"Announcing the arrival of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Arkanos Bloodbane, and Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Illena Bloodbane!"

    Every noble present lowered their heads.

    A show of submission. Some did so out of genuine respect, others from sheer survival instinct.

    All eyes shifted toward the grand staircase at the far end of the hall.

    The towering double staircase, lined with crimson carpets and gilded railings, framed the perfect stage for the empire’s most powerful figures.

    From the top of the staircase, Emperor Arkanos and Empress Illena appeared.

    Arkanos was dressed in a white and gold royal outfit, the fabric gleaming under the chandelier lights.

    A golden crown rested on his head, glinting softly.

    His posture was upright, his expression calm and intense.

    His sharp emerald eyes swept over the hall like a predator surveying its territory.

    Beside him, Illena was every bit the vision of a beautiful and elegant empress.

    She wore a flowing white and gold gown that shimmered with each movement. Her silver and green hair was neatly styled, a simple yet elegant tiara resting atop her head. Unlike Arkanos’s sharp gaze, her emerald eyes were calm and composed.

    Hand in hand, they began their descent.

    In those moments, it seemed as though only their footsteps could be heard in the entirety of the grand hall.

    The nobles remained bowed, heads lowered until Arkanos and Illena reached the final step.

    While still bowing, the nobles offered their greetings.

    "We pay our greetings to His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Arkanos Bloodbane, and Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Illena Bloodbane."

    Arkanos finally spoke.

    "You may all lift your heads."

    It was not an invitation.

    It was a command.

    The nobles obeyed as if pulled by strings. They straightened, their faces carefully arranged into expressions of loyalty, admiration, and indifference—for those who knew the cost of showing too much.

    Arkanos let his gaze sweep over them once more, not as one might look at people, but as one assesses tools—measuring sharpness, durability, and potential for obsolescence.

    Then he spoke again.

    "I thank you all for gathering here today, for your continued service to this empire, and your support of the now completed Train Project."

    "Your efforts have not gone unnoticed."

    "I trust you will continue to prove yourselves valuable to me—and to the empire."

    Me, first and foremost. The empire was an extension of his will, not the other way around.

    It was not a request. It was a challenge wrapped in velvet, the implications were clear.

    value was not inherent.

    It was earned, measured, and discarded when spent.

    A butler walked past with a tray of wine, and Arkanos grabbed one. So did Illena, both lifting their glasses as Arkanos spoke again.

    "For tonight, let us eat, drink, and celebrate that the empire has slowly begun to take its steps into a new era."

    Arkanos raised his glass slightly higher.

    "To the empire."

    "May it endure beyond time, unyielding and eternal." Experience tales with novelhall.Co?m

    Kaela’s jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing as she finally turned to face her father.

    "Drop it, father," she said sharply. "Stop stepping into matters of my life."

    Lord Valen’s expression didn’t waver. His lips pressed into a thin line, and after a brief pause, he responded with the same calm tone he always had.

    "Of course I have to talk about your life," he replied. "I am your father. It is my duty to offer guidance. If you’re acting strangely, it is my responsibility to question it."

    Kaela’s fists clenched at her sides. Her eyes flashed with frustration.

    "I am not a child," she snapped. "I know what I’m doing."

    Valen arched an eyebrow, his gaze growing colder.

    "Oh? Do you?"

    "Well, I came here tonight to discuss this very matter with the Emperor."

    Kaela’s face went pale, her breath catching in her throat. She took a quick step closer, her voice rising.

    "You wouldn’t dare."

    Valen’s eyes darkened instantly, the faintest look of disappointment flashing before it was buried beneath a steely glare. He took a deliberate step closer, his towering presence now casting a long shadow over her.

    "And since when did you learn to raise your voice against me?"

    Lord Valen leaned in.

    "If you are not willing to take charge now, then when?" he asked with both frustration and challenge.

    "In ten years? Perhaps twenty? Or shall you wait until you’re old and wrinkled, with nothing but regrets to cradle in your lap?"

    Kaela clenched her jaw, her eyes dropping to the polished marble floor as if it held answers she couldn’t find within herself.

    After a tense pause, she spoke softly, her voice trembling despite her effort to steady it,

    "It’s not going to take that long."

    Valen’s lips curled slightly, a bitter smile flickering and dying just as quickly.

    "Is that so?" he said quietly, leaning in ever so slightly, his words a low, searing whisper meant only for her.

    "Then enlighten me, Kaela. Tell me—what is your grand design? What path have you chosen with such certainty? Convince me, if you can. Show me the logic behind your actions."

    His eyes narrowed, the faintest loom of disappointment already simmering beneath his stern fac?ade.

    "For if you cannot..." he continued, "I fear I shall be immensely disappointed."

    Kaela’s chest rose and fell with shallow, uneven breaths. Her fingers trembled slightly as she clenched them into fists, nails digging into her palms. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, blurring her vision, but she refused to let them fall.

    Without another word, she spun on her heel and begun to walk away, her voice trailing over her shoulder, brittle and sharp.

    "Have a good night, Father."

    Valen’s voice followed her, cold and unyielding.

    "Is that it, then? You turn your back on me so easily?"

    Kaela froze mid-step, her shoulders tense. For a brief moment, she didn’t respond, the words hanging in the air like a challenge—and a wound.

    Then, without turning to face him, she spoke, her voice softer now but with a touch of regret.

    "This is not your battle to fight, father. If you love me, then leave me alone, respect my decision."

    And with that, she walked away, leaving Valen standing alone amidst the sea of nobles, his heart heavier than the silence she left behind.

    With his hightned senses, Arkanos observed all of this from the corner of his eye, his ear hearing all words spoken as well.

    ’A promise.’

    He silently thought, and slowly, memories began to surface.