Accusations and Alliances'

The initial hour of mingling and social maneuvering drew to a close as a herald announced the commencement of the formal proceedings. The hall stilled, and all eyes turned towards the Emperor on his elevated throne. 

He raised a hand, and the murmur of conversations ceased, replaced by a tense silence.

"Let the reporting begin," Emperor Kaelith announced, his voice resonating with authority. 

"Let us see what our loyal subjects have accomplished since our last gathering."

The reporting began in earnest. 

Representatives from various imperial organizations and military factions stepped forward, each eager to impress the Emperor with tales of their achievements. A general boasted of newly conquered territories along the Zoryn border. 

A scholar presented a rediscovered text detailing a lost form of Imperial magic. An administrator detailed increased tax revenue from the southern provinces. Each report was met with polite applause, but Kaelen could sense the underlying tension, the subtle competition for the Emperor's favor.

Kaelen listened with a detached interest, knowing that these reports were largely superficial, carefully crafted to paint a picture of progress and prosperity, masking the rot and corruption that festered beneath the surface. 

The carefully chosen language felt almost sickening in its falsehood. Each "great report" felt like a slap in the face to all of those who were struggling in silence, under the Emperor's rule.

The organization reports finally came to an end, to be followed by kingdom success. 

Each of the seven kingdoms took their turn, painting a carefully composed and flattering picture of the accomplishments of the kingdom, each aiming to outdo one another for the emperor's attention, if only for a fleeting moment. 

First was Drakhar, reporting successes on new fire weaponry, followed by Eryndel's reports on uncovering new texts on Imperial Rule. With each passing minute Kaelen could feel his own patience wearing thin, but he had a role to play. 

The emperor had underestimated his moves before, but he would not make that mistake again.

Then, it was Caldris' turn.

Kaelen rose from his seat, the gazes of the room turning towards him. 

He approached the Emperor, his expression carefully neutral, and gave a formal bow, withholding any praise or support. "Your Majesty," he said, his voice carrying across the hall. 

"Caldris has…maintained. The harvest was adequate, the Silvershade bandits have been, for now, contained, and some progress has been made in restoring the ancient irrigation systems."

He deliberately chose words that were bland and uninspired, painting a picture of mediocrity. This would reinforce the image he had crafted: the inept Ash Prince, barely holding onto his kingdom. But it was, also, a means to garner favor with the emperor.

The Emperor's lips curled into a slight, almost predatory, smile. 

"It seems that Caldris has failed to make much of a contribution, once again," he drawled, his gaze sweeping across the hall. "One begins to wonder if the kingdom would not benefit from new leadership. In fact, concerning what I had-"

Kaelen cut him off, a cold smile stretching across his lips. 

This was the moment. He'd spent the entire time at the hall waiting for this to unfold. 

"Wait, Your Majesty," he interrupted, his voice sharp and clear. "I am yet to tell you of Caldris' biggest achievement, the fruit of many months of patient work."

A ripple of surprise spread through the room, heads turning, gazes sharpening. A murmur of curiosity replaced the earlier boredom, as the audience recognized a shift in tone. Something was about to happen.

The Emperor's smile vanished, replaced by a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Oh?" he asked, his voice now edged with a hint of steel. 

"And what is this momentous achievement, Prince Kaelen?"

Kaelen straightened, his gaze sweeping the hall, taking in the faces of the assembled royals, each one a carefully constructed mask. He saw Selene's eyes, dark and intense, fixed on him, a flicker of something akin to worry within them.

"After months of careful spying and investigation," Kaelen declared, his voice ringing through the hall, "we have discovered that someone in this room has been smuggling enchanted arms to the Zoryn Empire, providing aid and comfort to our enemies."

A gasp swept through the assembly, and chaos threatened to erupt. 

The nobles surged in their seats, their faces a mixture of shock, outrage, and a desperate attempt to mask their fear. The guards, who had seemed more as decorative than security now stepped forward, preparing for any open fight, as it was known that fights to the death during these meetings was anything but uncommon.

The Ash Prince had just accused one of them of treason, and he had done so before the Emperor, himself. That, was far more than anyone had prepared themselves for, especially because it opened the door to question everyone and their motives.

The emperor himself looked visibly thrown, which, by all accounts of Kaelith, meant he was furious, or, even worse, he was simply trying to use them all as a distraction for some even more grand plan, it all remained to be seen.

Kaelen let the murmurs and accusations wash over him, giving them pause for affect. 

The Emperor himself said nothing as Kaelen broke his word with the old ways. He knew that their silence, in itself, was a sign that more words must be said. More action must be done.

Kaelen lifted his chin, his gaze settling on one particular royal with an icy intensity that chilled the room. "That person," he said, his voice leaving no room for doubt, "is none other than a member of the Velarion Kingdom."