He was still suffering from back pain after trying hard to ease the angry Fang last night. Mortred stretches out his back as the morning light passes on the balcony. Thankfully the snowstorm had calmed down, so the only sight that he could see was the white coat that covered the entire place and the mountainside.

A servant who just finished preparing the breakfast, kneeled towards him and left the area before he even could greet and thank her. He shook his head to take off the sleepiness that was still lingering his head and sat on one of the chairs then proceeded to take his breakfast. He was halfway through his thoughts and food when someone entered his vision.

“Milord, pardon me for disturbing your breakfast. But an imperial envoy just arrived at the gates, requesting entry and for an audience with you.” Esbern said.

This would be the eleventh imperial envoy he had received this week alone. The news of his return had quickly spread after his trolling with the Dominion envoys in Winterhold. Mirabelle also sent him hostile familiars that attacked him on sight out of frustration and anger for what he did.

“Welcome them, let them wait in the guest hall as I will have to take a bath first and change.” he said to the old man. Esbern bowed and exited the place.

He quickly finishes his food and walked down the stairs. On the way, he met the Dragon Priests that were still continuing on their research and also the scholars who mostly woke up early to start their day. Both people kneeled as he passed by. So far, a sixth of the pillar was already cleaned out while the rest were still covered with centuries’ worth of dirt that became part of the sculpted mural.

He cast a spell to survey the identities of the visitors before entering the room where they waited.

Mortred then realized as he saw through the walls that the imperial envoy was not just any representative like others before them but someone he knew. As the Bladeguards kneeled and opened the door for him, he was greeted by the imperial party. They were three imperials, a large man in full imperial plate armor with his helmet on the side of his armpit, a female mage that was a graduate of the Imperial College seeing the insignia of her cloak and a hooded figure in purple coloe. The three immediately prostrated towards him that their foreheads hugged the floor.

“Your Excellency... I thank you for granting us mortals an audience. I am Blasca Vetrard, Archmage of the Imperial College of Magic.” the female mage said.

From the way she looked at him earlier with the familiar eyes of adoration and reverence, Mortred could safely assume that this woman probably worshipped him. He was thankful that she wasnt pouring him with praises even if she would be sincere about them. And unlike the Winterhold College that disliked being connected with the imperial court, the Imperial College had had dozens of Archmages who became the ruling authority of magic in the Empire before the rise of Winterhold College and after the Civil war.

However, the next person was a stranger.

"I am Ivarreich Thornfire, Archduke of Anvil." The man in full plate armor followed.

Thornfire, one of the prominent families that ruled the central Colovian states. But Mortred was at first confused as he didn't know any reason the Archduke of Anvil would visit him except for a favor like other powerful nobles that visited him.

Then he remembered Maven's words.

Husband huh... He looks very much older. Probably in his 40s... He thought as he assumed that the Archduke may have made a deal with the princess in his marriage with her.

"And let me introduce..." The female mage said then she raised her head slightly and gestured to her side. “This is the Imperial Princess Yorr Veneia Mede, rightful heir to the imperial throne and sovereign of the Imperial Crown Region.”

A young girl on her teens that was under the hooded mail armor raised her face towards him. It was a new face but he could still smell the trailing fragrance that he was familiar with.

"Your Excellency." The girl bowed.

He nodded at them and gestured them to the free chairs.

"You can now take a seat."

Three of them accepted his offer and took a seat which the princess sat on the center while the two sat on each chairs on both of their sides. There was still room on the large cushion seat beside the princess but this made him know that the two respected the position of the princess. What he didn't expect was the support of the Imperial College towards the princess. He was now interested in what they had to tell him or offer.

“Your excellency, it is a great pleasure to see you again.” the princess smiled.

“After hearing what happened, I’m glad you’re still fine also.” he gazed at her mature face that had grown from the lovable face which he once loved to pinch in the past. "First I had to apologize for not being present at that time. I could've done something if I was there."

He was referring to he assassination of her father, the emperor.

"No your excellency, you are not responsible for every life in the empire." She gently shook her head. "Such is the life in the imperial court."

