307. What Led To The Vacant Throne Part 3
On the Day of Empress Dahlia's Death Anniversary, Imperial Palace, Capital City, Ancorna Empire
“Ha!”
Dame Ocelina swung her spear through the air of the training hall, her movements fueled by a newfound, iron-clad confidence. Ever since that fateful day at the wedding, the image of Ravenna protecting the high nobles with nothing but a pair of daggers had never left her. It had granted her the internal permission she had craved to wield the spear properly, regardless of tradition.
To see someone protect the pillars of the Empire without the "traditional" swordplay of the Imperial Family while those proficient in it simply hid in the shadows had sparked a deep sense of shame in her heart, but also an inspiration.
“Dame Ocelina… His Grace, Duke Morgen, wishes to speak with you at the Secret Garden.”
A servant had arrived with the message, snapping her out of her trance. Dame Ocelina raised an eyebrow. She held immense respect for the Duke after witnessing his bravery during the magical beast attack, but she had never interacted with him personally. The summons was highly unusual.
“I… I will be there,” she replied, offering a quick smile. She returned her spear to its rack and, as a matter of protocol, equipped her side-sword. “But isn’t the Secret Garden restricted only to the Imperial Family?” she muttered to herself as she navigated the secluded wings of the palace.
When she reached the hidden entrance, she found two men waiting for her amidst the overgrown flora. Duke Morgen stood there, but it was the second man who spoke first.
“So, you have arrived, Dame Ocelina.”
“Y-Your Majesty!” Dame Ocelina bowed instantly, her heart hammering against her ribs. Seeing the Emperor waiting for her in such a place made her blood run cold. “How may I be of service?”
The uneasiness in her bones was screaming; she could tell this meeting was anything but a normal royal audience.
“At ease,” the Emperor commanded with a weary smile.
Duke Morgen looked at Emperor Andrew, his expression pained. “Are you truly sure you must go through with this, Andrew?”
That look alone told Ocelina that whatever was happening was far beyond her pay grade.
“Dame Ocelina, you are a fine knight. One who is loyal to the people of this Empire and wishes for a bright future, correct?” Emperor Andrew asked, locking eyes with her. Before she could offer a rehearsed response, he waved a dismissive hand. “Even if the 'right' answer isn't the truth, I won't be offended. Just be honest. If I am to entrust you with what I have in mind, I need to know the person behind the armor.”
Silence stretched across the garden. Dame Ocelina sorted her thoughts. It was clear the Emperor was preparing for a mission so dangerous it could end in her silent death, with no glory or medals to mark her passing.
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“If this were an official mission, he would have called me to the throne room, not a secret garden in the dead of night” she thought. Taking a deep breath, she looked up.
“I would not say I am loyal to the people, Your Majesty,” she began, her voice steadying as she went on. She clenched her fists at her sides. “In truth, it is my own selfish greed that makes me serve the Empire.”
She met his gaze unflinchingly. “I only care that the orphanage where I was raised stays out of danger and that the children there grow up healthy. That is the only reason I protect you and the Empire. To keep my world safe.”
Cold sweat rolled down her forehead after the admission. Emperor Andrew sat in silence for a moment, letting out a soft hum. Then, he smiled. “So, you would do anything to keep your happiness from being ripped away? Is that it?”
Duke Morgen smiled softly. “That’s an honest answer… I think she will do, Andrew.”
“I told you she was an exceptional knight,” Emperor Andrew said, turning back to Ocelina. His smile turned somber, almost haunting. “So, Dame Ocelina, since I won our little bet a few months ago… may I ask for a favor as my reward?”
“He isn’t ordering me; he’s making a request?” Ocelina thought, her confusion growing.
The Emperor’s smile remained, but it was hollowed out by a finality she didn't yet understand. “Please… Be the witness to my death.”
“W-what?” Dame Ocelina stammered, her voice trembling as she took a reflexive step back. “Your Majesty, what are you saying?”
“I wish to change the succession law of this Empire,” Emperor Andrew stated, his voice regaining its steel. “I want to stop the cycle of civil war that erupts every time a new heir is meant to be chosen. The Law of the Golden Silkworm has served its purpose, but now it only breeds monsters.”
“Dame Ocelina, you know why Emperor Andrew cannot simply decree this change, don't you? Why he cannot go against the Solious doctrine while he sits upon the throne?” Duke Morgen asked.
Ocelina nodded slowly, the weight of Imperial Law pressing down on her. “Because of the Solious Church… Every monarch of the Ancorna Empire is forced to sign a binding divine contract with the Church on their coronation day. They must swear to faithfully follow the Solious Doctrine throughout their reign, or face the divine consequences.”
“Exactly. That has been the law for hundreds of years, making it functionally impossible to change any of the traditional laws mentioned in the Faith’s Doctrine,” Duke Morgen added.
“Like the mandatory use of swords by the Imperial Knights…” Ocelina muttered, her hand brushing the hilt of the weapon she had been forced to master.
“That’s right. That is merely one of many shackles,” Duke Morgen nodded solemnly.
“The only way to break those shackles is to issue a final verdict upon my death,” Emperor Andrew explained, his eyes fixed on the moonlit garden. “The divine contract is absolute, my life is forfeit the moment I act against the Doctrine while I am alive. Therefore, the only viable option is to make a final stand against the Faith's hold over the throne at the moment of my passing, leaving the Imperial Court to vote on a post-mortem decree.”
“But… Your Majesty,” Dame Ocelina began, her mind racing through history. “Didn’t a previous monarch try this exact method before? They were crushed by the Church’s influence before the ink on the decree was even dry—”
Suddenly, she stopped. Her eyes widened as the pieces of the puzzle clicked together. She looked at the Emperor, realization dawning on her. “The Solious Headquarters is destroyed by the dungeon spawn… and the Pope is dead… after revealing he was in tie with the Cult”
“Precisely. The Solious Faith is in a state of absolute chaos right now,” Duke Morgen said with a sober, calculating look. “Their leadership is fractured, and their divine authority has never been weaker. This is the only window in history where such a gamble could actually succeed.”
“So listen closely, Dame Ocelina,” Emperor Andrew said, stepping closer until he stood directly before her. The weary father was gone, replaced by the sovereign who had ruled for decades. “This is the plan.”