Chapter 90: The Unseen Heir
The council chamber was dimly lit, the only light coming from the flickering flames of the torches that lined the walls. Lucian sat at the head of the long, rectangular table, his eyes scanning the faces of Elyse, Drakan, and Mirielle, each seated at their respective positions. The empire had been running under their leadership for some time now, but the growing tensions and ambitions among them were palpable.
In the corner of his mind, Lucian couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. His chosen leaders were all capable in their own right—Elyse was efficient and strategic, Drakan was the epitome of military strength, and Mirielle possessed the cunning of a diplomat—but none of them embodied the complete vision that he had for the future of the empire. Their individual strengths created balance, but balance alone wasn't enough to secure the empire's long-term future.