A full week has passed since the news article that set the Empire on fire. Sundenelle has been in hiding as the Capital came grinding to a halt. Somehow, most of the tradesmen of the capital have also vanished, especially magic artisans and artificers. Those that remain are among the prisoners arrested for selling, buying, and talking about the rumors from the news article, which spread unusually quickly.

But, the revelation that Sundenelle is allegedly the only legitimate heir to the Emperor’s bloodline is far from the only thing claimed in the article.

From the most reputable news source in the Imperial Capital, the declaration that the Grand Duke is the father to the Empress’s children, the forgotten children of the Crown Prince, and the assassination of the second consort and her three daughters have taken the city by storm.

Coupled with fathers, sons, mothers, and daughters being arrested simply for talking about a news article, the Empress and her faction of nobles have been fielding complaints and protests all week, while the first son of the Senior Consort has rallied soldiers to hold the Capital to ransom unless Porfaus steps down.

Imperial soldiers marched into the Capital under the Grand Duke’s orders, but he has repeatedly denied it, and it looks like war is inevitable as food stores rapidly decline within the Capital, with spoiling threatening to compound the issue even more quickly when the preservation magic devices begin failing.

Everything is collapsing quickly, and the funeral became a colossal embarrassment for the Empire and the Imperial Family.

Porfaus sits in the throne that feels heavier sitting upon it than all of the weight of the world. Everything is falling apart. His mother has been enraged, throwing a tantrum over the slightest things, while the Grand Duke is preparing for war against Porfaus’s younger half-brother. Worse yet, if the news article is to be believed, it’s still true that they are half-brothers, even if their father isn’t the Emperor, and the Grand Duke is going to battle against the Third Prince.

Thermihk still hasn’t been seen since he disappeared after allegedly poisoning Sundenelle’s mother, and likely fearing assassination, the illegitimate princess has disappeared.

“Your Highness,” speaks one of the Marquises in the audience chamber. “We need an answer. What is the truth of these claims?”

Porfaus sighs. “The Emperor’s Will hasn’t been seen by me. I have no way of verifying its authenticity. As such, we should continue onward, as I have been saying all week…”

“My contacts have confirmed that the signature presented in the article is, in fact, his Late Majesty’s signature. If we can only see the original document…”

“Enough!” snaps Porfaus. It’s been the same thing every day. The nobles are shorn almost completely in half; those fiercely loyal to the Emperor, and those who want to get the Empire back on track with Porfaus as its new emperor.

He hasn’t been able to sleep since it all started.

“Your uncle is right outside of the capital, waging war against men and women who should be pledged to the crown!” exclaims another man. “Or, perhaps I should say, your father.”

Porfaus bolts to his feet. He shouts, “The next person to mention that ridiculous news article will have their tongue pulled out!”

The room falls eerily silent. His blood is boiling, and the imperial guards are standing at the ready, with several standing between him and the nobles.

“Having trouble, Brother?” asks a woman’s voice from above. The audience chamber has an upper audience seating, mostly intended for larger audiences with all of the nobles of the Empire, as well as guests from other nations. Lower nobles and high ranking merchants would typically fill out the upper seating, and it is accessed from an upper level floor of the palace.

The woman descending the seating stairs towards the banister has blonde hair, blue eyes, and a powerful presence provided by an elegant dress adorned with plates of armor over her chest and shoulders. There is red sprayed across her chest and cheek, and she is wearing a tiara encrusted with jewels.

Seeing her nearly causes Porfaus to actually explode, but the doors opening and the sounds of metal boots marching in step causes him to only be able to shout, “YOU-...!?” before he is stupefied into silence.

Soldiers march into the throneroom with shields up, and the guards fall back to their comrades to try to rally a defense.

“What is the meaning of this!?”

“Who do you think you are!?”

The nobles all exclaim various things in panic, outrage, or simple confusion. It’s nothing short of an invasion, and the woman on the banister is watching it all play out with an icy cold smile on her face.

“I’d appreciate it if you would stop threatening to pull out the tongues of my subjects, Porfaus. I would hate to declare you a traitor.”

“You-...!” Porfaus is finally able to restart his brain, shouting, “You! How dare you call me a traitor!”

