The next day, Thaddeus, Sabrina, Owen, and Lillian were scheduled to attend the Imperial Award Ceremony. The ceremony was simply a public announcement of the awards already granted by the emperor. The award ceremony was meant to publicly honor the NPCs and players who supported the emperor’s side throughout the civil war.
Thaddeus also suspected it was a way for Heaven’s Gate to drum up more publicity. At work, the marketing department was a buzz of activity during the civil war. Gameplay and media ratings shot up, bringing renewed interest to in-game politics. Players and fans alike wanted to know which players became entitled and which gained the ire of the new emperor.
Thaddeus didn’t care about all this. Attending the coronation and imperial ball was enough. He already reached his fill of pomp and circumstance and was ready to return to Woodhaerst.
‘Alfred, how’s the construction going?’
“Well, sir. The brothers are making steady progress. Your expanding settlement has also gained the attention of Pine Grove traders. You gained 15% completion on Tier 2: Trade Fair Grounds.”
‘Alfred, show me.’
Mercantile Skill Tree
Tier 1: Burgeoning Market: Upon completion improves Basic Negotiation by 5%.
* General Store: Open mercantile skill tree and grants access to goods for local citizens.
* Trading Post: Allow basic trade with neighboring settlements
* Local Market: Boosts quality and production of local goods.
Tier 2: Regional Trade: Upon completion improves Basic Negotiation by 5%.
* City Marketplace: Central hub for local businesses and regional traders.
* Trade Caravans: Ability to trade caravans with nearby settlements for better deals.
* Trade Fair Grounds: Annual or seasonal trade fairs attracting regional traders.
‘Alfred, what is the completion percentage on the marketplace?’
“95% complete. Your next cultural points will unlock this skill, allowing you to place marketplaces in your village.”
‘Good. As soon as the marketplace is complete, invest the cultural points in Trade Fair Ground,’
“Very well, sir.”
‘I was so tempted to purchase the marketplace from Huey earlier, it looks like I made the right choice to wait and save some gold,” Thaddeus thought, agreeing with his early decision.
The award ceremony was held in the Grand Hall. Where last night’s Imperial Ball was held. The Grand Hall was twice as large as the throne room, so Thaddeus was able to bring Sabrina with him this time.
Last night’s decorations were replaced, but the golden chandeliers, and velvet draperies, remained. At the end of the hall, now sat a regal throne in front of the heraldry of the empire.
Excited and nervous nobles from all races and regions gathered in anticipation of the Emperor's awards ceremony. It was an event that would mark a new era in the aftermath of the civil war, a redrawing of political boundaries.
Thaddeus, freshly entitled Baron of Woodhaerst, stood tall beside Owen, whose Viscount nobility had been restored. The room was abuzz with excitement, whispers of who would rise and who would fall. Thaddeus could feel the weight of the occasion, the heavy hand of history about to be dealt.
“Entering his imperial majesty Emperor Regulus Albus Aurelius van Conifer,” shouted the Royal Steward as the nobles in attendance bowed or curtsied.
Emperor Regulus, regal, and stern ascended the podium, his eyes sweeping the room before he sat on the throne.
“Begin,” Emperor Regulus said curtly.
“At once your imperial majesty,” bowed the Royal Steward who began reading aloud the list of award nobles and their gains.
Emperor Regulus personally awarded the first 200 players and NPCs with pleasantries. The first to be awarded was Odin, followed by the Mythical Guild main raid party. Emperor Regulus had an affection for the strongest players and NPCs who freed him from prison and helped him retake the throne.
The other awardees' names were only read aloud. People listened closely for the second when their name was read before Royal Steward moved down the list. When it was his turn, the Royal Steward quickly mentioned his name, noble title, location of his barony, and permission to buy a manor in Redwood’s noble district. This felt pointless to Thaddeus, but Sabrina was thrilled when his name read. She jumped up and down and kissed his cheek.
Three hours later the Royal Steward read the last name, bowed to the nobles, and took his place behind the emperor.
Then Emperor Regulus stood up, his stern voice filled the Grand Hall once more, and the buzz of conversation dimmed as all eyes turned to him. He stood tall and dignified, his presence commanding attention.
"My loyal subjects," he began, his voice resonant and strong. "Today we gather not only to acknowledge the merit of those who loyally supported me but to look forward to a new chapter in our glorious kingdom."
He paused, letting his words sink in, his eyes sweeping across the room, settling on the newly entitled and reinstated nobles, including Thaddeus and Owen.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"I thank each and every one of you who backed me during the civil war," he continued, his voice filled with gratitude. "Your unwavering loyalty, your courage, and your commitment to justice have not gone unnoticed. It was a time of great turmoil, a time that tested our bonds and our faith in one another."
A hush fell over the room, memories of the war's dark days fresh in everyone's minds.
"But we emerged stronger, united by a common purpose and shared values," the Emperor went on, his voice rising with conviction. "And now, we must work together to rebuild, to heal the wounds of the past, and to forge a bright future for our people."
The room erupted into applause, a wave of hope and determination sweeping through the assembled nobles. Thaddeus joined in, clapping vigorously, his heart filled with a renewed sense of purpose.
Emperor Regulus raised his hand, quieting the crowd. "I look forward to working closely with each of you," he said, his eyes twinkling with sincerity.
"Now, let it be known," he began, his words cutting through the air like a blade, "that betrayal comes with a price. To those who chose to back my usurper brother, to those who sought to tear this kingdom apart, know this: Your actions have not been forgotten."