Mortred looked at her glooming figure. She was once one of the brightest and cheerful person he had met, she would always ask for stories, the tales from his contract during his time as an adventurer and avid curiosity on dragons, while having sparkling eyes. Now all that he saw was eyes of an adult, who saw the reality of the world around her.

"You can just address me like what you always had princess." He said.

At first she displayed a surprised face, then smoothly transformed into a cheerful childish smile again, as if she was glad to hear what he said.

"Then I shall... Teacher."

But in those eyes, he could still sense a bit of innocence that he used to spoil a lot. He laughed lightly. Remembering the memories he had while tutoring the princess when she was still little.

"Uhh... Teacher?"

"Don't mind me. I just remembered your former spoiled self in the past that because I haven't seen you since after teaching you, it was still fresh in my memories."

"Muuu..." She pouted.

Now he felt that the atmopshered had lightened from it's former serious tone. Then he looked at the other two who were still quiet. They were probably being respectful to the princess or just agreed earlier to give the princess the power on this dialogue.

“By the way, teacher.” as the young princess called him. “I would have loved to be present at the time you had your talks with the Dominion agents.”

“Oh you heard about that? It seems fast.” he was surprised. It wasnt that long for him since that escapade had happened.

“One of my agents told me on how you kicked out the Dominion envoys that they were so humiliated that they demanded an immediate audience with the High Queen right after. But due to the rising tension between the claimants of the throne, they failed to make one and had to get back to their temporary embassy on Cyrodiil.” She giggled.

Mortred then was glad that his prank on Mirabelle bore fruit. The Dominion had now temporarily left Skyrim, allowing his subordinates and people to freely move without any interference or fear of surveillance. Without a safe haven, the elves were not willing to risk themselves in getting killed in a ruined base. This will give Maven and others extra time to subjugate the powerful clans and merchants that had tied themselves with the Dominion here in Skyrim. But this will make the issue in the Imperial capital even more complicated.

“So are the rumors true?” Mortred asked. “Do you also desire the imperial throne?”

He honestly never thought that the curious innocent princess that he used to spoil and tease would gain the ambition to take the throne from her brothers. She was raised as an obedient and caring daughter that she loved her family more than anything. Her brothers would also compete in spoiling her by buying her clothes and expensive jewelries in their every visit which mostly made her uncomfortable as time goes by. That's why Mortred was also partially shocked to know about her sudden change in character. Something must have happened to her and her brothers. And he suspected that it wasnt due to the assassination of their father.

“Yes.” the princess gloomily replied.

“If you were forced-”

He leaned closer and was about to offer when the princess raise her hand to stop him.

“No I am not and that’s why I am here also.” she said. “Teacher… I am here to personally ask of you… I want you to join us. With you supporting our faction, we would win every needed supporters to win the throne without any bloodshed and violence. In exchange for your support, once I sat on the throne, I will use my imperial authority to support your expeditions, and prioritize your words in times of conflict. And give you any position in the court if you wish. Of course, it includes lands, titles and trade priority."

Mortred mulled for a moment. Only few people knew of his identity as the Dragonborn. And among those people were the imperial family due to his friendship with the former emperor when he was still an adventurer. And she was not the first to visit him with this offer. Her brothers also sent their own envoys who offered wealth, connection and power. One of them even offered the chancellor position. They all knew that the support of the mythical Dragonborn would tremendously help their standing and increase the public support.

Skyrim and High Rock would immediately stand behind him due to his half Breton and Nord heritage. After all, he was the only known Demigod of both Nord and Breton Pantheon that currently walked on Tamriel with mortals.

The Colovian states of Cyrodiil would also bow down from their divisions due to their ancient oath towards the Dragonborn.

Hammerfell would probably return to the Imperial control willingly due to his Blood Bond Pact with their princes, although as equal to the future Emperor Mede that he will support.

Black Marsh will also stand with his side due to his deal with the Hists. The argonians had a mysterious sense of pride everytime he asked for their service.

The only provinces that would not move if he supports any of the claimants would be Valenwood, Elswyr and Morrowind. The former two were already under Dominion control while Morrowind would just take an indifferent stance.