“I’m not the one pretending to be Imperial Royalty.” She steps up onto the banister, seeming to step off, which causes some of the nobles to flinch. However, her boots find footing on discs of magic energy that appear and support her weight as if they were set in stone. She descends as if walking down a spiral staircase, but with only magical steps appearing where she next steps and vanishing once she steps off of them. She walks with confidence and grace, not seeming to need a railing for balance or reassurance.

“I know you’ve all seen or heard of my little gift to Klommen last week.”

“You filthy witch!” snarls Porfaus. “What you’ve done has dishonored the Imperial Father, caused chaos in the capital, and destroyed the reputation of the Empire!”

“One does not tear down a wall because a bird defecated on it,” retorts Sundenelle bluntly, reaching the stone floor as the nobles murmur. Many of them part to allow her a straight path to the deas where Porfaus is standing. However, she doesn’t storm over to him. “The Empire will continue to stand against reputation harm. After all, many of our rivals have slandered us for generations.”

It’s only when she’s standing among them that he realizes something about the soldiers.

They have various banners; many of whom either fled the capital immediately after the funeral, or who didn’t participate at all, in spite of reports suggesting that they had arrived. Some letters were sent out by Porfaus’s ministers, but this overt treason is unheard of.

“Thank you for sending Uncle to the front lines, by the way. It made it easy to get behind him. He refused to go quietly, but he’ll stand trial for treason. Now, then, Brother; you have two choices. You will surrender and be placed on house arrest, or you can join your father in prison.”

“I am the Emperor!” snaps Porfaus, shouting, “Enough of this! Guards! Arrest her! Soldiers, you serve the Emperor! Obey me!”

No one moves, save to look around to see what’s about to happen. Sundenelle crosses her arms, frowning a little. “I’m disappointed, Brother. I always thought that you were smart enough to know when you’ve already lost.”

“Nothing has even happened yet! I haven’t lost anything! A bastard spawn of a harlot can’t be the ruler of the glorious Empire! What are you all doing!?”

“Prince Porfaus, you need to surrender…” urges a woman’s voice. The soldiers closest to the door part to allow someone through. She has vibrant auburn red hair and a gentle expression.

And, she looks very much like she has not been assassinated.

“C-Consort Thennia!? But… How!? I… I saw the remains myself!”

Thennia stops next to Sundenelle, saying softly, “I apologize for the deception, but it’s over. I have seen it myself. The will is true. It is being held until the Council of Nobles can be gathered in a secure setting to verify its authenticity.”

“How are you alive!?”

The redhead cocks her head in confusion. “Are you so certain the bodies were mine and my daughters?” She frowns softly. “There were families who were willing to sell the bodies of their loved ones to the cause, allowing Sundenelle to put us into hiding because the Grand Duke was conspiring to eliminate us.”

This causes a new stir in the nobles, and she becomes bashful. Thennia was never particularly social, so she doesn’t like being the center of attention. It’s almost a crime against nature and the goddess of beauty, since she has an angelic appearance that is difficult for men or women to look away from.

“Lies!” screams Porfaus, and a handful of nobles seem to pale and begin sweating.

“You don’t seem to understand, Brother, so let me explain to you where I've been. I was out on the front lines stopping Uncle from leading a coup of the Empire. After all, the word of Emperor Jaalsun kos Lindenmorg is law. And, his final words were to name me the one and only heir. All of the proof will be presented when court can be held, but if you wish to object even still, then I will simply finish today as a conquest of what was already mine.” She gestures her right hand, and the soldiers she brought, a combination of imperial guards, capital guards, commoner soldiers, and soldiers from territorial lords who chose her side, all react. The cornered guards who were holding the throneroom for Porfaus are ordered to drop their weapons and surrender, and it only takes a moment before most of them do. Those who remain loyal to Porfaus regroup around him to try to defend the false prince. They are surrounded and trapped, and they are far outnumbered.

“Please surrender, Prince Porfaus,” pleads Thennia. “There doesn't need to be bloodshed!”

“Keep her Grace Thennia safe,” orders Sundenelle as she draws her sword. This prompts the soldiers to close ranks around Thennia, while Sundenelle steps forward. “One of us here has the same magic affinities as Imperial Father, Brother.” She creates a shield of light on her left forearm. Jaalsun and his generals loved telling the impressionable princess stories of the Emperor’s feats in battle. They nicknamed him “Emperor Blacksun” even when he was still a prince due to his favored combat magic.

