Aftermath

The Imperial Council chamber felt different without Emperor Tiberius presiding over it. Though the Eternal Throne remained physically present, it had been replaced by a smaller, elegant seat from which Empress Camilla now conducted affairs of state. 

The Emperor's throne loomed behind her, empty and imposing - a constant reminder of the crisis gripping the empire.

One week had passed since the victory celebration had turned to tragedy. One week since the Emperor had collapsed, his mighty frame betraying him in a way no enemy's sword ever could. 

Now, the chamber buzzed with tension as the empire's highest officials gathered for yet another emergency session.

Mikhail sat at his newly appointed place among the councillors, his young face carefully arranged in an expression of worried innocence. 

The seat had belonged to Bartholomew until recently - now it was his, a "gesture of faith" from the Emperor in recognition of his display of power. He could feel the other councillors watching him, their gazes a mixture of curiosity, disdain, and calculation.

"The investigation continues," Mage Vesper was saying, his cold voice carrying easily across the chamber. "All evidence points to a carefully orchestrated plot."

"And naturally," Crown Princess Lyanna interjected, her voice sharp, "suspicion falls on House Draconus. How convenient that they should challenge Father to a duel, only for him to fall ill immediately after their defeat."

Mikhail watched his sister carefully. Her performance was perfect - the concerned daughter calling for justice. If he hadn't known better, hadn't seen the truth with his own eyes in another life, even he might have been convinced.

"House Draconus maintains their innocence," Lord Chancellor Blackwood offered, his weathered face grave. "Duke Draconus has submitted himself to magical examination in the imperial dungeons. They claim they are being framed."

"Of course they do," the Empress said softly, her voice carrying an edge of steel. "Yet here we are, with my husband - your Emperor - fighting for his life while his healers work day and night to identify the poison."

Mikhail noted how she emphasised 'your Emperor' rather than 'my husband.' Every word, every gesture was calculated for maximum political effect.

"If I may," Mikhail spoke up, letting a slight tremor enter his voice. All eyes turned to him - the youngest person ever appointed to the Imperial Council. "House Draconus's guilt seems... obvious. Perhaps too obvious?"

"Explain yourself, brother," Lyanna said, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Well," Mikhail continued, playing up his youth, "in all the stories I've read about great plots and schemes, isn't it usually not the most obvious suspect? Wouldn't House Draconus know they'd be the first ones blamed if anything happened to Father after the duel?"

A murmur ran through the chamber. The Empress's lips curved in what might have been approval - or amusement at a child's naive analysis.

"An interesting perspective," she said. "Though perhaps somewhat... simplistic. The world is not a storybook, dear one."

Mikhail hated it every time she called him that, "dear one", she was only playing to the crowd, pretending to be a loving stepmother, the venom he felt slip into his ears every time she lied with that phrase was disgustingly palpable each time she said it.

"Of course, Mother," Mikhail ducked his head, appearing properly chastened. "I just thought..."

"Your concern for justice does you credit," the Empress cut him off smoothly. "But let us leave such matters to those with more... experience. For now, we must focus on containing this situation. 

Lady Valerie will remain under house arrest at Prince Mikhail's villa, where she can be properly monitored."

Mikhail carefully kept his expression neutral at this announcement, he'd spent the past week burning through all the political capital he'd gained from defeating Bartholomew, and his new appointment to the council, attending private meetings, receiving congratulations and gifts from fellow councillors hoping to secure his support - he did all that to get Valerie placed under his guard - he couldn't do much for Duke Draconus at this stage, that would be a bridge too far. 

With this announcement, the Empress was either showing remarkable trust in him or setting up an elaborate test. Even she had to bend to the collective will of the support he'd managed to amass over the past few days, lest closer inspection of her role in the Emperor's current condition be applied. 

The discussion moved on to other matters - trade agreements that needed attention, and border disputes requiring arbitration. Through it all, Mikhail observed and listened, noting who spoke, who remained silent, and most importantly, who exchanged glances when certain topics arose.

He couldn't help but appreciate the artistry of it all. 

The Empress and Lyanna had orchestrated not just an assassination attempt, but an entire political restructuring. House Draconus would take the fall, their power diminished but not destroyed - a perfect scapegoat to preserve the empire's stability.

[System Alert: Political tensions at critical levels. Multiple factions maneuvering for advantage.]

As the council session drew to a close, Mikhail caught snippets of whispered conversations:

"The Emperor's condition remains unchanged..."

"The Duke languishes in the imperial dungeon..."

"The Draconus retinue grows restless in their confinement..."

"Did you see how young Prince Mikhail conducted himself?"

"Mother," he called out as the chamber began to empty. "Might I visit Father today? I miss him terribly."

The Empress's face softened - a calculated display of maternal concern. "Not today, dear one. The healers say he needs absolute rest. Please give them time."

As Mikhail left the chamber, Aurora stirred within him. 

[System Alert: Without visual confirmation of the Emperor's condition, System cannot provide additional helpful insights at this time.]

"Yes," Mikhail thought. "I'm working on it."

He made his way toward his villa, where Valerie waited under house arrest. The weight of her trust - and the opportunities it presented - weighed heavily on his mind. 

[System Alert: Host's influence over House Draconus may prove crucial in coming events.]

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

As he approached his villa, a wyvern's cry echoed from the stables - a sound of frustration and confinement that seemed to perfectly capture the mood of the empire itself. 

