Key to the Whiteheaven Imperial Throne

When all could do nothing but fall silent...The imperial court froze in the face of an irrefutable truth—the decree… was real.Prince Xaverius drew a long breath, holding back the storm raging within his chest."Magnoli... enter. Bring what we have long awaited today!" he declared firmly, his voice shaking the grand arena.

Footsteps echoed. Magnoli stepped into the center of the court, a sealed parchment in his hand...But that was not what made everyone gasp.Beside him walked a woman—graceful, gentle, and commanding in presence.

"Surely everyone still remembers her, don't they? Show your respect to the Lady Mother..." Magnoli said with reverence, bowing deeply before Lady Triana."Mother, please be seated," he added, gently guiding the woman long believed to be dead.

Silence. The entire hall froze in profound shock.Damerius, even he, could only stand in stunned disbelief.His mother... was part of his brother Prince Magnoli's plan.And now she sat before the ministers and rulers who once declared her dead.

No one dared move.All sound seemed to vanish, swallowed by the truth that now stood before their eyes.The power of the palace had fully fallen into the hands of Prince Xaverius' brilliant design.The Hollow Creed and Dark Legion forces secured every corner of the palace.

Even though Prince Todius and Prince Dorges had deployed a combined force of 250,000 troops outside the southern gate, they were helpless—because 120,000 troops loyal to Damerius and Magnoli had encircled the east.To the west, Eryndor's defeated army from the Battle of Thalvion could no longer face the cold eyes of 50,000 Doliex cavalry—cold-blooded assassins, poised to strike if the imperial forces tried to breach the western gate.

Amidst the inner chaos, Thaldrim stood frozen, his face pale."Mendrova... what is happening? Wasn't the Dark Legion on my side?!" he exclaimed, voice trembling.

Mendrova, leader of the Dark Legion, stepped forward. His gaze pierced like a blade."Thaldrim, you betrayed your own people. There is no place for you in Smokeland. Run—before your ancestral soil swallows you whole.""Mendrova! You betrayed me?! Who is your master now?! What happened to our army?!" Thaldrim cried out, wounded and furious.

"We—have no master, Thaldrim.We are the spear of the Doliex people. And today, we choose to whom our spears and swords shall point!" he declared boldly.

Eryndor, standing at his side, could only hold his breath and sigh heavily."Thaldrim... There's no use fighting them now. This is over."

In the heart of the court, Magnoli broke the seal on the parchment.Everyone tensed.Two imperial decrees...Two seals. Two truths, contradicting one another.Which was genuine? Which was a forgery?

"The true decree... is in my hands," said Magnoli, his voice deep and sharp."On that day, when Emperor Brovon issued his decree, he made two—one to deceive, and another entrusted to his truest confidant."

The ministers' eyes now gleamed with wariness."Read it! Read it!" some shouted anxiously.Magnoli unrolled the parchment and began reading aloud:

"To all citizens of the Whiteheaven Empire,By this decree, I, Brovon Robelix, the 15th Emperor of Whiteheaven, hereby abdicate the throne.Interim power shall be entrusted to five Ministers, representing each of the great peoples, plus one Military Minister and the Empress, as head of the government......FOR A TERM OF 15 YEARS, until the heir to the throne, Damma Lorexius, reaches the age of 25 and is rightfully crowned as the 16th Emperor of Whiteheaven.With one exception—if a descendant of Brovos returns, the right to inherit the throne shall return to their rightful bloodline."

Silence crept in… then one voice shattered it:"That... That's the decree we heard 15 years ago!" cried an old official, eyes welling with tears."Yes! That's the original decree! I remember it clearly!" exclaimed Orlandis Sunbloom, with Hiremon nodding in firm agreement.

But not all spoke up...For many standing now were those appointed by the Empress and the grand ministers over the last 15 years.Those who had enjoyed power under a decree... now in question.

"No! No! The decree we have... is the legitimate one!" cried Empress Xienna, her face pale.Aelthar Frostbane stepped forward, lifting another parchment high."This is the decree we've upheld for 15 years! This is the foundation of all governance! Swords, badges, words—none outweigh the official document sealed by the emperor!"

The atmosphere turned tense.All eyes turned to Xaverius, the Grand Vizier, the one who had led them in pursuit of truth... and decision.He stood at the edge of the court, surrounded by truths and lies, both claiming to be righteous.

"I have laid the evidence before you all!"Xaverius' voice echoed across the court, shaking the hearts of all who heard it."These are facts! Records of imperial history! Yet… all becomes gray when the voices that should defend the truth instead side with the wrong!"

Murmurs rose among the officials."But… who can verify which decree is real or forged? We are the witnesses of history—not you, who appeared only now! Read the decree in your hand!"Hiremon's voice trembled but carried an undeniable demand.