Finishing her imitation of her esteemed father, Sundenelle channels dark magic into her sword. A black, flame-like aura ignites around the blade, flickering and licking at the air just like fire. The clashing magic elements create an eerie, intimidating flicker of light and shadows on her face as she stands at the ready for battle.

“Shall we duel, Brother?”

Porfaus looks at the guards around him, who are waiting for his orders, but they are on edge. A dark magic blade can cut through most metals, and a glancing hit on flesh will bleed near-endlessly for a very long time, making the wounds extremely difficult to treat. The dark magic left behind also interferes with healing magic, meaning even a scratch can prove lethal.

If he resists, all of the guards will die. Knowing Sundenelle, though, she won’t just kill Porfaus, nor is she likely to torture him once she is Empress. She reported the existence of his children, but then took them into hiding with her. And, she staged the assassination of Thennia to apparently prevent her from actually being killed.

Now, she is standing before almost the entirety of the upper nobility of the Empire bearing the same combat style as the Emperor himself, carrying on the legacy of the great Blacksun himself.

“Stand down,” orders Porfaus.

“Your Majesty?”

The prince shakes his head. His blood is finally no longer boiling, and he has been met with the sobering disappointment of reality.

Sundenelle’s knights close in on them, disarming the guards and arresting the prince.

Once they’re in custody, Sundenelle bursts out a deep exhale like she was holding her breath, and both the light magic shield and dark magic flames vanish together. She drops to her hands and knees, coughing, and blood drips from her nose.

Realizing what just happened, Porfaus asks, “Y-... You were bluffing?”

She grins as she looks up, her face looking rather pitifully weak with dark rings having already formed under her eyes and blood running down across her mouth and dripping off of her chin. She replies rather smugly, “I can use the magic that much, at least.”

Porfaus’s knees give out as well, and he drops to the floor, still held by the knights. He can’t help but laugh, feeling the weight of the throne suddenly crumbling off of his back. Only now does he realize that it was all a farce. If the Emperor was still alive, none of these things would have mattered, and Porfaus would have continued never considering the idea of sitting on the throne wearing a gaudy crown.

Stolen story; please report.

Sundenelle has spent the last two weeks bracing herself and preparing, and she managed to rally a great deal of support on her own, even with the stigma she bears as the ‘Bastard Princess’.

Porfaus never belonged on the throne. He didn’t particularly want it, and he only really pursued it at all because his mother ordered him to.

It was his duty.

Now, he sees what he’s truly up against. He’s not smart enough for the Imperial Crown.

Maybe Sundenelle will fail in the coming days, but she’s clearly more than prepared to do what it takes, from deception to facing her adversaries head on.

And, while it hurts that the truth is what it is; that he is not the Emperor’s son, Sundenelle has called him ‘Brother’ even as she stands as an adversary denying his right to the throne because he’s not her blood brother.

After laughing for a while and losing the built up stress that was squeezing down on him, Porfaus asks softly, “Sundenelle… are we still family?”

She smiles gently in return. “Of course. One truth doesn’t erase another.” She sits back on her calves, adding confidently, “I am the empress, now, though. I can’t have challengers to my throne.”

Porfaus nods. “Beware of Mother… She won’t share the same rational outlook.”

“Her Imperial Majesty has already been detained, but thank you for the warning.” A gatonine knight steps up when Sundenelle starts to climb to her feet, and he helps her up. “Thank you, Sir Ecklevon.”

“The Imperial Palace is yours, your Righteous Majesty.”

She nods. “Make sure the soldiers and guards keep spreading the word.” She walks past Porfaus, ascending the stairs of the deas to the throne, and she stands at the top, facing the nobles and soldiers in the room. “My Father didn’t get a chance to say it in life, but I intend to take this throne as the sovereign Empress. The Empire stands on the pillars of cooperation between all of us, so I won’t pretend that I can do this alone. However, if you do honor the greatness of his Imperial Majesty, we all have a duty to make sure the Empire follows the path he set out for us to ensure we continue to bring prosperity to all of our people. So, having said that, is there anyone here who would object to my birthright or my merit?”

There’s a moment of silence as many of the nobles glance at each other, as do the soldiers.

