

Ash let out a low whistle. Empress Yayae wanted to crush some souls.

"Can you expand the area?" Empress Yayae looked at him and motioned around. She was talking about the area that contained sound.

Ash nodded and put down another slip. It wouldn't double the distance, but it would extend it by half. "They can come in a little closer."

Empress Yayae looked at the guards and gave them a nod. They took a few steps closer and then Ash held out his hand to signal that they were close enough and within the area.

"Remove their bags." The imperial guards pulled the rough bags off the heads of the three prisoners. If Ash hadn't guessed already, the three were the half-siblings of the Empress and Prince Tae.

They were all dressed in stained prison clothes that were identical to each other. The two brothers had their heads shaved while the sister's hair had been cut short. Many people from Suna wore long hair. Ash had read of instances where people hung or choked themselves to death with their own hair, so their shaved and shortened hair was probably a preventative measure.

Balls of cloth were stuffed in their mouths, but as soon as they saw Jahan Yazdan on the floor, pressed down by two guards, muffled cries came from their mouths. In particular, Sarae looked panicked.

"Knowing you, you wouldn't believe me if I told you that he was captured, let alone, killed," the Empress said as she sat on her throne. "So, it's best that you witness it."

Her half-sister pulled against her bindings to get closer, but was held back and up by stone-faced guards.

"Your Majesty." The aide spoke up and they turned their attention to a sharpened axe. Though it had been placed on an elegant silk cushion, its handle looked well worn.

A guard stepped forward and Ash stopped him.

"Suna will not be held responsible if an Ashtari citizen kills another in Suna territory," he said, looking at the Empress.

Empress Yayae frowned. "That is true, but...." She appeared hesitant to allow him to do the execution. Ash appeared determined, but in her eyes, he was still the little boy of her friend. Empress Yayae couldn't seem to help but look to Nera.

Ash saw his mother give a small nod of her head, acquiescing to his request. Empress Yayae took a deep breath and looked at Ash.

"I'll only take one swing," he assured her.

She gave him a nod and took a deep breath. "The execution will be carried out by a visiting Ashtari citizen."

Jahan Yazdan began yelling, but the rag in his mouth kept any of his words from making sense. Ash ignored his struggles, and the struggles of Sarae, who had tears in her eyes. For a moment, Ash felt cold all over. That woman tried to have her own niece kidnapped and exchanged for weapons to help overthrow her half-sister. She should've been prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Sarae began directing her cries to Empress Yayae, but the Empress didn't spare her a glance. She wore a solemn expression as Ash picked up the axe by the worn handle and weighed it in his hands.

He expected to use a sword, with which he was familiar. He didn't have too much practice with an axe, but he'd make do. The weight distribution was different.

He turned around and stepped to the side.

He held the axe hang beside him as he took out another slip and put it on Jahan Yazdan, who was on his knees and with his head bowed down. The man's struggling came to a halt. The two guards exchanged looks.

"You can step back. He won't move," Ash told them. The guards nodded and stepped back. The space around the criminal was cleared. "Take some more steps back, in case of blood splatter."

"Ash, do you want a smock?" the Emperor Consort asked.

Ash shook his head. "No."

He grasped the axe and adjusted his position. Twice, he brought it down slowly to get trajectory.

Then, without a countdown, he brought the axe down.

Hot blood hit his cheeks as the sharpened blade of the axe went cleanly through the back of Jahan Yazdan's neck, and hit the tile floor beneath. A clean line appeared on the back of the neck before the head slid off, sticking to the side of the axe head.

Jahan Yazdan's eyes were wide open and his mouth still stuffed with a rag.

Sarae fainted.

Her brothers would've fallen when their legs gave way beneath them if guards didn't hold them up.

Ash released the axe and a guard stepped forward, pushing a small cart with a bowl of water and some folded towels next to it.

"Take his body and cremate it," the Empress said as no one else spoke. Her voice was cold and matter of fact. The only noise was the splashing of Ash's hands in the cool water before he dipped a towel into the bowl to wipe any excess blood off. "And made the declaration official. Suna declares war on Ashtar for plotting to overthrow the Suna Imperial Family."

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

"What?" Crown Prince Eskander sat on a gilded seat to the side of the throne room, avoiding looking directly at the face of the Emperor as, in a fit of rage, he knocked down the ceremonial candle on the left of his throne when he shouted at the news.

Amongst the rows of ministers seated in the great hall, none of them dared to look at Emperor Keirsas as he trembled with rage. The Emperor was tall with wide shoulders, but time and the richness of royal life in excess had made him round, constantly sweating, and red-faced even when he was seated.

In his youth, he was much more fit. Even handsome. An avid equestrian, but no longer.

Time had started to gray his once deep red, fiery hair, and given him wrinkles around his lapis blue eyes. For all his luxurious clothes, he looked sloppy and decadent. People secretly whispered that this might've been a cause as to why he hadn't been able to have any more children.