Morrowind wasn't hostile to Mortred, but he just accepted the fact that they probably still couldn't forgive him from excavating their former capital without their consent. He knew that he was at fault so he sent several diplomatic envoys from Skyhaven and Winterhold to apologize for his behavior but they only ignored his attempts. They never asked any reparations for the damages that he had done on their ancestral city so he would probably had a hard time in trying to appease them. And the powerful clans would not do anything stupid once they know that the empire became united again under the new emperor from the Mede Dynasty.

“But will the nobles even acknowledge me? After all no one knew the real face of the Dragonborn except you and your brothers among the Imperial Court?” He asked.

‘’But me and my brothers know. They would not even dare deny your identity even if you will stand against them by supporting another claimant. The nobles would believe on our words. Please, teacher. I want to end this all without fighting anyone… especially my brothers.” she begged and bowed deeply.

He sighed.

“You should know of all people that your eldest brother was the one who was groomed to be the rightful heir. Even during my tutelage, I told you this many times and you even supported it. But why change now?” he asked her.

It must have been a sensitive question as he was met with silence for several seconds that he turned to the quiet companions of the princess for an answer. They both just shook their heads until she spoke again.

“Both brother… both of my eldest brothers were actually planning to make peace with the Dominion.” she revealed.

Mortred was surprised and was about to show a frown but stopped himself and made a stoic face instead.

“Isn’t that for the best then? A peace with the altmer?” he displayed a serious face although it was actually a sarcasm with a bit of test to know the reason.

“Teacher, please…” She rolled her eyes as if she saw through his sarcasm. “I am not a naïve girl anymore. I know more than anyone else that as long as the Thalmor have the authority over the Dominion, peace will never exist even after they conquer the entire continent. I already know that much that they will stop at nothing in cleansing the continent of us, humans.”

This, Mortred agrees with.

"True... But how will you then face the Dominion if you become the Empress?" He asked the final question at every imperial envoy that visited.

Aldmeri Dominion was never the problem for Mortred. It was the Thalmor which was mostly the source of his headaches. He personally considered these extremists elven elitists more dangerous than Daedric cults. He could've just sent several dragons to burn Summerset Isles and Alinor to the ground but doing so would prove the words of Hermaeus Mora about him. This hesitation and indecisiveness in rooting out the problem in one stroke was always reminded by Maven. Something she always use to mock his principles.

Daedric Prince of Hypocrisy, as she had called him. With disgust, anger and disappoinment, she would always scratch this sore side of his personality. So he decided to let the empire deal with the Thalmor ever since. But unfortunately, the empire under the Mede Emperor, had become weakened to ever strike such blow. The injuries that it suffered during the Great War was still bleeding. Time could heal them but he knew the Thalmor will not give it to the empire. He sighed again as he stared to the Princess for her answer.

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The princess was silent for several seconds but this time she didn't break eye contact with Mortred. Then she opened her mouth.

"I will do the same on what Emperor Reman did in the past. I will end this war and unite Tamriel under one banner again. This includes all landmasses that surrounds Tamriel." The princess declared.

"You'll become the next conqueror?" He asked.

"If thats what it takes to bring peace then I shall become one." The princess replied.

"And if I don't support you? What will you do? Surely you didn't put all your eggs in one basket."

The princess went silent for a while then looked straight to Mortred.

"We will still continue with our plans to unite the empire and the continent under a single banner. Blasca, could you please."

The Archmage then answered the request of the princess and continued on her behalf.

"Your Excellency... We have found the Numidium."

That single name at the end made Mortred stood from his seat, but not from anger or shock but with great interest. Finding the Numidium had been one of his greatest desire. And he spent almost three years in vain in searching for it.

"Where did you find it?"

"It was sleeping on the depths of Imperial Capital's moats. A novice imperial mage found it when he was testing his familiars to clean the moat." The Archmage answered. "Ironic isn't it? One of the most terrifying and most dangerous weapons of war that formerly conquered the entire continent was found on the most polluted part of the empire."

