Book 1: Chapter 1
Two men strolled down the stone corridor of the royal palace in the Kingdom of Natra. They carried themselves with a certain dignity and pride—even their gait was refined. This was expected of these two longtime vassals of the kingdom.
One was a civil official. The other, a military officer. Though in separate spheres of influence, they were appointed around the same time and remained on friendly terms. In fact, they’d occasionally meet up at the palace to share a spirited discussion or two.
On this day, however, the hallway wasn’t filled with their usual merry chatter, clouded instead by matching solemn looks.
There was only one reason for their gloom.
“His Royal Majesty’s condition…doesn’t look too promising,” the civil official croaked in a voice thick with emotion.
Shutting his eyes tightly, the military officer sighed. “Well, with the weather wreaking havoc across the continent—it must be particularly rough on His Royal Majesty, given his physical condition…”
“Oh, the whims of the heavens! I’ve heard other countries are in shambles from losing key decision makers.”
“You know, they say the Emperor himself has fallen ill. Thanks to that, the other royal courts have become dens of wily little devils.”
The civil official sharply exhaled through his nose. “Sure, he might’ve managed to unite the Empire with his charisma, but they say the brighter the light, the darker the shadow becomes when it vanishes… I guess this is all the more true since they’ve yet to name a successor.”