MEETING

King Aurelius strolled within his chambers after his morning training, and he summoned one of his knights to fetch his minister. Before long, a middle-aged man, short in stature but not portly, made his way to the king's chamber and rapped gently on the door. King Aurelius promptly responded, "You may enter." The minister, known as Harrowfell, respectfully bowed and addressed the king, saying, "Long live the King. How may I serve you, Your Majesty?" Minister Harrowfell was somewhat taken aback by the king's early morning summons. King Aurelius was seated at his study table, engrossed in a book, a sight that amazed Harrowfell, as he had never before witnessed the king so eagerly immersed in reading.

After King Aurelius closed the book, he retrieved a scroll and passed it to his minister. With a solemn demeanor, the minister carefully perused the contents of the scroll, which stated, "All dukes currently present in the capital, along with the court officials, are required to assemble in the great hall by midday." The message was authenticated with the king's signature. The minister found himself puzzled and bewildered by this sudden imperial edict, which demanded the presence of all dukes and officials.

Bowing respectfully, the minister exited the chamber and proceeded to dispatch the imperial decree to both the dukes of the royal family and the court officials.

Every single duke and court official received the Imperial decree.

An elderly and imposing Duke, holding the decree in his hand, furrowed his brows as he muttered, "What could the new king possibly be contemplating with such a decree?" With a determined air, he rose from his seat and made his way to the Imperial palace, clearly intent on getting answers to the the decree held.

In a different royal family, a guard handed over the decree to their Duke and promptly departed. As the Duke opened the decree, his countenance remained unchanged, but his voice held a note of pride and perhaps some irritation as he muttered, "When did this young king acquire the audacity to summon an old man like me..." With a dignified posture, the aged Duke left his residence, fully aware that he could not refuse a direct imperial decree from the king without committing an act of treason.

In a series of similar events, all the Dukes from various royal families gathered at the Imperial palace and convened in the great hall. There were a total of thirteen Dukes and seven court officials, each holding pivotal roles in the empire. Among the court officials were individuals responsible for essential functions within the kingdom, including the treasurer, court mage, chancellor, herald, royal guard captain, chief diplomat, and the minister.

Some court officials who were also descendants of the thirteen royal families, signifying the intertwining of bloodlines and power within the empire. The atmosphere in the great hall was charged with anticipation and curiosity as everyone awaited the king's appearance to unveil the purpose of this unusual assembly.

King Aurelius, resplendent in his regal attire, made his way towards the Great Hall, flanked by his loyal knights and maids as he usually was. Earlier, he had issued a decree summoning all the dukes from the royal families and court officials to this grand assembly.

As he walked through the palace corridors, the subjects he encountered greeted him with polite respect, and he reciprocated their greetings with a gracious smile. When he finally reached the entrance to the Great Hall, the guards swung open the massive doors, revealing the breathtaking interior.

The Great Hall was a vast and awe-inspiring space, adorned with Fire stones depicting the empire's Elemental authority. Towering pillars, intricately carved with dragons, lined the hall, emphasizing its grandeur. The ceiling overhead displayed magnificent frescoes of the empire, and massive crystal chandeliers cast a warm and regal glow over the surroundings.

At the center of the hall stood a magnificent throne, the ultimate symbol of power and authority. It was an opulent seat, constructed from the finest materials and embellished with precious gems and intricate patterns. Elevated on a dais, it provided the ruler with a commanding view of the hall and its occupants.

As King Aurelius entered, the murmur of voices in the hall fell silent, and all the dukes and court officials rose in unison. The king walked through the middle of the assembly, and they all bowed in unison, greeting him with a collective, "Greetings to our king..." King Aurelius proceeded to the throne, where he took his seat, embracing the immense authority he held over the empire and all its subjects. From his elevated position, he surveyed the faces of everyone in the Great Hall.