A young imperial aide rushed to pick it up the ceremonial candle and place it right side up, but an older aide held him back, giving him a subtle shake of his head.

Enroshan Heigoren stood at his podium, across from the Crown Prince, with a neutral expression on his face. His burgundy eyes were calm, as if waiting for a passing storm.

On the open space below the throne and between the Prime Minister's podium and the Crown Prince's gilded chair, a messenger was on his knees with his head bowed. Enroshan raised a brow.

In his father's day, messengers were not made to kneel, as if in apology for news they brought. They were not the cause of it. Everyone who addressed this emperor was terrified.

"Suna has sent a message that they have declared war on Ashtar as an Ashtari citizen aided in the plot to overthrow the Suna Imperial Family," the messenger's voice trembled as he spoke.

Enroshan pursed his lips. It felt as if it had only been days since Dareisol made the same declaration. He knew Suna was going to take their side, but he didn't think they'd declare war themselves. Then again, he didn't know who had the gall to try to overthrow a steady government. He glanced at the Crown Prince.

Dareisol's miners being attacked, a hired militia sent to disrupt the caravans, a shoddy navy struggling to fight against 'pirates' in the Smiya Sea, and now this. It would've been better to focus all that effort into rebuilding Ashtar's crumbling economy and infrastructure. If you could pay people to try to blockade a caravan, you can pay them to repair roads.

"Suna dares to declare war on us!" the Emperor almost wheezed.

Enroshan wanted to roll his eyes. It was a blessing that Dareisol and Suna hadn't attacked and carved Ashtar into territories between them. Ashtar had no money and an underfunded military to defend them. Their southern borders didn't have the same gracious neighbors and smaller groups were picking away at land, sending already impoverished villagers fleeing.

How many times did this Old Bastard want to see his people flee?

"Your Majesty, though they have declared war, I believe there is still room for negotiations," Enroshan said in a firm voice. "It will take time for their forces to march to our borders. We should send an envoy to discuss terms."

"And what terms are there?" the Crown Prince asked with a frown. "They are stronger and better funded than we are. They can easily take all our land!"

Courtiers began to whisper amongst themselves.

"Everyone here should be aware as to why Dareisol and Suna have declared war on us," Enroshan replied. "Leased mines belonging to Dareisol nobles were harassed, causing numerous injuries to Dareisol soldiers, and killing one. The aggressors were members of a militia you hired."

"They were hired to protect the mines we leased!" the Crown Prince responded as he sat up straight. "Those mines are necessary to bring resources into Ashtar."

"And now they're gone because Dareisol raided the camps in retaliation. Those soldiers are dead and the miners are unaccounted for."

The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes. "How do you know that?"

"I read budget reports," Enroshan replied, holding back a sneer. "No orders for additional food and supplies were submitted recently. We were sending an envoy to audit the mines when we were stopped by Dareisol soldiers. It's a miracle they let them go unscathed."

"Then, we'll just send more miners and move the militia with the blockade to the mines," the Crown Prince said with a wave of his hand.

"The principalities and kingdoms will likely not renew any new mines or allow us to continue mining under the pressure of Dareisol," Enroshan said. "Also, haven't you been trying to call back those soldiers crashing with caravans? Why haven't they returned? Were they reassigned somewhere?"

The movement of any and all soldiers needed to be run by the Emperor. Even if it was just a vague explanation of moving to secure trade route safety. That was why he mentioned the location of those soldiers. First, many soldiers in question were just hired militia paid for with suspiciously acquired money. Enroshan had been looking for the source without attracting too much attention for a year now.

In addition, the militia was also not under the authority of a long established Great General House or march, but under the control of the Crown Prince. A normal ruler with the amount of paranoia that the Emperor had would've curbed the Crown Prince's power immediately upon realizing this, but he really favored this son. This son had crawled out of the depths of the wilds to come to find his father, almost dying on his journey just to prove that the Emperor's favorite lover had given him a son.

The child could do nothing wrong.

Nera had gotten confessions that the Crown Prince had conspired to set up a horse-riding accident for the Second Prince. The one that killed him, but the Emperor had insisted it was an accident. The blame could only be put on the Crown Prince's minions.

The Crown Prince was allowed to create his own guard, his own militia, and expanded a pathetic excuse for a navy, all under the nose of his father, and the Old Bastard did nothing about it.

Enroshan wondered if it was guilt for having lost his son for years or if the Old Bastard had simply lost his mind.

The Crown Prince lifted his chin. "They are being held back by caravan guards."

"Are you telling me that the escort guards of caravans have imprisoned your militia?" He smirked and the Crown Prince flushed.

"The caravan escort guards who are familiar with the routes have been able to defend them! What's more, our allies in the western coast have been over taken by the army of the Lunapsar Council of Elders. Our people cannot get through to aid them. They can only wait at the borders!"

