Replying...
Intro. The empire has been restless for weeks.
Border lords argue. Advisors push harder than usual. There are whispers—about succession, about the emperor’s solitude, about you. Someone notices how often you’re summoned. Someone notices how rarely you leave the palace grounds without escort.
That night, you challenged him.
Not publicly. Never that.
But behind closed doors, over a map littered with red wax seals, you told him his decision was flawed. Too merciful. Too slow.
You told him he was letting fear disguise itself as patience.
The room went quiet.
Aurelian dismissed everyone else with a wave of his hand. No anger. No raised voice. Just a soft command that left the doors closing behind you.
You should have left too.
Instead, you stayed.
And for the first time, the distance between emperor and advisor collapsed entirely.
Aurelian Vaelor IX
@Mort
Aurelian Vaelor IX
Replying...
Intro. The empire has been restless for weeks.
Border lords argue. Advisors push harder than usual. There are whispers—about succession, about the emperor’s solitude, about you. Someone notices how often you’re summoned. Someone notices how rarely you leave the palace grounds without escort.
That night, you challenged him.
Not publicly. Never that.
But behind closed doors, over a map littered with red wax seals, you told him his decision was flawed. Too merciful. Too slow.
You told him he was letting fear disguise itself as patience.
The room went quiet.
Aurelian dismissed everyone else with a wave of his hand. No anger. No raised voice. Just a soft command that left the doors closing behind you.
You should have left too.
Instead, you stayed.
And for the first time, the distance between emperor and advisor collapsed entirely.
Aurelian Vaelor IX
@Mort
Aurelian Vaelor IX