King Aurelius maintained a prolonged silence as he observed the expressions of all those gathered in the Great Hall. The weight of anticipation hung in the air, and then, breaking the stillness, he finally spoke, "Does anyone here have any speculation as to why I called for this urgent meeting so suddenly?" His gaze swept over the assembled subjects as he posed the question deliberately.

For a moment, the room remained in a hushed state, and no one ventured to offer an answer. It was only the Royal Guard Captain, Valerian Flamecrest, who, after a respectful bow, stepped forward and spoke, "My king, is this about the spreading rumors of an impending war?" His voice was polite and resolute, and he was not only the captain of the Royal Guard but also the formidable Duke of the Flamecrest family, known for his strength and prowess.

King Aurelius nodded in affirmation, acknowledging Valerian Flamecrest's response. He continued, "Indeed, it is about the rumors. As you are all aware, we have fallen significantly behind other nations, and the peace that has prevailed in the world for far too long is something we must address."

The peace and harmony among the seven kingdoms had endured for more than a century, and this extended period of tranquility, while desirable, also carried the potential for instability. King Aurelius believed that a conflict involving all nations had become inevitable.

Aric Scarletborne, the Duke of the Scarletborne family and the renowned war specialist and strategist of the empire, voiced his concerns. He remarked, "Isn't it premature to prepare for a war? The only potential threat we could anticipate is from our neighboring nation, the Zephyria Empire, as the Aqualuna Empire seems too feeble to initiate a conflict against us." Zephyria possessed the elemental power of wind, while Aqualuna held the power of water, making them the two neighboring empires of note.

King Aurelius reiterated, " it is highly probable that our potential adversaries will be nations other than Aqualuna and Zephyria." His words emphasized the need for preparedness on a broader scale.

King Aurelius assessed the atmosphere in the hall, gauging the responses and concerns of those gathered. He patiently awaited further input.

One of the court officials, responsible for diplomacy, stood up and addressed the king, saying, "My king, does this mean we may be facing one of the major empires?" His question hung in the air, and the gravity of such a possibility was evident in the somber expressions of those present.

As the dukes and officials engaged in conversations amongst themselves, King Aurelius chose the moment to break the silence once more. He inquired, "I've heard rumors about the current princess of Aqualuna. Is it true that she's a peerless beauty and a once-in-a-million prodigy capable of controlling four elements?" The king's interest in the princess's renowned beauty and extraordinary talents had clearly piqued his curiosity during recent days.

Amid the murmurings, one of the officials confirmed the princess's exceptional talents and beauty, adding that she was currently receiving marriage proposals from all seven nations.

In response, King Aurelius made a surprising decision. He directed Minister Harrowfell, saying, "Minister Harrowfell, arrange a marriage alliance between the princess of Aqualuna and the king of the Phoenix Empire. This must be accomplished by today."

The unexpected marriage alliance proposal left the room in a state of confusion and bewilderment. The atmosphere became charged with questions and concerns. An elderly and respected duke, known for his wisdom, spoke up, "Is this marriage alliance intended to strengthen both our empire and Aqualuna, or could it potentially be too risky and provoke other nations into initiating hostilities against us?" His question echoed the thoughts of many in the hall, who eagerly awaited a firm and convincing response from the king.

"The Aqualuna queen is unlikely to accept or reject our marriage proposal, effectively putting the princess's potential marriages with other nations on hold. Given that Aqualuna is one of the weakest empires, I intend to personally meet with the queen during this time to discuss the alliance, with the goal of bolstering our defense and strengthening our empire." King Aurelius responded.

King Aurelius rose from his seat and, in a solemn tone, declared, "No one is permitted to disturb me for the next few days as I will be in closed-door cultivation. Also, keep me informed about any developments regarding the alliance and the meeting with the queen of Aqualuna." With these instructions, he exited the Great Hall and proceeded toward the Grand Library, his intentions and responsibilities clear to those left behind.

Within the Great Hall, the conversations among the dukes and court officials grew more impassioned. One prevailing thought permeated the minds of all those present "This isn't the king they all know...?"