The older nobles of the Vellmoria Empire, including Lazarus, remembered well how the Emperor had secured his throne. He had slaughtered his five brothers with his own hands and disguised the massacre as the work of a rebel group.
The truth never reached the common people, but within the inner circle of nobles, it was a whispered story no one ever dared to speak aloud.
And because of his strong influence over the empire's economy, Lazarus had often been summoned to the imperial palace. Over the years, he had watched the princes closely, observing their characters one by one.
Zerath Vi Vellmoria, the current Emperor, had once been the sixth prince, a position that should have made the throne nearly impossible to reach, especially since all of his siblings were men.
Yet even as a child, Zerath's ambition had been fierce. He was obsessed with outshining his brothers in every way, as if every contest, every sword match, was a step closer to the crown.