A high ranking duke steps forward and takes a knee. “Long live Empress Sundenelle!”

The soldiers take a knee as well, with Ecklevon smiling as he does. They also call out, “Long live Empress Sundenelle!”

“Glory to the Empire! Glory to the Empress!” call out a handful of other nobles as everyone takes a knee.

Sundenelle smiles gently. “You honor me. I, Sundenelle kos Lindenmorg, natural-born daughter of the late Emperor Jaalsun kos Lindenmorg, will live up to the crown my faithful subjects have entrusted me with.” She takes a seat on the throne, finally resting her feet and legs. She has been busy all day rallying soldiers and meeting with her conquered enemies.

Porfaus, as he’s being stood up once more by the guards, asks, “Your Imperial Majesty, one more question, if I may.”

Sundenelle gestures him closer, and he bows his head, walking with a two-man escort towards the deas. He kneels at the foot of the platform, and he asks, “How did you… manage to gather so much support in such a short time?”

A few of the nobles chuckle, and Sundenelle smiles. She replies warmly, “I won’t tell you all of my secrets, Brother, but the biggest advantage I had was the truth. Not to say that you lied, but you were lacking information that Imperial Father revealed to me before he perished.”

“Was that why you made such a show of burning his body, then? To prevent us from making claims of an audible final will?”

She grins, taunting him a little when she replies a little playfully, “I answered your one question, Brother. But, I will say this. You might have been a worthy emperor if you applied yourself.” She stands up, though her legs feel a little sore. She manages to hide it, even if there was a brief hesitation.

“Behave yourself, and I’ll visit often. Until the annex estate I will be constructing for you can be built, you’ll spend your time under guard in the tower. If I catch wind of betraying my trust, you will be receiving the same treatment as Uncle. He was quite ungracious as an opponent, unlike you.” She waves her hands, and the guard coaxes Porfaus to his feet. The ex-prince bows his head. “See you soon, your Imperial Majesty. Long live the Empress.”

“Long stand the Empire,” replies Sundenelle confidently.

***

In the following days, the Noble Council of highest ranking nobles, vassal kings and founding family heads gather for a Ninday Coronation ceremony to officially recognize her as Empress. It's an even larger event than the funeral, as it’s being held to memorialize the Emperor even further, as well as to honor the rise of a new Empress, which makes Sundenelle the first Empress Regnant in generations.

Sundenelle is no fool, of course. A large portion of the reason she got the support she did is because many of the high ranking nobles can increase the station of their families by having their sons marry her, where the resultant prestige would be less by marrying a daughter to a prince. This is especially true because the expectation would be that the husband would become the Emperor, and she would step down from Empress Regnant to Empress Consort.

She has no intention of stepping into that trap just yet, as she has to make sure the Empire stays on track and prosperous with her as its new sovereign. She has no interest to start eliminating the aristocrats that may try to pressure her more than simply suggesting she marry sooner, rather than later, as it’s true that her own father married young to ensure that, among his many duties, he provided an heir to the Empire in a timely manner.

Had he not fallen in love with Byleathea, and thus had Sundenelle, it’s possible that the Emperor would have accepted Porfaus as the legitimate heir, even knowing that his brother had taken advantage of the mutual dislike between the Emperor and Empress.

Among all other things, Sundenelle will not marry simply for politics. She doesn’t intend to simply give in to her whims and fall in love with the first man that makes her heart tickle, but she doesn’t want to fall into a situation like her father, where he and three legal wives had virtually no love for each other to such a degree that almost all of ‘his’ children were not his own.

Sundenelle’s uncle and the Grand Duke of the Empire ultimately betrayed the Emperor, and she was able to gather enough evidence and testimony to trap him within the law for the rest of his life.

However, his crimes have gone further. While in prison after she captured him outside of the city following a trap she laid, he tried to escape with help of several guards that betrayed her.

Naturally, she expected as much, so she had a second layer of guards watching them, and they upheld their duty.

“Uncle, I’m disappointed in you,” declares Sundenelle as he is held at a kneel before her in the audience hall. The coronation is supposed to be tomorrow, and yet, she has to deal with a high profile trial.

The Grand Duke looks at her with a cold expression. “It’s proof, Sundenelle.”

