In the Council Room

Emperor Maximus Libertas sat at the head of the grand council table, surrounded by nobles and religious leaders, all seated around him. The atmosphere in the council room was tense and silent. Every gaze was fixed on the door, awaiting the arrival of Prince Lucius, who had yet to appear.

Maximus noticed the expressions of the nobles, which began to show signs of displeasure and disappointment toward Prince Lucius, who had not yet arrived. He knew that he could not allow such an atmosphere to continue, as it would only worsen Lucius’s image in the eyes of the nobles. Thus, he decided to change his plan, beginning the discussions with his advisors and other nobles to find a way to resolve the current crisis.

“Let us discuss other matters first,” Maximus said in a calm yet authoritative tone. “The current situation is not favorable. The port at SophiaOld has suffered severe damage. The supply routes to the northern army have been disrupted. We must repair the port and the ships as quickly as possible.”

As everyone in the room listened intently, Sir Alaric, who had brought the message from SophiaOld, stood up to provide additional information. “At the moment, the port at SophiaOld is severely lacking the timber needed for repairs. We cannot procure the wood in time. This delay could have a significant impact on the stability of our forces in the northern territories.”

Upon hearing this, the nobles began to ponder and exchange opinions loudly. Many spoke of the need to immediately procure timber. Some suggested using the stockpile of wood in the capital, Eternaland, while others argued, “We have already used much of that wood to repair the damage in the capital from the incidents half a month ago. If we use more, it will not be enough for the city’s needs.”

The discussions continued loudly for some time until Viscount Honorus Justic spoke up in a reasoned voice, “Perhaps we should consider sourcing the timber from places other than the capital, Eternaland. I am thinking of the city of Salvaren, which is located south of the capital. This city has abundant timber resources and is relatively close. If we can contact the lord of Salvaren and negotiate an agreement for them to send timber, we might solve this problem in time.”

Viscount Honorus Justic, a tall, slender man with a sharp face and light brown eyes that always sparkled with intelligence, made his suggestion, and everyone in the room began nodding in agreement. Many began seriously considering this plan.

Maximus listened to the proposal with interest, slowly formulating a new plan in his mind. He knew that this was an opportunity to solve both the supply issue and Lucius’s image problem. Rising from his seat, he declared in a firm voice, “I agree with Viscount Justic’s suggestion, and I have decided that I will send Prince Lucius to Salvaren himself. He must meet the lord of Salvaren and negotiate for them to send timber as quickly as possible. If he succeeds, he will then travel to the city of Ilsaun, board a ship there, and go to meet Princess Valeria at Helios Castle in SolasCampo, where there are abundant forest resources, and request her help in sourcing additional timber.”

Many nobles nodded in agreement, and the Emperor’s idea was quickly accepted. Being a powerful and authoritative leader, Maximus’s words were rarely challenged.

Maximus allowed a small smile to form at the corner of his mouth. He knew that this mission could be a crucial opportunity for Prince Lucius to demonstrate his abilities and rebuild his image. Although he felt deeply disappointed in his son, he still hoped that Lucius would eventually prove himself.

As the discussions continued in the council room, a small glimmer of hope arose in Emperor Maximus’s heart. He knew he had to act swiftly to manage this problem before rumors and chaos spread further.

While he was contemplating plans to help restore his son’s image, the door to the council room suddenly opened, and Prince Lucius entered.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

When Prince Lucius stepped into the council room, filled with nobles and leaders from across the empire, the once-loud discussions immediately fell silent. All eyes turned to him, and an uncomfortable hush settled over the grand council chamber of Grandia Palace, where the walls were adorned with paintings of the Libertas family ancestors, reflecting the light from the chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling.

Prince Lucius appeared slightly disoriented, having just been brought from the luxurious brothel in Eternaland. He tried to maintain a composed expression, masking any sign of embarrassment, though deep inside, he still felt the tension of facing the leaders and nobles before him. He bore the sharp features typical of the Libertas lineage, with tousled golden-blonde curls from the previous night’s revelry, and his dark brown eyes were filled with displeasure and defiance. His clothes remained wrinkled and carried the scent of alcohol, with traces of inappropriate revelry still visible on his deep red velvet cloak that signified his royal status.

Emperor Maximus Libertas, with his golden-blonde hair and deep brown eyes, sat at the head of the table with a stern demeanor. His eyes were fixed on his firstborn son with a mix of disappointment and deep concern that was not easily visible. Surrounded by the sharp gazes of the nobles seated on either side, the father spoke with a voice that was calm but tinged with disappointment, “Prince Lucius, I summoned you here to discuss important matters, but your appearance… does it reflect your sense of responsibility?”

Prince Lucius took a deep breath, sensing his father’s displeasure. He replied softly but firmly, “Father... I understand that it is important, but I feel my opinions are never taken seriously anyway…”

Maximus frowned, and his tone began to change as he continued, “I know you are unhappy… but you must understand that this is not just about you. It concerns the whole family and the entire empire! In the past, you were enthusiastic about training, strategy, and learning… but recently, why have you become like this?”

Maximus recalled memories from the past, the image of a young Prince Lucius, a serious and eager child, training in combat at the age of five, standing beside his father in the training yard, wielding a sword with confidence. Even as a child, Lucius had shown a strong determination to learn the arts of war and governance. He still remembered his son’s eyes, once filled with hope, determination, and purpose.

But somehow, over time, those things seemed to fade away. The determination he once had seemed lost. Prince Lucius became increasingly focused on demanding to go to the front lines and distanced himself from learning about governance and politics.

Maximus sighed softly and continued with a quieter yet firm voice, “I wanted you to play a role in the capital, to expand your influence among other nobles, so they could see your skills. But it seems my ideas may not suit you at all. Lucius… I understand that being a heir is not easy, but you must stand firm for what is important to our family.”

The atmosphere in the council room grew tense again. The nobles and officials remained silent, all eyes focused on Emperor Maximus and Prince Lucius, who stood before him, as Maximus tried to make his son understand the importance of the responsibilities he had been entrusted with.

Maximus stepped forward and stopped in front of Prince Lucius, saying, “Therefore, I have decided to give you an important task.” He turned to the map on the table as he explained the plan, “The city of SophiaOld is currently in dire need of timber for repairing the port and the ships that were destroyed. If this problem is not addressed promptly, our northern army, facing battles in distant lands, may not receive supplies in time.”

Viscount Justic suggested, “The city of Salvaren is closest to the capital and has ample timber resources for ship repairs. We could send someone to negotiate with the lord there.”

Maximus nodded in agreement with Viscount Justic. He turned to Lucius with a gaze filled with expectation, “Lucius, I want you to go and negotiate. You must go to Salvaren to contact the lord and have them send the timber to SophiaOld. Then, you will continue to Ilsaun to contact Princess Valeria at Helios Castle and have her gather wood from SolasCampo and send it to us.”

Prince Lucius felt a sense of resentment and conflict within himself. He turned to look out the window, his gaze fixed on the view of the capital outside. He knew his father wanted him to prove himself, but the feeling of being overshadowed and compared to his sister, Princess Valeria, who had been sent to govern the southern territories, still lingered deep in his heart.

Maximus remained resolute, with hope in his voice, “You must show that you can be a good leader, Lucius… I know you are capable and can do it.”

The atmosphere in the council room began to relax slightly, although tension still lingered. Many nobles began to support this decision, hoping that Prince Lucius could demonstrate his abilities and become the leader they expected.

The discussions in the council room continued, with everyone preparing to face the difficult situation that could greatly impact the future of the empire and the Libertas family…