"Your Highness, did you not tell us that your mother was the last daughter of the Lunapsar Royal Family?" one of the ministers asked with a slight frown. "Can you not step in and order the Council of Elders to stand down as the last royal?"

Enroshan wanted to laugh. He looked at the Crown Prince with a sharp graze. He'd almost thrown his chair when the man had announced to the court that he was actually the long-lost last royal of the Lunapsar people, and that he had been told to keep it hidden for his own protection.

If it weren't for the fact that Nera had sworn him to secrecy, Enroshan would've yelled that he was a liar and thrown his chair at him.

"I've tried and they've rejected my claim!" The Crown Prince scowled at this and Enroshan held back his laugh. "They said that I am not a descendent of the Lunapsar Royal Family."

"How can they be so sure of that?" the Emperor asked, turning to his son with disapproval. "Your mother was the granddaughter of the last Lunapsar prince! She told me this herself!"

Enroshan stared at the father and son. Just because your lover told you that, you believe her? Mine actually took me to meet the Council of Elders. At the time, Nera's life plan was to marry him, and then they would stay in the West Wind Valley to prepare for the eventual return to territory they had loaned on the coast, which was coming up. He'd learned Lunapsar, poured through their legal and historical documents, and was even personally guided by several elders to prepare to support his future wife.

Unfortunately, his brother died and he had to return to Ashtar. Nera had made the decision to stay with him until Talam was an adult before they returned to West Wind Valley. Her people were against it, but she did it for him.

A brief feeling of rage swept through him and his eyes darkened as he looked at the Emperor who was cursing the Council of Elders for their blindness.

If it weren't for that man, Nera wouldn't have suffered. He wouldn't have had to live on guard for years because a woman was trying to sleep with him. The Fourth Prince would've been the Second Young Master of Heigoren.

Enroshan's jaw clenched. His hands gripping the podium were pale.

The woman he fell in love with, who was going to be his wife, disappeared. The son that should've been his was gone. The life they could've had ripped from them because that Old Bastard on the throne wanted to use Nera's eyes to relive time with his dead lover.

"Considering the declaration from both Dareisol and Suna, Ashtar should at the very least begin strengthening its defenses while we send an envoy to prevent the two largest militaries in the world from destroying us," Enroshan said, cutting off the Crown Prince in the middle of his rant about how no one believed he was who he said he was. "I submit this proposal to prepare and buy time for us, Your Majesty."

"I support that proposal."

"I also support that proposal." A round of voices, even from those who supported the Crown Prince and his father, agreed. It was the 'buy time' that sold it.

The Emperor also seemed to have focused on those key words. "Very well. Prime Minister Heigoren, you will prepare an envoy for mediation with Dareisol and Suna."

Enroshan bowed his head. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Eskander, summon your militia to the capital and call back the navy."

"What? The navy?" Eskander whirled around to face his father. "But the excavation-"

"We don't have time for the excavation. Sooner or later, Dareisol will send its navy to patrol the area and we do not have the numbers to counter them," the Emperor said. "They should defend our shores, instead."

"In addition, it was very costly to build up a navy," Enroshan reminded the Emperor and the court. "Let's not let it all sink because they were left in open water."

Eskander's nostrils flared as he took a deep breath, clearly unwilling to accept the order. He looked at his father.

"The orders have been given," the Emperor said in a booming voice. "If Dareisol and Suna think they can invade without a fight, they are wrong."

Enroshan smiled a bit. "The orders will be sent at once, Your Majesty. You are wise to protect the empire."

Satisfied, the aging man closed the court. As the ministers bowed, he pushed himself up and walked past them to leave. Enroshan glanced up with his eyes then moved towards the Crown Prince.

They didn't look anything alike. His niece-in-law, Princess Varelian, looked more like her mother, but she had the Emperor's hair and blue eyes. This was the same for the twin princesses, and their late brothers. The only exception was the Fourth Prince, who took after Nera with Lunapsar features.

It took a few generations for Lunapsar hair and eye features to fade. However, children could still carry aspects of their parents. Nera still bore some resemblance to her father in face shape.

In addition, with the eternal flame slowly extinguishing itself, they had not been able to confirm the direct blood connection between the Emperor and his favorite son, who'd appeared one day claiming to be a prince. All they had was confirmation that they were related, but by what degree, no one knew.

Enroshan wasn't alone in his suspicion, though he couldn't voice it out loud.

After the Emperor left, the courtiers began to leave. That was when Enroshan saw the Emperor's brother wheeled out in a chair. It was well known that he'd take 'walks' around the palace every day. Everyone pitied him.

The corner of Enroshan's lip curled up knowingly before he turned and faced the gates leading outside of the main courtyard.

He was sure he wasn't the only one who noticed, but Crown Prince Eskander looked more like his uncle than his father.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.