Chapter 15: Masks Of Loyalty

    Arkanos''s gaze narrowed as he looked from one vassal to the next, a small, cold smile playing at the corners of his lips.

    ''Time to spread the net,'' Arkanos thought.

    "I can see," he said, his voice low yet echoing across the chamber, "that some of you believe I am oblivious to the true state of the empire. But rest assured, I am well aware of what has truly occurred within your lands."

    He paused, his eyes settling on Lord Damarion Calder. Before him appeared a floating green status window.

    ?Lord Damarion Calder''s Territory Status: Claimed Major Supply Disruptions?

    ? ? System Observation: Report exaggerated, partial truth ??

    ? ? True Status: Three villages impacted by minor skirmishes; main supply routes were blocked for less than one day, and granaries were only briefly vulnerable. Regional morale is low, but stability is largely intact. ??

    Arkanos then spoke, his voice calm yet intense.

    "Lord Calder, you spoke of granaries and trade routes devastated in your province—of villages decimated by Akerian forces. But, perhaps you underestimated my knowledge."

    "My sources claim that your main supply routes were indeed blocked, but for less than one day, with your granaries only briefly vulnerable. Besides that, regional morale is not as grim as you make it out to be." @@@@

    "And weren''t only three villages attacked?"

    Lord Calder''s face paled, his eyes darting away as Arkanos''s gaze hardened.

    Next, Arkanos turned to Lady Morwen Ralford, who had grown visibly uneasy under his scrutiny.

    ?Lady Morwen Ralford''s Coastal Territory Status: Claimed Major Raids?

    ? ? System Observation: Some exaggeration, partial truth ??

    ? ? True Status: Coastal region suffered minor raids by mercenaries—not Akerian military—resulting in damage to two fishing vessels and a few cargo losses. While morale is slightly shaken, most trade routes are functional, with minor delays. ??

    "Lady Morwen," Arkanos called out in a calm yet intense tone.

    "...you report that Akerian forces launched major raids on our coastlines, seizing cargo and severely disrupting our trade routes. Yet..." he paused, letting the weight of his words settle, "I am well aware that these were merely minor raids by mercenaries—not the organized force you implied."

    He leaned towards her as she sat in her seat, his voice dropping slightly but growing sharper. "Two damaged fishing vessels and a handful of lost cargo do not constitute a breakdown of our maritime trade."

    Arkanos''s gaze lingered on her as he continued, "And yet, you speak of economic devastation. Shall I take this as an oversight on your part, or perhaps something else?"

    A sharp sound echoed through the room as Grand Vizier Cedric Raine slammed his hand down, his face red with frustration and a touch of anger.

    "P-Preposterous!" he stammered. "Why would we falsify our reports to Your Majesty?"

    Arkanos''s gaze narrowed on Cedric with an intensity that seemed to drain the room of warmth. He let the silence hang for a moment, then spoke, his voice dangerous yet calm.

    "Are you insinuating that I, the emperor, am lying, Cedric?"

    Cedric''s face went pale as he slowly lowered himself back into his seat. His hands, which had been clenched in frustration, relaxed as he looked down, clearly shaken.

    "I-I would never dare, Your Majesty."

    Arkanos let the silence linger, his gaze hard as steel as he surveyed the assembled vassals, clasping his hands behind his back.

    "So..."

    "...will any of you care to enlighten me on what your intentions were by falsifying these reports?"

    The air in the room became tense, nearly suffocating. The vassals shifted uncomfortably, some daring to glance at one another with nervous, furtive expressions.

    Lord Damarion Calder''s fingers trembled slightly as he clutched the edge of the table, while Lady Morwen Ralford quickly looked down, avoiding Arkanos''s gaze.

    The emperor''s eyes swept over each of them. "You all sit here, painting pictures of devastation in your provinces, hoping to elicit my resources, my troops, and my aid. Yet when I question the truth of it, there is nothing but silence."

    He raised an eyebrow, waiting for someone to speak. "Tell me, are you trying to manipulate me? Or is this merely a convenient lapse in memory?"

    The tension in the room became almost unbearable, with the vassals sitting in silence, each trying to avoid Arkanos''s gaze.

    Lord Damarion Calder was the first to speak, his voice shaky.

    "Your Majesty... it was not... our intent to deceive you."

    "The... the situation in our provinces is dire, but perhaps, in our zeal to secure aid, we may have... overemphasized certain aspects."

    Arkanos''s gaze shifted to him. "Overemphasized?" he echoed.

    "Tell me, Lord Damarion, at what point does overemphasis become outright fabrication?"