A chill settled over the room, and Thaddeus could feel the tension rising, a stark contrast to the unity and optimism that had filled the hall just moments before.
"The titles you once held, the houses you once commanded, the businesses you once owned—all are now the property of the empire," Emperor Regulus declared, his voice unyielding. "Your wealth, your influence, your very status have been stripped away."
He paused, his eyes sweeping over the fallen nobles, some of whom shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny.
"You have been snuffed out like candlelight," he continued, his voice dripping with contempt. "Your legacies have been extinguished; your names erased from the annals of history."
He raised his hand as if to emphasize his point. "Let this be a warning to all who would dare defy the rightful ruler of this land. Let this be a lesson to those who would plot and scheme in the shadows."
The room was silent now, the weight of his words settling like a heavy cloak. In that silence, the Royal Steward returned with a new list of names. He read aloud the names and properties of fall nobles and their inheritance.
To Thaddeus' surprise, his name was read aloud a second time.
“Earl von Brown and family are hereby stripped of title and property. All property, including the capital manor, ancestral county, and holdings are hereto transferred to Thaddeus Brown.”
Shock gripped Thaddeus' face. A chill ran down Thaddeus' spine. His fictional backstory came back to bite him again. He could feel people glaring at him maliciously. He could see Sabrina, Huey, and Owen staring at him in surprise. Moreover, he saw an angry group of people staring daggers at him.
Turning away from them, he faced the Royal Steward. Two hours later, the Royal Steward finished reading again. However, this time he didn’t move and waited for the emperor to speak again.
"But let it also be known," Emperor Regulus added, his voice softening slightly, "that those who seek redemption, those who show true remorse, may yet find a path back into my embrace. Loyalty, once lost, can be regained, but it will not be easy. It will require sacrifice, humility, and a commitment,” the emperor said, standing up, and walking out of the Great Hall.
Emperor Regulus's eyes narrowed, his gaze turning to a different section of the Grand Hall where the fallen nobles were gathered. His voice once filled with warmth and gratitude, now turned cold and stern.
He turned away, his message delivered, a warning and a promise, a line drawn in the sand.
The hall erupted into whispers, the mood somber and reflective. The Emperor's words were a stark reminder of the fragility of power, the consequences of betrayal, and the complex dance of politics and allegiance.
As soon as the emperor left, Owen who stood next to him, said, “Well that was a surprise, I didn’t know you were related to the Browns,”
“On my father’s side, but they kick us out because I’m a halfling,” Thaddeus cringed as he repeated his fictional background.
Next to him, Sabrina laughed. She knew his ‘troubled’ family history always came back to bite him. Once she thought of creating her own family history, but after hearing Thaddeus' complaints, she decided not to.
“Greetings nephew, I remember when your father came home with news of you. The family was so excited. It’s a shame my brother decided to leave the family. We worried about you so often, thank the gods it's so great to see you again,” said a small brown-haired man reaching out to hug him.
“There’s no need to hug,” cautioned Thaddeus', whose large muscular build towered over the small man.
“Well let your grandmother hug you at least,” said a frail, wrinkly, white-haired woman.
“Let’s not pretend, we’re close. I know my father was kicked out of the family for eloping with my mother. I know how you mocked him for having a halfling as a son,” said Thaddeus feigning anger, and left with Sabrina in tow.
“You will either grants us living expenses, or we’ll have no other recourse than to sue emotional distress,” yelled his aunt across the hall, pointing her bony figure at him, as he walked out the room.
...
“Damn that mud blood. How can he deny his family when we’re in need?” questioned Thaddeus' uncle’s wife.
“Emperor Regulus's speech to the fallen nobles added another layer of complexity to our situation,” agreed his uncle tapping his fingers on the table as the thought.
The Brown family met in their manor’s dining room to discuss their future. The harsh realities of supporting the emperor’s younger brother were proving to be difficult. The consequences of disloyalty were worse than expected.
With Emperor's edicts sealed, the Brown Family was broke and soon to be evicted. Their bank accounts were frozen and were treated as social pariahs.
They had no choice but to petition, James’ son. The favored heir, whom everyone admired, fell in love with a Bearkin and married her. The shock and disappointment were great, his family had little recourse to expel him from the family to save their embarrassment. Now they were almost at the point of groveling.
“We should petition the emperor; the Browns are an old imperial nobility. We might convince the Emperor to reinstate our nobility. They spoke of legal threats, of lawsuits, but also of reconciliation. They were willing to take him as a branch family if he aided them,” the grandmother advised.
Later that evening, the former Earl von Brown and thousands of fall nobles petitioned the emperor for reinstatement. They all swore fealty but were blocked by palace guards from entering the throne room.
Outside the throne room, the fallen nobles cursed and yelled hoping to gain the emperor’s attention and pity.
“Noble let's join forces and attack the inept emperor!” yelled an angry man.
“You fool, we tried that and lost,” shouted another.
“This time we’ll solicit those immortal Traveler’s support,” the angry man shot back.
“You’ll only worsen our situation. Kill him, we’ll not fall for his lies twice,” another replied.
Soon the angry mob began fighting amongst themselves. The side wanting to usurp the emperor again defended themselves against the nobles who wanted to rejoin society under the emperor.
Earl von Brown watched in disgust as blows came from all angles. Although, he was mainly disgusted that his only avenue was suing his halfling nephew. Now he just had to think up some false charges.