The Numidium, it was a colossal magical golem that could be controlled by a single person and it was used to conquer Tamriel and it neighboring continents in the past. It was so powerful that the destruction it left even damaged the time and space that still lingers even today. One of the main reasons why Summerset still have inconsistent time storms that kept most of the thalmor occupied. Although he don't need the Numidium anymore, he still couldn't deny it's importance to anyone who will try to use it for their own schemes.

As such, it's probably better to take the Numidium for himself for safekeeping. The last thing that he wanted would have it fall to the hands of the Thalmor.

As he was mulling on what to do to the ancient colossal weapon, the princess' voice entered his ears.

"And we... No... I will force you to get involved teacher."

The sudden revelation of the princess made him surprise.

"What do you mean by that?" Mortred asked with genuine interest. This was a different line from what others said to him in the previous envoys. And Mortred judged from her companion's faces that the princess didn't told them of her real plan if Mortred rejects their offer.

The Archmage showed a frowning face as if she was worrying about something that she wanted to never be uttered by the princess. And the archduke stood in anger towards his soon-to-be wife for some unknown reason after suspecting what she wanted to say.

"Princess?? Wh-" the mage wanted to ask but was interrupted by a loud voice.

"You dare?! This was not part of our agreement!!" The archduke yelled out a booming echo across the room. "It is not in our place to force His Excellency on the petty matter of mortals!"

This hostile reaction from the archduke confused Mortred even more on what kind of relationship the princess has with the archduke.

In his long encounter with cultists and religious zealots, he sensed something similar with the archduke. But Mortred felt that this zealousness was aimed towards him than the princess or the throne. Before Mortred could also ask more about it, the princess replied with a stoic face, indifferent of the raging armored noble looking down on her and as if also, prepared to strike her down.

"Don't worry my dear husband, teacher will still retain what he wants to do." Then she turned back to Mortred who were just waiting interestingly on what she will say next. But she suddenly protested again, with shaking shoulders.

In quaking words she continued.

"Teacher, I will offer you the empire itsel- no, I beg you... Please take it... Take the Ruby Throne."

Silence lingered on the room upon uttering the last words, until she broke the stillness.

"I've seen everything. I've read every history books and every Kings and queens in the past. You taught me of how to survive the court. But I don't want to survive it. I want to live! I want everyone to live! But with every Kings and Queens that sat on the Ruby Throne, all directed the empire into ruin. It was proven that mortals will always be corrupted by the power, if they couldn't, then they would only be used to maintain it. My father was no exceptions, no- in fact he was one of the proofs that mortals could never rightfully use this power. But there's an exception. Yes."

She looked at him directly on his eyes with great resolve and sense of longing.

"Talos... And the other God Kings. This was the only thing that we have missed in our long history. A mortal who will sit on the Ruby Throne will only become slave to it. But a God...a God will rule it!

She breathed deeply and made another statement.

"Please become our God Emperor!"

At first there was silence between them. And all of them could hear the grinding teeth if the archduke and the nervous breathing of the imperial archmage. All of them patiently waited for Mortred's answer.

Then a loud laughing voice echoed through the halls.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" He laughed right after she muttered her statement which the princess got angry and pouted again at his unexpected reaction.

"Hahahahaha...haa... Sorry... Sorry... I didn't mean to offend your resolve." He tried to appease her bloating red cheeks. He breathed deeply and then stood.

"Teacher?" She got afraid that he would be rejecting her.

Then he walked past her seat and went towards the wide open window of the room. After probably thinking to himself for a short time that felt forever for the princess and her companions who were waiting for his answer, he turned and faced them.

"I haven't told this to anyone yet so you three will be the first people to know about this. Not even the previous envoys sent by your brothers were told about this."

The three immediately got curious with those words, prepared themselves.

"I apologized princess but I will not accept your offer."

She showed a downcasted look. She tried to hide her pained expression as she looked to the floor, enduring the incoming tears from being rejected.

Her companions displayed dejected smiles as if they already expected this.

"Because your father offered something to me first." He grinned.

The princess and her companions immediately raised their dejected faces at his statement and got confused.

