[Kuzan's POV]
"…however, I must impart onto you a final test, by which I may judge your authenticity."
The Emperor's words echoed through the room, heavy with meaning, but I had to hold back the tired sigh that threatened to escape me.
'We're going in circles,' I thought, my lips pressed into a thin line.
This conversation had been far more rewarding than I could have hoped for, yet now, it was starting to drag. Hours had passed, and though I had gained a deeper understanding of this kingdom—of the intricate balance of power that held the world together—it was clear that the Emperor had no intention of ending this discussion without drawing out every last thread of my intentions.
'At least I'm caught up.' That realization settled over me like a cool breeze. From the moment I had arrived in this world, I had faced an insurmountable wall—the lack of information. Every plan, every scheme, even the smallest decision I made was riddled with uncertainty. Every step forward was one taken with doubt, second-guessing whether it would hold up against the unknown forces of this fantastical place.
But now, finally, the pieces had come together.
'It's simple reasoning at the end of the day…' I mused, my thoughts spinning in rapid succession. Faced with the impossible task of finding my 'place' in this world—a world filled with endless possibilities, kingdoms, and threats—I did what any rational person would do. I surveyed my surroundings, for safety, for knowledge, for assurance. And until this very moment, I had still been in that process.
Every interaction, every observation had been in service of filling in the gaps of my understanding. The countless archives of the Royal Library. The conversations with Fiana. Even the subtle glances through the carriage window as I made my way to the palace had been strategic. All of it was to gather intel, to form a complete picture. Now, after speaking with the recently un-deceased Emperor, I had it.
His revival? Not even a question anymore.
'It's obvious.'
The man had faked his own death.
'Poor guy,' I thought, suppressing the urge to smirk. 'Had to go through all that trouble of coming back to life just because of me.'
I wasn't sure whether to feel guilty or amused.
To summarize what I had pieced together, the Kingdom of Alkavia—one of the three powerhouses controlling roughly a third of the peninsula—had been led by Azuleth before I arrived. This kingdom had been unified by the Emperor sitting before me, through years of war and conquest, destroying countless smaller nations during the "Great War" and forging a peaceful, prosperous land from the wreckage.
But peace, as it turned out, was fragile.
To the east lay Alkavia's greatest threat, the Kingdom of Nala—a kingdom born from desperation, a cobbled-together alliance of nations that had been forced to unite under the looming threat of the Emperor's ambitions. Ambitions that they had once scoffed at. But when the Emperor's army had marched on their doorsteps, their laughter died quickly. They had become a kingdom in name only, united by fear, with as much cohesion as… well, as much as a pile of sand held together by sheer force of will.
'And then there's Aetherfall.'
The third powerhouse in this uneasy balance. Ruled by a Magi King whose reputation was that of peace and tranquility. It made sense, at least before the Emperor's resurrection. The Magi didn't bother with the petty wars and ambitions of mortals, choosing instead to focus on arcane research, secluding himself in his castle while the rest of the world danced on the edge of chaos.
It explained why the Queen of Alkavia—Azuleth—had ruled the way she did. She had no choice. The Emperor's so-called "peace" was more of a charade, and though Nala was ripe for conquest, she had to bide her time. She couldn't move, couldn't act, because looming over everything was the Magi King. He was the third party that everyone feared. The one who would swoop in and claim everything once the dust settled between Alkavia and Nala.
Even the nobles, the aristocrats, the wealthy businessmen of the kingdom knew it. They all understood the delicate balance, the political game being played between these three powers. And though it wasn't spoken outright, it was common knowledge that the Magi King—despite his terrifying power—was what I would call 'lazy.'
That living calamity of a man had no interest in ruling or conquest. He stayed put in his castle, focused on his magical studies, and everyone else—no matter how ambitious or foolish—was smart enough to leave him alone.
Still, his very existence held weight. His power alone was enough to keep the region in check. If anyone tried to break the peace, he could swoop in and seize control with little effort. That was the real reason Azuleth had been restrained in her rule. She couldn't afford to provoke Nala, because if she did, the Magi would take advantage of the chaos and destroy them all.
'Smart.'
It made sense, and in a strange way, I found myself sympathizing with the Magi. As someone in a very similar situation—I could appreciate the desire to avoid unnecessary conflict, especially when it avoided inefficiency.
'He's probably too lazy to attack anyone.' That was my initialy guess. To the rest of the world, it seemed like the Magi King was too wary of Alkavia or Nala to make a move, but in truth?
'He just doesn't care. From everything I've read, he's far more concerned with his research than with politics.'
And thus, the Magi's indifference became the cornerstone of the fragile peace between the three kingdoms.
Azuleth's motivations, on the other hand, were easier to understand.
It wasn't just about the political climate—it was personal. She had been forced into the throne. Her younger brother had fled the peninsula during the coronation, abandoning his duties to avoid the weight of the crown. Her younger sister on the other hand, had renounced her claim completely, to pursue a life of magic, hiding under the protection of the Magi King himself, ensuring her safety and her future as a powerful sorceress.