“Proof? Proof of what, exactly?” asks the young empress-to-be.

“Proof that a woman will never command the Empire the way an Emperor should.”

“Is that so, Uncle?”

He scoffs, replying smugly, “It is. Or, do you intend to punish your own uncle? Your entire argument was founded on the notion that Porfaus was a tyrant in the making. Wiping out your family members will make you no better than him, and you know it.”

The room is quiet as everyone waits for her response. He grins, adding tauntingly, “And, showing weakness now because you have no resolve will prove that a woman is too weak and emotional to lead something as majestic as the Grand Zenkon Empire. No matter what you do, you will be overthrown before the week is out.”

Again, Sundenelle doesn't react, and everyone continues to watch her.

Uncle, you fool. Of course I have enemies on all sides. You were the one who failed to watch behind you.

Former Consort Thennia, who is seated at Sundenelle’s left looks across the throne and Empress-to-be to study Byleathea, who is on Sundenelle’s right. The latter doesn’t make any reaction either, wholly confident that Sundenelle has the situation under control.

And, the young blonde finally smiles. She stands up, approaching the steps of the deas. “Uncle, since it seems you have finished speaking, I’ll take my turn.” She looks around at the gathered nobles, who participated in the audience, since the coronation will be soon, and she would need their approval for her next move either way.

“I, Princess Sundenelle kos Lindenmorg, Empress-to-be of the Grand Zenkon Empire, have heard the accused. He has spoken neither defense nor denial of claims, and he has chosen not to repent. As it is before my official coronation, I ask the Council; are there any objections to this humble servant of the Empire carrying out the duties of the Empress Regnant?”

No one stands up, but the Grand Duke doesn’t have the slightest shred of fear.

Yet.

Sundenelle nods, holding regal posture. “Very well. Grand Duke Mynakkon kos Lindenmorg; for the crime of treason against the crown beginning with cuckoldry of the Imperial Family and continuing to attempted assassination of the Imperial Heir to the Empire, I hereby strip you of all titles, peerages, and properties and sentence you to death.”

His expression finally goes pale, and Sundenelle states as she holds her hand off to the right. “Lady Byleathea, if you would.”

Without hesitation, Byleathea stands up, holding Sundenelle’s sword in its scabbard. Sundenelle takes it and descends the deas to the ground level, and Mynakkon tries to retain his confidence that she is bluffing. “You intend to kill me? Hah! What a pathetic display.”

“Sir Ecklevon, turn the accused around.”

The gatonine knight nods once, and he drags the former Grand Duke by the arm to turn him around in a circle so that he is facing the entrance and the noble audience.

Sundenelle arrives on the floor, stepping up behind him as she places the tip of her sword on the ground. “Any last words?”

“This is a pathetic display of a child. The barbarism of a bastard princess who should have been cast out as a commoner the moment she was born. Your weakness will destroy this empire. After this, I’ll be stronger than even the Empress. As laughable as it is that so many of you dogs would allow this farce to play out. Look at her! She’s a child. She doesn’t have the strength.”

As he spoke, Sundenelle raises her sword, holding it in such a way that she can stab it downwards into the former Grand Duke’s back. The knights hold him firmly, and he finishes his rant, “Go ahead and finish your scare tactics. I’ll lie to you and say I’m so afraid. Please, spare me o’ gracious and wise little girl.” He closes his eyes with a smug smile.

Black energy engulfs the blade of the sword, and she calmly and casually drives it into the back of his neck. He tenses when he feels it pierce his skin, but he is silent while his jaw drops.

The black aura is replaced by a red glow, and she withdraws the blade after a couple of seconds. The knights release his shoulders, and he slumps forward.

“Doctor. Confirm the state of the accused.”

The physician jogs forward, listening to Mynakkon’s back for a moment. He lifts a hand and releases it, and then casts a simple spell on him.

After a silent moment, he shakes his head. “This man is dead.”

Sundenelle nods once. She declares, “This is the fate of traitors of the Empire, no matter whose blood flows in their veins. Any man here who would doubt me may check this man for signs of life. Once everyone is satisfied, his body will be dissected and the matter will be considered closed. Please commence the checks one at a time as you wish.” She turns around and sheathes the sword, ascending the steps of the deas.