"Mede offered, no- it's probably more accurate to say that he begged, hahahaha. Your father asked me to... Take his Empire." His grin turned into a laughing smile. "And I accepted."

The princess got a wide open eyes with his revelation.

"So I can't accept your offer when I already accepted your father's."

Blasca who was silent for the entire talk, finally spoke.

"Your Excellency! Does that mean-"

"It seems that I will be retaking the Ruby Throne." He declared with a sigh of concession as if he gave up on something. Then he turned towards them who gazed at him with great happiness.

After just muttering those words, the three kneeled at the same time.

"I, Blasca of House Vetrard, Archmage of the Imperial College of Magic. Swears fealty to the new Dragonborn Emperor." The female mage said with reverence.

"I, Ivarreich of House Thornfire offer the loyalty and existence of myself and my family in service to the new Dragonborn Emperor!" The armored husband of the princess yelled with sincerity.

Mortred raised his brow, thinking whether they even have loyalty for the princess. Then he also saw the shaking figure of the young girl that he used to teach.

"I, Yorr Veneia of House Mede." The princess's voice shivered. But not with fear but with unfiltered excitement. "Offer my life and soul to the new Dragonborn Emperor."

He grinned again and puffed up his chest.

"And I accept."

The three then protested to the ground in reaction to his acceptance. The princess who endured her tears earlier, couldn't handle it anymore and wept in happiness. Her companions were also shaking in glee for this news.

Mortred then returned to his seat without disturbing their celebrative mood. And waited for them to finish. As they raised their heads towards him, he smiled.

"Right now, I am preparing for an expedition which may take me 2-3 years at most. As such, your father's request will be delayed for now. So I need your help to help stabilize the empire while I'm gone. I cannot take the throne yet until I return. You three will be my agents and in charge of announcing my claim."

"YES!" The three yelled their answer.

"Let's discuss first on how you will handle it from here while I'm gone."

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After talking and giving meticulous commands to the three in his plan to takeover the empire, the three left with obvious delight on their faces.

Mortred still couldn't understand why would anyone be happy in serving him. Even now with the armies of fanatical undead draugrs at his command and dragon priests obeying his every word. He never felt this kind of feeling towards anyone before so he was both curious and always wanted to know such feeling.

Roleplaying as a god was at first awkward and uncomfortable when he first had to do it. Now, it got to the point of being used to it but with no knowledge on why they worshiped him. He would understand if what they felt towards him were just admiration or gratitude to a person who saved them but for him, it felt even deeper that he couldn't fathom. Even the dragons couldn't explain such a thing much less his loyal dragon priests. Because for them, it's as natural as breathing to them.

When he asked Maven about this, she just looked at him with a disappointed and disgusted look as if she was looking at a slug.

He shook his head gently and decided to focus on his preparations. Now that the issue about the empire will be temporarily held by the faction of the princess, he would be able to continue with his planned expedition.

Mortred was about to return to his room when he saw Fang walking towards him. Before he could say anything, she disappeared from his sight and felt a painful feeling on the gut. Fang morphed a giant fist of rock on the floor and accurately struck his solar plexus. He bended over as his body tries to fix the damage then saw two feet standing in front of him. As he raised his pained face, he saw the pouting face of Fang. It seemed that he did something wrong again. And he remembered that he actually swore to never leave her side without her knowing for the entire week as part of his punishment for leaving her previously.

"Kehak! Yeah... sorry." He coughed and apologized to Fang. "I've got visitors earlier so I forgot."

Fang then grabbed the back of his clothes and dragged him to the hanging balcony of the mountain temple. He was confused at her actions until she pushed him on his back towards the floor. But instead of the expected painful slam on his body, he fell to soft and cloudy feeling. It was a thick fur made from the fluffy sheep wool. But he was still confused on the reason why he was lying face down on such comfortable floor. Then he felt someone straddling on his back. Fang pushed him down again and forcibly pulled up his upper clothes until he was half naked.

