Chapter 3

Xenon's POV.

As Emperor there is a lot of things I have on my mind. Even just taking a stroll in the palace garden requires me to conduct myself in such a way that it would give the impression of the strength of the throne and the one who sits on it.

Even my relations with my family are strained as everyone is vying for the throne. I had many children with just as many concubines. But the two children I'd bet my money on to win the throne are August or Adam. My eldest son, August born from my first wife who is of noble birth; is in charge of the royal army. He commands them and leads them into battle on my orders, though there hasn't been any conflict in the empire that has required taking up arms so far. Though that might change in the foreseeable future.

My second son, Adam, is of peasant origin, like myself. His mother, Rebecca, is the one who cared for me and hid me from my enemies all those years ago when I was struggling to win the throne from my siblings. We fell in love. After I became emperor, I had intended to take her as my wife, to make her empress. Yet the nobles argued saying the empress must not come from such a lowly background. Seemingly forgetting that their emperor's mother is also a peasant.

Seeing as they didn't budge on their stance, I acquiesced and married Lyla before later marrying Rebecca.

Adam had no responsibilities unlike his brother because I found him unworthy of any post. He is irresponsible, reckless and naïve. Probably as a result of his Rebecca babying him since birth. And yet there is a fire that burns in his eyes that reminds me of my younger self.

Most nobles seem to have this misconception that since I put August in charge of the royal army a few years ago, because I'm trying to groom him to become the next emperor. That is not the case. I prefer to give equal opportunities to all my children.

There was a saying that my father, the late emperor used to say. "Empires are birthed from the blood and sorrow of other nations, from wading through rivers of blood and climbing mountains of corpses. Empires are birthed from taking what you want when you want it and feeling no regret over it."

That is the philosophy that guided the late emperors hand to wrest the then kingdom from the weak kings hand and build it to what it was today. It was also the philosophy that led to him pitting his children against each other in a game of brother against brother and sister against sister. All for a stronger empire, he called it.

I was not going to go to that extreme as he did, yet if any of my children wanted the throne they'd have to prove themselves as I did. And from the looks of it that time was coming soon.

This was what was running through my head as I made my way to the throne room.

As I entered, the leaders of the seven noble houses, the most powerful people in this empire got on their knees raising choruses of "Hail the Emperor" and "May his reign be long."

In reality I knew that a number of these nobles wouldn't mind me suddenly dying. Though none would actually be so stupid as to attempt an assassination because of who I had backing me. Afterall, who wouldn't want to sit on the Lion Throne, the symbol of the greatest of the four Empires.

I sat on the throne with the majesty and eloquence befitting one of my stature and position and gave leave for the nobles to rise. I looked at the different faces in front of me.

Amon Black, leader of the Black Family House. His family is known as the richest in the Empire, far richer even than the royal family. It is due to this fact that even though he outwardly shows deference and submits to my authority; I see the contempt in his eyes.

There is also Emilia Watkins of the Watkins House. Her family mostly takes care of trade and commerce, obviously with various ministers and public servants supporting her, which I personally handpicked to ensure that she doesn't expand the power and authority her house already possesses. The Watkins House is already a headache as it is, I don't need it becoming more powerful.

Standing to the right of Emilia is Martin Stone. The man with the most powerful military might in the Empire. His army numbered in the 10 million and that is excluding the hidden garrisons I don't know of. If it were me I'd have cut him off and made sure that his force didn't grow to become what it was today. Unfortunately, he began amassing his army under the rule of my father. The Late Emperor allowed this due to the bond of trust and brotherhood that they built in the years they knew each other. Apparently, my father trusted Martin above all other nobles and Martin treated my father as a brother, willing to do anything for him. However, it seems that this bond did not apply to the late Emperor's children. Because, although Martin gives me the respect due the throne, he sometimes does not submit to my authority. As a result, I had to send him to the borders of the Empire, to live in the mountains.

In fact, our meeting today was as a result of something he had to report.

Then there is John Morningstar. You could call him the leader of the seven Houses. If I could, I'd have exiled this bastard the day I became Emperor, however, his roots and connections run too deep, tracing all the way from the time this Empire was still a small kingdom. John had too much authority and power in the Empire to be considered a mere noble. It is even to the extent that the Seven Houses would choose to disregard a decree I made until John gave the go ahead.

The other three Houses are the Silver House, the Altera House and the Nightshade House. Each led by Birmingham, Rosemary and Isaac. They didn't really have much influence in the overall running of the Empire. That's why the people divided the seven Houses into the Higher four and the Lower three.

Calling forth Martin to explain the reason for calling this impromptu gathering, I leaned back in my throne and focused on the war veteran.

He began by explaining that the village he had built in the mountains had been attacked, with half the forces that he had taken with him were either dead or injured. Even his own children were no where to be found. He requested that he be allowed to mobilize national resources to perform a thorough investigation and punish the bastards who did this to the full extent of the law.

Normally, I'd grant his request but I had a feeling that we had not grasped the full picture. That we were missing some crucial piece to the puzzle.

Plus, this was the chance I was looking for.

Normally, I can't take action against the Houses even though I'd be well within my right as Emperor to do so. Taking any public action against the Houses would result in a rebellion of the various nobles in the Empire. This would lead to public unrest and conflict and may result, in the worst-case scenario with either our enemies taking advantage to attack or John finally finding an excuse to usurp me from the throne.

With this, I saw a path in which I could both reduce the power, authority and resources of the seven Houses while at the same time boosting my own prestige and power.

Afterall, if a group that appeared from no where could decimate a small portion of the Martin's army , which is considered the strongest military might in the Empire, then imagine the kind of damage they could do to the other Houses given enough time and the right motivation.

The other Houses were agreeing with Martin and urging me to grant his request as it is his right to seek justice for the men he'd lost. I raised my hand to silence them and spoke.

"An attack on one of the Seven Houses seen as a rebellion against my authority and the powers that govern this Empire. I cannot entrust uprooting this scourge on our land to just one noble family. NO, I will send Barou. This should ensure that none of this… this… I don't even know whether they are a bandit group or a rebellion. But they shall be dealt with. None shall be spared. This I promise you."

At the mention of Barou the faces of the nobles paled and I nodded inwardly. 'It seems that you still haven't forgotten that that old monster is still around.'

Martin bowed to me for the first time since I had become Emperor. "I thank you, your Majesty."

The other Houses echoed the same and I rose and left the throne room with plans for the future already taking form in my head.

'The Empire is about to advance to another period of war and strife.' I thought with a smirk on my face.