All eyes turned to Aelthar Frostbane. His aged hands trembled as he held the parchment. He tried to remain composed… but his face could not hide the unease.There was a difference.And it was glaring—especially in the final line missing from his version:

"With one exception—if a descendant of Brovos returns, the right to inherit the throne shall return to their rightful bloodline."

After Aelthar finished reading, the atmosphere instantly turned heavy. Suspicious eyes fell upon him."I've just realized a detail we've all overlooked…" said Orlandis Sunbloom, rising slowly from his seat."Everyone forgot. But not Emperor Brovon. That last line in the decree… 'If a descendant of Brovos returns'—that's missing from the parchment you just read, Aelthar!"

"Yes! That's highly suspicious! This... is an open court! And now we realize… something was deliberately hidden by the Empress and the Ministers!" added another court official.

"That's the conspiracy!" Xaverius shouted, unable to contain his fury this time."First, the attempted assassination of my brother, Damma Lorexius, and his mother, Lady Triana. Second, the omission of the clause that states the throne's return to the descendants of Uncle Brovos."

"That is why Smokeland was attacked! That is why Rogg was hunted! Because he... is the son of Uncle Brovos, and they were afraid! Because he carried the truth! And shook the foundations of the empire!"

"And all of you witnessed how the empire spread propaganda to capture Rogg, labeling him a bearer of falsehoods. That… was their excuse to start a war!"

The entire court fell into stunned silence. Even the elders appeared pale and shaken.The truth... was too naked to be denied.

"The most painful thing about the truth..."Magnoli cried out, his voice hoarse with emotion,"...is when that truth is treated as ordinary—by those who choose to believe in power over conscience."He stepped into the center of the court."Look at them all... these wretched officials just sit in silence! They know the truth... yet they choose to remain quiet. Why? Because we hold the palace now. But if we didn't? They'd turn against us, mock us, and trample on that truth—right here, in this so-called open trial!"

Tension gripped the room.

Suddenly, Prince Todius stood up, his gaze piercing."Xaverius! Why did you expose everything?! To destroy your own family?! What is it you truly want?!"

"He's right! We're the front line of the Empire! We defend Whiteheaven with our armies, our blood! Don't lump us in with the conspirators!" Prince Dorges shouted angrily.

But Xaverius stood firm.

"My brothers..." he spoke calmly, yet with heartbreaking weight."I never intended to stand against either of you. Just like me, you are princes of the Empire. In fact... you're greater than I am. But... this isn't about us. This is about the truth. And as rulers... we cannot ignore it."

For a moment, silence fell again. Everyone listened.

One observer from the officials' row murmured,"Prince Todius... he's the pride of Whitesand. His strength lies not only in battle, but in technology and the economy. Without him, Whitesand would never be this powerful. But... all of his successes have long been guided by the counsel and direction of Xaverius."

And now... those two great forces, Todius and Xaverius, stood on opposite sides of the truth—each bearing their own conviction.But only one carried the true imperial decree...And one bore the Emperor's bloodline.

"But, brother…!"Todius stepped forward, his eyes fierce yet conflicted."I have to tell you now! The one who should be Emperor... is the strongest! Someone who stands atop the world—not just in might, but in mind and in justice!"He exhaled deeply, his voice trembling yet resolute."I don't care who ends up on that throne, but I hope... it's you. You, Xaverius. Only you meet every standard."

The courtroom fell into an uneasy hush.The officials began to realize that the princes' disagreements would not sway the course of this trial.

"Then... what are we supposed to do now?" asked Prince Dorges, scanning the room with sharp eyes."What's the final goal of all this? This trial... who is it truly for?"

"To return the throne to the one who truly deserves to sit on it," Xaverius declared.

"But who?" Todius asked, still searching."Yes! Who is worthy? Will everyone agree? Is he truly fit?" Empress Xienna pressed, her voice laden with rejection.

Amidst the confusion, Damerius stood still.His eyes locked onto Xaverius...And at last, he understood how wrong he had been all along.He was not the heir spoken of in the decree.That dream... he would have to let go.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the grand gate.All heads turned.

Rogg.

He strode forward with purpose toward the imperial throne. In his hand gleamed Thalasson, the legendary imperial trident, radiating its majesty.Beside him walked Robb, Vuuxi, and Josia Aedrin. Behind them, Brisena and the elite Doliex knights followed—silent, proud, burning with spirit.

"Wha—?! Rogg?!!"Thaldrim shouted, eyes bulging."Wasn't he killed by poison?! Didn't the Doliex elders send word he couldn't be saved?! How is he still alive?!"

"You were too confident, Thaldrim!" Mendrova's laugh rang out."Did you really think that poison alone could bring down Rogg?"

"It was real poison! Arthemorh! I took it myself from the secret vault of Elder Sigido Covarthis!" Thaldrim snarled.

"It was real, yes. But it wasn't the poison that was fake, Thaldrim..."Mendrova narrowed his eyes."It was the antidote—discovered by Yara, Rogg's own wife."