An excerpt from the biography of Hugo Greenwood.
Chapter 5
A Fateful Encounter
Some said it was only by sheer luck that the Empress met up with him. Personally, I believe it was destiny. A gift from the heavens. For said meeting allowed us to enjoy the prosperity we have today.
Indeed, one cannot overstate just how crucial his role was in the ascension of Empress Fiora. Without his help, she would most likely die in obscurity, unable to wrest control of the Empire from her siblings. And let us not forget his influence on her, tempering her harshness into one that was more suited for an Empress, not a Tyrant. Not to mention his wisdom. From treasury matters to city designs, he had a hand in all of them. Even though he might just be a prince consort, his influence was akin to an emperor, to the point that other historians gave him the moniker "The Shadow Emperor." Personally, I believe such a claim to be unsubstantiated. Not to mention that looking at the records, Hugo Greenwood was never a man who enjoys ruling over others.
But for now, they would be separated. And that separation was for the better, as if he were to stay with her, he would have never met his other wives—personages that are very influential in shaping the Empire, nay, the world as it is now.
As for Saint Nicole, I shall not delve too deep into his influence on her here. But suffice to say, he has a major influence on her ascendancy as well.