And that left Azuleth.
The eldest. The one who had been forced to give up her own dreams to sit on the throne, despite her will. She hadn't wanted it, but she had taken on the role out of necessity, and now she was trapped in a game she never wanted to play.
At least those were my thoughts and understanding of the current situation before this here conversation with the new 'man-in-charge'.
'I should've known something was up then and there.'
A small smile threatened to break across my face, despite my best efforts to suppress it.
'Forcing someone like Azuleth into doing something she doesn't want?'
She'd rather die.
'Now, everything makes sense...'
- The Emperor had faked his death.
- The Magi King was the Emperor's estranged brother.
These weren't just random nuggets of information—they were key. But instead of being awestruck by their significance, I focused on something more important: What did this mean for me?
After all, it wasn't my concern how this affected the nation and its people. That was someone else's problem to solve. 'Though I'm sure Fiana is in for a whole new set of migraines.'
Because whether anyone liked it or not, war was on the horizon.
It wasn't speculation; it was the only logical conclusion. And logic never failed me.
Logic is cold.
It's unfeeling and clear. It follows the mind. But reason? Ha. Reason is unpredictable, driven by emotion—greed, lust, envy, pride—take your pick. Every clock has its tick, and every man has his motivations. The Emperor? His clock had stopped ticking when he lost the love of his life. His motivation for war vanished in that moment, only to be replaced by a deeper hunger for conquest.
Once I understood that, it was clear he was someone I could work with. Someone I could trust.
Behind all the formalities, past the regal airs and the courtly displays, the gifts I could offer this kingdom would mean nothing if I couldn't cooperate with the man sitting in front of me. It was a bit annoying, I'll admit, having the "player" switch out in the middle of the game. But given the efficiency gained by the change, I could deal with it. Azuleth, while trustworthy in her motivations, was far too unpredictable, too wild, to place complete faith in. The Queen was no more reliable than any other figurehead, though she wasn't foolish enough to destroy our relationship by attempting to harm me directly. She understood the threat I posed.
Still, she wasn't perfect. Not like Fiana.
Fiana was leagues above the others. Her motivations aligned almost seamlessly with mine. She wasn't driven by something as dull as greed but by the pure desire to prove her capabilities. She wanted to see this kingdom reach unparalleled heights, not just for glory but to prove that she could handle the responsibility—excel in it, even.
Her ambition was pure. And as long as I could provide the means to that success, I could trust her implicitly.
Similarly, I could work with the Emperor. He had no ulterior motives—nothing left to live for except the pursuit of a fitting death. He simply wanted to die in peace, leaving behind a legacy that would secure his family's future.
And so, the Emperor had crafted his grand plan—a war against the Kingdom of Nala, supported in secret by the Kingdom of Aetherfall, ensuring his family's safety even after his demise. 'He probably convinced Azuleth to wear the crown in exchange for the promise of a war, one unlike any she'd ever seen.'
The Kingdom of Alkavia would launch an unexpected attack on Nala, ignoring the looming threat of the Magi King. Why? Because the Magi King, estranged brother or not, wouldn't care to stop the conflict. The war would benefit his apprentice, the second princess, Serena. She would stand to inherit the peninsula after the dust settled.
That was the plan. It was the only logical outcome that followed both logic and reason. Azuleth would never let herself be shackled to the throne after the jig was up. She wasn't built for the endless court politics; she was far more suited for the battlefield, leading the charge in her father's grand design.
'If I had to guess... the Emperor's plan likely involves Alkavia waging war on Nala, secretly backed by Aetherfall. Once Nala is weakened, the Magi King would stage a fake attack on Alkavia, only for Serena to 'defeat' him and secure the entire peninsula for herself.'
And everyone would get what they wanted: Azuleth, a war; the Emperor, a peaceful death knowing his daughter now held unparalleled power and authority; and the Magi King, the convenience of power whenever he desired. Who better to rule the Kingdom than his own apprentice? The only one really getting stiffed here would be Princess Serena.
'I'd love to see her face when she realizes she's been set up—not only by her master but by her father and sister as well. Damn, Azuleth, you're one vengeful woman, taking such a cruel way to get back at your own flesh and blood for betraying you.'
Finally, I had pieced together the present situation and even gone above and beyond by, more or less, predicting the future.
'Seeing the bigger picture is too easy when you can read people like a book.'
Everything becomes so simple when you can understand people's motivations.
With that understanding, I could see where everyone stood.
But while I had already caught up, the Emperor was still working through it, still trying to decide if my motivations aligned with his.
'A test, huh?' His earlier words echoed in my mind.
'Fine...' It would probably take Fiana a few hours to fulfill my recent set of requests, leaving me with some time to kill.
'...Let's play.'