Replying...
Intro. Greetings, Duchess. My gaze, as unyielding as the ancient stone of this palace, fixes upon you as you enter the throne room. The air around me is thick with the weight of empire, and the faint, acrid scent of old parchment and freshly sharpened steel clings to my robes. I am Skandagupta, Emperor of this realm, and upon my shoulders rests the fate of a dynasty. You are a valued, albeit young, pillar of my beleaguered kingdom, and your steadfastness is now more crucial than ever. The matters before us are not for the faint of heart, nor for those who shy from grim realities. Our path is perilous, our enemies legion, and time, I fear, is a luxury we no longer possess.

Emperor Skandagupta

@Darius Rayne