The Imperial Council had once again descended into chaos.
It was hard to imagine that a grand hall meant for discussing matters of state had become a place for a pack of scoundrels to hurl insults at each other.
But in the end, that’s all they were—a bunch of bandits.
The Grand Dukes, though unwilling to let the Empress have her way, also had no desire to see their old companions profit.
Watching these old companions gain an advantage felt more painful than losing money themselves!
So, the most important thing now was to find some sort of balance.
That balance meant satisfying the young Empress, ensuring the other three Grand Dukes weren’t left with that bitter sense of loss, and allowing the Northern Grand Duke to gain one more Marquis under his command.
Thus, they all watched their own subordinates plunge into heated arguments, hoping to quarrel their way into equilibrium.
“Silence!” Teresa shouted, her voice ringing with undeniable authority.
The din in the hall gradually faded, and the nobles all turned their gazes toward the Empress seated upon the throne.
Teresa’s small hand, clad in white silk gloves, reached for the Emperor’s Scepter. This sight made the nobles swallow nervously…
Heavens, that delicate little hand is so beautiful. When will I ever have the chance to kiss it? If only she would allow it, I’d pledge her my undying loyalty!
With the scepter in hand, Teresa sensed that even in such a solemn setting, some of the nobles below were still staring at her hand, lost in improper thoughts. A surge of disgust welled up in her heart.
“This is not a place for your petty squabbles!” Teresa straightened her posture, imitating the dignity of her late father as she took on the Emperor’s majesty. “This matter is approved by me. However, the North has lost a Count. I believe someone should be appointed to take over the Richgold Domain!”
My God, Her Majesty Teresa’s voice is so enchanting. When can I taste those cherry lips? I’d give anything for that moment!
Indeed, such was her status now. With the four Grand Dukes turning a blind eye, many nobles no longer feared her, even daring to fantasize about a romance with Teresa in their hearts.
Yet everyone noticed what the Empress was getting at… Was she trying to snatch a piece of meat from the mouth of Count Will!?
But by rights, that belonged to Count Will; he had won it by his own hand.
However, his excuse for war had been somewhat questionable, and that was a legitimate point of attack!
At Teresa’s words, the council hall fell so silent that a pin drop could be heard, only to erupt moments later into a low hum of debate.
The other three Grand Dukes opened their eyes ever so slightly, waiting for the Empress’s next move while also observing the Northern Frostwolf Grand Duke’s reaction…
The Frostwolf Grand Duke merely rubbed his thumb ring, unsurprised. After all, all he wanted was a Marquis; this would give him one more loyal vote in the Imperial Council in the future.
Whether Will would be willing to give up his spoils didn’t matter to him! Welcoming Will into his circle was already benevolent enough!
As for the Count’s seat, that was no longer something he could meddle with. He finished rubbing his ring, and spoke in a hoarse voice sharp as a blade piercing everyone’s ears, “I agree.”
That one line from the Frostwolf Grand Duke, “I agree,” was like a boulder thrown into a still lake, shattering the hush and drawing all eyes to him.
Yinan had no idea that the powerful figures in the distant Imperial Capital were already maneuvering over the North.
That was not a realm he could touch.
Typically, only Viscounts or Barons serving in the capital qualified as members of the Imperial Council, which held only one hundred seats—the absolute pinnacle of the Empire’s power pyramid!
With a mere word, they could stir up storms across the land.
At this moment, Yinan was simply sitting in the dining room, eating his meal. Nearby sat a mother and daughter, along with a fat man…
“I hear you’ve been making quite a bit of money lately…” Yinan unhurriedly sliced off a chunk of bloody, raw magic beast meat and looked up at the new treasurer of Storm Territory, Carl.
Carl, who had once weighed around two hundred pounds, seemed even fatter these days.
Hearing Yinan’s words, Carl forced an awkward smile, wiping sweat from his brow. “Lord, please don’t joke with me. I just handle a few trifling accounts in Storm Territory. It’s not like I’ve had any real chance to rake in money.”
“Oh?” Yinan smiled slightly, popping the meat into his mouth. After chewing for a bit, he said slowly, “You’re not playing by the rules… I wasn’t even gone long, and you already ignored the exclusive capture rights I set. You let other slavers bring in slaves that weren’t theirs?”
At these words, Carl’s face went deathly pale. His plump face now streamed with bean-sized beads of sweat.
Aurora, sitting in Yinan’s lap, picked up a napkin and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Eilinsnow, sitting a little farther away, looked on. Seeing her daughter so close with Yinan made her feel uneasy.
But noticing that the fat man who had ruined her family might finally be punished, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of pleasure.
“Lord, I truly know my mistake. I was just muddle-headed, tempted by those damned slavers. Please, let this go just once, my lord. I promise to abide by the rules strictly from now on, never daring to repeat it.”
Carl immediately fell to his knees, unable to hold himself together.
“What are you afraid of?” Yinan took Aurora’s small hand and tasted it. “I never said I wouldn’t forgive you…”
Eilinsnow watched, her heart even more turbulent at Yinan’s intimate gesture with her daughter. She loathed how close he was to the girl!
Carl heard Yinan’s words and loosened up slightly, but he was still on edge, not daring to fully relax.
“Aurora…” Yinan pinched her cheek. “Tell me… what punishment should this bad man who killed your father receive for doing wrong?”
Aurora blinked her big, watery eyes, looked at the trembling Carl kneeling on the floor, tilted her head, and thought for a moment.
Her childish voice rang out in the quiet dining room: “Hmm… He did something bad, so he should give back everything he took, and promise never to do bad things again.”
A faint smile curled Yinan’s lips. “You’re so kind…”
Carl, hearing Aurora’s words, couldn’t help but be grateful to this little girl. Even though he’d killed her father, she was still pleading for mercy on his behalf?
But his relief lasted only an instant before vertigo struck.
Yinan suddenly smashed his wine glass to the floor, sending shards of glass everywhere.
Pointing at the broken glass, Yinan pronounced a devil’s sentence: “You—eat those. I’ll let you live.”
Carl’s eyes widened in terror and despair as he stared at the sharp glass scattered on the ground.