“That’s a really nice story there, but you must realize that you aren’t the best people to judge, are you? You’re a pansy looking for someone else to protect you, a zealous warmonger, and a greedy backstabber. Whoever this being was, chose some pretty damn bad people,” Asher said.

The ghosts fell silent, and Asher could feel their eyes on him. He knew that he had their attention now, and he had to make his case quickly before they changed their minds.

The room was silent for a moment, and then one by one, the ghosts began to nod their heads in agreement. Asher could feel the tension in the room easing, and he knew that he had done what he had set out to do.

“We were real people with different experiences of the world and the land we ruled. It may be true that in life we had been poor leaders, but we tried. That’s why only aspects of us should be in the ones who rule next,” Diyi retorted.

"Oh, I don’t really care. I’m just here to see that the empress gets out of here in one piece,” Asher said nonchalantly, pretending to scan the room for any signs of danger.

Aini had a strange sense of gratefulness and felt the weirdest sense of comfort knowing that Asher, of all people, was here to protect her. She was still coming to terms with the fact that she was now the empress of the Empire of Alaran, and it was a role that she had never expected to have.

“So, Empress, tell us your story, then. How have you come to power, and at such a young age? Was your father killed, assassinated by jealous people who wanted his power? Or did you do it, as I have done to my own father?” Liangci asked, her eyes narrowing as he spoke.

“Well-“ Aini wanted to start, but before she could say anything, Asher cut in, eager to share the story.

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“Let me, it’s gonna be a lot faster,” he said, and launched into a detailed explanation of how Aini had taken over the empire, her rise to power and the challenges that she had faced along the way.

The ghosts listened intently, their eyes fixed on Asher as he spoke. When he had finished, there was a moment of silence as they took it all in.

“Yeah, that’s a lot,” Yisang was the first to say, his voice soft and thoughtful.

“Oh no, all of that is so sad to hear and Emperor Wo Chongbaini dead? Madness taking him over because of the death of his wife? Killed by his own hand. Huh, what a sad and ultimately tragic tale! Just like the stories they act out in theater,” Liangci faked sadness to an overwhelming degree, “I liked him when he came here, oh so long ago, it took us days to reach a decision.”

“Because, at least back then, he was an asshole,” Diyi insulted, his voice dripping with disdain, “He was a pampered, weak, no-good son of the most privileged family the empire has ever had, filled with incestuous dunces and, as you already know, back-stabbing sons of bitches.”

“True,” Asher said, nodding in agreement.

Aini couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that they were all talking so openly and honestly. She knew that these ghosts were essential if she was to succeed as empress.

“And you, young elf, helped her?” Liangci asked, turning his gaze towards Asher.

“Yep,” Asher replied, his voice calm and collected.

“At least you did something good,” Diyi said to Aini, “rallying the people who had lost all that was theirs and taking over the whole empire from the hand of those who ruled before must have taken at least some skill. She had my approval.”

“And how did she take out the syndicates? Not just with brute force, I hope,” Liangci said.

“No, with the help of spies, she figured out when a meeting was held where all the leaders of the different branches would attend all at the same time. Ironically, it was about how to stop her and her band from disrupting their works.” Asher explained.

Liangci chuckled, “she has my approval, even more so than her father or grandfather had.”

“Rooting out the evil and filth that had corrupted the empire for so long is admirable. Destroying them and their works until nothing was left was the best decision she could have made for the empire and people. And so has also earned my approval.” Yisang gave his approval at last.