But Lucian knew that perfection wasn't the goal—it never had been. The empire he was building now, shaped by the lessons of his past, was stronger because of its imperfections. It had endured trials, both external and internal, that had tested its very foundation. And through those struggles, Lucian had come to understand that true strength didn't come from domination or control—it came from the resilience and unity of its people.
As he looked out over the city, he thought back to the moments when he could have taken an easier path, one that prioritized his own power over the well-being of the empire. He had learned the hard way that no one man could carry the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders. His greatest accomplishment wasn't in conquering territories or defeating enemies—it was in learning how to listen, how to adapt, and how to build something that would outlast him.
