It was a new day.
Though the sun had risen just like any other, painting the imperial gold and white, nothing felt ordinary. The birds sang, the merchants bustled in the markets, the banners fluttered above the stone towers—but beneath that illusion of normalcy, the world had changed.
The Absolute Assembly had gathered the day before with one purpose: to deliberate who among the royal bloodlines was truly worthy to claim the imperial throne.
It was supposed to be a day of political maneuvering and ceremonial declarations. A display of power and lineage. Nothing more than calculated alliances and noble speeches.
And yet, it became something no one could have anticipated.
Not because the noble houses finally revealed who they would side with.
Not because secrets were spilled—shady dealings and backroom betrayals that tainted the noble images of both Prince Maximus and Crown Prince Xavier.
Not even because a terrifying majority of the imperial army had pledged itself to Xavier.