Mikhail entered his villa's study, and found Valerie already waiting, standing by the window that overlooked the distant wyvern stables.

The setting sun cast long shadows across the room, painting her figure in shades of gold and amber. Another frustrated cry from the stables made her shoulders tense.

"They're suffering," she said without turning, her voice tight with emotion. "Wyverns aren't meant to be confined like this."

"I know," Mikhail replied softly, closing the door behind him. "The guards are following protocol, but..."

"Protocol?" Valerie whirled to face him, her composure cracking. "My father sits in a dungeon, branded like a common criminal. Our household is scattered, our allies abandoning us by the hour, and now our wyverns waste away in those stables. Is this the empire's justice?"

Mikhail met her gaze steadily. "You know I don't believe your father is guilty."

Valerie's eyes filled with tears as she turned to face him fully. "I know. You're the only one who's stood by us through all of this. Everyone else..." She drew a shuddering breath. "Everyone else abandoned us the moment accusations were made. But not you."

"If you knew what the Empress wanted..." Mikhail moved closer, keeping his voice low. "She wanted you thrown in the Imperial prison. I had to call in every favour I had just to ensure you would stay here, where I can protect you."

"The Empress wanted..." Valerie's eyes widened. "I didn't realise..."

[System Alert: Relationship with House Draconus significantly strengthened, beyond trust, beyond loyalty. Target's affection is growing past the dagger's influence.] 

"There's more." He gestured toward his desk, where several scrolls bore imperial seals. "Would you like to see the orders the council has had to countermand? The 'investigations' we've had to redirect?"

Valerie moved to the desk, her hands trembling slightly as she picked up one of the scrolls. Her eyes scanned the contents, growing wider with each line. "The Empress wanted to seize everything – our research, the wyvern eggs, all of it. You stopped this?"

"The Council convinced the Empress such actions would be premature," Mikhail said softly, moving to stand beside her. "Other noble houses wouldn't remain silent if such overreach were allowed."

Another cry from the stables made Valerie flinch. Unable to contain her distress any longer, she turned and buried her face against Mikhail's chest. His arms came around her immediately, strong and steady.

"The wyverns," she whispered against his robes. "They're suffering. They need to fly, to hunt... they're not meant to be caged like this."

"I'll speak with the guard captain tonight," Mikhail promised, one hand moving to stroke her hair. "We can arrange supervised exercise periods in the early morning when security can be managed more easily. I won't let them waste away, Valerie. I give you my word."

She clung to him, tighter, tears flowing freely now. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Mikhail. You're the only light in all this darkness."

[System Alert: Host's devious manipulation of Lady Valerie Draconus reaching peak efficiency.] 

"That's not what I'm doing, System!" Mikhail thought, "I'm comforting here!"

They stayed that way as the sun continued its descent, casting the study in deepening shadows. Valerie's tears gradually subsided, but she remained in his embrace, drawing comfort from his presence. When she spoke again, her voice was soft with memory.

"You should see the Western Reach at sunset," she murmured. "The wyvern rookeries are built into the cliffsides, and when the light hits them just right, the whole mountain seems to glow. Father would take me up there every evening when I was small. We'd watch the hunting parties return, the wyverns wheeling through the sky like dancers..."

Mikhail listened as she painted pictures with her words – the vast forests stretching to the horizon, the mountain peaks piercing the clouds, the ancient stone halls of Drakehaven where generations of her family had studied their magnificent beasts. 

Her voice grew stronger as she spoke of home, though her fingers remained twisted in the fabric of his robes, as if afraid he might disappear if she let go.

[System Alert: Target Lady Valerie Draconus's emotional vulnerability has been successfully exploited by Host.]

Mikhail could only sigh internally at the System's interpretation of his actions.

"The hardest part is not knowing," Valerie continued. "Not knowing if Father is being treated well, if we'll ever be allowed to return home..." Her voice caught. "But you'll help us, won't you? You're the only one who can."

"I promise you," Mikhail said firmly, tightening his embrace. "Your father will receive justice. The wyverns will fly again. And you..." He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "You are not alone in this. I will not abandon you, Valerie."

The trust in her eyes when she looked up at him was absolute and unwavering. "I believe you," she whispered. "With all my heart, I believe you."

They sat in one of the more comfortable lounge chairs, Valerie still in his embrace, and remained like that for hours, Valerie alternating between sharing memories of home and falling into comfortable silence, while Mikhail offered quiet comfort and steadfast promises. 

"I should sleep," she said softly, though she made no move to leave his embrace. "Thank you, Mikhail. For everything. For being the one person I can trust completely in this terrible time."

"Get some rest," he advised gently, finally releasing her. "I'll speak with the guard captain tonight about the wyverns. Tomorrow, we can discuss your father's situation in more detail."

After Valerie left, Mikhail remained at the window, watching darkness claim the gardens. He had meant what he said about finding the truth – though perhaps not in the way she imagined. After all, he already knew who had poisoned the Emperor. The real question was: how could he use that knowledge – and now, this newfound trust – to his advantage?

[System Alert: Host's relationship with Lady Valerie Draconus has evolved to peak manipulation. Potential implications for multiple future scenarios.]

[System Alert: New skill unlocked - "Master Manipulator"]

In the stables below, the wyverns had finally fallen silent. But Mikhail knew their peace was temporary.