He grinned as he thought that she wanted to do naughty things in the open on broad daylight, but was surprised when she started massaging his back. He decided to let her do what she wants and closed his eyes in comfort. Fang would only do this to him if she was troubled by something or worried but she cannot reveal what it was. A habit that he always received during their previous expedition. It was different from Zet's type of soft massage. Fang's fingers dug deep into his skin and fat until it reached the muscles and nerves. It would look painful to anyone who would see them but for Mortred, it was a strange feeling of relief and comfort. As if he was slowly losing his body parts where she was massaging and melting. She kept repeating this to his entire back until she felt satisfied. Mortred assumed that they probably spent more than four hours together in this balcony with no one interrupted them.

But even after that, she still kept straddling on his back. As if she was waiting for something from him. He probably had an idea on what it was and opened his mouth.

"I will be needing you again this time Fang." He said which he felt her stopping what she was doing and listened to him. "This will be even more dangerous now. As I never stepped in those lands. Not even the Daedric Princes knew what's going on in that place after the failed invasion in Akavir."

He knew that something had happened on the former lands of the Dragons. Not even Paarthunax or even any dragons under his sovereign had any idea after their kin left the place. He could only assume that something else had taken shelter in that place that challenged the might of the dragons and won. And this was more dangerous than the Dragon Conflict.

Fang then silently massaged his shoulders, gently as if telling him to continue.

"You still have your mission right? I wouldn't mind if you wound not-"

Before he could even continue with his words, he felt a sudden increase in warmth on his back. She hugged him tightly.

He smiled in relief as he understood her answer.

"Thank you." He held one of her hands that circled on his neck. "I promise, we will visit your homeland together after this."

Then someone finally interrupted their sweet time together. Two Blade soldiers appeared on the door where they came from and kneeled.

"Your Excellency! Forgive us for disturbing you! A vampire who named herself as Arlene is requesting for an audience at the gates!"

Mortred sighed in relief as he stood with Fang still clinging on his back.

"Finally! We can start what this mess is going to be about!" He grinned. "Let them in, lead them to the Emerald Hall."

The two soldiers bowed again in accepting his orders and left quickly.

"Well, let's go meet this guide of ours... Shall we?"

Mortred returned with Fang now on his side as she playfully refused to get off his back until they reached the entrance to one of the largest halls in Skyhaven. It was called Emerald Hall due to the countless emerald in the ceiling and halls that lights the entire hall both during daytime and night time.

There he arrived at the sight of kneeling Arlene and another man which he sensed to be on the same age as Fang but appeared to be as old as Esbern. As he drew closer, he saw his closed eyes which he frowned and assumed that Shin was probably blind and the peculiar facial features that wasn't present in the races of men of Tamriel. Slit eyes, peach skin, and shorter stature. The very distinct appearance of Akaviri people that he found in statues in their underground cities. Even the smallest imperial was probably higher than this man. Then Mortred assumed that it's probably due to aging that this man became shorter. Although he also didn't expect that the statues were actually that accurate in their depiction of the humans in Akavir.

He waved his hands towards the several Blade soldiers in the hall which they all quickly understood. They bowed again and left one by one until only four people were left inside the great hall.

Mortred sat on top of the table behind him while Fang leaned back at the edge of the table. Both faced the still kneeling figure of Arlene and the stranger. He was about to start until Mortred remembered that the body of the old man probably can't handle kneeling for any longer so he first let them in ease.

"Milord-"

"Please both of you, take a seat first." Mortred said.

Arlene stood after hearing what her sovereign told her and assisted the old man to one of the seat nearby and sat on another.

"Milord, this is Shin." Arlene introduced the man beside her. "He is the Akaviri that I told you about."

Mortred turned to gaze at the man.

"Shin, this is master-"

Mortred stopped her by raising his hand and leaned closer.

"Master Shin. I am Mortred Ubbelisk, Sovereign Lord of Arlene." Mortred introduced himself. "I am honestly pleased to finally meet a real Akavir in person."

"No, it is nothing compared to what your people did in saving my life." Shin bowed towards him, Mortred could see that Shin was using his sense of hearing to survey his surroundings.

Then he asked.

"Master Shin, pardon me for being insensitive... But what happened to your eyes?"