Lady Mirielle, meanwhile, spoke of diplomacy and trade, of building alliances and securing the empire's wealth. She was shrewd, and Lucian admired her cunning, but he also knew that her ambition might drive her to seek more power than she could handle.
In the end, Lucian realized that there was no perfect candidate. Each of them had their strengths, and each of them had their flaws. But the decision could not be avoided. The future of the empire depended on it.
---
Finally, after days of deliberation, Lucian called the council together once more. The room was tense as the key players gathered, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Lucian stood at the head of the table, his expression unreadable.
"The time has come," he said, his voice steady. "I have made my decision."