After a long, awkward pause, King Vubenclef is the first to approach, and he kneels. “Your Majesty, I wish to express that I have no doubts about your resolve or that you have indeed killed the former Grand Duke. However, if no one steps forward, those with doubts will hold them in.”

“I’ll not question the loyalty of those who wish to confirm my words. After all, this man was my uncle by blood. That is why I took his life before this council myself, so that there will never be a question of my resolve. However, as someone who has already staged many deaths in order to protect individuals I wished to keep safe, I have created a situation of doubt. Now, I have created a situation of confirmation.” She gestures, and Vubenclef nods. He stands up and approaches the body. He has plenty of experience from the battlefield, so he simply inspects the injury, which is cauterized, but definitely pierces deep into the spine. He scoffs, but stands up. “I have seen enough. I am satisfied, your Majesty.”

“Very well. Next.”

Several others, including nobles who were known to have supported Sundenelle, including Grand Prince Yaulander, who arrived later than others, step forward to check for themselves. Some simply inspect the wound, others listen to his chest, and a rare few cast spells in the light magic category capable of identifying injuries and signs of life.

Sundenelle rests her eyes as she waits patiently, and Byleathea wipes the blade of the sword before sheathing it again.

Thennia murmurs, “Thank you for what you’ve done for me, your Majesty. I can not thank you enough for sparing me and my daughters…”

“I have spared everyone I could spare. I regret that our family became such a mess.”

“I do as well, but I will serve you until the day I die.”

The Empress-to-be nods. “Thank you. I’ll do my best to live up to and exceed the glory of my Father.”

“Follow your heart before anything else, your Majesty,” urges Byleathea gently. “Your heart knows the right path, but you will stumble if you only try to walk a path your father took. After all, his Imperial Majesty stumbled in his own ways.”

Sundenelle smiles, relieved by the words. “I suppose you’re right.”

Grand Prince Yaulander states after returning to his seat, “Your Majesty, I have only one objection.”

“Grand Prince Yaulander, you may speak your objection.”

“The accused was a traitor, and undisputed by the Council. I believe his death was far too humane.”

“I agree with you, your Grace. However, I didn’t want his blood to stain my audience chamber, and I didn’t want to run the risk that another set of traitors will interfere at his false promises before he would be executed in messier ways. It’s a long walk from here to the dungeons, and longer still to the execution block.”

Yaulander chuckles. “I see… Everything for a reason, then.”

She nods. “Of course. If I was simply murdering someone who angered me, I would be a tyrant. If I am eliminating a threat, I am protecting the Empire. I hope this will serve as an example of how I will handle issues going forward. Even if I need to execute a criminal myself, or delegate it to the executioner.”

“My concern has been satisfied, your Majesty. Thank you for humoring me.”

“You’re welcome. Are there any others who would check the state of the late Grand Duke?”

No one else steps forward, and she stands up again. “Thank you. Take the body to the coroner for preparation. The apothecary may take whatever serves useful. The unused parts will be used as fodder.”

Ecklevon instructs knights to carry away Mynakkon’s body, and Sundenelle dismisses the nobles for the lunch banquet.

Her coronation will be early in the morning the coming next day, so she hopes to relax and ease her nerves.

Her conscience doesn’t let go of images of the Grand Duke glaring at her and trying to taunt her, but she manages to put it out of her mind for now.

Her father often said that her choices need to be swift and resolute. If she needs to cut her enemies, she must cut once and deep. If she must burn out a plague, she must burn the whole field. Knowing the difference between the two is one of her most important tasks as Empress.

She’ll have to find a way to get used to some of her heavier and more impactful decisions.

However, she was ready for it the moment she brought him in. She didn’t expect him to rant so brazenly, but she expected he would not repent.

Even when she has nightmares as the days go on, a simple image protects her from losing her heart to guilt.

It is the image she saw as the Gloom Inferno she cast consumed the resting place of her beloved father.

In the flickering light and shadows of the blue flames, she saw his spirit standing proudly with his sword, smiling at her.

The last reassuring smile she’ll ever see from him, and his most powerful one that he could ever grant her.

With the crown of the Grand Zenkon Empire on her head, she will bear its weight in order to lift the Empire higher.

That is what it means to be Empress, and she has chosen to take it with her own hands.

May the Empire stand strong in the light.

***